Jazz Bench

[Kenwood]

Depth is a huge issue right now. I just wrote on it last night, but in the last 4 games, 6 players have taken 83% of the minutes. That has worked OK over these last 4 games (winning 3), but what about next week when they play 4 road games in 5 nights? What about at the 50 game mark?

My hope is that Sloan is circling the wagons for now, but that someone (ANYONE) will be a little more ready so he can spread the minutes a little more soon. Plus Okur will be back eventually, and maybe even Evans' return can help out.

 

[NotDeadYet]

In my eyes, there is a complete lack of leadership on the 2nd unit. I'd rather see Miles starting at SG and use Raja Bell as the b/u SG. He is much more seasoned and has very good leadership qualities. I knew Watson wasn't Deron Williams, but being new to the organization, he's not a good candidate. CJ is justtoo young and prone to mistakes. Raja Bell is well known and respected, and is a solid, ALL ROUND player. Whatever a team needs, he can deliver it. IMO, a perfect 6th-man candidate!
CJ would have the pressure of scoring every time he touches the ball quickly removed if he were with the starting unit...

 

[GoJazz]

If you bring Raja off the bench who scores on the second unit?

 

[Doc Cherno]

I don't actually think we'll see much of the 2nd unit at all until the starters show that they can gel and understand their defensive rotations. Sloan obviously can't let the starters play 48 minutes so he'll continue to spell the starters, but I don't think there'll be a 2nd unit rotation to speak of until about 15 games in.

 

[InGameStrategy]

If you bring Raja off the bench who scores on the second unit?

You write as if CJ Miles has been scoring "on" the second unit.

Purely coincidentally, both Bell and Miles are shooting an embarrassing 35.6% now, so from that standpoint, it's an even swap. On a FG% basis, Hayward would be a better (less bad) choice.

 

[InGameStrategy]

I don't actually think we'll see much of the 2nd unit at all until the starters show that they can gel and understand their defensive rotations. Sloan obviously can't let the starters play 48 minutes so he'll continue to spell the starters, but I don't think there'll be a 2nd unit rotation to speak of until about 15 games in.

Boxing out and getting pwned off the dribble has little to do with "gelling." Besides, 4 of 5 starters are Jazz returnees, so that would mean that Jefferson is the only one who needs to "gel". If you look at the first 3 highlights of the Warriors game, AJ is just standing around. That should be enough for any coach who preaches defense and practice what he preaches to reduce his minutes. Jefferson can "gel" in 30 minutes per game about as easily as 35 or 40. Meanwhile, the centers can actually control the paint and enable the other players to do better on both ends of the court.

On the wing, I support the experiment of starting CJ, given that Miles has been cold so far on average coming off the bench and given that Bell hasn't exactly distinguished himself in the starting lineup.