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My take on the season so far

Chris

Well-Known Member
This has been an interesting season so far, to say the least. To have the kind of start that the Jazz have had and then to turn it around in such a dramatic fashion -- that has the potential (especially on a young team) to create massive amounts of belief, which is what championships are built on. I'm not saying that we'll win a championship this year -- it's certainly too early to tell -- but I can say for sure that we're headed in the right direction.

Tyrone Corbin is doing a very good job coaching this young team. I like that he has been willing to do one thing that Sloan never did: alter the playing minutes in a fluid fashion based on defensive effort and protecting the ball. I know Sloan would often give minutes to those who practiced hard and got after it during game time, but he was never willing to sub as often and keep guys on their toes as much as Corbin does. That alone is a major factor in why the Jazz have had such a remarkable turn-around.

As for the players, I really like this group, from top to bottom. Our third-stringers (Tinsley, Evans, etc.) could get serious minutes on other teams. Even the players I could do without (like Raja Bell -- a starter...really?!) have a role on this team. Granted, some should have different roles than they do (i.e. Raja should be far down the bench and should come in primarily as a defensive stopper). I also think we could upgrade at the point by moving Devin Harris, but he's fine for now. There is something to be said for team chemistry, which I feel like the Jazz didn't have earlier on this season, hence the abysmal start. But that's what they're developing in a seemingly exponential way as the season progresses. This is in no small part due to Corbin's focus on giving guys minutes in the unpredictable manner in which he is. Keep guys on their toes and give them time on the floor based on effort. Forget the size of their contracts. Keep the guys playing together and you'll win games.

We certainly have room to improve. Some players are off to a slow start, like my boy Gordon Hayward. I wasn't keen on him when the Jazz drafted him but he proved himself worthy of our respect last season, when he showed flashes of potential. So, he's struggling this season, but he has what it takes to overcome this slow start. And I believe he will -- we and he need to be patient.

Where do we go from here? One of the things the Jazz have been known for in the past is passing the ball as a team. We could stand to do more of that. We're finally playing defense, which is a building block for success, no matter who you ask. So, keep playing defense, rebound as aggressively as we have been, pass the ball, communicate on both ends of the floor, and be willing to contribute in any way (i.e. for 35 minutes or 3) that you can. This young team is well suited to run the floor and get points in transition, which they have been doing.

This Utah team is built precisely for the kind of season that this is: a short season with lots of back to back games. A young, DEEP team like this that can play defense, dominate the paint, avoid injuries, and play together is going to excel in the season as currently constituted. Again, I'm not saying that they're going to make a huge playoff run, but they do have a LOT of advantages that other teams do not. Teams that are built around 2-3 guys and have scrubs trying to keep the game close. Keep plugging away, Jazz, and we'll all be pleasantly surprised.
 
What's been so promising is that we've been critical to just about every player on the roster, except Millsap, for weak production at least a couple times this year yet here we sit at 9-4. Definitely a great reason to love this team because when someone is falling off it seems like 2 players are picking up the slack.
 
Good OP. Corbin is awesome. Couple adds-

Raja's PT has been justified with the team's new identity- tough, smart team defense. His attitude and hustle (along with Millsap and Watson's) is being adopted more and more by the whole team every game. That's what keeps him on the court. It's really a breath of fresh air to see guys like Jefferson and CJ look to take charges and rotate. CJ could be a very good defender if he decides to dedicate himself. He has all the tools.

Paul Millsap's mid range game is a deadly weapon against modern NBA defense. He's so efficient. Everything I've read this year points towards stats and metrics defining areas of the floor that are less efficient to shoot from, and defenses are designed to concede these shots. Millsap, Kobe and Dirk are all excellent shooting from this no-man's land. The improved man defense from him is just amazing as well. He looks like Raja getting up in player's bodies and poking the ball out. As mentioned elsewhere Paul should be Captain hands-down. He's Utah's best player.

IMO Utah is running somewhere around 40% of the total offense, if that. Seems like we see something new every week. This last game it was Jefferson coming open at the top of the key, receiving the ball and handing it off to an open Harris. Kind of an awkward but effective screen since obviously defenders can't just run into a ball handler. Nice play. Hopefully next time we see it that will be Hayward taking that shot, it's so open and easy, and that soft hand-off pass has to make it even easier.

The Dallas game tomorrow will be huge. I hope like hell we get our nicked up guys back for this game, we need every man.
 
I'll be the first to admit that before the season began I pegged the Jazz for 20-25 wins, and then after the first two games I really thought they'd struggle to get to 20. I still think their record is a little misleading, but the way they are playing has caused me to completely change my opinion and I really think all the credit should go to Corbin.
 
when someone is falling off it seems like 2 players are picking up the slack.

Excellent point. Again, the value of having a deep, young team such as ours and a coach who's willing to play anyone on the bench is going to be worth its weight in gold in this 66-game season. What's nice is that we don't have any more Jarron Collinses or Kosta Koufoses who are on the team just because we can't afford anyone better.

The Jazz are spending their money better than they've spent it in a while. Is it perfect (i.e. Harris' or Jefferson's salary)? No, but it's getting there, and it's better than dropping $17 mill on AK, who would play a fraction of the year and then play a fraction as well as he was capable of in the games that he did play. I believe that every member of this squad has a role to fill and they are largely doing exactly that thus far.
 
I'll be the first to admit that before the season began I pegged the Jazz for 20-25 wins, and then after the first two games I really thought they'd struggle to get to 20. I still think their record is a little misleading, but the way they are playing has caused me to completely change my opinion and I really think all the credit should go to Corbin.

I definitely agree. I felt the same way. My wife asked me if I was interested in getting League Pass, since I don't get many Jazz games out here in Massachusetts. But I told her "No, the Jazz probably won't do too well this season -- it's a rebuilding year." Well, egg on my face. I don't want to get ahead of myself and be too positive about their chances, but I like the direction they're headed.
 
If I have one criticism, it's that there is no AK. Not really a criticism, I guess, just wish he could be part of this. IMO with Corbin rewarding production the way he is and how he's making the D rotations easier AK47 would truly shine.
 
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I think this team is showing what you can achieve when you believe in each other, and can play together without all the peripheral drama and infighting.

Everyone seems to be on the same page, and this team hasn't looked like that in years.
 
Have we ever seen two bigs hugging each other after a shot in the regular season?
Ok, it was just Al, but Sap let him.
They are enjoying playing together, and Al is passing.
If Al had 4 assists last night, he must have passed the ball at least 8 times.
 
Al really has expanded his capabilities on offense as far as system-issues are concerned. He's still about the so and test big out there despite his talk of how he 'get nasty'. And it looks like he just HATES running the floor or simply can't do it. Also still not very good at pick-and-roll (which makes a lot of sense considering that he doesn't like contact or running).

But considering his slowly learning how to play basketball better, those might be nit-pickier issues at this point. Nobody's perfect.
 
Have we ever seen two bigs hugging each other after a shot in the regular season?
Ok, it was just Al, but Sap let him.
They are enjoying playing together, and Al is passing.
If Al had 4 assists last night, he must have passed the ball at least 8 times.

Al has been passing alot more and Millsap is becoming the more dominante offensive threat lately. That jump shot he has is deadly. I wonder what is midrange % is? I'd guess over 50%. This team has each others backs and plays as a unit. They play Jazz basketball.
 
Al has been passing alot more and Millsap is becoming the more dominante offensive threat lately. That jump shot he has is deadly. I wonder what is midrange % is? I'd guess over 50%. This team has each others backs and plays as a unit. They play Jazz basketball.

I'm not saying that he's Karl Malone, but Karl brought a lot of the same things to the floor that Paul does. Paul is tough as nails, rebounds, has a great work ethic, is aggressive, has a sweet stroke, plays good defense, and runs the floor. Like many here, I thought that we should consider trading him, but given the way he's performing, we need to keep him in town for the duration. Paul has a great future ahead of him -- imagine if that jump shot gets even better! And you're right -- these guys ARE playing Jazz basketball.
 
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