what identity do you want the jazz to have?

[Stifle Tower]

I like a lot of the responses here. One thing I'd like to add:

I think we have much better depth this year, and I want to see it get maximized. I want to see everybody competing hard for minutes. I'd like to see everybody held accountable on defense. On offense, I think accountability means either executing a quick pass or taking a shot from your spot; needs to happen fast. If you mess up, you get yanked for somebody itching for the minutes.

Agree. My thoughts - which reflect much of what has been said already.

1. Defense - guys who can stay in front of their man
2. Defense - players who have a concept of switching and help defense
3. Defense - players who will bring the nasty

4. Offensive balance - I don't think we need a #1, #2 and #3 option. Spurs won the chip last year and their regular season leader was at 16.7 pts/per.
5. Offensive depth - as "Huge" mentioned, Jazz have depth. Utah has altitude. Use both to our advantage. No one needs to play more than 30 mins/per. Again, using the SA example, all of their players averaged UNDER 30 mins. in the regular season. Substitute early and often so players can give 100% and not have to conserve energy.
6. Ball movement - am I using SA's example way too much? Yes, I am. In the absence of superstars (and I would argue an aging Duncan and Parker are not superstars anymore), great ball movement wins games. And it tires opponents. Make the other team work like crazy on defense. That will slow them down on the other end.
7. Speed. Again altitude is our friend. And youth is on our side. Push the ball and look for early offense. Can Trey do that, though? I'm not sure.

8. Accountability. I don't care if a player is making $15M or $500K. Coaching staff needs to bench someone if they're dogging it on defense or playing selfishly on offense.
9. Player Development. This is supposedly a strength of this coaching staff. Every single player needs to improve a couple of aspects of their game this season.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Also, I would add that from the front office - and I know this sounds ruthless - NO player is untouchable. Well, maybe Exum and perhaps Gobert. That may seem surprising to some, but true rim protectors are very scarce around the league. I think Gobert COULD be very, very special in a few years. And much of our hope really lies in Exum developing into a franchise player.

Jazz have a lot of good, young talent and a ton of picks. IMO, Utah needs to make at least one more trade at some point, cashing in a couple of players and assets for a player like Harden or Love - i.e. an all-star another team can't keep. Impossible to say what position that would be: maybe Kanter isn't re-signed and the Jazz need to bring in an impact PF. Or maybe Exum is the answer at PG and the Jazz want another combo guard like a Bledsoe to form a great guard rotation. Heck, maybe Hood pushes his way into the starting lineup, Burks is amazing at SG and Hayward is shopped. Any of those scenarios are possible.

Quin and Lindsey just need to evaluate this season and concentrate on identifying or acquiring their core of 8/9 players. The rest are just role players and/or developing rookies after that.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Hard nosed thugs who are more interested in crushing their opponents both physically and mentally every single night than they are in making friends across team borders.

In other words, a team full of DeMarcus Cousins.

The concept sounds nice, but if the result would be a team full of Demarcus Cousins you can count me out.

 

[fishonjazz]

I would like to see the player who is playing the best on the floor. Not so ridged on the rotations that they cannot play the hot hand. I hope Snyder never feels that he has to play someone because they will whine or the size of their contract, etc.

This

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

The one thing that has bothered me for years, is the amount of double teaming we do. I just want the players to concentrate on staying in front of there guys at all times.

For once I want us to to be a smart, and fearless defense.

 

[fishonjazz]

The one thing that has bothered me for years, is the amount of double teaming we do. I just want the players to concentrate on staying in front of there guys at all times.

For once I want us to to be a smart, and fearless defense.

I agree....... we double team way too much.

also i hate that it seems like our team is coached that after you get a rebound you can only pass it to the point guard, so you have to wait until you locate him and he can receive the ball.... slows down our transition game.
If kanter, favors or whoever gets the rebound and sees burks or hayward open and ready to receive the pass then i want them to make that pass instead of searching out Trey.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

The less doubling we do the less defensive rotating we would need to do, which is where things seem to breakdown for us

 

[Park Bites]

Burke's assist to turnover is 13th best in the league with all but a handful ahead of him not actually handling the ball as much. You can have knocks against Trey, but turning over the rock isn't one of them.

I will concede this but the games I saw he was awful granted only a few.

 

[zyzz]

I want to see some damn emotion from these guys. I've watched the Burks and Kanter 2013-2014 top plays and after great plays the team looks like their dogs just died.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx87atIFbKI

Look at this, no one gives Hayward props for this play and Kanter/Favors are stonefaced after the and-one. Stiemsma is the most fired up person on the court. I know there wasn't much to be excited by last year, but I want to see this team grow closer as a group and show some more emotion for each other.

 

[Tarkanian]

2004 Pistons.
"Going to work every day" was their motto, or something similar!
har-nosed, blue collar team with players having a "team first" mentality.

A small SEAL team working beyond enemy lines, kewl, professional, tough.
Enjoying immense firepower and members' roles are well rehearsed.
so noone hesitates but executes.

add-0n: on a personal note, this is my philosophy, too. Here and there I've lost battles, a plethora of them to tell the truth. I was robbed of a GREAT government post for example, for I chose not to enjoy clientel relations, which I could have easily managed to enjoy.
But in all those endavours and encounters, I have always gone down battling.
Did my best and went home with a clear conscience.
That is what I expect from my neighbours, relatives, my assistants.
You cannot always get it done. But if you give your 100% you will get it done most prolly.

Take Kanter for example. He doesnot have to block every shot but just TRY to move your *** and be there. pUSH SOMEONE, ELBOW that SOB if he is BULLYiNG OUR GUARDS, SHOW SOME PASSiON, ffs (mandatory caps lock fail)
If he can do that he will earn money and RESPECT.

 

[akirac73]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx87atIFbKI

Look at this, no one gives Hayward props for this play and Kanter/Favors are stonefaced after the and-one. Stiemsma is the most fired up person on the court. I know there wasn't much to be excited by last year, but I want to see this team grow closer as a group and show some more emotion for each other.

I love it, I remember that game. That's the kind of effort and heart I want to see out of Hayward EVERYNIGHT...not just once a month. The kid can play if he shows up (mentally).

 

[Jeditiger]

take a look at Orlando and they are developing a team based on defense, Philly on injuries, ok joking but what identity will the jazz have? right now youth. youth won't win a championship. a lot will be what Snyder brings to the team. I don't really see an identity in these players.

Burke - love his clutch game. I would really like to see more leadership out of him. see him embrace Utah. defense is not his calling card. I really want to see him run the team. a/to ratio needs to be better.

burks - love the guy but who is he. is he a super sub a good scorer or is he just a slasher. I want to see a mid-range game from him. I also want to see better defense. he should be able to. I don't see leadership in him either

exum - is a dark horse and I really want to see what he brings. right now it seems redundant to burks.

Hayward - is the multimillion dollar man. he is not a leader either. average defender maybe a little above. what is Hayward's identity? is it secret? he is a do it all but we all know he is not a main option but could he be part of a big 3?

hood - we have shooting but lets hope he can remain consistent. doesn't seem committed on defense. is the sf of the future or just a good to average floor space roll player.

favors - identity is defense but he is not getting much help from the supporting cast. he needs a go-to move. he is my biggest hope for some form of identity but his personality does warrant making changes in others.

kanter - is a great low post scorer but what is his identity. I would love to see some lambier (sp) in him. some dirty some toughness. I also want him stepping out to nail a 3 every now and again. he doesn't have to be a great defender just nasty.

Gobert - is a wait and see but he seems to have a great work ethic. I like players that are erasers. they remove players mistakes. makes players play with more confident. makes shooting better also knowing you have a guy to put the miss back in.

Felix and booker are both very good defenders.


identity I want to see is the jazz to play like a well oiled machine.

Identity: I don't expect them to win every game, but I expect them to put forth the effort every single night to try to make it happen. Crisp passing, lots of ball movement, running the floor. In other words, I expect Utah Jazz basketball. Every day. Every game.