What to do with AK?

[bordelais7]

This thread is all over the place -- Let me try to recap:

1) Salty is an idiot.
2) In regards to AK, we should....[unresolved]

I'm feeling quite unfulfilled having read through all of this, since nothing has really been settled in regards to #2, and #1 has been established for years. I give the thread a D for content and B+ for entertainment.

 

[SaltyDawg]

It's hilarious that the 5 or so remaining AK fans in this country, who happen to all reside on this board, can actually think that THEY are the ones who "get it" and the millions of people who disagree with them are just blind haters or idiots or whatever.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

AK was not "usually" guarding the other team's best player. Matthews was. AK did once in a while, but it was Matthews doing it most of the time.

Ideally, we would have AK defend the lesser of the 2 wings and have his superior help defense, but he is usually the most effective man-2-man defender we have also.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Ideally, we would have AK defend the lesser of the 2 wings and have his superior help defense, but he is usually the most effective man-2-man defender we have also.

AK is not a very good man to man defender. His reputation of good defense is based on his help defense. Matthews was a much better man to man defender than AK. Brewer was too. And now Bell will probably guard the other team's best wing.

 

[gregbroncs]

AK is not a very good man to man defender. His reputation of good defense is based on his help defense. Matthews was a much better man to man defender than AK. Brewer was too. And now Bell will probably guard the other team's best wing.

Brewer was not a better man to man defender than AK. Equal at best. Brewer's "defense" consisted of leaving his man to try and get steals. AK is not a great man to man defender but he is ok at it.

 

[DWill_Gr8tness]

AK will be amazing this year as long as he realizes that he has to Play the 4 and fill in other roles to sub people out. No 3 pointers! Just attack the hoop and roam around blocking shots with Big AL in the middle!

 

[SaltyDawg]

Brewer was not a better man to man defender than AK. Equal at best. Brewer's "defense" consisted of leaving his man to try and get steals. AK is not a great man to man defender but he is ok at it.

This board is literally the only place I have ever seen where getting steals was considered a bad thing. Well, I guess it's a good thing when AK does it at least...

It's not like Brewer was getting lit up by his man (or having the other team design game winning plays by taking it right at him in an iso play at the end of the game).

 

[//r00t 4 Jazz]

The reasons people hate AK:
#1 His contract, completely understandable he is overpaid for his output on the floor
#2 Booz started getting bashed unrelentingly and fans that really liked him started directing their vitriol towards him and lets face it masses people become sheep, plus combine #1 and #3 it snowballed.
#3 Fans may not know or forget the way AK played and can effect the game, a lot of fans tuned out the Jazz a bit at the end of S&M days and especially the first year or two after they retired and didn't really pay attention until they got names like DWill or attracted a FA named Booz.

 

[Borat]

This thread is all over the place -- Let me try to recap:

1) Salty is an idiot.
2) In regards to AK, we should....[unresolved]

I'm feeling quite unfulfilled having read through all of this, since nothing has really been settled in regards to #2, and #1 has been established for years. I give the thread a D for content and B+ for entertainment.

You are feeling "unfulfilled" because bunch of fans on a message board could not have "settled" AK situation? As if we did settle it here on the board, it would mean anything at all. Before calling someone an idiot, perhaps a good hard look in the mirror is on order.

 

[SaltyDawg]

The reasons people hate AK:
#1 His contract, completely understandable he is overpaid for his output on the floor
#2 Booz started getting bashed unrelentingly and fans that really liked him started directing their vitriol towards him and lets face it masses people become sheep, plus combine #1 and #3 it snowballed.
#3 Fans may not know or forget the way AK played and can effect the game, a lot of fans tuned out the Jazz a bit at the end of S&M days and especially the first year or two after they retired and didn't really pay attention until they got names like DWill or attracted a FA named Booz.

You forgot a few major reasons why people hate AK...
1: Complaining about his role during the post game interview after huge wins while everyone is celebrating.
2: Literally crying to the media about his role while the Jazz are in a tough playoff series.
3: Not giving a full effort.
4: Not improving key holes in his game.
5: Openly saying he wanted out of Utah.
6: Holding the franchise hostage and demanding a max contract.

How did you miss these?

 

[AKistheFEARFACTOR]

AK getting a lot of minutes backing up Millsap will prove good. Knowing this going into the offseason I expect him to put on some more weight like he did last season, AK in the paint can get stuffs.

 

[Borat]

Before deciding if a player is underrated, I would think we need to see how he is "rated" first. And big part of rating is a contract. At least that's a starting point. Obviously Jazz "rated" him pretty high if they have given him a huge contract like that. But that is not all. Even after AK became a shell of a player he was, over the years, Jazz had chances to get Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Tracy McGrady for him, as well as simply release him from his contract (a la Fisher) - remember? Each of these times Jazz "rated" him highly enough to keep him. Now, how is he "underrated" again if Jazz on 5 separate occasions I just mentioned willingly chose to pay (or continue paying) him the MAX, and he performs like a mid-level guy (whenever he is actually healthy enough to perform)? Or is there another rating available, which I did not take into consideration?