The Paperboy!

[Hopper]

Yes, but he also couldn't play anything resembling defense, just like Boozer.

A little hyperbolic, doncha think? Yeah, he couldn't shut down 7-footers like Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, but that doesn't mean he played "no semblance" of defense. For the playoffs this year the Paperboy was (is) 16th in blocks per game, even though he played relatively few minutes compared to most of those ahead of him, most of whom are centers.

Like the coaches say:

COMPETITIVE SOUL--Coach Steve Finamore

Last night I was watching the Suns and Jazz go at it on ESPN. Jeff Van Gundy made a comment about Jazz forward Paul Millsap. JVG said Millsap is one of only a few NBA players with a ‘competitive soul’.

If you watch Millsap, he plays with energy. He rebounds, hustles, defends and blocks shots. He had one sequence last night on defense when he was in the help position in the middle of the key, he stopped the ball and Steve Nash dished it off to Millsap’s man on the right box. Millsap recovered and was able to block the shot. You don’t see many players ‘help and recover’ very well. It’s a part of the game that is under-taught and rarely executed. It takes desire and hustle to help and recover.

JVG’s partner Mark Jackson former NBA player said Millsap is the type of guy who will not show you anything in an individual workout. He’s right, ‘help and recover’ drills are never on display in an individual workout. It’s mostly all shooting.

So, then, to kinda sum it all up, and all....


The Paperboy, he ROCKS, eh!?

 

[Hopper]

Charley Rosen, after a Jazz/Mavs game back in February:

Is Millsap worth the lengthy, mega-bucks contract he signed during the off-season?

• ABSOLUTELY!!!
Thanks to Paul Millsap, the Jazz are doing all right without the injured Carlos Boozer.


• He was 10-for-16 from the field and scored his 25 points in a variety of ways: Power layups. Face-up step-back jumpers. A flip and three free throws that were earned on the run. Popping off a weak-side screen, then nailing a 17-footer. Making several slashing dive cuts that led to easy layups and dunks.

• His single assist was a beauty. After getting his hands on a tough offensive rebound, Millsap make a nifty touch pass that Miles turned into a layup.

• On defense, he played Nowitzki aggressively and was hurt mostly when he had to help and left Nowitzki open to receive kick-out-passes and then bury jumpers. All told, Nowitzki tallied 16 of his 28 points against Millsap.

• On the other hand, Millsap shut down Drew Gooden and made several timely rotations (four blocks and several intimidations).

• He was also a mighty presence on the boards (a team-high nine rebounds) and set numerous sturdy screens.

LINK

 

[Hopper]

The last two seasons, Sap has shown he's a more than adequate passer (especially when he was starting).

During the playoffs, Boozer had 3 assists/game, not bad for a PF, but the Paperboy had 2.2 himself (in less minutes, of course). On a per 48 basis, it was only 3.6 to 3.3. The paperboy had a substantially better assist to turnover ratio, though (1.7 to 1.25).

 

[YB85]

One of the issues to be considered with Millsap filling Boozer's role is that the Jazz don't have anyone to fill Millsap's role. And it will need to be filled for those all-too-frequent nights he gets into foul trouble.

 

[Deleted member 365]

Not sure if it matters much as long as neither plays with a dominate center. In order for Boozer to win a championship, he'll need to play along somebody long, athletic, who can block shots and help him dominate on the boards. Somebody like Brooke Lopez or Dwight Howard. that's to win a championship. Otherwise, he'll continue to be what he's been his whole career, a nice complimentary piece that gets 20 and 10 and yell a lot.

As for the Jazz winning a championship w/Millsap, it's not going to happen until the Jazz acquire somebody like the two centers mentioned above. Sure Milllsap will play hard, just like Carl Landry and Leon Powe and David West. But none of those guys are going to lead a team to a championship without some big time help from the 5.

And Boom Bitches and Krispy Kreme don't qualify as dominate centers IMO.

 

[Hopper]

One of the issues to be considered with Millsap filling Boozer's role is that the Jazz don't have anyone to fill Millsap's role. And it will need to be filled for those all-too-frequent nights he gets into foul trouble.

Have ya clean forgot about AK, Blood, or you just figure he's gone?

 

[Stifle Tower]

Millsap has missed SIX games in 4 years.
And he's played hurt when he probably should have sat out, just because Utah had no other options at PF.

IMO, $15M is better spent elsewhere. If people think Carlos would sign for less than that to remain in Utah, they're delusional.

 

[bat]

I want to see Aldrich and Millsap side by side fighting for rebounds.

 

[YB85]

Have ya clean forgot about AK, Blood, or you just figure he's gone?

Slipped my mind. Out of sight and all.

 

[sirkickyass]

Charley Rosen

Did not read. Destined to suck.

 

[Hopper]

Did not read. Destined to suck.

The close-mindedness of it all, Kicky, I tellya! Rosen, he ROCKS, eh!? And he knows the Paperboy rocks, which makes him ROCK even more.

 

[Deleted member 365]

Slipped my mind. Out of sight and all.

It's just so easy to forget AK when he misses so many games.

Besides, we should think proactively and take into consideration the 30+ games he'll miss due to injury. In that case your original question of, "Who will take Millsap's backup spot?" remains unanswered.

We just flat out cannot depend on AK.

Despite Millsap's hard work, I'm unconvinced that his body can hold up to the beating of a regular NBA season.

This whole problem becomes worse when you consider Memo's uncertain situation and Krispy Kreme's and Boom Bitch's lack of progression.

The Jazz are in a huge bind IMO this next year. They're going into the 10-11 season without anyone proven, consistent, or durable at the 4-5 spot. Even if we somehow trade up and end up with Cousins or Favors, we still don't know what to expect out of them since they're rookies.