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Undersized Chucker Theorem

framer

Well-Known Member
So I was thinking today about the draft and realizing that we do need someone to consistently score the ball. The only guarantee that I can see here is Parker, as even Wiggins, gifts and all has some question marks. Unfortunately, the odds of us getting Parker and Wiggins aren't what I would like them to be.

Which brings me to Aaron Gordon. I love Gordon's game, but he will never be a volume scorer in the NBA. But what he CAN do is almost defend every position. That gives us wide latitude on who we can play on the court with him. That gives us the opportunity to play an undersized chucker type. Those guys can be had on the free market, and two or three seem to materialize each year almost out of thin air.

In most cases, having a shorter defensive liability on the floor can hurt, perhaps fatally, a team. Having a rare defensive talent like Gordon allows us to feature such a player. I'm even thinking it will allow us to hide someone like Kanter who won't have to deal with constant penetration from the wing on defense. This will allow him to stay in position which will also improve his rebounding.

I guess I liken it to Jimmer-era BYU. Jimmer was allowed to be so successful because he had a lockdown like Jackson Emery right beside him. Jimmer was always allowed to take the easiest defensive assignment.

Obviously I'm not advocating for Jimmer for this role for the Jazz, but someone like an Ariza or earlier career Ben Gordon could fit that need, and like I said, those kind of guys are available. It may even be that Burke or Burkes could be that guy too.

So is it possible that bringing in a defensive stopper on the wing (who actually does have more skills than the average defensive stopper) could allow us more latitude in constructing our scoring output, or should we bring in another Raw big man like Randall or Vonleh and hope for the best?
 
On offense, we've had a few scenarios with great scorers and a weak link, whether that be Kirilenko or Brewer. Lakers just dared RB and AK to fire away. If Gordon can't hit shots, I don't care how good a defender he is. And the reverse was true with someone like Boozer. Just can't have players that can't perform adequately on both sides.
 
On offense, we've had a few scenarios with great scorers and a weak link, whether that be Kirilenko or Brewer. Lakers just dared RB and AK to fire away. If Gordon can't hit shots, I don't care how good a defender he is. And the reverse was true with someone like Boozer. Just can't have players that can't perform adequately on both sides.

Jazz were pretty good with a fully functional Kirilenko and a Boozer. . .
 
On offense, we've had a few scenarios with great scorers and a weak link, whether that be Kirilenko or Brewer. Lakers just dared RB and AK to fire away. If Gordon can't hit shots, I don't care how good a defender he is. And the reverse was true with someone like Boozer. Just can't have players that can't perform adequately on both sides.

I think Gordon will eventually find his offense. He has the sort of athleticism that will make asserting himself much easier. He should be watching Kawhi tapes 24/7.
 
On offense, we've had a few scenarios with great scorers and a weak link, whether that be Kirilenko or Brewer. Lakers just dared RB and AK to fire away. If Gordon can't hit shots, I don't care how good a defender he is. And the reverse was true with someone like Boozer. Just can't have players that can't perform adequately on both sides.

I also think that Gordon has more offensive potential than AK and especially Brewer. He doesn't need a back cut in order to score, and he's not a complete liability from three point land.
 
Have to be careful about over rating Gordon's D. Yes he can cover all 4 positions, but he won't be a shut down defender at any one position. The big PFs like Aldridge will shoot right over him and establish deep post position. The fleetest SFs will still be able to take him out on the perimeter and drive past him. A good example is how Nene, a true center heavyweight, abused Noah in these playoffs despite Noah being the DPOY. Washington just iso'd Noah everytime down and let nene's +30 pounds and +4 inches of wingspan do the talking. Meanwhile, Nene is shooting 36% against Hibbert this series.
 
Have to be careful about over rating Gordon's D. Yes he can cover all 4 positions, but he won't be a shut down defender at any one position. The big PFs like Aldridge will shoot right over him and establish deep post position. The fleetest SFs will still be able to take him out on the perimeter and drive past him. A good example is how Nene, a true center heavyweight, abused Noah in these playoffs despite Noah being the DPOY. Washington just iso'd Noah everytime down and let nene's +30 pounds and +4 inches of wingspan do the talking. Meanwhile, Nene is shooting 36% against Hibbert this series.

Gordon is 18. Right now he is playing stellar defense on instinct and athleticism. Sean Miller is a good coach, but really didn't have the time to instill two or three years of technique into Gordon. With a couple years of proper defensive coaching, Gordon is just going to improve. With Favors, I don't think we would ever need Gordon to defend a heavy post player. He would be Hell on stretch 4's though and that seems to be the way things are going. . .
 
Have to be careful about over rating Gordon's D. Yes he can cover all 4 positions, but he won't be a shut down defender at any one position. The big PFs like Aldridge will shoot right over him and establish deep post position. The fleetest SFs will still be able to take him out on the perimeter and drive past him. A good example is how Nene, a true center heavyweight, abused Noah in these playoffs despite Noah being the DPOY. Washington just iso'd Noah everytime down and let nene's +30 pounds and +4 inches of wingspan do the talking. Meanwhile, Nene is shooting 36% against Hibbert this series.

Not much of a Gordon advocate, but I've seen him successfully stop point guard drives 1 on 1 several times. How would that translate to a slower sf beating him off the bounce?
 
Gordon ability to drive and pass makes him enough of a threat to the defense. Not to mention his ability to explode around the rim making him a target for easy oops. It'll be great if he can develop a decent jump shot to help with spacing, but he does more than enough IMO to be a quality player even with his scoring limitations.
 
Gordon ability to drive and pass makes him enough of a threat to the defense. Not to mention his ability to explode around the rim making him a target for easy oops. It'll be great if he can develop a decent jump shot to help with spacing, but he does more than enough IMO to be a quality player even with his scoring limitations.

I keep waffling between Vonleh and Gordon if the Jazz land at #5. If they drop to #6, it's likely they'd get one or the other. However, I've read Randle is dropping in the minds of several GM's towards the end of the top-10, so Vonleh and Gordon could easily go 5/6. Winning that tie-breaker may become VERY, VERY important if two teams jump ahead of Utah.
 
Not much of a Gordon advocate, but I've seen him successfully stop point guard drives 1 on 1 several times. How would that translate to a slower sf beating him off the bounce?

The spacing in college is a lot different. He couldn't successfully guard someone like Lillard or Paul. Not without conceding the three point shot anyways. He could guard most NBA SFs, but not all.
 
I keep waffling between Vonleh and Gordon if the Jazz land at #5. If they drop to #6, it's likely they'd get one or the other. However, I've read Randle is dropping in the minds of several GM's towards the end of the top-10, so Vonleh and Gordon could easily go 5/6. Winning that tie-breaker may become VERY, VERY important if two teams jump ahead of Utah.

I guess a lot depends on how the team feels about a Kanter/Favors frontcourt. If that's the future going forward I would say Gordon because while I think Vonleh has some ability to be a wing Gordon is better suited for the role.
 
I think Gordon's lack of offensive feel and reliance on dunks and putbacks drops his draft stock out of the top 7. Maybe that's just me. But if Andre Drummond dropped to 8 because his offensive feel looked limited and he couldn't hit free throws, what does that mean for Aaron Gordon who isn't the same physical specimen?
 
The Jazz don't have a go-to scorer. Until we get one, we shouldn't be wasting a lottery pick on a defensive specialist.
 
I think Gordon's lack of offensive feel and reliance on dunks and putbacks drops his draft stock out of the top 7. Maybe that's just me. But if Andre Drummond dropped to 8 because his offensive feel looked limited and he couldn't hit free throws, what does that mean for Aaron Gordon who isn't the same physical specimen?

Drummond drop because there was questions about his motor and drive to be great. Not just because he was limited.
 
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