Phoenix @ Utah 7 pm MT

[InGameStrategy]

Gaines and Jeffers seem like the clear cuts to me. Gaines isnt the defender Price or Watson are, and he doesnt have the natural PG skills of Watson or the knowledge of the offense like Price. Jeffers is a good hustle guy, but lets face the facts, he is a 6-3 SG who cant shoot.

Which is an even bigger problem than a 6'7" SG who can't shoot (Brewer).

Gaines, you're likable and all, but as a backup PG, you gotta be able to distribute the ball.

 

[hilltopper06]

Evans guarding Garret Siler at the end (and getting completely out muscled) is what his college career was most nights. I think he can add some strength and bulk, but he is much better suited for SF/stretch PF. He cannot guard a 6-11/305lbs monster like Siler (or even a 6-9 - 270lbs college center like he saw most nights). Don't get me wrong, he would block shots against those guys, but he would consistently get beat up trying to stop them, when he should have been dominating a 6-5 college SF.

As for the midrange game, he has it, but has no confidence behind it, due to his college coaching (or lack thereof). Once Sloan convinces/forces him to take that shot, he will make it with consistency.

 

[UB]

All I know is the warmup jackets the Jazz were wearing tonight are ill. I mean. ILL.

 

[billyshelby]

Gaines and Jeffers seem like the clear cuts to me. Gaines isnt the defender Price or Watson are, and he doesnt have the natural PG skills of Watson or the knowledge of the offense like Price. Jeffers is a good hustle guy, but lets face the facts, he is a 6-3 SG who cant shoot.

Gaines is being showcased. The Jazz are being nice helping him to catch on somewhere else. But I think you're wrong about Jeffers. He looked good in his minutes. He took one shot I didn't think he should take. Otherwise, he was very active and definitely has the system down cold. Maybe Thompson is pushing him, but Nichols is gone, and it's down to the Jeffers and Thompson.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Evans guarding Garret Siler at the end (and getting completely out muscled) is what his college career was most nights. I think he can add some strength and bulk, but he is much better suited for SF/stretch PF. He cannot guard a 6-11/305lbs monster like Siler (or even a 6-9 - 270lbs college center like he saw most nights). Don't get me wrong, he would block shots against those guys, but he would consistently get beat up trying to stop them, when he should have been dominating a 6-5 college SF.

As for the midrange game, he has it, but has no confidence behind it, due to his college coaching (or lack thereof). Once Sloan convinces/forces him to take that shot, he will make it with consistency.

I think they will encourage him to take that shot soon, just want him to learn the offense first.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The kid has so much ability. He's the best athlete on the entire floor tonight, and I'd bet he's in the top 5% in the entire NBA. He also knows how to play 5 on 5. But he can't create his own shot obviously which he should have been taught. Thank god he wasn't. He's going to be a player in this league.

Dwill is a better athlete

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Gaines is being showcased. The Jazz are being nice helping him to catch on somewhere else. But I think you're wrong about Jeffers. He looked good in his minutes. He took one shot I didn't think he should take. Otherwise, he was very active and definitely has the system down cold. Maybe Thompson is pushing him, but Nichols is gone, and it's down to the Jeffers and Thompson.

Still, what if someone gets injured? Do you really want Jeffers coming in, cutting to the basket, then getting stuffed down low? Or him taking a 17 foot and clanking it badly? Thompson or Nichols both looked like serviceable defenders who could both finish and shoot.

Jeffers is basically Brewer minus finishing ability and passing ability, which is basically a player you never want on the floor as your SG.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Gaines is being showcased. The Jazz are being nice helping him to catch on somewhere else. But I think you're wrong about Jeffers. He looked good in his minutes. He took one shot I didn't think he should take. Otherwise, he was very active and definitely has the system down cold. Maybe Thompson is pushing him, but Nichols is gone, and it's down to the Jeffers and Thompson.

I have a bad feeling Jeffers will be getting kept over Thompson, which is a mistake. Jeffers plays like a PF but is 6'4 and thus will always get mixed results against even the smallest opposing frontcourts.
Thompson is a knock down shooter despite struggling with his shot and once he gets comfortable could help us more than Jeffers.

 

[Siro]

Still, what if someone gets injured? Do you really want Jeffers coming in, cutting to the basket, then getting stuffed down low? Or him taking a 17 foot and clanking it badly? Thompson or Nichols both looked like serviceable defenders who could both finish and shoot.

Jeffers is basically Brewer minus finishing ability and passing ability, which is basically a player you never want on the floor as your SG.

I agree. Gains is not needed, and Jeffers is too small and can't shoot. I love both guys, but I doubt they'll make it.

Nichols is a bit of a hopper, but he seemed aggressive and motivated. I bet he makes it.

 

[WeakSauce]

I can see that. He just seems like the type of guy who would have accepted his "place" under the stars of the team. But you should have had a coach who wouldn't let him accept that place. No way there is 2 guys in your conference with his natural ability. You just don't let a guy like that be a role player.

I very much agree. But the 2nd coach he had here wanted him to be more agressive and take on more of a scoring role. Jeremy responded in a leadership way, but not on a consistant nightly basis. Jeremy did have to play out of position alot here just becuase of his athleticism and our lack of a good big man the last couple seasons.

 

[billyshelby]

Dwill is a better athlete

No he isn't. DWill is a much better basketball player, far more skilled. But he isn't anywhere near Evans athletic ability. He gets sky high in a millisecond. He covers 10 feet like he's stepping sideways. He's a pure freak athletically. It may never translate, but I was amazed at how much he stands out on an NBA floor for his athleticism.

 

[candrew]

Evans need to give some of that loose juice to Hayward - the kid skips around the court like he doesn't have a care in the world.

Hayward looks horrified that his next mistake is going to land him on the bus back to Indiana.

Jeffers plays with heart and hustle but the sad fact is he isn't an NBA talent. Nichols or Thompson should make the team before he does.

I forgot the one good thing about Raja Bell - when he raises his defensive intensity - so does AK. You saw a lot of that in the 03-04 season.