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Minutes played so far by player

I looked at the box score and dead men walking Nichols, Gaines, Jeffers, Thompson had some Sloan moments that actually helped the team.
 
....we are dominating the boards and shooting well....what concerns me is low assist totals and still way too many turnovers. Both can be corrected.
 
carolinajazz said:
....we are dominating the boards and shooting well....what concerns me is low assist totals and still way too many turnovers. Both can be corrected.
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Dominating the boards? ESPN has rebounds at 33 Phoenix, 26 Jazz.
Channing Frye appears to be schooling Paul Millsap.

Team assists are about even but Nash really had his way against the Jazz with 10 in just 20 mins.

Don;t want to jinx it, but the Jazz are 18-20 from the line and Phoenix is shooting a Jazz-like 54% from the charoty stripe.



Let's just make it to the 4th quarter with the lead and hand it over to Fesenko.
 
Early on they got us pretty good on the boards, but we closed the gap as the game went on.
Any questions regarding Evans making the roster should've been answered last night. They are not only using him at SF, he is logging minutes at PF too. He really reminds me of a young, even skinnier, Kirilenko. He played some key minutes at PF in the 4th quarter and did very well.
 
I've got to say the biggest surprise thus far has been Gaines. Even the comments from Sloan seem surprisingly positive. That said, I don't see the Jazz keeping 4 PGs, nor do I see Price getting the heave-ho over Gaines. I think Nichols is a sure cut, but Jeffers has also played well. I imagine he might be Flashed. I suppose they might even keep Jeffers while Okur recovers, but I doubt the Jazz go with 15 total. Here's my list for starting the season. Am I forgetting anyone?

PG: Williams/Watson/Price
SG: Miles/Bell/Thompson or Jeffers
SF: AK/Woody
PF: Sap/Evans
C: AJ/Fes/Elson/Memo

Four centers (eventually) is a smart luxury. I think Thompson might get the call if he shows something soon, but I also think he could be one of those classic Jerrycuts that happens before the end of preseason. Check it in a couple of weeks and if I'm right I'm calling the Inquierer and open for business.
 
Good, 'Doc'.
I'd say Kirilenko is gonna be our #1 b/u PF, then Evans.
If we only keep 14, Jeffers could probably be cut and put back in the D-league and no one else would sign him. He'd still be ours if we needed him back. He'd have familiar company with Gaines :cool:.
I'm not so sure about that on Thompson; he might get signed elsewhere if we cut him. Big brother Jason plays for the Kings, and Ryan was in their summer league. They did make him an offer too...
 
I agree that AK will get a lot of burn at PF this season early on. Once Okur comes back I think he'll still see some action there because of his quickness. I will actually be surprised if Evans gets much PT, really. He seems more physically gifted than Matthews, but Matthews certainly knew where to be on the floor at all times. I'm amazed at how many players we've had come through who don't seem to get that if they want PT with Jerry they need to run the plays. Evan's attitude seems great, but I guess it'll remain to be seen how much he picks up how quickly. Thompson, I'd guess, is on pretty thin ice with his play thus far. I doubt, unless he really shows something in practice, that the Jazz would worry too much about someone else signing him, though.
 
Yep; I know Sloan prefers guys who play within the offensive system and give the effort he wants on defense. That can greatly reduce a players numbers on his stat-line. I'm cutting Thompson some slack early-on since he wasn't with our coaches this summer, as he was in Sacramento. Everything I've read says he is buying into our system and "getting it" by working at it after practice and such, so my fingers stay crossed. He's got more offensive talent than Matthews at this stage, who also started slow, in large part 'cause he also worked on staying in the framework of the offense. Thompson seems to be giving that effort on D in games so far, so that helps him too.
I like Raja a lot, but he is 34 and won't be playing major minutes too many years, and Miles seems better suited at SF. With all that, I think we are kinda thin at SG...
 
Good exchanges, Doc and NDY.

This is probably the first year that I look at the TC roster and say that I wish we could keep every guy. Even Nichols contributed last night. Sloan is really talking up the new guys in regards to their effort and basketball IQ. Is he getting soft in his old age?

The final roster decisions are probably determined by what happens in practice more than what we see in the games.

Gotta agree with Doc on the final roster. I see Gaines and Nichols as the most likely cuts. Evans is clearly a better option at SF over Nichols and Price is good enough as the 3rd point and garbage time SG. With the way Gaines has played (and Watson has not), it's almost a shame we signed Earl. But Watson will probably improve as the season progresses and he becomes more comfortable with the Jazz plays.

Jeffers has done everything Sloan wants: fighting for rebounds, playing tough defense. I think he'll earn the 14th roster spot. And I think Thompson will stick with the team until January at least. If the Jazz aren't going to dump AK's salary, then keeping an undrafted rookie doesn't add all that much, even if you're effectively paying 2x his salary.
 
I dont think that sloan has gotten softer this year, but that the guys that pretty much "have not chance" saw what happened last year with a guys that "had no chance". I think that same guy worked his tail off and ended up a starter and got a nice contract. It kind of increases motivation if you dont just hear that everyone has a chance and you have actually seen it happen.

As for rotations:

If Fes can show consistency and Al can get in shape, then big Al may be the back up PF. Sap sits and Al moves to the PF and Fes goes center. Then Milsap can come back in for Al. I have a feeling that Ak will not be called on as much at the PF spot if we can get more production out of the backup center. I actually like Ak at the 3.
It will be an interesting first half of the year as far as rotations go. Might get even better when Okur comes back.
 
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