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.
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.
