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If there are no Jazz games this year...

I'll admit I hated the pick. Let's all be honest - only honz(and KOC) were fans of Hayward. Gordon was not just solid for 1 month. I believe I heard he had the best 3-PT FG% in the league after the all-star break. I'm fairly confident he'll be at least a competent starter for the Jazz. I see him hitting those curls that were Harpring's forte before all the knee injuries. All-star? Dunno. But I have been impressed by Gordon's positional defense. He at least gets low and moves his feet. The key will be deciding if he's a 2 or 3. I think KOC had visions of creating mismatches by playing Gordon at the 2. But Hayward looks like he's put on some muscle. Maybe his natural position will be the 3 and that's one reason KOC decided to draft Burks instead of one of the many SF's who were availabel at #12.
 
I was hoping for Ed Davis if the Jazz went big or Xavier Henry if they went small. I was pissed when they selected Hayward.

With that said, I get the pick now. I don't think Hayward's shooting numbers will be anywhere near where they were this season (I don't like his stroke, although it should be more than adequate), but he has such a nice feel for the game, especially offensively, that he's going to have to be accounted for by opposing teams. I still see him as a 2, but with his ball-handling and playmaking abilities, he also allows the Jazz to play non-traditional point guards (like, say...Burks?). I don't see him turning into a 20ppg scorer on a decent team, but 15 points 4+ boards 4+ assists is well within reason at his peak, I'd guess. I see his impact being greater than his box score stats down the road.
 
GVC said:
I don't think Hayward's shooting numbers will be anywhere near where they were this season (I don't like his stroke, although it should be more than adequate)
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GVC most of the time I agree with your posts. And agree with your post above except for this part. What isn't to like about His shot? Its almost textbook in the way he is square, with his elbow in. I am a shooting coach that helps kids with form and how to square up properly for a shot and Hayward does almost every thing correct. Some times he starts a little low but by the top he is perfectly square, starts the upward motion with his arm square and finishes with the outward push and wrist flick. In other words he shoots like the pros teach you to shoot. I think his percentages well be very consistent to were they were at the end of last year. I feel that way because I still don't see him taking a ton of shots. We just have to many other offensive players that well be options above him. So your prediction on points I see being accurate.
 
I'm glad that we have Hayward instead of Davis. I was rooting for Henry or Babbitt myself with an outside hope that the Jazz could somehow get Larry Sanders. Now that hindsight is 20/20 Hayward seems to be the best complimentary piece for our young team. Favors and Davis would have been good but not great. Babbitt and Henry didn't play much so who knows how they turn out. Favors and Sanders would have been a defensive nightmare for other teams but it would have been a offensive nightmare for the Jazz as of right now. With all that being said Hayward will be the glue guy for this team.
 
Ben10 said:
GVC most of the time I agree with your posts. And agree with your post above except for this part. What isn't to like about His shot? Its almost textbook in the way he is square, with his elbow in. I am a shooting coach that helps kids with form and how to square up properly for a shot and Hayward does almost every thing correct. Some times he starts a little low but by the top he is perfectly square, starts the upward motion with his arm square and finishes with the outward push and wrist flick. In other words he shoots like the pros teach you to shoot. I think his percentages well be very consistent to were they were at the end of last year. I feel that way because I still don't see him taking a ton of shots. We just have to many other offensive players that well be options above him. So your prediction on points I see being accurate.
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Something about it just looks goofy and unorthodox. Gordon Hayward looks goofy and unorthodox though, so it makes sense.
 
I know I was hoping for Xavier Henry but wasn't excited about any big men left by the Jazz' pick, so while I wasn't happy when they called his name by the next day I started thinking rationally and was starting to understand the pick.
 
I wasn't zeroed in on picking Hayward, but I did think he was a possibility for Utah before the draft and I didn't mind the pick. I understood the concerns about the pick but everytime I looked at him on film I just kept seeing a ton of stuff that I liked. I also wasn't too keen on any of the players drafted after him so I was more than willing to give him a chance and I'm glad I did.

Getting back to the theme of "if the Jazz don't play this year", it will be a huge let down. Not so much because we'll be missing basketaball, but because I think it's really important for a team like Utah to get these young guys together so they can start playing basketaball as a unit. There is so much potential with the group of Hayward, Favors, Kanter and Burks it would be a shame to see all of that set back a year.
 
I was thinking about a big man but once Greg Monroe was off the board I wasn't too excited about that idea. When Hayward came up I was certainly surprised but was kind of neutral on the pick, because I wasn't that high on guys other guys we could take like George and Aldrich. So I didn't have the feeling like we missed out on a guy. Once I read up more on Hayward I started to get excited about the pick.
 
Hayward is going to be one of the best starting wings in the league in his prime. He is about 100x more versatile then most people think. This season would be crucial in his development. I suspect he'd start and play at least 30 minutes a game. Corbin would be an absolute IDIOT to not play him that much.
 
chitownjazz said:
Hayward is going to be one of the best starting wings in the league in his prime. He is about 100x more versatile then most people think. This season would be crucial in his development. I suspect he'd start and play at least 30 minutes a game. Corbin would be an absolute IDIOT to not play him that much.
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Compelling and rich.
 
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