Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs 7/7/2015 @7pm Mountain Time *Official SL Game Thread*

[Orlandomagicfan]

I agree that Rudy is better, I would rather have him (because his defense is excellent). However, Rudy's offensive ability and what he is asked to do offensively is nothing compared to Vuc. I don't think the gap between the two is as large as your comment implies (admittedly they are very different players).

 

[l Abach l]

Because the rest of the roster was the statistically worst pg and a bunch of d-league players. Although I am not quite sure we have top 5 at all of those positions it is debatable and close to top 5. Enough that its not crazy to argue it. Where would you rank them? out of the top 10 at their positions? or are you ranking them top 6 or 7 and just claiming its homer to have your rankings slightly different by 1 or 2 spots?

3 things to clarify in response to commentary in this thread:

1) There is a wide separation in the talent among the top 5 players lists. The difference of talent between Lebron/Durant/Harden and everyone else is very large in the wing category. Just because a player is a “top 10” player in their respected position doesn’t mean that they’re on par with players better than them. There are a number of tiers within each group, and neither Hayward, Gobert, or Favors are in the 1st tier in their positions.
2) Highly ranked players on your roster need to mesh in order to = success. Quote from KD’s Framily: “We have a top 5 SF, top 5 PF, and top 5 C on our roster, are you kidding me”. Even if our roster had 3 top 5 players on it, that wouldn’t mean jack. case in point - 2012-2013 Lakers: This team was STACKED with “top 3 players”. Kobe/Nash/Howard. They didn’t mesh well together. Let’s take a few of our players for example and place them on last year’s Warriors team. If Hayward or Favors were on that team, both of them would be the 4th best player on their team, behind Curry, Thompson, Draymond, and Iguodola. Again, it’s all about how well players mesh. I’m not attacking our players; I just believe that there are better possible combinations of wings/PFs to go alongside Gobert to maximize our success.
3) Yes our post-kanter trade W/L performance was awesome last year, but if you look at a lot of the wins, MANY of those wins were against teams that were either locked into a playoff spot (resting starters), or were in full on tank mode. Just took a quick glance, and between the Playoff spot teams (Portland and Dallas) and Tank mode teams (2xDenver/NYN/Philly/LAL/Minn/2x Sac), that’s 10 wins that really aren’t all that impressive.

Again, I HOPE the Jazz vastly improve next year and make some noise at getting that 8 seed, but setting my fandom aside, I’m not expecting anything to happen over the next 2 years in a very heavy west.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Pretty bizarre what the Jazz are doing with Hanlan. OH has only played point his entire life and the Jazz are almost exclusively playing at the two. If they are going to judge whether or not he makes the team based on his play this summer, that puts him in a pretty tough spot making him play out of position the whole time.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

The feed cut out for 30s, twice. Overreaction really.

First world problems.

 

[stitches]

Lol @ Vucevic ahead of Gobert! That's ludicrous! Vucevic is a glorified version of Enes.

 

[green]

The only three I'd do for sure are LeBron, Durrant and Wiggins.

I'm not sure I'd do Wiggins for Hayward straight up. Hayward is pretty dang good. Hayward is better than Wiggins right now. The question is how good does Wiggins get? He looks fantastic. But he's not a home run aka Shaq and LeBron.

 

[green]

Here was my take. Hood impressive except for the last defensive play. Hanlan won't make the team. Cunningham had more poise than him. Chris Johnson workman like. The other Johnson looked awkward at times but did some good things. O"Brien hit a big 3 and did some good things. Kind of makes you wonder why Krysko ran him from the U? Cotton looked like a DLeaguer. Motum plays like his back hurts. He needs to get to a chiro or physio before the next game. Still scored in double figures, had a nice assist to Rodney and hit a 3. Cooley again a beast but fouls too much.

Krystokowiak came in and was a lot more discipline oriented. A bunch of kids left right off the bat. O'Brien didn't leave right away but kept looking at other schools. K said that he needs to commit to Utah or leave. He kept waivering so K kicked him to the curb. Came out and said he only wants players that want to be at Utah. It is too bad he left, seeing how well K develops players. O'Brien, Wright and Poeltl would have been very good last year.

 

[green]

Why is Hayward never compared to Pippen? Hayward is a better shooting Pippen. He is very undervalued.

 

[green]

I trade Hayward for LeBron, Harden, Westbrook, Curry and The Brow. That might be it.

 

[Qman]

I trade Hayward for LeBron, Harden, Westbrook, Curry and The Brow. That might be it.

I would be tempted to trade for Towns.

 

[green]

I would be tempted to trade for Towns.

I don't know. Playing in college and playing in the NBA are too different things.

Also, everyone keeps saying Lyles is a poor man's Towns. WTF does that mean? Is Lyles a steal? Is Towns overrated?

 

[Ron Mexico]

3 things to clarify in response to commentary in this thread:

1) There is a wide separation in the talent among the top 5 players lists. The difference of talent between Lebron/Durant/Harden and everyone else is very large in the wing category. Just because a player is a “top 10” player in their respected position doesn’t mean that they’re on par with players better than them. There are a number of tiers within each group, and neither Hayward, Gobert, or Favors are in the 1st tier in their positions.
2) Highly ranked players on your roster need to mesh in order to = success. Quote from KD’s Framily: “We have a top 5 SF, top 5 PF, and top 5 C on our roster, are you kidding me”. Even if our roster had 3 top 5 players on it, that wouldn’t mean jack. case in point - 2012-2013 Lakers: This team was STACKED with “top 3 players”. Kobe/Nash/Howard. They didn’t mesh well together. Let’s take a few of our players for example and place them on last year’s Warriors team. If Hayward or Favors were on that team, both of them would be the 4th best player on their team, behind Curry, Thompson, Draymond, and Iguodola. Again, it’s all about how well players mesh. I’m not attacking our players; I just believe that there are better possible combinations of wings/PFs to go alongside Gobert to maximize our success.
3) Yes our post-kanter trade W/L performance was awesome last year, but if you look at a lot of the wins, MANY of those wins were against teams that were either locked into a playoff spot (resting starters), or were in full on tank mode. Just took a quick glance, and between the Playoff spot teams (Portland and Dallas) and Tank mode teams (2xDenver/NYN/Philly/LAL/Minn/2x Sac), that’s 10 wins that really aren’t all that impressive.

Again, I HOPE the Jazz vastly improve next year and make some noise at getting that 8 seed, but setting my fandom aside, I’m not expecting anything to happen over the next 2 years in a very heavy west.

1. I dont think anyone think our Jazz players are tier 1 at their positions. I think most of us are hoping that Gobert and Exum make strides and become tier 1 but I have not heard anyone say they are tier 1 yet.
2. Kober/Nash/Howard were not tier 1 players that year. Nash and Kobe were quickly declining and injuries plagued that team. But of course teams need to mesh, likes our did last season and are continuing to do. Also Draymond Green was the 4th best player on the Warriors and Favors and Hayward are better players than him. He is a good versatile defender but not that great of a scorer. He also played on a team where the focus was on Curry and Thompson. If you swapped Green or Milsap for Favors or Hayward our team is worse.
3. I am not worried about out W/L last season. The eye test showed me they were greatly improved and played very well against teams fighting for the playoffs/ playoff position.