Preseason Game 1: Utah @ Portland, Monday Dec 19th, 8pm MST

[Dr. Jones]

When he learns to hit the open man out of those double teams he'll take a big step.

We saw Enes, in Euroleague, rebounding big but unable to make a pass, then he got it down after just a couple games.
We saw him missing too many shots, then within a few games was hitting them.
Same with rotations, etc.

I'm not implying he'll get it all together in a few games, or even this year, but I bet a whole lot of people will find it remarkable how well he'll get better from game to game.

 

[billyshelby]

This team has so many system issues that the player problems don't matter. But on the player side, Bell is a killer. He just ruins any offense he plays in, and he can't play effective D any more. As to lesser players, Kanter has to get sidelined. He shows a lot of promise banging inside, but he's a worthless defender right now. Bell and Kanter are the guys that need to get taken out of the rotation as we try to implement Ty's schemes (whatever they are, because right now they don't look too great.)

 

[Sneakers]

This team has so many system issues that the player problems don't matter. But on the player side, Bell is a killer. He just ruins any offense he plays in, and he can't play effective D any more. As to lesser players, Kanter has to get sidelined. He shows a lot of promise banging inside, but he's a worthless defender right now. Bell and Kanter are the guys that need to get taken out of the rotation as we try to implement Ty's schemes (whatever they are, because right now they don't look too great.)

Kanter needs to be taken out? Uh, no

 

[Darkwing Duck]

Couple more observations:

- Gordon Hayward's size and athleticism is an advantage at the SG, but not as much at the SF. Hayward and Luke Babbit were playing one another to a virtual draw, and Gordon didn't seem to have as many opportunities to create.

- The Jazz completely lack an identity, like they have no clue who on the team they can build around, and they're rotating too many players. They didn't really commit to Jefferson when he was in. They didn't really go to Favors early in the shot clock either, which is a no-brainer.

- It's very difficult to develop chemistry, spacing, timing, etc. when there are too many players and a lack of continuity.

Harping mentioned the bad screening, but I also think the Jazz didn't fight through the defense on screens enough. That's my opinion on why the offense looked pretty bad. I'd be screaming at players for that. I'd definitely question their manhood for letting the Blazers stop the off ball screen so effectively. With how aggressive Portland was in defending those plays, the Jazz should have drawn 45 fouls instead of 30.

 

[MVP]

Did you offer to send Greg an extra $10M to cover Wes' salary + the luxury tax penalty? I don't think anyone will argue that losing Matthews didn't hurt. Actually, it's pretty ironic that being on the hook for the outrageous salary to AK pretty much sealed the fate of Matthews when Portland offered him all that $.

You have a chance to lock the talent on your team - you do it no matter the cost if you want to have winning team..but Jazz always were happy at being good but not great at plugging roster holes with cheap mediocre/scrub options ( palacio, mcleod, handlogten, moore, gugliota, knight, hart, brown, cheaney, amaechi, etc, etc.) Why you do not speak about Okur's 11 mil salary? Two years extension which was a waste last year and does not look that it will be good this year either. No Okur last year and we would have Matthews locked for 5years!!! Nothing is going to change with this franchise, they will be happy to sell tickets and be profitable. Winning championship is not on the list.

 

[underKANTER]

ideal starting lineup:

c- favors 28 min / kanter 20 min
pf- millsap 28 min / favors 7 min / evans 9 min / kanter 4 min
sf- hayward 20 min / howard 18 min / millsap 5 min / evans 5 min
sg- miles 25 min / burks 15 min / hayward 8
pg- harris 26 min / watson 16 min / burks 6 min

- players that have to go: jefferson, bell and okur
(but you can keep okur as a veteran and for mentoring rookie kanter. we can sign him for cheap after this season and get him from the bench for limited minutes, injuries).

- players that i would like to see going: harris. we need a pass-first guard who can distribute the ball, find the open man. a pure guard.

- ideal return for jefferson, harris and bell via trade: a starting caliber pure point guard who is a pass-first point guard, a boarderline all-star. we might get a draft pick as well or so. plus we still lack a solid player from the three point line, who can shoot lights out (and is consistent) à la korver. this would help for our ball rotation, we need to pass better, find the open man who can shoot from the outside.

 

[Deleted member 848]

This team has so many system issues that the player problems don't matter. But on the player side, Bell is a killer. He just ruins any offense he plays in, and he can't play effective D any more. As to lesser players, Kanter has to get sidelined. He shows a lot of promise banging inside, but he's a worthless defender right now. Bell and Kanter are the guys that need to get taken out of the rotation as we try to implement Ty's schemes (whatever they are, because right now they don't look too great.)

Are you serious?? Tell me one thing that Okur did better than Kanter in todays game.

 

[Zulu]

Man it was great to see some basketball!!!

Favors- Looks like he will be at the top of the most improved list in the league for this season. He was beastly!!
Burks- the boy can play, that pick-n-roll he ran with favors was amazing. If he gets time this season he will be our starting 2.
Kanter- Looks like he will be Milsap but with hieght. Loved his intesity, probably ran too many plays for him instead of favors when they were both out there.
Hayward- Dude needs to slow down and remeber what he did at the end of last season.
Okur- I was honestly thinking he still had something left in the tank, needs to come off the bench and earn his playing time.
Harris- good passes please!! I hope its just pre-season rust that had him play that bad.
Howard- looked to prove something off the bat, didn't play well but looked to be capable once he knows the system.
Jefferson- not much to say looked to be were he was last year, showed some rust.
CJ- Dude you had me excited, then well you all saw the game. Vintage CJ!
Watson-Best offseason move we made! He will win us games!

Can't wait for wednesday and see how the team responds to our fans!

 

[freakazoid]

Okur's career has to be over. He's slow...

I think he could still have some value to playoff team as a scoring threat off the bench. That's how Utah should be showcasing him. Let him come in and knock down a few threes, then get his *** back out before he actually has to guard anyone.

Utah needs to try and get some trade value out of him.

 

[Fishsticks]

mharpring15:
I think its safe to assume tonights starting lineup will not be the starting lineup come opening night for the jazz

Thanks for the insight matthew. Someone close this clowns twitter account before he starts to believe he is important.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Thanks for the insight matthew. Someone close this clowns twitter account before he starts to believe he is important.

too late

 

[billyshelby]

Are you serious?? Tell me one thing that Okur did better than Kanter in todays game.

Kanter was terrible. Yeah, he plays OK in the paint (awful in the high post). But he's horrific defensively right now. And he's even getting schooled in the low post. He's far away from being useful in an actual pro game.