Millsap and double teams

[Jerry Lundegaard]

Every year since he was drafted the 2nd round, Millsap has been one of my all-time favorite Jazzmen and will continue to be. Throughout his career, he could do no wrong in my eyes because of all the positives he's provided.

This year, more so than any, he's starting to get double teamed a lot. Some of that has to do with our piss-poor three-point shooting percentages, but most of it has to do with opposing teams starting to respect him as a legitimate threat.

He rarely saw double teams since he's been in the league, but this year he's been pretty brutal passing out of them and/or recognizing when it's coming. I'd imagine every opponent he played at Louisiana Tech doubled him every game, but I've never seen any film on him at Tech so I don't know how he looked.

Hopefully they work on that with him in practice, but his struggles this season have been due in large part to that. Teams see the film and they will continue to come until he proves he can still be dangerous passing out of it (and our perimeter players making the opposition pay by knocking down shots), or makes quicker moves before the help arrives.

I'm happy that Millsap is starting to get the respect he deserves from the opposition (still doesn't get any ****ing calls from the miserable officials), but now he's got to respond. That's what separates serviceable starters from All Stars. Here's to hoping he starts to adjust!

Go Jazz!

 

[vslice02]

This year, more so than any, he's starting to get double teamed a lot. Some of that has to do with our piss-poor three-point shooting percentages, but most of it has to do with opposing teams starting to respect him as a legitimate threat.

He rarely saw double teams since he's been in the league, but this year he's been pretty brutal passing out of them and/or recognizing when it's coming. I'd imagine every opponent he played at Louisiana Tech doubled him every game, but I've never seen any film on him at Tech so I don't know how he looked.

Hopefully they work on that with him in practice, but his struggles this season have been due in large part to that. Teams see the film and they will continue to come until he proves he can still be dangerous passing out of it (and our perimeter players making the opposition pay by knocking down shots), or makes quicker moves before the help arrives.

Two Problems I've been seeing with Millsap when he get's double-teamed:
1. Sap doesn't possess a traditional post game in the sense that he's going to hold the ball, pound the dribble and back you down like a Malone, Boozer or most of the other better low-post scorers in the league. When he does post he'll try and flash quickly, seal and establish position and get the shot up quickly - but mostly when he gets the ball he'll step off the block and look to face-up, jab-step then attack 1-on-1. On these occasions - the double team comes when he's put the ball on the floor and is in the middle of making his move so he doesn't have a chance to burn it quickly - and as a teammate it's hard to cut down the lane when you're also trying to clear the middle out so Sap can look to drive.

2. Also, when the double comes - Sap often ends up running away from the help (usually to the baseline) and getting caught falling out of bounds making a poor pass instead of moving towards the middle of the floor and keeping all of his passing options open. Part of this is his size - he doesn't have the height advantage to see over most double-teams and pass out of it - but he can't keep going baseline everytime time help comes because it cuts his passing options in half.

Unlike "you know who" Paul is a very good passer with good vision for a 4 so I don't see this as a major longterm concern - just a new wrinkle he's dealing with that he'll need to adjust to.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Millsap has to learn it's a whole new world in the starting lineup opposed to coming off the bench. His opposite numbers all seem to be taller AND stronger. He needs to perfect his moves, be QUICKER to recognize what the D is and more quickly respond appropriately to it. I'm sure he wants to wait 'til the double team actually comes to free up a teammate, but due to his smaller size, his passing lanes close up more quickly, often resulting in turnovers.