Lowe: What's real and what's not for the shocking Utah Jazz

[latin jazz]

I explained what I meant by those words. Find some similes if you like.

"Until two weeks ago we seemed poised to dump Favors and acquire Mirotic, arguably a better fit in Quin's system."

That's what I was referring to by the common wisdom comment. They've needed a point guard (playing well) to make it work on offense. They've now got 3. Neto is killing it too.

With Rubio shooting and playing like this, yeah, it works. And Rubio's play is one of the main points of Lowe's article. Maybe Lowe needed to dig a little bit on whether the duo could work in the long term with DM (or with this hot shooting Rubio). But he assumes Favors will be gone.

Unfortunately Favors was injured last year, just when the pair was surrounded with excellent shooting. It was a missed opportunity for the front office to asses the duo.

I like Derrick and it will be difficult to replace him. But he is likely gone.

 

[latin jazz]

You make a lot of good points but I just want to point out the net ratings of the Favors/Gobert duo.

This is not to say that a stretch 4 would not be good or better, but Favors and Gobert together has coexisted and can coexist it seems. Even if it is ugly, it is still overall positive. I'm on the resign Favors bandwagon.

Thanks for the info. No doubt they can coexist when surrounded by the right players. Ideal? Maybe not. As you mentioned, the point is whether or not there are players who could be a better fit in our system, helping us to reach a new level both offensively and defensively.

I would love to have him back at the right price/role. But it's a long shot for both parties.

 

[David Stern]

I’ve noticed that it seems like Favors is taking more mid-range jump shots during this streak, specifically from around the free-throw line. He’s making those shots pretty regularly and looks comfortable doing so.

I think if he doesn’t resign, we’re going to trade for Niko and call it an offseason. I’d assume Burks for Niko straight up would entice the Pelicans, considering they desperately need wing players.


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[hgb]

I’ve noticed that it seems like Favors is taking more mid-range jump shots during this streak, specifically from around the free-throw line. He’s making those shots pretty regularly and looks comfortable doing so.

Favors from the free throw line or thereabouts (preferably straight on, not on either side) in rhythm is a solid shot, IMHO. Not so much if he's not in rhythm.

 

[latin jazz]

I’ve noticed that it seems like Favors is taking more mid-range jump shots during this streak, specifically from around the free-throw line. He’s making those shots pretty regularly and looks comfortable doing so.

I think if he doesn’t resign, we’re going to trade for Niko and call it an offseason. I’d assume Burks for Niko straight up would entice the Pelicans, considering they desperately need wing players.

Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app

I see us trading for Niko as well. They are worried about the tax so I assume they will target one of our non-guaranteed deals plus a filler (Jerebko+Thabo maybe?).

Regarding Thabo. I know the Jazz loves him. But do you guys think he has become redundant now that Crowder is on the roster? If Favors leaves and we don't make a move, then he could have a role next year. But long term we still need a playmaking 4.

 

[infection]

I see us trading for Niko as well. They are worried about the tax so I assume they will target one of our non-guaranteed deals plus a filler (Jerebko+Thabo maybe?).

Regarding Thabo. I know the Jazz loves him. But do you guys think he has become redundant now that Crowder is on the roster? If Favors leaves and we don't make a move, then he could have a role next year.

Yeah, Burks makes no sense as the reason they'd deal Mirotic would be to clear salary. Not sure they do it otherwise. Only way Burks makes sense is if we trade our pick. But I'd reluctantly deal Jerebko and Thabo. However, the rules that preclude you from signing people you've traded or waived apply to the "same season," which is defined as the start of the first game and the day of your last game, so I'm curious how that plays out over the summer, if it's a loophole? If so, I'd tell the agents of both Jerebko and Thabo that "we valued them at x (their non-guaranteed salary) before and we still value them at x, maybe a little more" and I'd bring them both back. We'd still need a backup four and I'm not sure Thabo would have a hotter (financial) market coming off surgery. I wouldn't see any other targets for us to go after either and would have those guys on another 1+1 deal.

But long term we still need a playmaking 4.

 

[MDAV28]

Thanks for the info. No doubt they can coexist when surrounded by the right players. Ideal? Maybe not. As you mentioned, the point is whether or not there are players who could be a better fit in our system, helping us to reach a new level both offensively and defensively.

I would love to have him back at the right price/role. But it's a long shot for both parties.

I mean the point is they have been surrounded by a wide range of players and have been a positive duo together. There is an absolute tradeoff with a stretch 4 (which I mean having a stretch 4 and still having Favors is obviously the idea). The defense will almost certainly not be "reaching a new level" as any stretch 4 that can provide great defense are few and far between. As far as I'm concerned, reaching a new level for this team is basically just acquiring another star, not changing our front court because that is clearly not the problem.

Sure price determines everything, but I don't really see it as a long shot at all.

 

[mellow]

Major fail: The so called "Nashing" was mastered by this guy....

who would drive baseline just to get the defenders heads turned. Sometimes he just dribbled all the way through. But if the defense looked away from Karl, the play ended in a dunk. If they looked away from John he would flip it up quickly.

"Nashing" bah humbug. Know your history!

 

[franklin]

Don't look now, but Gobert-Favors-Ingles-Mitchell-Rubio are the top 5-man unit in minutes played this season and are +12 together.

Gobert-Favors-Ingles-O'Neale-Mitchell have only played 31 minutes together but are +20

Sub in Rodney Hood for Mitchell in that first group and that group was -16 in 115 minutes, the third most used lineup this year.

Favors and Gobert can work together offensively. They are murdering defensively at the rim lately too.

 

[latin jazz]

I mean the point is they have been surrounded by a wide range of players and have been a positive duo together. There is an absolute tradeoff with a stretch 4 (which I mean having a stretch 4 and still having Favors is obviously the idea). The defense will almost certainly not be "reaching a new level" as any stretch 4 that can provide great defense are few and far between. As far as I'm concerned, reaching a new level for this team is basically just acquiring another star, not changing our front court because that is clearly not the problem.

Sure price determines everything, but I don't really see it as a long shot at all.

Rather than assuming the pair works regardless, a positive overall plus-minus should make us inquire which combinations of players with those two works best. And even then, +/- stats can be deceiving. I think is fair to say they need good shooting and playmaking around them.

I agree that having a stretch 4 while keeping Favors is ideal. But that's when the money crunch/roles become a problem and therefore an unlikely scenario IMO. Also agree that the key is finding another star. But ideally it would happen at a position of need, such as PF if Favors leaves.

 

[JohnnyClutch]

Jerebko and Crowder are the stretch 4s you're describing. The different looks they provide keep opponents on their heels. The Jazz are world beaters right now. Favors is a huge part of that. Let's stop pissing him off by including him as gone / trade bait, and let him know we know how important he is.

 

[Ellipse]

Major fail: The so called "Nashing" was mastered by this guy....

who would drive baseline just to get the defenders heads turned. Sometimes he just dribbled all the way through. But if the defense looked away from Karl, the play ended in a dunk. If they looked away from John he would flip it up quickly.

"Nashing" bah humbug. Know your history!

I agree that Stockton did it before Nash, but "Stocktoning" doesn't have the same ring as "Nashing." I suppose Quin could call it "Johning," but that sounds more like something Hood would do.