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Veteran free agent defenders

NotDeadYet

NotDeadYet

Well-Known Member
In years past, VFA's rarely chose to come to Utah. Yeah, we got Boozer and Okur, but neither is great shakes defensively. IMO, we landed 3 great fits for our system, which hasn't always been the case. We needed more tough defenders, and I think we got'em this season!
Watson, IMO, is a way better defender than any prior b/u PG's we've signed. Though not a great shooter, he is more consistant pushing the ball and drawing fouls, and setting up scoring opportunities for teammates. Better b/u than a shoot-first PG...
Raja Bell kinda just fell into our laps... Maybe Matthews+Korver could become Bell, but then Bell right now is a much more savvy veteran... Good all-round SG; no real weakness.
And Elson, though not the scorer Okur is or Boozer was, is a way more active, physical defender. Offfensively, he can score, but doesn't need to to be effective.
 
Also, I think the friendship between Raja and AK will inspire Andrei to have a better year. I loved that flop by Raja against Kobe last night. Bryant didn't bump him that hard but Raja flopped onto the deck like a freshly-caught trout.

Watson was impressive burning clock last night in the 4th. And unlike Price or Gaines, he then had the skill to get by the defender and take it to the hoop, instead of launching up a desperation 25-footer.

Elson is a big unknown. I'll admit I was underwhelmed with the signing. But he played pretty well last night. I think he can give the Jazz some rebounding, a decent mid-range game and a lot of toughness.

The game was FUGLY in parts last night, but it was entertaining to see the Lakers getting frustrated. Blake lost his cool, Kobe was not very pleased and Gasol looked like he was ready to cry.

Now I want to see us play Miami. Raja can frustrate DWade, AK can slow down Lebron and Jefferson can negate Bosh.
 
GlassEater said:
Also, I think the friendship between Raja and AK will inspire Andrei to have a better year. I loved that flop by Raja against Kobe last night. Bryant didn't bump him that hard but Raja flopped onto the deck like a freshly-caught trout.

Watson was impressive burning clock last night in the 4th. And unlike Price or Gaines, he then had the skill to get by the defender and take it to the hoop, instead of launching up a desperation 25-footer.

Elson is a big unknown. I'll admit I was underwhelmed with the signing. But he played pretty well last night. I think he can give the Jazz some rebounding, a decent mid-range game and a lot of toughness.

The game was FUGLY in parts last night, but it was entertaining to see the Lakers getting frustrated. Blake lost his cool, Kobe was not very pleased and Gasol looked like he was ready to cry.

Now I want to see us play Miami. Raja can frustrate DWade, AK can slow down Lebron and Jefferson can negate Bosh.
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No one on the team has ever come close to slowing down lebron. Lebron has career games against us
 
The veteran presence on this team is overwhelming compared to past years. I honestly think this is the best team we've had since the late 90's.

You can see from preseason stints that basically everyone is comfortable on this team, and most importantly they are effective, smart, balanced players. Even guys like CJ and Fes look like they'll be noteworthy contributors this season, based upon their own physical and mental maturity compared to years prior.

And people seem to quickly forget that vet teams are the ones that go deep in the postseason, instead of a team of 20-somethings.
 
Good point about the Raja/AK connection.
I think Elson is a guy who will run hot and cold. He won't have the high energy every night, but then most bench guys don't. He's a pretty good passer offensively, too. Hopefully between him and Fes, we'll get mostly solid b/u C play this year.
When Okur is ready to play again, we are gonna be ridiculously deep and versatile down in the paint. I just hope Sloan gets them ALL minutes, instead of pushing someone to the end of the bench and then never seeing the floor...
 
dipship31 said:
No one on the team has ever come close to slowing down lebron. Lebron has career games against us
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It's never been Kobe that kills us. It has been a scrub like Odom or Vujacic that has always killed the Jazz. Let Sellout have his points but lock down everyone else on the Heat and it doesn't matter.
 
Marcus said:
It's never been Kobe that kills us. It has been a scrub like Odom or Vujacic that has always killed the Jazz. Let Sellout have his points but lock down everyone else on the Heat and it doesn't matter.
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I hear ya. I hate Vujacic and all the other scrubs that have lit up the Jazz in recent years. But I think that changes this season. The first team of Big Al, Millsap, AK, Bell and Deron is looking very, very good defensively. I just could not believe the hustle and help defense against the Lakers. And then the Jazz have some good defenders off the bench: Watson and Price to take on any PG's or small, quick SG's, and depending on the rotation at the 4/5, Fesenko, Elson at the 5 and potentially AK, Elson or Evans at PF. I think Jeremy is going to be a key reserve. Just like Millsap, Sloan is going to have a tough time keeping him on the bench.

Buckle up...we're going to have a fun season!
 
Glasseater, I couldn't have said it better. I am very excited about this team's depth, defensive ability and talent.
 
NotDeadYet said:
Maybe Matthews+Korver could become Bell
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Can you and I become Lebron? Please? Pretty, pretty please.

GlassEater said:
Buckle up...
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I don't listen to B-Quack, I mute games he broadcasts and throw squishy balls at the tv when his gigantic head/2nd chin is shown talking, and I don't read ***** from fools who quote his stupid catch phrase. Please don't make my eyeballs bleed again. Thanks in advance.
 
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