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Why we can contend now w/defense

slc said:
Here's the way I might see this dilemma. Jefferson adds a tougher low post scoring threat than Boozer. Teams will have to put their biggest best defender on Jefferson all the time. Jefferson is way more physical and nasty than Boozer. Jefferson will wear him down in short order making him easier to guard for Memo, Fes, Jefferson, Millsap, etc.
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Well, how many teams actually had problems with Jefferson playing center for Minnesota? Did the Lakers? Did the Jazz even?

And so Bynum will guard Jefferson. Gasol on Millsap. How's that going to be a problem for LA?
Jefferson can guard Bynum or Gasol. But can Sap guard either of Bynum or Gasol? How's that going to work out for the Jazz?

slc said:
A big shot blocking center may not be as urgent as it was with Boozer on the floor last year.
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I'd phrase it this way: A shot-blocking center was more urgent with Boozer last year. But, especially against the Lakers, it remains an urgent need.

Getting a shot-blocking center means that the Jazz actually get somebody tall who can help against LA's bigs and serve as last-ditch defense vs Kobe and cutting wings.

Jefferson's fine as C in stretches but if he's supposed to spend most of his time there, that's just OK for a lotto team like Minny. As the Lakers are the team to beat, for a team like the Jazz that would actually want to 'contend', he'd be better maximized at PF as he'd be good-sized in that position ... so the Jazz need that shot-blocking center.
 
jimmyjazz said:
Well, how many teams actually had problems with Jefferson playing center for Minnesota? Did the Lakers? Did the Jazz even?

And so Bynum will guard Jefferson. Gasol on Millsap. How's that going to be a problem for LA?
Jefferson can guard Bynum or Gasol. But can Sap guard either of Bynum or Gasol? How's that going to work out for the Jazz?
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The big problem isn't matching up with Bynum + Gasol; Millsap/Jefferson + Fes/Okur can handle them. It's the frontcourt of Artest, Odom, and Gasol that gives the Jazz fits. Millsap doesn't match well against Odom or Gasol, although I'm more optimistic than what Boozer was able to do. I'm not sure how much it was tried to have Millsap on Artest and Kirilenko on Odom (and then Jefferson or sometimes Fes or Memo on Gasol). Although Millsap at the 3 doesn't work against many teams, I'm wondering if it work against the Lakers.

As usual, it was visible from watching the game what was and wasn't working. But this data shows how ineffective Utah was vs. Fishe-Kobe-Artest-Odom-Gasol. In the 10ish minutes that it was used, swapping in Shannon Brown for Kobe didn't hurts the Faker domination.
https://basketballvalue.com/teamvsteam.php?year=2010 playoffs&team1=LAL&team2=UTA

This shows how ineffective Boozer-Millsap-Kirilenko was against Gasol-Odom-Ariza (sub in Artest this year).
https://basketballvalue.com/teamvsteam.php?team1=UTA&team2=LAL&year=2009 playoffs

I'm optimistic that Jefferson and/or a somewhat more mature Fesenko will do better.
 
i just hope Bell can teach CJ and others some of his tricks and how to play "tough" without committing so many fouls. Toughness on defense is something this team is seriously lacking.
 
InGameStrategy said:
The big problem isn't matching up with Bynum + Gasol; Millsap/Jefferson + Fes/Okur can handle them. It's the frontcourt of Artest, Odom, and Gasol that gives the Jazz fits. Millsap doesn't match well against Odom or Gasol, although I'm more optimistic than what Boozer was able to do. I'm not sure how much it was tried to have Millsap on Artest and Kirilenko on Odom (and then Jefferson or sometimes Fes or Memo on Gasol). Although Millsap at the 3 doesn't work against many teams, I'm wondering if it work against the Lakers.
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A shot-blocking big would be useful against that Gasol-Odom-Artest frontcourt. The bigs I'd support trading for are the likes of Gortat and Dalembert or somebody similar I might've missed. Not super players by themselves but could help within the system (and also probably obtainable). At least 6-11, defense-oriented and mobile. AK still gives up a couple inches vs Odom. Memo's a poor defender even pre-injury. And notice how many teams are not going after Fes despite being quite big and relatively mobile (just doesn't know how to play basketball and doesn't care for it).

So Jefferson on Gasol and that shot-blocking big on Odom, or vice versa. And I think too that Millsap against Artest could work. That would let the Jazz match up with that LA frontcourt. CJ and Raja taking turns on Kobe. Deron abusing Fisher and Blake. The Jazz would be in business.
 
So long as the Lakers stay healthy, they are the class of the NBA. No 2 ways about it. Even the *new* Heat are gonna find the Lakers tough to beat. They match up far WORSE defensively against the Lakers frontcourt than we do, IMO. It will be interesting to see how the Lakers DEFEND against the offensive arsenal assembled by the Heat.
Regarding size, Kendrick Perkins is 6'10", the same as Jefferson. Paul Pierce is 6'7", AK is 6'9". Garnett is 6'11"; OK,Millsap is only 6'8". But, Okur is 7'0"; slide Jefferson over to PF and we are BIGGER than the Celtics frontcourt, who looked to me like they were 1 injury away from dethroning the Lakers.
What people tend to overlook is the Lakers are a very veteran team. They look like they're gearing up for a "three-peat" by letting most of their young guys walk and replacing them with vets (Blake, Barnes, Ratliff). My contention is that veteran core is as big a factor in the Lakers' success as their length and athleticism. Veteran teams tend to understand the importance of good team defense moreso than youngsters.
 
NotDeadYet said:
So long as the Lakers stay healthy, they are the class of the NBA. No 2 ways about it. Even the *new* Heat are gonna find the Lakers tough to beat. They match up far WORSE defensively against the Lakers frontcourt than we do, IMO. It will be interesting to see how the Lakers DEFEND against the offensive arsenal assembled by the Heat.
Regarding size, Kendrick Perkins is 6'10", the same as Jefferson. Paul Pierce is 6'7", AK is 6'9". Garnett is 6'11"; OK,Millsap is only 6'8". But, Okur is 7'0"; slide Jefferson over to PF and we are BIGGER than the Celtics frontcourt, who looked to me like they were 1 injury away from dethroning the Lakers.
What people tend to overlook is the Lakers are a very veteran team. They look like they're gearing up for a "three-peat" by letting most of their young guys walk and replacing them with vets (Blake, Barnes, Ratliff). My contention is that veteran core is as big a factor in the Lakers' success as their length and athleticism. Veteran teams tend to understand the importance of good team defense moreso than youngsters.
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I respect your post. However, it's not about height; it's more about standing reach, wingspan, max vert reach, and most of all, do the players mentioned play big. Perkins plays big. Like a ****ing beast. Garnett is as long as an octopus and plays big and long. Jefferson? We'll find out. Millsap, not so much. He tries his best but against true bigs, he gets eaten alive. Memo? Plays like he's glued to the ground.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
I respect your post. However, it's not about height; it's more about standing reach, wingspan, max vert reach, and most of all, do the players mentioned play big. Perkins plays big. Like a ****ing beast. Garnett is as long as an octopus and plays big and long. Jefferson? We'll find out. Millsap, not so much. He tries his best but against true bigs, he gets eaten alive. Memo? Plays like he's glued to the ground.
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In the past, Millsap has been able to annoy Garnett, and KG ain't getting any younger.

I am looking forward to see AK-PM-AJ against the Celtics frontcourt almost as much as against the Bulls frontcourt.

If Rondo doesn't pwn DWill, Utah can beat Boston IMHO.

Oh--and about Millsap getting eaten alive against true bigs: I'd consider him a slight improvement over Boozer--at least in that regard.

Not getting my hopes up over Millsap-AK-Jefferson frontcourt vs. Artest-Odom-Gasol, but I hope that Sloan gives it a chance--and then either uses it a lot or not at all, depending on how it works. It'll be fun to see if Millsap can get in Artest's head (or vice-versa).

Utah can handle Artest-Gasol-Bynum/Ratliff.
 
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Great thread, guys!!
Where the Jazz interior defense really was eaten alive is when Sloan had both Millsap and Boozer on the floor because Sloan wouldn't sub Fes for Memo! Jefferson should alleviate that. An earlier post mentioned AJ as likely being much more motivated to play D on a legit contender like the Jazz than for a team with no shot at the playoffs. That was a very good point!
Millsap is a grade-A effort guy, but hasn't yet learned the nuances of getting ideal defensive position on his man consistantly. Anticipate where your man wants to go and BE there before he can get there. Fail to do that, you either give up a basket or commit a foul. Millsap will learn; he's still very young! Although short, Millsap is quite strong; when he gets smarter, he'll be fine despite only being 6'8".
Memo is definitely not a leaper, but does play good position defense in the paint against bigger players. Problem is the Laker bigs are not only long, they are very mobile. Okur is definitely not. He's very coachable and does what Sloan asks him to better than Boozer, but my impression is he has a hard time staying healthy. I'm sure the Jazz are aware of this, which is why they want to get Fes signed up before getting back into free agency. No way we want to lose Fes; if we can just get his head into how good he could be in the NBA. The man is a horse; could be a dominant C in the NBA if he'd just apply himself!!
 
Ya, I'm all for the playing for a winning team could mean better performance.

I like this saying "Attitude determines altitude"

How well the Jazz can play D, depends on their attitude, and physical abilities. I believe it can make you better when you have the correct attitude.
 
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