2014-2015 regular season!

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The biggest concern has been the defense, which has simply disappeared over the last few weeks. On Wednesday, the Raptors scored 123 points, received a career-high 39 points from Kyle Lowry and sprayed in 3-point bombs as if it were a shootaround.

It's been a concern since the Sloan era. After all the blame on Ty and all the hype about Snyder turning things around you really got to wonder about the players they have. Rudy gives me hope for someone to build a respectable D around but will he ever be the man with the beloved Favors around?

[QUOTE]That wasn

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Jody Genessy: More Jazz news: Source tells me it's "very possible" Utah will re-acquire Andrei Kirilenko in exchange for Jeremy Evans and Toure' Murry. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Wonder what the story with Murry is? It works without him. NJ wants him? Utah doesn't?

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Jody Genessy: Jazz SG Alec Burks has seen doctors in New York and Cleveland for his left shoulder injury. Surgery is a real possibility, per sources. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Jody Genessy: Alec Burks has had problems with his left shoulder off and on since preseason. The injury was re-aggravated on that hard foul by Afflalo. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Going to really need AK. Might be why Burks has struggled?

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each team only had 85 possessions, so in fact it’s a much different story: the Jazz put up a 109 ORtg, while Orlando put up a 115 ORtg. Once you adjust for the pace of play, Utah’s offense performed at a top-5 team level, whereas it’s defense performed at a league-worst level.

What's new?


That’s especially true once you consider that there were only 6 fast break points combined for the two teams tonight, so the Magic were very successful at just breaking the Jazz down in half-court sets time and time again.

This is where it gets worrisome for the Jazz. Essentially, the ingredients for a good game defensively were there: they got back in transition defense, like Quin stressed so heavily during preseason and training camp. Orlando was the NBA’s 27th best offensive team coming into tonight’s game. Derrick Favors blocked 5 shots. The Jazz didn’t give the ball up on offense often, with just 12 turnovers, thus preventing easier looks. The Magic were without probably their best player in Nikola Vucevic. And yet, they still struggled hugely.

The stats aren’t pretty for one Enes Kanter, who ended up with a game-low -16 plus/minus. In the 27 minutes Kanter was on the floor, the Jazz had a 145 DRtg, also a game low. On the other hand, when Kanter wasn’t on the floor, the Jazz allowed the Magic just a 74 DRtg. We mentioned on the show yesterday how we felt that maybe too much of the blame was flowing to Enes Kanter for the Jazz’s defensive problems, but the stats from tonight’s game make it difficult to conclude anything but that.

It's one game. I've certainly seen improvement from him as the season goes on. Put him in there with Rudy instead of Favors and see what his numbers are.


Quin Snyder again tied the problems in tonight’s game to a need to compete. As Quin said, “You can talk about positions and habits, but at some point you’ve got to compete, and that’s what we need to find.”

2. But, a 3 hour 45 minute practice didn’t help much.

Given the need for defensive improvement, it would make sense to have a defensive focus in practice. Yesterday, Toronto coach Dwane Casey talked about how, when he first joined the Raptors, that they spent “probably 80%” of practice on defense; after all, they were worst in the league, so they had to work on that first. In the year Casey took over, the Raptors went from 30th to 14th defensively, so he may know something about the subject.

Jazz spent at least the first few days of camp on D. :eek:


I asked Jazz F Steve Novak what the distribution was in the Jazz’s practices:

“There’s, I would say, a very healthy balance. The majority of things we start out with in practice are majority defense and then we transition into offensive stuff, but Coach, he puts a lot of emphasis on both – he has an offensive mind and a defensive mind. I’d say it’s pretty much split down the middle; we feel like a lot of our offense is based on our defense, the best creation of our offense is getting stops, not having to take the ball out of bounds. So I’d say it’s 50-50. Yesterday was definitely more of an offensive day – I’d say we did offense for 3 of the 4 hours.”

Making stops is the problem.


I actually think the offense has been good recently, so it’s somewhat discouraging to me that the Jazz have spent so much time on the offense compared to the defensive side of the ball. Now, much more of defense comes down to effort and reaction: it’s much easier to build out a defensive system compared to an offensive one. I don’t completely believe Casey’s proclamation that they spent fully 80% of their practices on D. It’s also easier to look at offense in heavy-tape sessions; yesterday’s was a lot of film watching. But despite all of those caveats, the Jazz’s focus needs to be defense, just so they can prove they are capable of putting up a decent defensive performance.
Agreed. There biggest problem on offense is probably not being able to shoot. Defensively there's not much good happening outside the 3rd quarter where they are one o the best apparently! :confusedshrug:


3. Derrick Favors has taken a big leap.

Derrick Favors put up a big stat line tonight, scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks for the Jazz tonight on 10-17 shooting. It was a nice performance from Derrick, who nevertheless looked absolutely devastated in the locker room after the game. Derrick’s been taking the losses personally, and he really, really cares about the performance of the team overall.

Yeah I've noticed with his pouting and walking up court. What is the defensive rating with their stopper in the game?


Favors has been putting up a tremendous season, putting up a 23 PER for the season, good for 13th in the league. While he’s not going to make the Western Conference All-Star team, just because the Western Conference also features all of Dirk, Duncan, KD, Griffin, Gasol, Cousins, and Anthony Davis, he’s put up a big season thus far.

More to do with the Jazz sucking despite having two supposedly all star caliber players.


Tonight, he also held his counterpart big men to low numbers: Channing Frye and Kyle O’Quinn combined for 24 points, an improvement over previous big men. I think some of this success might be because they lack the length of the big men that Favors has faced recently at the center position.

They also aren't expected to put up big numbers are they?


The clearest example to me is when Indiana center Roy Hibbert went off for his career high against Favors; maybe Derrick’s set up to succeed when the big men he’s playing against are closer to his size?

So how is he a great defensive force than?


It’s a real question whether or not Derrick Favors is best as a PF or a C, and after 20 games, the jury is still out. It’s something to look at moving forward as Favors keeps playing this year.

Andy Larsen

That's certainly one of the things they need to figure out because Rudy is the future at the 5. They need to figure out if they are moving forward with Enes or Favors(or Millsap! :banana: ) by the time free agency starts.

[Xiao Yao You]

Alec Burks Won't Need Shoulder Surgery

Dec 05, 2014 9:26 PM EST

Alec Burks will not need surgery on his injured left shoulder after meeting with specialists.

Burks has been dealing with an inflamed left shoulder since the preseason, but the consensus of four specialists is that an aggressive rehabilitation program can restore the strength in his shoulder for him to return to the lineup in December.

The Utah Jazz have termed Burks as "out indefinitely."

Burks has met recently with specialists in Cleveland and New York.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Conflicting reports. One says he could be out for the year which would suck.

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"Progress is winning on the road. Last year we took these guys to the wire and Trey Burke hit a big one that killed us. This time, we really wanted to close it out," O'Quinn said.

Jazz are worse this year so don't get too excited.


Derrick Favors led the Jazz with 21 points, 13 rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots. Enes Kanter had 16 points and Rodney Hood scored 15, but defense was again the problem for the reeling Jazz.

The Magic shot 50 percent against Utah as the Jazz dropped their sixth straight at home.

The Magic posted their largest lead, 65-48, on O'Quinn's 3-point play early in the third quarter.

The Jazz responded with a 10-0 run that included a hard foul on Burke that sparked the Jazz. O'Quinn hit the Jazz point guard in the head during a drive to the basket and was given a flagrant-1 foul after a video review by the officials. Hood made a 3-pointer to cap the surge and bring Utah within 65-58 midway through the period.

Orlando played very physical. Jazz didn't.


"We've just got to find that juice we need for 48 minutes," said Hood, who set a season-high in points. "We've got to stay with it and not get down because we are losing."

Tired of hearing about juice.
[QUOTE]___

TIP-INS

Magic: Nikola Vucevic, who averages nearly 19 points and 12 rebounds, missed the game due to a back sprain, his third straight DNP. ... The Magic had lost six consecutive and 27 of 32 games when Vucevic doesn't play since the start of 2012-13. ... O'Quinn had a season-high 21 points earlier in the long road trip against Golden State and then was ejected for his flagrant-2 foul on Blake Griffin against the Clippers and assessed a $15,000 fine on Thursday by the NBA.

Jazz: Guard Alec Burks missed his second game because of left shoulder inflammation. ... The Jazz had won seven games in a row against the Magic, dating back to Nov. 10, 2010. ... Steve Novak hit a challenged 3-pointer to draw the Jazz with 95-91 in the final 14 seconds but then missed two free throws two seconds later.

UP NEXT

Orlando: Magic at Sacramento on Saturday night

Utah: Jazz at Sacramento on Monday night

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

Asked about O'Quinn's two flagrant fouls in two games, Vaughn said, "If I had a daughter, I'd let (O'Quinn) date her. He's a good dude, so I know there's no intent behind it, but he's trying to be aggressive and protect our paint. I don't have a daughter, though, good thing!"

Copyright

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[QUOTE]Utah coach Quin Snyder said the team misses Burks every time he doesn

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Whether it happens now or next offseason, the 23-year-old Burks definitely needs surgery to repair damage in his shoulder, sources told the Deseret News.

Sounds like he's needed it for a long time. He had issues with the shoulder when they drafted him. He missed the combine because of it and I'm guessing maybe dropped in the draft too.


There are some conflicting reports.

Yahoo! Sports reported that the four specialists who evaluated Burks concluded "that an aggressive rehabilitation program can restore the strength in his shoulder" without immediate surgery and that he could return as quickly as within two weeks.

A league source, however, told the Deseret News it's doubtful Burks will be back that quickly if he opts to forgo having surgery in the near future.

If Burks were to have surgery as soon as early next week, it's possible he could be out for the remainder of the season.


They might give Philly a run for their money after all!


For now, the Jazz are simply saying Burks is "out indefinitely" while they deliberate on a game plan.

"It's tough. ... We've played the majority of the year without Rodney (Hood) and now without Alec," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said before Friday's game against Orlando.

Hood, a rookie who just returned from a 10-game absence due to plantar fasciitis, started again Friday in place of Burks. That move that lowers the average of the Jazz starting unit to under 23 years old.

Guards Ian Clark and Dante Exum will likely see extended minutes in Burks' absence.

They haven't though.

[QUOTE]"It puts a lot of pressure on your bench," Snyder said. "We

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Kirilenko returned to his native land of Russia to play during the lockout season of 2011-12, and was named the Euroleague MVP. He then signed with Minnesota, where he played in 2012-13 before opting out of a $10 million option for the 2013-14 season to play for Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the Nets.

Wonder if he regrets that decision after the Nets season last year and his role now?

[QUOTE]Kirilenko, who considers Salt Lake City to be his second home, has been on a leave of absence from Brooklyn since Nov. 21 because of personal reasons.

The Jazz signed Murry, a Wichita State combo guard who played for the New York Knicks last season, as a free agent in late August.

Murry has dressed but hasn

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The Jazz are now 4-29 when missing any of the following over the last two years: Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward or Derrick Favors. This team is not built to sustain injuries. It is built to allow the players to develop and this is the downside of building a team for development.

It's the positive side of tanking. Little depth and talent. :applause:

[QUOTE]Just look at last night

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Favors finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots for the Jazz.

"He protects the rim for us," Snyder said of Favors.

:coleman:


"We've got to find a way to close out games," Favors said. "We need to just go out there and play the next game (Monday against Sacramento). They're a good team and we've got to be ready to play them."

Utah also got 16 points from center Enes Kanter, a career-best 15 from Hood, who was filling in for the injured Alec Burks at shooting guard, and 13 more plus 11 assists from point guard Trey Burke.

"It's tough on us," Burke said. "It may not sound right, but I think we have a positive spirit right now. We've been in most of these games. Out of the (eight) losses, we've been in at least six of them that were one- or two-point games. That still means we lost, but we are in those games."

And Hood, who Snyder complimented for his high energy, effort and hard work, said the Jazz have "just got to find that juice we need for 48 minutes. It's not X's and O's because Coach is putting us in a great position to win every game. But we've just got to figure it out. It's a hard thing to do.
"We've got to stay with it and not get down because we're losing," Hood said. "We are prepared really well and just some shots didn't fall tonight. It's a process."

Tired of the juice thing already.


For Orlando (8-14), coached by former Jazz point guard Jacque Vaughn, Tobias Harris had a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds, and he scored 12 of his points in the game's final 6:06 to help preserve the visitors' victory.

Victor Oladipo added 20 points, Kyle O'Quinn contributed 13, Ben Gordon chipped in with 12 off the bench, and Channing Frye scored 11 more for the Magic.

"(It was) a great effort by Utah," said Vaughn. "It's a tough place to play; it always has been. They were searching for a win and we were also, so it boiled down to us playing together and being extremely tough down the stretch."

O'Quinn, who was called for a flagrant foul on Burke's drive to the basket midway through the third quarter, said his team's willingness to share the ball proved pivotal in the win.

"Everybody can do a little something for this team," he said. "We don't have a guy on this team that is a six- or seven-time All-Star that can do anything. We have to play together, and the best way to do that is starting on the defensive end and sharing the ball."

O'Quinn also said that Oladipo, a second-year guard out of Indiana, was fired up to face Burke, the former Big Ten Player of the Year out of Michigan.

"He is the real Big Ten Player of the Year," O'Quinn said of Oladipo. "We were joking with him that they had a Big Ten battle. He played great. He played with a chip on his shoulder. I guess something with Trey Burke in the past maybe; whatever it was, it worked for us tonight."

EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com

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[QUOTE]On whether it

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[QUOTE]he Jazz were OK offensively, but they had difficulty putting the ball in the hoop at times.

Turning point: As has been the case all season, the first half

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[QUOTE]

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[QUOTE]"They

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[QUOTE]Where the Jazz would really miss Burks is on the second unit, where an already thin bench loses even more firepower. Utah

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Tony Jones: Breaking: Jazz guard Alec Burks cleared to return to practice, is listed as questionable for tomorrow at Sacramento Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: Burks participated in practice this morning. He told the tribune that he intends to try and play this week. Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: Burks: I'm thankful that the diagnosis came out positive. It makes you appreciate things. I just want to try and take things day by day. I want to make sure my shoulder is rehabbed Twitter @Tjonessltrib

some good news though if it's going to affect his play he might be better off getting the surgery

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[QUOTE]Over the weekend, the Jazz received a bit of surprising, and welcome news. Burks has been cleared to practice, and is considered questionable for Monday

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[QUOTE]"It

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[QUOTE]Corbin recently injured his Achilles tendon and has missed the Kings

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Jason Jones: Michael Malone: "I was happy to see Nik Stauksas become a man in the NBA tonight." Twitter @mr_jasonjones

Against the Jazz D! :rolleyes:

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[QUOTE]Utah continues to hemorrhage points at an alarming rate, still 29th in the league and barely ahead of a Lakers team that

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[QUOTE]I looked at the last three decades of Utah Jazz starting shooting guards (31, if you include this year); and broke down all the data. At the end of the day you want a player who is reliable enough and healthy enough to get in almost every game, and in those games be someone the defense has to worry about. Comparing Alec to the 1984-2015 data set of Jazz shooting guard history some obvious pieces of evidence come to light, and hopefully this analysis can further the discussion we

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[QUOTE]2. Scoring:

When your position title is

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[QUOTE]Well, while Alec does pass more than the average the issue here is his turn overs as a starter. His assist to turn over ratio is only 1.35 to 1.00, which is below the ratios for the full data set, the post-Hornacek years, and the five seasons directly before him. This hurts in him other ways as well, because a turnover HE creates probably ends up being a transition scoring attempt for the other team. (My guess is a turn over for a guard is either on the perimeter (inside of it) or on a drive or pass; a bigman

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[QUOTE]Wow. I talked so much about GO Rating is there even space for BARPS? Alec is above 20, which is above every variable group. The guys who have gone for above 20 are Griffith (x1), Malone (x4), Hornacek (x5), Ronnie B (x1), G-Time (x1) and Alec. The guys who went for 25+ are just Griffith (x1), Malone (x1), Hornacek (x1), and Hayward (x1). Part of this is being on the court a lot, and being a big part of what your team does on the court. The average BARPS / min is 0.66, which removes the big fishes who play a lot of time from looking better than they actually are. In this respect Alec is at 0.65 this season. The five seasons before him the value of BARPS / min was 0.59, so he

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[QUOTE]Part of that is shot select and offensive play type (he scores more points than almost anyone else on this list as a product of his one on one game, not on curls, or cuts, or spot ups, or whatever). That doesn

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So Gordon Hayward is good, much better than Alec Burks

Not last year.


-- but Burks isn't that bad when you look at what's happened since Jeff Hornacek retired. He isn't nearly as efficient as Ronnie Brewer, or as competent as Matt Harpring used to be -- but he appears to be better than Wesley Matthews, Raja Bell, and Randy Foye . . . which counts, right? Maybe?

Utah Jazz Roster (2014-2015)

Utah Jazz 2014 2015 GO Rating - December 8 2014

Just to make sure you know, GO Rating isn't boosted or hurt by minutes played, it naturalizes everyone to playing 33.6 mpg. The starters are okay, only Gordon Hayward is killing it. Derrick Favors is very good as a second option, but would be better as a third option. Trey Burke and Enes Kanter are productive enough to be starters, but Alec Burks isn't nearly as good as he should be -- or as good as he was last season (57 GO Rating).

I can tell you right now your rating sucks. Trey gives up a lot more at the other end than he gets at his end. Kanter I see continual improvement. Burke is getting worse seemingly.


But the bench, Ye Gods! Dante Exum and Rodney Hood are real rookies, Joe Ingles is a rookie in name -- but all three of them are not hurting the defense that much so far this season. Trevor Booker and Rudy Gobert aren't dangerous at all by themselves, but at least have some bite.

Get off your ****in' computer and watch a game. Rudy is a game changer. Play him! Jazz are a better team with him but obviously the Jazz don't care or Millsap, Carroll, Matthews, etc. would still be around.


Toure' Murry hasn't played this year. Ian Clark and Steve Novak have, but haven't done much. We know Clark can drive and miss floaters, and Novak can hit open threes --- in the smallest of sample sizes. Also, there is no evidence that Jeremy Evans exists. #XFilesThemeSong

This is fun and easy to do, so if you want more quick stories hit me up.

[El Kabong]

Thought that Sac game was there to take with Boogie out. Ah well.

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Kanter was called for a traveling violation and the Jazz big man responded by spiking the ball to the ground and then throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd.

no excuse for that. That's disgusting.

[QUOTE]"It was the intensity, man. You know what I mean?" said Kanter, who scored 13 points and had six rebounds in the 101-92 loss. "We

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Quin Snyder has insisted the goal is something larger than any one game or maybe even one season.

The goal isn't to compete. One look at their off-season made that quite evident.

[QUOTE]"The picture for us is a big picture," the Jazz head coach said before Monday

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[QUOTE]"I thought he did a hell of a job his four years as a Jazz head coach" Malone said. "He

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[QUOTE]How much harder is it to get a shot off in the NBA?

Stauskas: "It

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[QUOTE]New coach Quin Snyder isn

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The Brooklyn Nets are working to finalize a deal to unload Andrei Kirilenko onto the Philadelphia 76ers, sparing the franchise nearly $12 million in salary and luxury tax, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Kirilenko, 33, is in the final year of a $3.3 million contract and would be waived in Philadelphia should the deal be completed, sources said. Kirilenko would become a free agent, but it could still be several weeks

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Nets Daily: Woj says Jazz interest in AK-47 never real, teams never talked Twitter @NetsDaily

of course not. why would they want to compete?

:facepalm

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[QUOTE]Jazz held the Spurs to just 96 points in 94 possessions. Given the state of the defense during the losing streak, I was beginning to believe that the Jazz would never be able to defend well.2But over the last 2 games, progress has been made with a 104 DRtg against the Kings, and a 102 DRtg against the Spurs. These were teams that were missing their best offensive players, but at least they showed that they were capable of a good performance on the defensive end.

In particular, I thought holding Ginobili to 3-17 shooting was a massive success, and a team effort to boot. To show this, I watched all of Manu

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[QUOTE]Sacramento winning sans Cousins has been another disheartening trend during this nine-game losing streak. Many of the Jazz

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Jazz To Sign Patrick Christopher

Dec 10, 2014 1:16 AM EST

The Utah Jazz are lining up the call up of Patrick Christopher from the NBA D-League.

Christopher went to training camp with the Memphis Grizzlies this season and has since played for the Iowa Energy.

[Xiao Yao You]

Doesn't look like much of a pick-up on paper. Be 27 in June so he'll be another rookie/vet presence. Shoots the 3 at 6'5" from the small forward position. Hasn't done that much since the first 3 games in the D-league. Maybe he is a D and 3 guy? Had 5 assists in one game too.

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his was a complete effort. Everyone had a part and the guys stayed engaged for the complete 48 minutes. The Spurs were run less for almost the entire. At no point did the Jazz let the game get away.

Everyone but Trey anyway. Could say he played good D but without Parker did he?


Key portion of the game was early 2ndquarter when Gordon Hayward went out of the game and the Jazz were able to score. The Jazz have not been able to score for most of the season with Hayward on the bench and this prevented the Jazz from having the second quarter collapse.

The Spurs only hit 4 three pointers the whole night and only 1 in the 2ndhalf. Tony Parker being out of the game restricted the ability of the Spurs to collapse the defense and get it out to shooters. At the same time there were numerous plays where the Jazz cut off the penetration with good help defense and still got out to bother the shooter.

And plenty of open misses.

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors really impressed me tonight. He struggled against Tim Duncan early and only increased his effort and desire to impact the game. This is a hard night for a big like Favors. They play solid defense. They slip lanes are not there. They protect the rim. They don

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the Jazz and their fans will be hoping it might signal a turning point, perhaps a good omen of, hopefully, better days ahead for this struggling ballclub.

Like Snyder taking over the team?

[QUOTE]After all, Tuesday night's 100-96 victory over the defending NBA champion Spurs not only snapped Utah's woeful nine-game losing streak

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They did this sometimes last year, too, dangling a carrot and then pulling back.

teams are going to have good and bad nights. Jazz had a good one and the Spurs had a bad one. The Jazz aren't suddenly a deep, talented, and veteran team though.


“It’s just growth,” said forward Derrick Favors.

But so far, this has been the mode for the still-learning Jazz: Show up for grand opening but take a break during the digging.

As happy as the win made coach Quin Snyder, he must at times be grinding his teeth. His team can soar with the eagles but also wallow with the pigs.

Snyder’s response: Stick with them. They’re getting there. He just wishes Jazz fans would please put away their stopwatches.

Last year’s 57-loss result was excruciating for fans, the worst in Utah since Jeff Wilkins and Ben Poquette inhabited the paint. The last two weeks gave way to a curious numbness.

The same fans calling for the tank so they could get their big potential superstar? It's funny. People want them to win and lose at the same time.


“The picture for us is a big picture,” Snyder told Salt Lake beat reporters on Monday.

Good thing for them they finally got a snapshot from a different angle.

What the kind of a future the Jazz have is still the question. When they broke up the Al Jefferson-Paul Millsap group after the 2012-13 season, it was clear they were taking a chance. But management knew their ceiling with the old group: an annual one-and-done playoff appearance.

They didn't know the ceiling with one of the best PF's in basketball and another guy in Demarre that every team should want. Obviously a team built around Al ball isn't going anywhere. But this team with Millsap and Demarre could be looking pretty good. Still have a big ole at pg but maybe they'd have a vet and/or Neto? Gobert, Millsap, Neto and Tomic for 2015!


So they started over with kids, and lots of them. Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter gave way to Dante Exum, Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood and Trey Burke. Last year’s horrendous 1-14 start developed into to this year’s 5-16 launch. Going into Tuesday’s game, the Jazz were only one game better than a last year’s pace.

But they're definitely better this year! :rolleyes:

[QUOTE]They lost to a changing Dallas, a weak modest Sacramento and an Oklahoma City with its liver and kidneys removed.

Yet Tuesday they arrived looking conspicuously feisty. They blocked five Spurs shots and traded baskets throughout the first half. But the Spurs were crafty as ever. With the Jazz up by one, Tim Duncan took an entry pass with his back to the basket. He didn’t turn around, didn’t fake either. He just flipped a no-look shot over his head. Derrick Favors recovered in time to take a swat at the ball but was whistled for goal tending.

It was a move Duncan wouldn’t have considered back when he was young and locomotives were new.

But the other really old Spur, Manu Ginobili (37), didn’t fare as well. He missed 14 of 17 shots and had four turnovers. Even so, he got eight assists and two steals.

That’s the Spurs: Even when they’re bad, they’re good.

The Jazz led by 10 with a 1

[Xiao Yao You]

Dan McCarney: Most impressive part of Enes Kanter's performance last night - he left the arena in Utah in December without a coat. Twitter @danmccarneySAEN - See more at: http://*********.com/rumors.htm#sthash.5KbDVUcD.dpuf

Getting sick would be real smart
:confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

just over 20 games into the Dante Exum era, just over a season into the Trey Burke era

My guess is the Burke era won't last more than a couple more years unless he eventually accepts a reserve role which he probably won't initially until he figures out no one else in the league sees him as a starter.


just getting into the maturing stages of the Enes Kanter and Alec Burks era, just past the rookie contracts of the Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward era.

The Kanter era is probably coming to a close sadly. I hope they they at least take a good look at him and Gobert together before they decide.


Or are they just past the Tyrone Corbin era? Stop me, now, please.

The Ty era ended the year before they just didn't want to pay two coaches last year.

[QUOTE]Jazz fans have been waiting on draft picks to build this roster since Kevin O

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San Antonio worked the offense that stands as an example for the Jazz and for half the teams in the league, all of whom are trying to replicate it.

That's a big part of the problem. They don't have the players. You got to have guys that can shoot and defend.

[QUOTE]The key word, the problematic word, there: trying.

The great point guard/philosopher Yoda said: "Do or do not. There is no try."

In the literal sense, in the case here, wrong the veteran small man is.

At this particular point of development, try is most of what the Jazz can offer. There isn

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz remain the third-worst defensive team in the league, allowing just under 110 points per 100 possessions. But over the past two games, a loss in Sacramento and a much-needed win over the defending champion Spurs, that number has been a more respectable 102.1.

Moving on up! 102 I believe is still horrible.


Utah held the Spurs to under 100 points in part by blocking seven shots and forcing five steals. And while Snyder said Derrick Favors remains an "obvious" leader and the "anchor of our defense,"

:roll:

[QUOTE] the Jazz will need what Hayward can provide if it

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playing without star point guard Tony Parker, Duncan had little help.

Whatever. They had some guys doing some things. Jazz had everyone play well though except for their leader Trey.


Leonard scored 16 points, but was held in check by Hayward for much of the evening. Manu Ginobili scored 10 points, but went 3-17 from the field.

He did some other stuff too.

[QUOTE]The Spurs shot 4 of 20 from 3-point range, and they missed nine free throws.

Those factors were enough for the Jazz to pull off the win, improbable because Utah was playing on consecutive nights and the team hadn

[Xiao Yao You]

Joseph Goodman: Kenneth Faried appears to be a go tonight for Jazz-Heat. Utah w/out Gallinari, Nate Robinson and JaVale McGee. McBob questioned for Heat. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

:roll:

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Enes Kanter had 12 points and 15 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Turkish big man, who has often been criticized for his defensive deficiencies, had a team-best defensive rating of 82.2 in 30 minutes on the floor.

:eek: He's been looking better and better. Start playing him and Favors with Gobert and see which is the best fit moving forward.

[QUOTE]Coincidentally, it would be the third time in franchise history the Jazz snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over the San Antonio Spurs. It happened before in the 1983 and 2005 seasons.

The win helped Utah avoid the team

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[QUOTE]

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Christopher is a 26-year-old wing who played collegiately at California before embarking on an international hoops career.

He's played in Turkey (2012-13) and in France (2011-12), where he was Jazz center Rudy Gobert's teammate with Cholet Basket.

He knows Rudy! Wonder how much French or Turkish he speaks?


In 2013-14, he averaged 13.6 points for Iowa and was named to the D-League's All-Defensive second team. He also participated in the league's 3-point contest.

The Jazz announced that Christopher will wear No. 19. He is the 12th D-League call-up in team history and the 10th player in the NBA to be brought up this season.

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

TWITTER: DJJazzyJody

3 and D! Sounds like he might just be a non guaranteed contract that they can use for a trade.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Alec Burks

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Utah has a young, talented team with a young, talented coach. But young takes a beating in the west. The 6-16 Jazz are already almost hopelessly out of the playff chase, but would be just four games out of the eigth playoff spot in the east.

4 games is still a lot this early in the year. They'd have an easier schedule though too.


The Jazz’s mirror image in the east might be the Milwaukee Bucks, with rookie sensation Jabari Parker and Jason Kidd in his first year on the Milwaukee bench. The Bucks are 11-12 and are in sixth place in the east. If the regular season ended today, they would be postseason-bound.

Don't see them as a mirror image.


This is the Jazz’s sobering reality. They face really tough, Western Conference competition in the vast majority of their games. Just another reason why Utah’s rebuild is going to take time and patience. It has as much to do with where they play as anything else.

"It’s an eye-opener to see the great teams and the great players that you come across on a regular basis," Snyder said. "As we go through the process, we certainly know that we have our work cut out for us."

Things are so tough in the west that just 31/2 games separate the Mavericks from the conference-leading Warriors. Golden State is off to a terrific 18-2 start, but it’s just one prolonged losing streak away from fighting for its postseason life in the west. There are no nights off, just a bunch of talented teams jockeying for position over the course of 82 games.

"This is how it’s been for 10 years," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But this year, it’s as good as I’ve ever seen it."

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[QUOTE]Defense is important.

It wins championships, they say.

But if you want a shot at making the Utah Jazz

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Christopher is known for being a wing who can defend and score on the perimeter. He averaged 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Iowa this season. Although capable offensively, Jazz management told him his main priority is defense.

He should have a real shot. They need shooting, D and help on the wing. He's a bit older than most of their players too.

[QUOTE]

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the Utah Jazz are rebuilding.

tanking actually


The main point of a rebuild is to get better players than the ones your already have. Some teams can do this with trades. Others do it through free agency. The Utah Jazz, though, have to start with the draft. Getting good young players means, most of the time, that you have to be really bad, lose a lot of games, and get good draft picks. The other thing you need to do is have a great scouting department so you don't blow it when it's your turn to select someone. Of course, the next step is playing those guys, teaching them, and giving them experience so that they can fulfill their destiny and be better than the players you had at the beginning of this process.

That's how you rebuild. The Jazz are years into their rebuild. Two players are in their first year after their rookie contract, and that's year five of their NBA careers: Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward. Two players are in the last year of their rookie contracts, year four of their careers, one has gotten an extension from the Jazz in Alec Burks, the other has not and will be a restricted free agent this summer, Enes Kanter. To be fair, I do not believe that those four players are a) as good as they are eventually going to be, and b) probably not as experienced as they should be going into their 5th and 4th seasons in the NBA. This is a failure of the last step mentioned above.

As a result, the Jazz are still rebuilding, with a Phase 2 rebuild YEARS after the point where they should have started. (Very few teams with high potential lotto picks decide to keep them on the bench for years in this current era of NBA basketball)

And that's a big problem. Guys that earn the time should play. That's the biggest problem with Trey right now. He hasn't shown he's an NBA caliber starter but he's starting just because. The other guys had to earn it somewhat anyway. The fact they have their own DLeague team playing the same style of basketball gives them no excuse now either.


Phase 2 started with two 1st rounders in the 2013 Draft, Trey Burke and Rudy Gobert, and continued with another two 1st rounders in the 2014 Draft, Dante Exum and Rodney Hood.

If you add it up, though, this is a young team that is inexperienced. (No doy why we only have 6 wins!) But it's a super young team where 9 of the 15 players on it are under 25.

They are young but why also don't have the shooters or defenders to play the type of ball they are playing.


Utah Jazz 2014 2015 Roster by Age

So...... ESPN's three headed monster of Kevin Pelton, David Thorpe, and Amin Elhassan decided that only three of them are among the NBA's Top 25 players under the age 25. (In$ider). Because I'm a nice guy, I'll fill you in on what they had to say:

11. Derrick Favors / Age: 23 / Jazz
Projected 3-year WARP: 16.8

Pelton: Improved floor spacing in Quin Snyder's offense has helped Favors set career highs in both usage (22.2 percent of the Jazz's possessions) and true shooting percentage (.593).

Yes they are using him a lot better. Until he shows he can defend the 4 or 5 than who cares really though? Gobert should be higher than anyone on the Jazz .


Thorpe: Favors has made a jump as a scorer, which moves him up on this list with another year to go. Right now he is a good defender and can be a good team's second-best scorer, with room to grow.

He's a crappy teams 2nd option now. Don't really see him as that on a good team.


Elhassan: His progression has not happened as quickly as I anticipated, but he's still a high-level rebounder and shot-blocker who is making strides on the offensive end.

12. Gordon Hayward / Age: 24 / Jazz
Projected 3-year WARP: 17.3

Pelton: Hayward will be 25 in March, and similar players were about at their peak by that age. It's OK if Hayward continues performing like he has this season, as he ranks in the league's top 30 in both RPM and WARP.

Thorpe: He's enjoying a career year, as players entering their prime years should be. Can help an offense as both a scorer and passer while bringing great energy to the game, which is not a small thing.

Elhassan: Nice all-round talent who can dribble, pass and shoot, but I wonder whether Hayward can take the next step toward greatness. If he can't, the Jazz will need to add someone who can lead them there.

Not sure he can get a lot better. They are using him better to. He'll have to become more consistent to step up anymore and he's always been streaky.


23. Dante Exum / Age: 19 / Jazz
Projected 3-year WARP: 1.5

Pelton: After a strong start, Exum has shot just 24.2 percent since Nov. 21, including 2-of-14 from 3-point range. SCHOENE includes Tony Parker among his comparables, but the closest match is Indiana Pacers wing C.J. Miles.
Ouch! He's already better than CJ. Got the BB IQ that CJ lacks.


Thorpe: Maybe the best example of upside versus downside on this list, but his abilities as an athlete and passer suggest a big future. We don't know if he will be a great scorer, which would lower his ceiling significantly if he doesn't turn out to be. As a plus, he's young enough to be on this list for five more seasons.

He looks like a guy that will be able to score but rather he has that mentality I'm not sure. Assists and D and solid, smart play at the very least.


Elhassan: Of all the players on the Jazz roster, Exum has the highest upside. He is in the first few steps of a thousand-mile journey of development, but as Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee showed last season, the light can turn on sooner than expected.

So there you have it, the Jazz are rebuilding and have three players with potential who are young, and they are getting recognized right now. But is three enough? What if one doesn't become a star? Does that make the rebuild a failure? The Jazz have a lot of youth right now . . . will any of the overlooked players make a jump?

None are stars yet. That's why the tank continues but next year cap wise it says it's time to start competing.


Maybe this is just Jazz-fan DNA, and my anti-ESPN bias against their Jazz / small market bias is flaring up, but I think that more than just three of our guys have the ability to make a list of people under 25. Maybe a Top 30 list, as the actual ESPN Top 25 list is pretty solid.

We'll see.

I think the Jazz front office is doing their part during this rebuild. And they finally got a coach who is on board with it too. Results will follow. But seriously, in a year or two Alec Burks or Enes Kanter better be better than Draymond Green!

Kanter likely won't be a Jazz man and Green as a stretch 4 is highly valuable in today's game.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]In 23 games, the Jazz have had a 1st quarter deficit 14 times.
In 23 games, the Jazz have been outscored in the 2nd quarter 17 times.
In 23 games, the Jazz have been losing at halftime 17 times.
In 23 games, the Jazz have scored more points than their opponent in the 3rd quarter 16 times.

In 23 games, the Jazz have eventually been outscored in the 4th quarter 16 times.

In 23 games, the Jazz have been losing at the end of the 4th quarter 17 times.
So sure, these are individual instances, so maybe you

[Xiao Yao You]

Poor 1st half followed by awesome comeback with a furious finish. It sure is entertaining and it is a great learning experience for this team.
It's entertaining if they compete and make a ball game of it. That's all I ask. I know their roster has lots of holes. But mostly they've been getting blown out unlike the middle of last year.

[QUOTE]On the final in bound play the Heat front block each player on their route and down 3 you can

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At 3 p.m., the training staff told Miami coach Erik Spoelstra that Dwyane Wade was sick and probably would not be able to play.
:cry:


A few hours later Wade was in the Heats starting lineup ready to go.

Wade had only eaten half a bowl of chicken noodle soup in the past 24 hours but summoned the energy to score a season-high 29 points, including three free throws in the final 9 seconds, to help Miami beat the Utah Jazz 100-95 on Friday night.

"He dug deep tonight. We all just appreciated that he was just out there with his spirit but then to have a game like that was tremendous," Spoelstra said.

Wade made 10 of 16 shots and recorded seven assists, despite his illness.

"You don't ever want to be sick at all, but I do know when you have an injury or if you're sick, it makes you focus a bit better," Wade said.

Chris Bosh had 22 points and Luol Deng added 14 for the Heat, who closed a five-game road swing on a winning note after losing five of their previous six.

Enes Kanter scored 25 points, Gordon Hayward had 18 and Alec Burks 16 for Utah, which has lost 10 of its last 11 games.

Wade's final free throw attempt with 5.2 seconds remaining rimmed out, leaving the score 98-95 and giving the Jazz a chance to tie. However, Joe Ingles failed to get the ball inbounds within 5 seconds after a time out, turning the ball back over to the Heat.

"I knew they were trying to go to Hayward at the top of the key. I just wanted to be on top of him and change his route so he'd be in the 2 area, instead of the 3. As soon I saw them line up, we knew the play and put ourselves in position to stop it," Deng said.

Norris Cole was then fouled and made both free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining for the final margin.

Bosh broke a nearly 4-minute drought with a jumper at the 58-second mark to put Miami in front, 95-89.

"We felt like we could salvage the road trip with a solid win tonight but we knew it wasn't going to be easy. Defensively, we answered the bell," Bosh said.

The Heat had to overcome a rare out-of-bounds travel by Deng and four quick points by Hayward along with a layup by Rodney Hood before the last-gasp inbounding gaffe.

After the Jazz trimmed the edge to one point in the fourth quarter, Wade and Mario Chalmers made back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Heat back in command until the final minute.

Down by 16 points in the third quarter, the Jazz stormed back behind the slim, shot-blocking combo of Jeremy Evans and Rudy Gobert. Dante Exum's 3-pointer at the end of the period completed a 15-3 run and closed the gap to 78-74.

Wade had scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games but then had two subpar outings, before the outburst against the Jazz.

"Why shots started falling now, when I felt bad, no one knows," Wade said.

Early on, the Heat encountered little resistance to their drive-and-dish offense, which produced open shots in the first half. Miami shot 63 percent and led 62-47 at the break.

"We are getting a slow start and playing catch up. We have enough talent to beat every team in every quarter. But it's tough," Kanter said.

The Heat finished 50 percent from the field.

___

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami's 62 first-half points were the most the Heat have scored in an away game this season and the 63 percent shooting was the best of any half.

A other team with highs against the vaunted Jazz D! :rolleyes:

[QUOTE]... Starting PF Josh McRoberts missed the game with a bruised right knee and Chris Andersen was out with a sprained right ankle. ... Justin Hamilton, who played high school in Utah, filled in for McRoberts and had nine points, including two key baskets in the fourth quarter.

Jazz: Favors limped off the court for the locker room after twisting his right ankle in the first quarter and did not return. The Jazz have gone 0-10 without Favors in the lineup over the past two years. ... The Jazz outrebounded the Heat 44-35. ... Without Favors for much of the game, Gobert posted a season highs in rebounds (11) and career highs in blocks (5) and assists (4).

UP NEXT

Heat: Host Chicago on Sunday.

Jazz: At Washington on Sunday.

Copyright

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"I was doing jumping jacks," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade. "Jumping as high as I can just so he couldn

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[QUOTE]Derrick Favors sprained his ankle in the first quarter against the Heat. He left EnergySolutions Arena in a walking boot, and his status is unclear for Sunday

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Rudy Gobert started and played significant minutes in the second half.

The difference was probably Quin not playing him at the end of the first half with 2 fouls.

[QUOTE]With him on the floor, the lanes to the basket closed. He was an elite rim protector, blocking five shots. His presence in the paint allowed the Jazz to more effectively guard the perimeter.

This wasn

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[QUOTE]Patrick Christopher, the 6-foot-5 Utah Jazz guard just signed out of the D-League, was inactive for Friday

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[QUOTE]To make matters worse, the Jazz had lost center Derrick Favors.

With two minutes left in the first quarter Friday night at EnergySolutions Arena, Favors limped off the floor, wincing in pain. The fifth-year big man and the team

[Xiao Yao You]

Derrick Favors slowly limped out of EnergySolutions Arena with a walking boot on his right foot and his shoe in his left hand.

It was one of those nights for the Utah Jazz.

Yeah the 2nd most exciting night of the year since Favors missed his other game. The future needs to begin now. The Rudy era has a lot of potential. The Favors/Hayward/Burks era not so much.

[QUOTE]Without Favors in the lineup for the final three quarters, the Jazz fell behind and rallied to make things interesting before fading in the final stretch.

Same Jazz tune.

Different verse.

On this night, it was the Miami Heat who used a tried-and-true formula against Utah to leave the building with a 100-95 win.

[Xiao Yao You]

Second-year center Rudy Gobert has been a pleasant surprise for the Jazz this season as he has averaged 5.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Shouldn't be that surprising. I wasn't sure he was ready to play at the offensive end but otherwise you could see the potential in his first Summer League.

[QUOTE]His improved performance has earned him more time on the court, and while some folks may have doubted whether he belonged in the NBA last year

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“I don’t really like to talk about myself,” Kanter said. “I like to talk about my team.”

Kanter helped give his team a chance to turn a one-sided game into a competitive one down the stretch Friday night.

He had a double-double in Tuesday’s win over the Spurs, and he’s having the best stretch of his fourth season, averaging 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in December.

Amazing what minutes will do for someone. I guess he is considered an all-star now? The press and announcers been calling Derek and G all-stars with their numbers.


Kanter might not want to talk about himself, but others will.

Snyder even made an admission that some tough love seems to be panning out.

“I have been really pleased. I’ve coached Enes hard. I think he’s needed it,” Snyder said. “Sometimes that can knock you back a little bit.”

Snyder credited the 22-year-old, who’s got a lot to play for this season with free agency looming next offseason, for accepting the challenge to become a better defender.

The 6-11 Kanter isn’t going to land on the NBA’s All-Defense team this season, but the man who draws comparisons to Al Jefferson because of his offensive gifts and defensive struggles is making strides, according to his coach.

“I’m pleased with the toughness, the mental toughness, he’s shown, the resolve to do things he’s been challenged to do,” Snyder said. “Offensively, he’s tried to be really unselfish, too. Defensively is where I see his focus. (When) he keeps his focus defensively, the offense comes easily.”

“Most important thing right now is defense,” Kanter said. “That’s our main focus right now.

Hard to believe it's a focus! :eek:


We just have to do a better job.”

Eventually Kanter did answer a couple of questions about Snyder’s coaching.

“He’s a really good coach because he understands players. He has that communication. He has that relationship with the team,” Kanter said. “He has that relationship with the team, that we want to play for, just go out there and play for.

"He’s teaching us something really unique. We have to just get back (to what he) asks for — play with more energy.”

Kanter admitted that it’s sometimes hard to be the recipient of hard coaching.

“But that’s the way he’s coaching. I think he’s doing a really good job,” Kanter said. He then veered back to the team, adding, “It’s a long process, so we just have to be patient and play through it.”

Long is also the word rookie Joe Ingles used to describe the Jazz’s six-game road trip, which begins Sunday in Washington, D.C., and continues with stops in New Orleans, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte and Memphis before a Christmas break.

Charlotte? a win?


“It will be good for us,” said the 27-year-old Ingles, who smiled and said a long road trip during his European playing days was 48 hours and included one game “and then you go home again.”

This trip might seem even longer depending on the health of Favors. His foot landed awkwardly when he got tangled up playing Miami late in the first quarter Friday, forcing him to miss the rest of the game.

Kanter and backup center Rudy Gobert both had one of their best performances of the season, but the Jazz certainly don’t want to go an extended amount of time without the 6-10 Favors in the lineup.

Why not? Actually having a chance to compete is bad?


One huge reason: The team is 0-10 the past two seasons when Favors misses.

“He’s really an important part of, I’ll say, (our) family,” Kanter said. “With Derrick out, Book (Trevor Booker), Jeremy (Evans) played tonight and Rudy Gobert (got) more (time). I think they’re doing a really good job.”

The Jazz aren’t certain whether Favors will be available for Sunday’s game (4 p.m. MST tipoff) against the Wizards. The fifth-year center left the arena Friday with a boot on his sprained right ankle, but X-rays came back negative. He traveled with the team Saturday and is listed as questionable for the road-trip opener.

Snyder also gave a vote of confidence to Gobert, who logged a season-high 26 minutes Friday while registering career-highs in rebounds (11), blocks (five) and assists (four).

“I think he played well. When Favors went out, to have that opportunity, I don’t think anyone was surprised by some of the things he did. He’s been doing that. He has just had more of an opportunity to play, “ Snyder said.

“Obviously, Derrick has been terrific over the course of the year. Rudy has been playing well, but (Friday) he played really well.”

The Jazz have only won twice in 10 road games this season — and not since Burke’s buzzer-beater in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14 — but Kanter believes in his team. He shares the popular opinion that the Jazz need to stop falling down by so many points. Continuing a bad habit, Utah trailed by 16 points to the Heat before making a game of it in the second half.

“This team I think we have something special,” Kanter said. “We have enough talent to beat every team on every court. We just have to play with more pace and get a better start.”

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

TWITTER: DJJazzyJody

Need to play D. Rudy makes that possible.

[Xiao Yao You]

If he were to a miss time, it would be a major blow for the Jazz. Favors is averaging 15.6 points and 8 rebounds a game.

Almost as good as Enes this month. :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah will be trudging into Charlotte, N.C., on the second night of a back-to-back.

and that looks like the best chance for a win

[QUOTE]And the Memphis Grizzlies, one of the NBA

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[QUOTE]the Bear mascot raised a sign that asked the EnergySolutions Arena crowd, "How bad do you want it?"

That prop apparently was left over from last season.

That

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[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: Sacramento has fired coach Mike Malone, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Adrian Wojnarowski: Assistant coach Ty Corbin will take over as interim head coach, league source tells Yahoo Sports. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Tyrone Corbin will take over as the interim coach, likely for the term of the regular season. Around the NBA, there's a strong belief that general manager Pete D'Alessandro will pursue ex-Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, but a high-ranking Kings source insisted Sunday night that it is unlikely a full-time replacement will be hired during the regular season. Yahoo! Sports

Adrian Wojnarowski: Natural candidate for Sacramento will be George Karl, whom D'Alessandro worked with in Denver. Still, Kings insist he isn't on deck now. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Sam Amick: That being said, the George Karl possibility is very real and that noise won't be going away anytime soon. Still, Corbin gets his shot. Twitter @sam_amick

Adrian Wojnarowski: Despite star DeMarcus Cousins missing past nine games, Malone didn't meet win-loss expectations of ownership, sources tell Yahoo. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Marc J. Spears: Continuing on @WojYahooNBA Malone firing news, source said Kings mgmt was disappointed with the player development, game plans & adjustments Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Owner Vivek Ranadive has wanted the Kings to play a faster style of basketball, and D'Alessandro

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Jazz missed Derrick Favors

Without Favors, who was questionable with an ankle sprain, Utah struggled to keep Washington

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz scored 16 third quarter points, which contributed greatly to their second straight defeat. Gordon Hayward picked up his third foul and was pulled early in the period.

tjones@sltrib.com

twitter: @tjonessltrib

Yeah he pulls guy to early for fouls. 4 sure but 3? Not that G was helping them offensively.

[Xiao Yao You]

Jeremy Evans moves into the playing rotation.

He will likely be paired off the bench with Trevor Booker,

Neither of them should be playing center.

[QUOTE]and will be counted on to provide his elite athleticism in a positive fashion. It

[Xiao Yao You]

The Washington Wizards are 16-6 on the season, near the top of the southeast division and one of the elite teams in the eastern conference.

But up until recently, they were right where the Utah Jazz currently are, struggling to find their way with a young roster.

So win or lose, the Jazz can take solace in Sunday night. They will see up close how the transition is done in what is considered less than a big market. The Wizards took an elite point guard (John Wall), surrounded him with veterans (NeNe, Marcin Gortat), got themselves a shooter (Brad Beal) and now they are a threat to win their league.

Can the Jazz do the same?

When they get some vets they'll improve certainly but do they have a star to build around?


"I really like that core group, they have some good talent, some nice players," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We were fortunate to get some good veterans to go with our young guys, and they bought into what we were doing."

This is what the Jazz are hoping to become. A team that pairs Trey Burke and Dante Exum with the growing talents of Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors. They want to mature.

No Rudy, Enes, Hood or Burks(who's contract should get him mentioned if nothing else). :facepalm


They want to add pieces, and they want to figure out what it takes to win and do so consistently in the NBA.

As soon as they've had enough tanking anyway.


Utah struggles with that. The Jazz have shown flashes, but have six wins to show for their struggles and effort. But they can still take solace. The Wizards are a team that went through the pain, after drafting Wall in 2010. Now, they look like a consistent playoff team and eastern conference contender for years to come.

-Tony Jones

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tjonessltrib

[Xiao Yao You]

Booker had a solid first game back in Washington. The sixth man scored eight points with nine rebounds even after spraining his ankle and leaving to get his foot retaped.

Hopefully his ankle is alright with Favors out already.

[QUOTE]Overall, the 27-year-old said he enjoyed his time back in D.C., which included a Saturday night reunion dinner with Wizards buddy Kevin Seraphin and the game.

[Xiao Yao You]

If contracts could be renegotiated in the NBA, Derrick Favors would probably get a huge pay raise.

He might. Doesn't mean he deserves what he gets now.

[QUOTE]Not as much for what he does on the court for the Utah Jazz, but for what happens when the big man is not on the hardwood.

For the 11th time in the past two seasons, Favors wasn

[Xiao Yao You]

I have been saying for two years I think the Wizards are the model for the Jazz. The Wizards drafted John Wall and were patient and let him become a star. When he was ready to be a star they surrounding him with veterans and in the meantime drafted Bradley Beal who is going to be another star.

Actually it was after they added vets that the Wizards and Wall started to do something. Jazz had vets now they don't. Big mistake.


The key to what they have done is they are good defensively and have been the entire time Randy Whitman has been the head coach. Not clear why Whitman doesn’t get the credit he deserves for being a terrific defensive coach.
Or why Snyder gets a lot of hype for being a defensive coach.


Worth noting that if the Wizards are my model we still have a long way to go. The key is Dante Exum is our version of John Wall but Exum. However, from a timing standpoint Dante is the same as where Wall was at Kentucky and after Wall entered the NBA the Wizards were a 20-30 win team for another three years. So if that is the model then the Jazz have another three years after this year before they are ready to make the jump into the playoffs and then another one or two before they make a run as an elite team in the West.

that's a lot of tanking. Wizards didn't have a Rudy to build around. Exum might be the guy eventually but now it is Rudy.


Rudy Gobert got the start for the injured Derrick Favors. Gobert held his own playing a career high 31 minutes. His plus minus was not as good as it has been and the Jazz defensive numbers with him on the floor were not as good as they have been. This is simply the difference in playing frontline guys v. back-ups. Rudy played well. He had an impact. He altered shots. This is a huge jump for Rudy. He was not a 30 minute a night player in France. The jump he has made this year from non rotation to rotation player has been terrific and he has been terrific. What is being asked out of him as a starter is even larger. I thought with that understood he had a strong game.

And despite all that they were a lot better team defensively with Rudy than they've ever been with Favors.


Since we have done this every night let’s do it again. With Rudy on the floor the Jazz shot 17 of 47 (36%) with him on the bench they shot 13 of 31 (42%). At this moment I can’t get the defensive numbers. I will update as they become available.

Who was on the floor? Rudy doesn't take many shots.


Trey Burke broke the paint more than I have seen him in the past. He makes things happen more when he is able to get in the paint. Tonight he only had two assists but it felt like he created a lot of plays.

Was good to see him do that. Could be a nice back-up in this league.


The nightly getting beat back door and fatal turnovers (turnovers above the free throw line) are killers every night.

The Jazz held the Wizards to 15 2nd quarter points a season low and 37 first half points a season low. But the Wizards notched 30 in the 3rd and 56 in the 2ndhalf.

Jazz lost the 3rd quarter 30-16 this is first time in a long time the Jazz lost the 3rdquarter.

Gordon Hayward has lost his stroke from 3 he is 3 of his last 24.

The always streaky G. Who'd have thunk? He still an all-star though?


Love the 9 free throw attempts from Gordon and the 8 from Alec little bummed that Kanter and Trey never got to the line. So hard to be efficient without the free throw line.

or the 3's


I feel like Alec Burks is better playing with better players. The idea that he is the second unit scorer that I have always thought was his role might not be the answer. When he plays with better players the creases are made from their action and he is able to get to the rim. When he is on with the second unit it feels forced and hard for him to get gaps to the basket because none of the other players are making the defense adjust.

It is really enjoyable to watch Rodney Hood each night trying to figure out what he can and can’t do in this league.

Be more enjoyable to look at his box scores in Idaho and watch an NBA ready player with the Jazz until he is ready.


Wizards are the 4th best defensive team in the NBA and they clamped down on the Jazz tonight. Jazz shot just 38.5% and hit only 5 of 17 from three. The first half the jazz took care of the ball pretty well and had a super defensive half but in the second half they started turning it over with 7 turns in the 3rd quarter that lead to 11 points and the Wizards got 8 of their 11 fast break points in the 3rdquarter.

Jambalaya is spicy. New Orleans is next.

Posted in Emptying the Noggin

Gobert/AD could be a lot of fun if Favors doesn't ruin it.

[Xiao Yao You]

Me: How are defenses attacking you when you have the ball? Dante Exum: I think I've noticed they're trying to be a little more physical with me. Definitely up the court, and trying to pressure me up the court. But as a rookie, that's what I'm going to get. I've noticed some (teams), they're playing halfcourt D, and once I get on (the ball), one of the players looks at his coach, and they're up in me, trying to pick me up the court. So it's just little things like that. It helps me get comfortable bringing the ball up and being secure with the ball. NBA.com

[Xiao Yao You]

Corbin also had the delight to coach Quin Snyder's best players too -- Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Alec Burks, Trey Burke, and Rudy Gobert. The only difference is that while Corbin enjoyed that level of youth and vigor as (mostly) bench depth

Most of them started.


-- Snyder's bench is Gobert, Trevor Booker, and three rookies: Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, and Rodney Hood.

They learned a lot from last year's failed tank! :rolleyes:


One coach had no previous head coaching experience, but given full support by the franchise, plenty of All-Stars (D-Will, Sap, Ak-47, Josh, MoLo, Devin, RJ), and lots of time. The other has a team with an average age of 24, and a bench even younger, but had been coaching for a long time.

all-stars and former one-time all-stars are the same thing? :facepalm


Both were first year NBA head coaches with the post- Jerry Sloan Jazz. And, as the fates would have it, after 24 games have the same record.

Utah Jazz Head Coach Win Percentage - Corbin Snyder

The game-by-game coaching win% is interesting to me. Snyder had a chance to go .500 earlier this season when the team was 3-4; but he couldn't get it. Corbin was close to .500 for a looong while, but he tapered off quite at bit. I don't know how long either of them will have as a head coach in the NBA, but I do know that there are a lot of war drums for the Kings to hire George Karl. But at least for now, the last two Jazz head coaches are NBA head coaches at the same time. It'll be interesting to see how their teams do from here on out.

I think Ty has a good chance to show he can catch in this league with their roster. He might get replaced eventually but it's a great opportunity unlike in Utah where he never really had a chance.

[Xiao Yao You]

I have no doubt that if the Jazz were in the EC, they would be at least +5 in the win column.

I have plenty of doubt considering their first road trip and play at home.


In the game last night, Rudy shined in his first start. He did have an overall -13 on the box score (attribute that to the late 4th quarter run by the Wizards), but digging deeper, he was great. He ended with an overall defensive rating of 92, had 3 blocks, 9 rebounds, and shot 60%. One of the problems on the offensive side is that he is being ignored by his teammates. Even Matt Harpring noticed several times that Rudy was open for a lob, but was ignored. You can't ignore a guy that has an eFG% of almost 70% in the restricted area.

Some of that is he still has some problems catching passes. He's gotten a lot better though.


Rudy also has second highest net production, according to 82games.com. He sits at a +7, behind Hayward's +9. It's not even close either. The next player in that ranking is Favors at -0.5. Rudy needs to play more.
Wow I'm not the only oner that sees it! :wtf:

[QUOTE]A few days ago, Miller Sports Properties (parent company of the Jazz) signed an exclusive partnership with U of U health care. I haven't seen this mentioned on SLC Dunk, but this could potentially be a big boost for the Jazz. From the press release:

Miller Sports Properties and the Utah Jazz announced today a five-year partnership agreement with University of Utah Health Care that will result in access to world-class sports medicine and clinical care expertise and the development of collaborative community relations outreach programs.

Of course the program is only as good as the use they get out of it, but it could potentially help the Jazz to really innovate in the area of sports health. They have already been on the forefront by sending their players to P3 to develop athletically, so let's hope this is along those lines.

Last year, Ben Golliver of SI.com posted a list of the NBA's Worst Starters. Remember that? It included fan favorite Richard Jefferson, who started for the Jazz. Well, this year the Jazz proudly have no players on the list.

Second annual All-Atrocious Team: The worst starters in the NBA

Carlos Boozer made this list.

Oh, and Richard Jefferson:

After inexplicably starting in favor of Alec Burks for former coach Tyrone Corbin on a rebuilding Jazz team, Jefferson has found a more appropriate role (12.2 minutes per game off the bench) in Dallas after signing for the veteran

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]There have been many teams who have imploded because of internal strife. Losing can be the one thing that sets it all off. This is where the Jazz come in. They

[Xiao Yao You]

Favors realized he had the reputation of a dunker and a glorified garbageman around the basket. He simply demanded more of himself offensively.

Nice to realize that after 4 seasons. :rolleyes:


So Favors spent the offseason going to work on his jumper. Shot after shot, day after day, from every spot on the floor. He set up from 15-18 feet. He had to make a certain number — usually 100 — from each area, before he could move on. It didn’t matter which coach was at the practice facility on that day. Favors would work with anyone who happened to be in the gym.

It was tedious work. But Favors knew it was needed.

"I heard what everyone said in my first few years," Favors said. "They said I would never be able to score. I knew that I had to get better, and that I had to improve my shot. Eventually your athleticism leaves you. I had to get better."

Here is the result: The Jazz may be having a tough year, but Favors is having a career season. He’s averaging 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per night.

all-star? :confusedshrug:


He’s shooting a career-best 56 percent from the field. The Jazz gave Favors a hefty contract extension last season for his defense and his rebounding.

But he’s added the offense as well.

But he never has been anything special defensively and not the dominating rebounder that was predicted either.


"You can see how much he’s gotten better," Utah point guard Trey Burke said. "Teams used to be able to load up on him at the rim. But now, you can’t give him an open jumper. He’ll make it now."

Not sure he's a whole lot better. They've used him more effectively.


Favors is now a consistent shooter out to the free-throw line. In the past, anything beyond eight feet was an adventure. Now, Burke and Favors run the pick-and-roll seamlessly. Burke either hits Favors rolling to the basket or gives it to him for jump shots. This dynamic has made both better players. Favors has less wear and tear from trying to challenge people in the lane. Burke picks up assists at a much easier rate.

Now, instead of being looked upon as a Tyson Chandler clone — someone who scores strictly off opportunities in the lane — Favors has set himself a higher offensive ceiling.

But not the defender or rebounder Chandler is.


It’s difficult to believe that he’s still just 23 years old, since he’s been in the NBA for five seasons. Now, Favors believes that he can add to his game even more in the coming years.

"I work on everything," Favors said. "I have goals for what I want to be as a player. I want to extend my range even farther this summer, hopefully out to about 20 feet. I want to get better with my back to the basket, and with each hand. I just want to keep improving."

Favors said he believes he can average 20 points and 10 rebounds at some point in the future.

But can he stop anyone?


He’s already proved his worth to the Jazz. The organization can’t win without him on the floor. The Jazz are 0-11 when Favors is out of the lineup.
:facepalm that's getting old


That happened again on Sunday. Favors missed a 93-84 loss to the Washington Wizards with a sprained ankle he suffered against the Miami Heat last Friday. The Jazz say he’s day-to-day, which means there’s a good chance he will play during this road trip — perhaps as early as Tuesday here against the New Orleans Pelicans.

It was clear that Utah suffered against the Wizards without Favors and his ability to provide a scoring presence in the lane.

"We missed him," Jazz guard Alec Burks said. "He does a lot for us on both ends, and you could see that. He makes us a better team."

It has been three years since Utah traded for Favors, played him behind Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson and brought him along slowly. Now, the man with so much potential is starting to turn it into production. General Manager Dennis Lindsey’s gamble is paying off.

It is? Unless he can play the 4 it looks like bringing back Millsap was the smart play.


This is just the second season in which Favors is averaging double figures. If his offensive trajectory keeps trending upwards, he could be an all-star at some point.

I thought he and G were this year? Kanter is putting up all-star numbers this month too! Big 4? 5?

[QUOTE]And that’s exactly what Lindsey banked on when he extended his star big man before last season.

Jazz at Pelicans

O Tuesday, 6 p.m. MDT, at the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans

TV

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Feb. 7, when the Kings come to Salt Lake City, has become a day to look forward to as a result. Instead of Corbin coming back to EnergySolutions Arena as an assistant. He

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors participated in part of the Utah Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Hood is shooting 70 percent. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but it illustrates that he can do so much more than just shoot.

The rookie also has shown a progression on the defensive end of the floor, with his footwork notably improving as the season has progressed.

general managers voted Hood as the biggest steal of the draft, and he hasn’t done anything to damper that optimism.

We'll see. I'd say Rudy has to be last year though. Hood needs to drive more it appears.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Looking through the NBA, there are not a lot of other teams that Burke would start on. That

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Ingles has 31.7 percent of his possessions end in an assist. That

[Xiao Yao You]

Booker sports a 13.46 PER, which would be the lowest of his five-year career. Booker has turned the ball over on 16.5 percent of his possessions, which cancels out some of the good things.

Might have to bench him so they can gauge Favors and Enes next to Rudy.

[Xiao Yao You]

Burks is shooting 43.8 percent on drives this season compared to 47.5 percent a season ago. However, his points-per-game on drives has stayed the same this year, even with the same number of attempts. The reason behind this is because Burks has upped his free-throw percentage from 74 percent last year to 81 percent this season.

Hopefully he can keep that up.

[QUOTE]Burks has also rebounded better this year, getting 66 percent of his rebounding chances compared to just 54 percent a season ago. Snyder has challenged the Jazz guard to become a better rebounder, and he has responded.

Burks hasn

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah opted not to extend the big man this summer.

Was mutual. I'm guessing they would have signed him at a certain price.

[QUOTE]Numbers wise Kanter looks good. He

[Xiao Yao You]

opponents are shooting just 40.4 percentage at the rim against him

and Favors?

[QUOTE]) and he

[Xiao Yao You]

Hayward is starting to justify the raise with one of his best seasons as a pro.

He is?

[QUOTE]He

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Favors has the 14th best PER in the league, a jump shot that has come a long way, and most importantly the Jazz can

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The two things that most were worried about coming into the season was Exum

[Xiao Yao You]

Gordon Hayward is coming into his own not just as a starter in the NBA, but as a legit star, with room to grow.

:rolleyes:

[QUOTE]Hayward is averaging career highs in points per game, rebounds per game, steals per game and free-throw attempts. The points, nearly 19 per game, highlight his improved ability to take his defender off the dribble, and his increased shooting percentages from last season are just under 4 full percentage points from the floor and the 3-point line.

The increased free-throw numbers are impressive as well and underline the rate at which Hayward is getting to the free-throw line. While shooting percentage is important, it is overshadowed by the rate at which a player gets to the free-throw line based on the fact that a free-throw is such a high-percentage shot. Hayward averages the 15th most free-throws per game of any player in the NBA, and does it despite taking relatively few field goal attempts, increasing his overall efficiency.

While I've complained in the past about the long and slow process of the current rebuild, which seems to hang in the balance of each new draft pick, the Jazz young roster is showing signs of great promise.

If Hayward continues this trend, he will be able to maintain not only his jack-of-all-trades reputation, but will become one of the NBA

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: There's nothing behind the Deron Williams-to-Utah rumor. Jazz haven't discussed trading for the ex-Utah guard, and it won't happen. #sources Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Thank God! They need a vet pg not another overpaid max player way past his prime.

[Xiao Yao You]

If he ever got bought out I could see bringing him back but I doubt they ever would. They traded him for a reason and it wasn't because they thought he'd leave as a free agent. It will be a long time if ever that his number hangs from the rafters.

[Xiao Yao You]

Enes finished with a career high 29 points on 12 of 22 shooting and took very few outside shots.

As I've said he's too good inside to be hanging out on the perimeter all the time.


Once Tyreke Evans got rolling and they isolated him mid block and brought Anthony Davis over on the pick and roll it becomes almost impossible to guard. The Pelicans were able to milk this play time and time again,

Jazz lead it by 14 with 11:25 left in the 4thand by 9 at 99-90 with 8:00 left and the Pelicans went on a 13-2 run. 4 straight baskets by Tyreke Evans in transition. Then the Jazz quieted the storm and it was a 2 point game with 2:20 left after Kanter hit two free throws. Anothny Davis then scored 7 straight points, two baskets off assists from Tyreke Evans.

Trey Burke scored 14 points in the first quarter the most he has scored in any quarter of his career.

Alec Burks fourth quarter is one to forget. 1 for 8 shooting with 2 turnovers.

Jazz got good production off the bench with double figures from Exum and Booker. This might be the first close game of the year where the Jazz had two double digit bench scorers. New career high for Dante Exum.

Booker needs to be benched when Favors returns though. Favors and Kanter need to be getting minutes opposite Rudy until they decide on one or the other.


Ryan Anderson burned the Jazz for 6 three pointers tonight. He had been struggling but he got great looks in transition and the Jazz were slow to close on him.

same ol'


Joe Ingles has not scored in 4 games.

:eek:

[QUOTE]Anthony Davis awesome

[Xiao Yao You]

Snyder said his relationship with Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey is quite strong.

Well duh! That's why you're there. You're his guy.

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors didn

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz average 14.2 turnovers a game, which is tied for 15th in the NBA.

Average. Considering they don't have an NBA starting caliber pg that's not too bad. Obviously have a lot bigger issues.

[QUOTE]ROAD WOES: The Jazz have lost five straight road games since point guard Trey Burke

[Xiao Yao You]

Trey Burke had the best quarter of his career against the Pelicans, scoring 14 points and grabbing two rebounds in the first quarter. He made all five of his shots and his offensive outburst allowed Utah to lead for almost the entire first half.

Scored the most points anyway. Rather it was his best quarter is arguable I'm sure.


Favors not ready yet

Jazz center Derrick Favors missed his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle Tuesday. He participated in shootaround, but was ruled out before the matchup.

tjones@sltrib.com

Looks like he's close. Time to see how he and Rudy look together. Enes and Rudy look good so far.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]On Sunday, Gobert was good, with seven points and nine rebounds. He appeared to tire out in the second half, as he

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz are not the Sacramento Kings.

No the Kings look like they might have a bright future if Cousins can kept together. The Jazz are going nowhere it would appear.


The euphemistic phrase Jazz management has settled on is the now familiar: "We will not skip steps."

What that means is the Jazz are asking for patience, while selling a more exciting up-tempo, transitional style.

But their pace is actually worse than a year ago! :facepalm

[QUOTE]They

[Xiao Yao You]

New Orleans' 68 points allowed in the paint was a season-high.
And no Favors. Hard to believe.

[QUOTE]PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES

Pelicans coach Monty Williams said he didn't understand why the Golden State Warriors sent video to the league of Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green getting hit in the face by the elbow of Pelicans reserve Dante Cunningham on Sunday night. Williams said the contact looked inadvertent to him.

"If I have a problem with another team I go talk to the coach. That's how I operate," Williams said. "I don't like playing that game of calling the league and kind of whining about what happened."

UP NEXT

Jazz: Visit Miami on Wednesday.

Pelicans: Visit Houston on Thursday.

Copyright

[Xiao Yao You]

Wade dropped 42 the most he has scored in a game since December of 2010 but the rest of the Heat did nothing.

Another high against the Jazz D.

[QUOTE]Wade shot 12 of 19 and the rest of the Heat were 15 of 51.

Gordon Hayward in his own way matched Dwyane Wade

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Gobert actually played fewer minutes than the past two games

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"I

[Xiao Yao You]

This night was different. Favors, although still bothered by his sprained right ankle, returned from his two-game absence.

Yeah and they won despite him being back.

[QUOTE]Small forward Gordon Hayward had one of his best games of a season of best games.

Power forward Enes Kanter continued his surge of strong performances.

Most important, the Jazz jumped all over a struggling Heat team, which is missing big men Chris Bosh (calf) and Josh McRoberts (impending knee surgery), and continued to play well for a full four quarters.

Sure, there were spurts when Dwyane Wade almost single-handedly pushed the Heat back into this one during his season-high 42-point night.

But the Jazz remained composed, got key buckets from Hayward (29 points) and Kanter (18 points), among others, and played one of their better defensive games from tip to buzzer.

They did some things in previous losses to satisfy their process-oriented coach, but this time they got a result that lightened the postgame mood in the locker room, too.

[Xiao Yao You]

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Burke was on track to become just the eighth player in NBA history to shoot under 37 percent overall and worse than 31 percent from three while attempting at least 11 shots per game.

But he's a shooter! :wtf:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Hayward had another marvelous, all-around performance. He was the model of efficiency, scoring a team-high 29 points on just 13 field goal attempts. He connected on 4-of-5 3-pointers and all seven of his free throws. Add in seven assists and six rebounds and you

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The incident

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Suddenly, an 83-72 lead swelled to 91-74. When Burks

[Xiao Yao You]

a guy who does appear to be evolving before our eyes is Enes Kanter.

He's been evolving since he came into the league. He got off to a slow start last season because of his injury to end the previous season but other than that he's always shown improvement unlike the much hyped Favors who until this year hadn't shown much and I'm still not sure how much he's improved. They're certainly using him better.


Some of his well-chronicled defensive shortcoming are still there

And considering how bad almost everyone else on the team is we're tired of hearing about. He's certainly shown improvement there as well this year.


, but the last nine games or so might be the best stretch of his pro career to date.

Starting with the Denver game, Kanter is averaging 18 & 9 on 53% shooting, and even knocking down 43% from three.

That makes 3 all-stars than? Why aren't they winning?


His intensity and effort have been noticeably better. There were even moments while Favors was out that it was clear Kanter was the emotional leader, trying to capitalize on the momentum of a big play by riling up teammates, or pulling guys together on a dead ball.

There's been times since his rookie year that he should have been playing over Favors but it's yet to happen just because I guess.

[QUOTE]I

[Xiao Yao You]

recognition helps make you a star player. The Jazz have been without one for a while now, and need one. Gordon Hayward could be one, but coming into the draft the Jazz felt like they had to get a player who had that potential.
Tank!


Andrew Wiggins and Nerlens Noel look to be the front runner for the ROY award this season after Jabari Parker was recently shelved with a season ending injury. That sucks, but it was running away with the award. Beyond the ROY race there are the 10 spots for All-Rookie 1st and 2nd team to worry about.

Who cares? I'd rather he was the MVP of the Dleague than getting limited minutes and inconsistent play in the NBA.


Exum has a chance to crack it, but he's going to have to be a more effective player on the court in terms of his box score production.

Of course, there are other players looking to crack to Rookie Top 10, like the not listed players: James Ennis, Kyle Anderson, Doug McDermott, and Joe Harris. They are getting some time, and playing well for a playoff team can help make you look better than you actually are.

I don't remember if last season's Rookie teams were just players on lotto teams, but that's not a knock on a player for the ROY award. Michael Carter-Williams won last season, fending off Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke. All three players have a younger teammate in the running this season as well.

There's no doubt Trey wasn't that great last year. He got to play and it was a weak class.


But back to Dante . . . I like to think he's one of the best PGs in this class, however, in terms of getting on the floor he's behind Zach LaVine, Elfrid Payton, and Shabazz Napier. If Rajon Rondo is traded I would expect Marcus Smart to get more playing time too. It's important for me that guys like Dante are one of the best players at their position. The draft is something the Jazz can't mess up with. But right now we're playing the long game, while some of these other teams are playing for today.

I have faith in the Utah Jazz scouting process, and their drafting process. And I have faith in Dante Exum. And watching him play more and more minutes makes me comfortable with the idea that he's going to end this season as a Top 10 rookie.

:rolleyes:

[Xiao Yao You]

Mark Eaton, a two time defensive player of the year was picked in the fourth round of the draft in 1982, and since that time late round talent has been a Jazz hallmark: Isaac Austin, Bryon Russell, Shandon Anderson, Jarron Collins, Mo Williams, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap, and Jeremy Evans have followed.

Bobby Hansen?


Utah started looking outside the USA with Jose Ortiz, and over time added more and more staff to help them find good players, like former All-Star Andrei Kirilenko. The criticism here could be that they did get good players, but things did not always work out. The poster child for that is Raul Lopez; however, today the Jazz feel like international players will see the value of this organization and help build Utah into a winner again. At least, that's what Dante Exum, Enes Kanter, Rudy Gobert, and Joe Ingles are attempting to do.

Two players are both second round picks who are international players -- and both aren't with the team yet. Ante Tomic is a Croatian playing in Spain this year, and the bigman is versatile on offense and defense, and one of the best in his league.

One of the best in the world outside the NBA. One of the best passing big man anywhere.


The other is Raul Neto, a Brazlilian kid grew up wanting to play the game like John Stockton, is also playing in Spain. He's not dominating the ACB, but he's doing enough to make you see his value.

How do these two players compare with the current point guards and bigmen on the team? While there is no apples to apples way to figure out European per game averages against NBA per game averages . . . we can try to take a look.

Point Guards:

G MPG PPG FGA FG% 3PT% FT% PPS RPG APG A:TO SPG BPG PER USG% AST% REB% BARPS /min
Trey Burke 26 32.1 11.3 11.7 36.8% 32.0% 80.0% 0.97 2.3 5.3 2.63 0.9 0.3 11.6 20.7% 26.6% 4.3% 20.12 0.626
Dante Exum 26 17.8 4.9 4.3 41.4% 35.0% 60.9% 1.14 1.4 2.0 1.89 0.4 0.2 8.8 14.9% 17.6% 4.7% 8.92 0.501
Toure' Murry 0 0.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Raul Neto 11 21.8 9.1 7.5 45.1% 31.8% 67.9% 1.22 1.5 4.1 1.41 1.0 0.3 14.6 25.5% 36.1% 4.8% 16.00 0.733

Neto could be coming to the Jazz as early as next season, and I think we would welcome that.

It's a joke he hasn't been with them the past two years as their staring pg.


He's shooting better from the floor, a product of his shot selection, but isn't nearly as effective from deep -- and in Europe their three point line isn't as far, IIRC. He's also the most risky with his passes, but that could be a simple product of his teammates missing the easy shots and denying him of system assists. Down in Murcia, Spain he is a bigger part of their team than any of our point guards, finishing over a quarter of the plays when he is on the court with a shot, and over 1/3rd with an assist.

The 22 year old Brazilian seems to be responsible for a little more when he's in the game than either Burke or Exum, and is in more of a "John Stocktons gotta shoot it this time" mode right now. I wish his FT% was better, but I think he compares in performance with our current point guards.

And he showed D in the World Cup!


Trey Burke is correcting his poor shooting during the early part of the season, but he's still not shooting as well as he would like.

But he's just in a slump! :roll:


His assist to turn over ratio (over 3 for most of the season) still hasn't recovered from the John Wall / Wizards game. Dante Exum is playing much better now and playing more minutes. I will enjoy watching the rest of his season and how he progresses. Toure' Murry has yet to play in an NBA game this season.

But remains on the roster instead of in Idaho. :wtf:


Speaking for myself, it looks like Neto would be a healthy addition to this group and is more likely to be a part of this group moving forward.

Ya think? :rolleyes:

Try watching a game instead of compiling stats. He was better than Trey in Summer League and he certainly looked better than Exum and Trey in the World Cup.


Bigmen:

G MPG PPG FGA FG% 3PT% FT% PPS RPG APG A:TO SPG BPG PER USG% AST% REB% BARPS /min
Derrick Favors 23 30.4 15.4 11.7 55.6% -- 67.1% 1.32 8.1 1.4 1.03 0.6 1.5 22.3 22.3% 8.8% 16.1% 27.09 0.891
Enes Kanter 26 27.2 14.7 11.7 52.8% 33.3% 79.4% 1.25 7.2 0.7 0.37 0.4 0.5 19.0 25.1% 5.1% 15.9% 23.42 0.863
Trevor Booker 26 20.0 7.2 5.7 50.3% 29.2% 57.4% 1.26 4.4 0.9 0.61 0.6 0.3 13.5 18.5% 7.3% 13.3% 13.50 0.676
Rudy Gobert 26 17.8 5.6 3.4 61.4% 0.0% 67.9% 1.66 5.8 0.7 0.79 0.7 1.7 21.1 13.6% 6.5% 19.4% 14.58 0.817
Ante Tomic 20 20.6 11.4 7.2 60.8% -- 68.8% 1.59 6.7 1.4 1.23 0.7 0.5 26.5 23.7% 12.0% 20.4% 20.45 0.993
Yeah, this is interesting. Why do I say this? Well, first of all, Tomic was drafted in 2008, and still hasn't come to the team. Back in 2008 it was a no-brainer that Tomic was a better player than the then teen-aged Favors and Kanter. (And possibly sub 6'4 Gobert as a child) Today? Today it could be argued that Tomic is worse than Favors or Kanter. We're never going to find out, though.
He's a better passer than any of them. He's at least comparable to Kanter in the low post.


Tomic, it appears, is never going to come to the NBA. But I think it's clear he has NBA talent. He doesn't take bad shots, and he has a good court vision for a bigman. Right now as a big fish in a small pond he is dominating the paint. He doesn't block a lot of shots, and he doesn't have three point range. So he exists in some quasi- Rik Smits world, but even that guy blocked a few shots here or there.

Favors, Kanter, and Booker can all get bully shots up in the paint because of their strength. Gobert uses his length and athleticism to just transcend defenses. Tomic plays like a below-the-rim guy most of the time, but does still do damage on tip-ins and used to throw down alley-oops. But I don't think that he has the hustle left at 28 to compete with these guys who are all (save for Booker) on the younger side.

I can live without Tomic as this point, but he would have really looked good off the bench with a Deron Williams Jazz team that didn't have the length to go far in the Western Conference playoffs.

Was too skinny 4 years ago. He should have been over here the past 2 or 3 years anyway. Who knows what the roster would look like now? Tomic and Millsap starting up front?


It's not Apples to Apples:

It's not. The guys in Europe, even the starters, rarely play huge minutes -- so their apparent value is nerfed. We're also apt to nerf their production anyway because of the strength of the opponents and the style of play. The Euroleague is better than the NBA-DL, but behind the NBA in terms of the athletic ability of the general player on a roster. Raul Neto tested as one of the quickest players in Jazz history (at the combine), but I don't think he's Ty Lawson fast, or would have faced John Wall / Rajon Rondo types that frequently.

Tomic is still better than some NBA bigs right now, but he's not likely to be a Top 3 Jazz big in a year or two.

Hard to say. As an elite passing big man he could be the ultimate Jazz big from an offensive POV. And he can score in the post with both hands and a variety of moves. Also a vet.


This was a fun little post to do (the Holidays means more family time, and less internet time for me -- so don't expect a lot), but I think the Jazz brass are more interested in how our current youth progress.

More to do with tanking and not making Trey look so bad I'd say.


I'd love to see both guys in a Jazz jersey. We may only see one. And it's not going to be for many moons until we do.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] I asked him about what was probably his most iconic moment of the tournament, a crunch-time block of Spain

[Xiao Yao You]

last January, and Gobert, then a rookie first-round draft pick, was going on what he considered a rather undignified assignment in the D-League, a few games in Reno, a few nights in a bed that reeked of cigarettes.

"I was pissed," he says.

He played like it down there!. Maybe they ought to piss off a few more of their young players?

[QUOTE]Gobert can look back now and find some positives in that situation. He got a chance to play when he wasn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Much has been made about Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

Before the game Quin Snyder talked about in Sacramento when he say something that told him the team was turning the corner. He talked about the club making 3 or 4 plays in row correctly rather than 1 every now and again. Since then the Jazz have been much better. Tonight they did it defensively. Sequences of the game tonight the Jazz was exactly what they talked about doing in shootaround.

We'll see how they do once they're back home. Certainly playing better on the road for some reason. Until Rudy is getting major minutes it's hard to get too excited. He's numbers weren't great in this one but he was a major factor when he was in there as always.


Some of the best defensive execution plays were Kanter digging in on Vucevic and then getting back out on Frye.

So when is Favors going to show he can do this?

[QUOTE] Hayward had a play where he got into the legs of the cutting Vucevic and then got back out on Harris forcing him to give up the look and the Jazz made the next rotation to the next shooter. This happened on numerous occasions tonight where the Jazz were sharp defensively.

I didn

[Xiao Yao You]

For the first time since February 24 and 26, and consequently this season, the Jazz managed to put together back-to-back wins after outlasting Orlando 101-94. This statistic is both a relief and a reminder of just how rough this team has been in this calendar year.

But they're better than last season! :rolleyes:

[QUOTE]For all the numerical and analytic wizardry that our resident guru Ben Dowsett can do in any given post, one thing that

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The two biggest names, the two biggest contracts, the biggest scorers

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"We're taking some steps to improve and it's resulting in wins," Utah Coach Quinn Snyder said. "We've got to understand why that is happening so we can keep doing it. When we share the ball. That is when we're at our best."
No you're at your best when you can make some stops. They've been sharing the ball all year but they don't have the shooters or finishers to make it work. He generally talks about the offense. I thought it was all about D with this guy?


The Jazz shot 53.4 percent for the game, their third straight game of hitting 50 percent or more from the field. Most of the scoring came in the paint where Utah was 24 of 34 for the game against a timid Magic defense. The Jazz also went to the free throw line 24 times to just 12 for Orlando.

"We owed this team (Magic) one," Hayward said. "They kind of roughed us up in Utah (earlier this season), but we played with a lot more force tonight. We were a lot sharper and were able to get a lot of good shots."

Tobias Harris led Orlando with 24 points and Evan Fournier 21. Harris and Fournier combined for 7 of 11 shooting from 3-point territory and Nik Vucevic added 16 points and nine rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent their fifth loss in six games.

Rookie Elfrid Payton came off the bench to score 11 points and get 11 assists. It was his first double-double of the season. He also helped hold Burke to 5-of-15 shooting for the night.

"I give him a lot of credit," said Orland coach Jacque Vaughn. "He comes in the game trying to change the pace and he's going to make mistakes, but his ability to listen and respond and keep playing is a good sign. He's putting himself in positions where he is finding success."

Utah shot 70 percent in the first period and didn't drop below 55 percent shooting until the nine minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Jazz led 85-74 at that point, but the Magic went on a 10-4 run punctuated by a 3-point play from Harris to cut the deficit to 89-83 with 5:28 left in the game.

Orlando had several chances to draw closer to Utah in the final five minutes, but couldn't take advantage of the few defensive stops they got. Hayward and Favors kept Utah out of trouble, scoring seven of the Jazz's last nine points to preserve the win.

The Jazz were up 49-43 at halftime and used a 15-5 run in the middle of the third quarter to push the lead up to 77-60. Hayward scored 12 of Utah's last 16 points in the period, seven from the free throw line as the Jazz drove relentlessly to the basket.

Utah had 24 free throw attempts in the game to just 12 for the Magic and outscored Orlando 19-8 at the line.

TIP-INS

Utah: The Jazz had lost 12 of 14 games coming to Orlando. . Rookie Dante Exum followed his two best games of the season, 12 points against New Orleans, 10 against Miami, with just two points and three turnovers against Orlando. .

Idaho!


Orlando: C Kyle O'Quinn was assessed a flagrant one foul for a shot to the head on Jazz F Gordon Hayward. O'Quinn has two Flagrant 1 fouls and one Flagrant 2 this season. . F Tobias Harris, who was 1-for-13 on 3-pointers in his last four games, hit three of five against the Jazz.

now there's a surprise! :rolleyes:

[QUOTE]. Magic Coach Jacque Vaughn was a first-round pick by the Jazz in 1997 and played there four seasons. . Orlando is 0-8 THIS SEASON when opponents shoot better than 50 percent.

UP NEXT

The Jazz are in Charlotte tonight.

The Magic host Philadelphia Sunday.

Copyright

[Xiao Yao You]

guarding the basketball is something the Jazz did not do a few weeks ago when Orlando defeated Utah at EnergySolutions Arena.

nor most of the year

[QUOTE]The lack of defense allowed the Magic to live in the lane almost at will, and kick out for wide open 3-pointers in one of the more disappointing losses of the season for the Jazz.

On Friday night, Utah held Orlando to 44.6 percent shooting. When Orlando won earlier this month, it shot over 50 percent.

"Sometimes, it can

[Xiao Yao You]

the two best Utah Jazz players pushed their team ever closer to a winning streak.

The two highest paid anyway. Rudy's the best and Kanter certainly has an argument over Favors. despite the hype to the contrary.

[QUOTE] Three minutes away from finishing off a 101-94 conquest at the Amway Center, Favors splashed home a 15-footer. He smirked slightly when Magic coach Jacque Vaughn disgustedly called another timeout.

This was fun. Fun for Favors. Fun for the Jazz.

"A year ago, I probably wouldn

[Xiao Yao You]

if you ask Enes Kanter, he may tell you he wants to stay out here indefinitely.

He may get that wish. He will be getting paid a lot of money by someone this summer.

[QUOTE]The young Jazz big man has been a revelation this week, twisting and turning, scoring on whomever he wants and playing better defense.

He set his career-high on Tuesday night with 29 against the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 18 important points against the Miami Heat a night later. He hit a corner 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of that game, a shot that proved gargantuan. He

[Xiao Yao You]

Rudy Gobert stole an inbounds pass in the first half against Miami, took a few dribbles toward midcourt, and saw nothing but open space and one defender.

What happened next, as the cool kids say, about broke the Internet on Wednesday night and has been a topic of conversation around Jazzland ever since.

Hard to believe his dominating play wouldn't be the topic of conversation but oh well. :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]Gobert, acting like a 7-foot-1 version of point guard Tony Parker, pushed the ball down the court, deftly maneuvered around Heat center Udonis Haslem into the lane with a huge step to the left, and then gently flipped the ball into the hoop with a George Gervin-like finger roll.

[Xiao Yao You]

the talented Utah roster is really coming along.

:rolleyes:


It has put together a nice string of solid performances, even in some recent losses. There is a building confidence as the squad is starting to gradually realize the immense potential it possesses.

Remains to be seen how much potential they have.

[QUOTE]There is evident buy-in to Snyder

[Xiao Yao You]

David Locke: According to Quin Snyder, Enes Kanter has been a big part of the defensive improvement Twitter @Lockedonsports

:eek:

[Xiao Yao You]

Only Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward have ever played significant roles on teams that were playing 4 games in 5 nights. Last year, we never played 4 games in 5 nights. So even Hayward and Favors have never carried this big a burden in a 4 games of 5 nights.

Really that's hard to believe? Don't they always have those? Kanters been in the rotation his whole career and Burks for much of his so it depends on what you consider significant. As we've seen this year with their weak bench being part of a rotation is significant.


This team was searching all night. They couldn’t find a rhythm or a momentum in the game. At some point in one these nights you have to get a momentum as a group to find a way to fight through the fatigue.

And at some point the coach has to try something else. Gobert was fighting through it. Go with Evans and Clark? They're fresh.


Enes Kanter,Alec Burks and Trey Burke both had poor games.

Typical game from Burke so hard to call it poor.


From a shooting standpoint as they do this a few more times they will figure out how to turn a 2 for 9 into a 3 for 7. That becomes a really big difference. You can feel you legs are dead and you have no explosion. So you end up settling for the first open jumper you get but because your legs are dead you end up front riming all of those shots.

Al Jefferson caught the ball with a foot in the paint on every touch early and Favors was dead from the start. Jefferson got him on pump fakes, weezies and everything that big Al does

So that's why Favors didn't come back in the game in the 4th? :confusedshrug:


Rudy Gobert was the highlight of the night.

as he is pretty much every night. Time to build around him. It should be obvious to anyone watching that he is the man. They finally have a direction to take this team.


He had his first double double of his career. In the 2nd quarter he was dominant. He impacted shots, grabbed rebound and even began to make some plays on the offensive end. A GM once told me when evaluating players look for dominant plays then they can play in the league. Then look for dominant sequences, then they can impact the game. Then look for dominant quarters, then they can start to determine who wins game. Then look for dominant games, weeks and months and then you have a player you can use as a core piece of your franchise. Rudy is dominating sequences and getting close to quarters. He will dominate games and weeks. He is going to be a core piece of a great defensive team.

He already is Locks. Wake up! You're the stat man. They tell the story if you can't see what's going on in front of you. Rudy was dragging at times in this game too but he kept working and grinding and making plays despite that. He's a lot of fun to watch. Gives me some hope for the future whenever they decide that is.


Alec Burks played his 23rd game of 30 or more minutes tonight – he had only played 36 games of 30 minutes in his career prior to this season.

Joe Ingles got it going and had 13

Yeah he was the other guy that did something.


Jazz battled back to within 10 but never were able to get past that.

New experience and the Jazz didn’t deal with it very well. Let’s see if they deal with the next 4 games in 5 nights better than this one.

Posted in Emptying the Noggin

Memphis will be ugly unless Rudy gets significant minutes just like every other game.

[Xiao Yao You]

The team looked lethargic all night long, leading to them settling for a multitude of outside jump shots offensively and a dearth of bona fide stops on the defensive end.

They haven't made stops regardless.


With a few exceptions, the only thing that stopped the Hornets from getting to the rim and/or scoring was a missed shot, not an outstanding defensive play by a member of the Utah roster. Enes Kanter particularly seemed to have no legs, as nearly every one of his 6 misses on the night caught front iron.

Rudy?

[QUOTE]Trey Burke

[Xiao Yao You]

"Our start hurt us," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "We let Al Jefferson catch the ball way too deep. They had a couple of easy buckets early and it made us even more tired."

and if Rudy starts this doesn't happen.

[QUOTE]It was Utah's fourth game in five nights

[Xiao Yao You]

If you want a reason for the Jazz falling to Charlotte on Saturday night - a technical reason - look no further than the way the Hornets played pick-and-roll defense.

I'll continue to blame it on Rudy not starting and playing as much as necessary.


Charlotte went under almost every screen, a tactic that kept Utah out of the lane, but also gave the Jazz plenty of open jumpers from 18-20 feet.

Not only is that a bit unconventional, it surprised the Jazz, especially their guards. It was an adjustment that Utah was never able to deal with.

"We missed a lot of open jumpers," Jazz point guard Trey Burke said. "On paper, those are good shots, and they are open shots. But it kind of lulls you to sleep and keeps you from being aggressive. It hurt us tonight."

They're good shots if you can shoot. If I'm the other team I'm making you beat me from the perimeter no doubt.

[QUOTE]That, combined with the Jazz being a tired team, kept those jumpers clanging off the rim. The Jazz weren

[Xiao Yao You]

Around NBA circles, they call this a scheduling loss.

I call it tanking. If you had a roster of NBA ready players who knows? The teams from 2 or 3 years ago had the depth to compete nightly no matter what. This team just doesn't have enough players that should be playing at this level.

[QUOTE]Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Jazz forward Trevor Booker underwent a minor procedure today. Won't play tomorrow night, but is not expected to miss any more time Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Rudy!

[Xiao Yao You]

If someone got it up and over Rudy, it was a blood feud. This is something that has carried over since that pre-draft evaluation where he played on one foot, it’s really something that he is as a basketball player. A competitor. An athlete. A stand out talent that only the best teams were lucky to have.

A few weeks later, on draft night, he was picked by the Denver Nuggets – a team that knows a thing or two about defensive stalwarts (think: Dikembe Mutombo, Marcus Camby) – but somehow parted with him for a beggar’s ransom of cash and a second round pick (Erick Green). It wasn’t their best move of the season. But in the long run it could be one of the best moves in Utah Jazz history.

These deals are generally already made. They drafted him for the Jazz. It was already known before the draft that Denver wanted to sell the pick. As I've said it's probably the biggest steal since Stockton and Malone. Hopefully they don't take as long to realize he's the man as it did with John.


Now, I don’t mean to say bad things about Erick Green, but I will say great things about Rudy Gobert. The first is that, clearly, he is head and shoulders above any peers he may have. At first I was trying to see how he was as a player compared to the likes of Mark Eaton, Greg Ostertag, Thurl Bailey, Truck Robinson, Rich Kelley, Olden Polynice, Felton Spencer, and so forth.

:roll:


But for what Gobert has shown he is capable of at this age I had to look beyond our Jazzy borders, into the land of the giants. (For what it is worth, Gobert is 4 blocks off of tying Jarron Collins’ production at the 5 spot in a Jazz jersey, in 407 more games.)

It's not worth anything. Tag and Eaton are the only guys you can really compare him with there.


Right now, for Gobert’s career he has played fewer than 1,000 minutes in 73 games. His average if 12.9 mpg, his first season he was sacrificed to the God Vetzzzalcoatl. Well, not really, but it’s not like his former coach knew how to get him on the floor. (That type of coaching creativity doesn’t make me feel like he’s much of a Jazz conductor.) His last coach got Rudy into only 54% of the games his team played last season in a 25 win year; and only at 9.6 mpg.

He wasn't ready offensively. He may have been by the end of the year if they'd had him down in the D-league most of the year like they should have.


Rudy is seeing more and more floor time this season, a little over 18 mpg. But for a guy like Rudy, it’s what he does when he’s on the floor that matters. (Aside: which is funny why there was a narrative to suggest that he improved over the off-season; rather, it was more like he was always good, and people needed to construct a way to defend a coach who was always defended by the media.) In some ways, Gobert was even more of an animal on defense last season than he is this season.

Last season Rudy grabbed 28.5% of all the available defensive rebounds when he was on the floor, this season it’s only 23.9%. His block percentage did rise from 7.4% to 7.6% from his rookie year to this year. But plainly the point here is that he was THIS good last year too. So let’s look at the numbers of other good bigmen.

Again you need to watch the games and get your head away from your computer screen. He wasn't good enough at the other end last year. He still has some issues this year as well at the other end.


Over his entire NBA career Gobert has a REB% of 20.0 and BLK% of 7.5. Where does this stand against other bigs? Here we have a chart showing bigs who have at LEAST had seasons of 15% in REB and 6% in BLK – and then going higher each step of the way until you see how rare it is to have a player like Rudy. (The number is the number of seasons where the player had the advanced stat minimums)

Player REB 15%, BLK 6%, 400 min REB 16%, BLK 6%, 400 min REB 17%, BLK 6%, 400 min REB 17%, BLK 7%, 400 min REB 18%, BLK 7%, 400 min REB 19%, BLK 7%, 400 min REB 20%, BLK 7%, 400 min REB 20%, BLK 7.5%
1 Marcus Camby 6 5 5 3 3 2 2 0
2 Rudy Gobert 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
3 Greg Oden 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
4 Greg Ostertag 8 7 5 5 3 1 0 0
5 Dikembe Mutombo 7 7 6 3 3 1 0 0
6 Hakeem Olajuwon 4 4 4 1 1 1 0 0
7 Amir Johnson 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
8 Larry Sanders 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
9 Chris Andersen 6 6 4 2 0 0 0 0
10 David Robinson 4 4 4 1 0 0 0 0
11 Alonzo Mourning 5 4 1 1 0 0 0 0
12 Shawn Bradley 6 3 1 1 0 0 0 0
13 Mark Eaton 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
14 Eddie Griffin 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
15 Tree Rollins 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0
16 Samuel Dalembert 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
17 Andrew Bogut 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
18 Ben Wallace 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
19 DeAndre Jordan 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
20 Joel Przybilla 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
21 JaVale McGee 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
22 Wayne Cooper 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
23 Andre Drummond 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
24 Andris Biedrins 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
25 Bismack Biyombo 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
26 Jawann Oldham 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
27 Jermaine O'Neal 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
28 Kendrick Perkins 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
29 Tim Duncan 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
30 Anthony Davis 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 Harvey Catchings 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 George Johnson 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 Bill Walton 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 Serge Ibaka 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 Alton Lister 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 Ervin Johnson 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
37 Hasheem Thabeet 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
38 Jerome James 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 Michael Stewart 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
40 Roy Hibbert 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 Tyrus Thomas 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 Bernard James 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 Calvin Booth 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 Charles Jones 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 Dan Gadzuric 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 Kelvin Cato 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
47 Patrick Ewing 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48 Ronny Turiaf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
What this tells me is that if you look at what a defensive bigman can do, block shots and get rebounds, Gobert is really in good company. And that last column, for 20% REB and 7.5 BLK is Gobert's CAREER numbers. If you add this this his age, and inexperience (some of the guys on that list had big seasons 5 years removed from their rookie years), you see that Gobert has both performance and potential going for him.

Gobert is amazing. And he's young. And he was this good last season. So why is he only playing 18 mpg? Sadly, Gobert's time on the floor may not be determined by him, but by those around him. Derrick Favors is amazing when he gets the ball; but he really an inside only player.

Except for all those FT line jumpers and now baseline jumpers he's making. :coleman:


Enes Kanter has more of an inside/outside game, but even he cannot get on the floor for more than 27 mpg. Even if you scuttle Jeremy Evans, Steve Novak, and Trevor Booker only then can you hope to give the three young bigs the time that SOME of us may want.

There's no excuse for it now. He is the man. You got to go with a 3 man big man rotation until you decide on Favors or Kanter next to him. That's 32 minutes a player and only Favors is getting that now so there's plenty of minutes as much as Booker deserves to be playing. If you decide on Favors before the trade deadline you can make a move though in reality you could keep all 3 at least until Rudy becomes a max player and even than with the increasing cap you might be able to keep all 3. Biggest question is keeping one of the happy coming off the be bench. Things could get even more complicated after the draft.


But the good news is that beyond being a peer of some of the best ever defensive bigs, he is also someone who is more and more a two-way player who will get on the floor more.

We're just greedy because we can see what he does now, and want him to get on the floor asap.

His time will come, and a lot sooner than the time for our other 1st rounders in recent history. And I think we all can agree that is good news. There is no conclusion because there are three crying kids and someone foolishly put me in charge. I don't see how anyone with kids can blog . . . hats off to you parent-bloggers.

[Xiao Yao You]

With Booker out, that likely means Jeremy Evans will take his spot in the rotation on Monday night. It also could mean more time for Rudy Gobert, if Quin Snyder wants to rotate him with Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.

but we know that won't happen

[QUOTE]Booker has played well on the road trip, in which the Jazz have won two games. He

[Xiao Yao You]

the Jazz have one more game in the longest trip of the season. They would like to finish it off with a win.

tjones@sltrib.com

:lol

[Xiao Yao You]

Center Rudy Gobert has been playing well, having just totaled his first career double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) in Charlotte, and the Jazz could pair him in the frontcourt at times with Enes Kanter, too.

We already know they can play together. Can Favors guard the perimeter and stretch the other teams D enough if paired with Rudy?

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[El Kabong]

Encouraging win against the Grizz.

[Xiao Yao You]

Yes hopefully he'll stick with the 3 big man rotation and Trey's minutes and role will continue to be reduced. Memphis has lost 3 straight and was without two of their key players on a back to back.

[Xiao Yao You]

You’ve got to believe Coach Snyder inspired these guys to give it their all before a 5-day break until after Christmas. You could see it in their faces. They didn’t want to lose this one.

After their pitiful effort against Charlotte it's nice that they stepped up.


The Jazz let Memphis go on an early run that could have opened the flood gates, but they tightened up the defense and battled back, even setting the pace for much of the second half. We definitely caught Memphis on the right night, without Zach Randolph or Tony Allen, and on the second night of a back-to-back, but a win is a win. The slower pace of this Grizzlies team might have also played to the Jazz’s favor as well, so that their legs didn’t wear down by the end.

Maybe the Jazz need to rethink their style of play? Might be good reason why Corbin didn't have these guys running.


2. Flashes of the future

There have undoubtedly been some rough patches so far this season, but this victory has to make Jazz fans excited for the future.

Rudy has me very excited. If they continue to give him big minutes I will be happy but I certainly wouldn't count on it when Booker returns and Favors is 100%. I assume he's not based on them sitting him the past couple of games. Also Enes has slumped a bit to.


Several players flashed glimpses of progress and potential tonight, giving us all hope that one day we can compete with the loaded Western Conference night in and night out. Let’s start with Rudy Gobert. The man is a beast on the glass, finishing with a new career-high 16 rebounds, and his defensive presence was undeniable throughout his 29 (!) minutes on the floor. If this road trip has proven anything, it’s that Coach Snyder is having a hard time keeping this guy off the floor.

He's a beast period. It's apparent they need to build around Rudy. The sooner that process begins the better.


Another bright spot was Rodney Hood. His shot wasn’t necessarily falling tonight

Hasn't fell all year. He needs to keep attacking the rim. They had him and Maxi G at the forwards at least briefly. I'm guessing we might see that more and more in the future.


, but what I liked most was how he found a way to contribute regardless. Tonight he showcased more dribble penetration than I’ve ever seen from him and seemed to be attacking the rim more. He even dished out four assists, showcasing his PG skills from his high school days. Since returning from injury at the end of November, he has steadily been earning his stripes as a solid role player on this team.

He certainly looks like a player. Hopefully he can become the great shooter they now lack though.


Dante Exum also did a lot of good things tonight on the defensive end, as well as hitting a couple three pointers, before heading back to the locker room with a slight ankle injury. Enes Kanter is showing new life off the dribble. He’s playing aggressive with more confidence on the offensive end than ever before.

He was driving in the pre-season and finally started to do it again recently. He's gaining confidence from 3. That's the biggest thing.


And Gordon Hayward did Gordon Hayward things for this team yet again. He has proven himself as the leader of this team with games like tonight, carrying the team with sheer will from time to time. His body language throughout the game said it all tonight, there was no way he was going to lose this one. The only visible difference was the lack of hair product tonight. I don’t know if he needs another trim or if he simply forgot, but I like the new, stylish Hayward more than the old, floppy hair version.

Yes his hair did look a lot better than it has.


3. Learn from the best

When you play one of the best, you should try and learn something from them. One of the glaring differences tonight was PG play.

Same old story. Every pg in the league is watering at the mouth to play against Trey


Mike Conley is having an all-star caliber season for Memphis this year, and he’s not even the primary or secondary option on the team. He kept Memphis in this game on a shorthanded night by penetrating the lane, facilitating and knocking down outside shots. He finished with 28 points, four rebounds and four assists. Trey and Dante could learn a lot from his style of play, especially the floater. It’s a dangerous move that, when used right a la CP3 or Steph Curry, is nearly unstoppable.

difference is Trey isn't the athlete that Conley or most stating pig's are.


Trey was also the only starter to not finish in double figures tonight, which wouldn’t worry me as much if he had more than four assists to counteract it. All that being said, not a terrible game from either Jazz PG, but always something to learn from.

Scott Stevens

Yes it was a terrible game for Trey. but typical other than he didn't take as many shots as usual! :applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

Kanter’s situation is a tough one, and one unlikely to reveal any end-all solution before the Jazz have to make a decision or series of decisions regarding his future. So with that in mind, let’s briefly look at Utah’s general options going forward:

Move Him Before the Trade Deadline:

A pretty unlikely scenario, for a variety of reasons. It’s rare to see any team give up real assets for a guy slated to hit RFA in just six months given the lack of full control they then maintain over his situation, and it’s unclear whether the Jazz would be able to bring back anything of real value.

Sure there is. If a team sees him as a max player they could trade for him planning on matching any offer. He's going to get paid a lot of money. The only question is how much. Jazz need to decide if him or Favors is the best match with Rudy or if they think a 3 man big rotation will work and they can afford to pay 4 guys big money for one year before the cap goes up. Might be another team in a similar situation with a guy that fits the Jazz moving forward better. I think his potential as a stretch big and continued improvement and age makes Favors the one to go if either though.


Teams like Memphis, Atlanta, and Washington are all at least pseudo-contenders or better in what’s currently as wide open a title race as we’ve seen in many years, and all might have both a desire for an upgrade at a third big position and a later first round pick plus the sort of mixture of cap fodder and veteran presence the Jazz would likely ask in return. But it’s so tough to evaluate how any of these front offices would view Kanter, and whether they’d even want to part with those sort of assets for what could end up being a six month rental.

Complicating the process to some degree could be Kanter’s agent, Max Ergul, who retains zero other NBA clients and could end up being something of a wild card. Teams can have issues dealing with solo agents they aren’t accustomed to working with, and there have been whispers that Ergul will attempt to squeeze every dime possible out of his most lucrative talent2. Don’t expect to see Kanter moved before the deadline unless the Jazz brass is more down on him than most of us had realized, or unless a godfather offer comes along.

again hard to predict


Sign-and-Trade Him in the Offseason:

Perhaps even more unlikely, if for no other reason than the simple rarity of this happening outside deals for megastars changing teams (a la the S&T Cleveland and Miami struck when LeBron took his talents to South Beach in 2010). The value returning would likely be even less than a midseason trade, and would essentially amount to a last-ditch effort to salvage some value for Kanter that could actually end up making Utah’s front office look a tad silly. It’s a vague possibility for technical reasons, but quite improbable.

that's why you might be better off getting what you can this year if you don't see him as part of the future.


Push Him to Sign the Qualifying Offer:

If interest is light around the league in July, the Jazz could lean on Kanter to sign the one-year, $7.8 million qualifying offer they’ll offer him as standard practice. This is a very unconventional route to restricted free agency, and one that would see Enes become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2016. Pistons big Greg Monroe took this door in September, and he and Kanter share several on-court characteristics.

It’s tough to imagine Ergul (or Kanter, for that matter) accepting such a low figure, though the promise of UFA as the new TV money kicks in could tip the scales a bit. The Jazz would then get one more year to evaluate Kanter in this system and alongside his teammates3, though they would relinquish matching rights and risk losing him for nothing. This route also seems fairly unlikely given a number of factors, and the Jazz should probably plan on making a final decision on Kanter’s future in Utah by this offseason.

yeah I don't see this. He's going to get a lot of money. Only reason to do this would be because of the increasing cap. But he's already had a couple of injuries. Better get the money while you can. If anything I'd be looking for a deal with an opt out after the first year to hit the market again when the cap goes up.


Let Him Enter RFA and Proceed Accordingly:

Far and away the most realistic scenario for the Jazz is simply to let the process that they in part chose to initiate this offseason play out. Utah still has a good bit of flexibility on their cap

not really


and a fully loaded stockpile of picks and cheap, movable contracts, and they can afford to gauge the market for Kanter with Rudy Gobert waiting in the wings. Monroe proved just how thin the market can be for Kanter’s sort of player, a power forward incapable of guarding centers who isn’t a true floor-stretcher in the vein of a Channing Frye, and Dennis Lindsey and the Jazz brass may count on a similar trend placing much of the leverage firmly in their hands.

he's going to be a true floor stretcher though. And unlike most of those guys he's got a lot more offensive game than just that along with his rebounding, age and continued improvement. Got tons of upside.


But it only takes one (expletive), as they say, and Kanter’s offensive skill set has to be desirable to a team with a coach confident he can coax league average defense out of him. A brief canvas of some smart folks I talked to revealed a ridiculously wide array of offers some might be willing to tender him given the right team construct; from three years, $20 million to the same sort of four-year, high-$40 million figure Derrick Favors signed for last offseason. The new TV money set to kick in in 2016 may throw things like RFA into an absolute frenzy as teams race to be the first to exploit potential imbalances, and letting Kanter receive offers that might even top out higher than Favors’ number is a major crapshoot. How Enes compares to guys like Nikola Vucevic (signed for four years, $53 million starting next year), Kenneth Faried (four years, $50-plus million), or Tristan Thompson (also entering RFA this offseason) is also a topic that garners a wide array of viewpoints, with some opining he belongs in that class – or will receive an offer that says as much, at least – and others placing him firmly a tier below.

I can see him getting max. Who else has a better game with 3 point range? Love off the top of my head. He's a rare commodity. Put him with your other rare commodities like Gobert and 6'6" pg and you might have something special going forward.


The Jazz relinquish some control with this approach4, but very little they weren’t already aware of after letting this previous offseason pass with no extension. They get the benefit of making their draft pick(s) beforehand, a process that could play a huge role in Kanter’s future. Names like Towns and Okafor, or Porzingis and Kaminsky a bit further down, have a great deal of potential appeal and would come at a fraction of Kanter’s immediate cost.
Yes the draft complicates things even more.


There are so many moving parts here, regardless of how the Jazz choose to proceed. Where the team feels it falls on the rebuilding timeline is a big factor5, as is how well Kanter continues to adapt to Snyder’s system over the course of the year. The TV money is a massive confounding factor that looms over any and all major salary moves for every team, and how it plays into Utah’s specific salary construct will be of paramount importance. Lindsey and his staff are in the rough stuff now – these sorts of decisions will become more regular and more important over the next few years as the Jazz attempt to claw their way back to relevance. It’s a fascinating game of give-and-take in this ever-changing NBA world, and it should be an intriguing several months ahead.

Ben Dowsett

I say 3 man big rotation at least until it's time to pay Rudy if they can afford it depending on how the draft goes. If they draft another big I'd look to move Favors. He could bring them back a lot in a trade I imagine. They need a pg(Neto? Exum?), shooters, stretch bigs, defenders, etc. Maybe they can do a sign and trade with Atlanta for Millsap?

[Xiao Yao You]

Ton of progress made on this trip highlighted by the play of Rudy Gobert. Rudy has played 4 games over 29 minutes this year and all 4 of them were on this trip. He has an enormous impact on the game. This is an enormous jump for him over last year and his years in Europe. It is stunning to me that Rudy Gobert went 27th in one of the worst drafts ever.

Yes he could be the most valuable player out of that draft.


I was in the gym the day of his workout and he dominating that day with his length and energy. There was no way you could pass on him if you saw him that day.

Sure you could. People saw the flaws. The game has changed. They want bigs that can shoot.


16 rebounds tonight. His lenght is his greatest attribute but he also plays with great energy and super tenacity. He is fearless. He blocked Marc Gasol in the 2nd quarter and Gasol was never the same the rest of the night. Jazz only used 3 bigs tonight with Trevor Booker out and each of them played a very strong 30 minutes.

The length is nice but the guy is a player. He plays hard. He's smart. He wants to win. He wants to improve. He's an athlete.

[QUOTE]Huge amount of big plays in this game. Trey Burke hustling back defensively to alter Mike Conley

[Xiao Yao You]

For Alec Burks, his place with the Utah Jazz is all about filling in the blanks.

The shooting guard knows the offense runs through Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors

Enes? Trey? :rolleyes:


- so he scores as needed. Burks knows that the Jazz crave firepower off the bench - so he leads the second unit on many nights.

But most of all, Burks has defended this season. He’s made it a passion. He’s made it a priority for the first time in his career. And as the Jazz wrap up a six game road trip and head to Christmas break, Burks has carved out a niche as arguably Utah’s best perimeter stopper.

not saying much really. I think Rudy might be their best perimeter defender actualy.


"You can talk about team defense all you want," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "But if guys are blowing past our people on the perimeter, you aren’t going to be a great defensive team. Alec’s been staying in front of people and that’s been important."

At least not with Rudy on the bench. :confusedshrug:


Burks realized the nature of the NBA early in his career. To him, he either defends well, or he gets eaten up nightly by some of the best shooting guards in the league. When he wasn’t playing as much, it may not have been as much of a focus. But now, he’s a starter, and one of the main pieces of the future for the Jazz. He knows that he has to produce.

On both ends.

"I really want to be known as a two-way player," Burks said. "Feel like I’ve been working towards being a better defender all summer. There are some good days, there are some bad days. But I want to be consistent, and be a good player."

Coming home

Jazz guard Ian Clark hails from Memphis and played in front of friends and family on Monday night against the Grizzlies.

"It feels good to be home and play in the same city as where I’m from," Clark said.

It will be an extended break for Clark, who is in his second season with the team. He will stay behind and spend Christmas with the family. The Jazz will practice again on Friday.

Good for him. I think he deserves a shot or send him to the D-league.


Missing the matchup

Memphis forward Tony Allen is one of the very best defenders in the NBA, especially on the perimeter. He would’ve matched up with Gordon Hayward, but missed the game on Monday night with a scratched cornea in his eye.

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tjonessltrib

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] the young-but-maturing Jazz were playing their sixth road game in nine nights on a 6,000-mile cross-country trip and didn

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[QUOTE]Head coach Quin Snyder offset forward Trevor Booker

[El Kabong]

Hard to decide who I like paired up better with Gobert. I like Favors better than Kanter, and while a Favors/Gobert combo provides better rim protection, it's not great offensively and kills the floor spacing, which having Kanter paired with Gobert relieves a bit more, but Kanter can be more of a liability on D.

[Xiao Yao You]

Favors still has to prove he can defend on the perimeter against stretch 4's or against the high pick and roll. Haven't really seen it. Rudy can do it but than that leaves Favors at the rim and he's not as good as advertised there either. Kanter continues to make progress defensively and as a stretch big. He has more upside so he'd be my choice though I think there's enough minutes for all of them. Rather there is enough money or rather they take another big early in the lottery remain to be seen. I'd guess the decision will be made in the off-season after the draft though. What to do with Booker in the meantime? His energy is needed but you got to see what the young guys can do. He's certainly tradable but you might want him around next year.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]While there has always been praise about how well Gobert is able to utilize his frame on both ends of the court, there was also concern about how a team would be able to make use of somebody that isn

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[QUOTE]Four of the teams Utah played on the trip are in playoff position. The Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the NBA, while the Washington Wizards

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Necessity forced a jump in Rudy Gobert’s playing time.

Keeping his minutes up might be the necessity now.

Might? They need to start building around him. He's obviously the most important piece they have right now.


The Jazz are 4-4 over their past eight games, and Gobert’s emergence has played no small part in that success.

Probably 0-8 without him. They are competitive with him in the game. Without him they have sucked.


But Gobert’s recent opportunities have been due to absences. First, there was an ankle injury that kept starting center Derrick Favors out of the lineup for two contests. Then there was a minor medical procedure that caused backup big man Trevor Booker to miss Monday’s game in Memphis. With both players back healthy, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder has decisions to make.
The franchise has decisions to make I imagine. Playing Rudy isn't helping their tanking efforts but at the same time they have to decide about Enes' future in the next few months.


Does he continue to play Gobert, the defensive dynamo, at the expense of more offense?

Seems like a no brainer to me. He does positive things on the offensive end and that will just get better.


Does he play Enes Kaner, a polished scorer, sacrificing defense in exchange for low-post footwork and a sweet midrange jumper? Or does he cut back playing time for Booker, one of his spark plugs off the bench?

Booker has to sit and maybe be dealt. Favors or Kanter need to go to the bench. Funny how there's no mention of Favors there though.


It seems the answer, for now, is that it will just depend.

"It worked well for us, particularly against this team," Snyder said after the Jazz went big with Gobert and Favors and topped the Memphis Grizzles on Monday. "The NBA is all about matchups, and we needed to match up to their size."

Thing is even with small ball Rudy needs to play. He can cover smaller players too.


The Jazz matched the Grizzlies with 32 points in the paint and outrebounded Memphis by a margin of 49-34.

"It’s one thing to be big, and another to be big and go after the ball," Snyder said. "We’re big, and those guys are all good rebounders. That helps a lot when guys are playing hard."

That certainly applies to Gobert’s play of late; he had 16 rebounds in the game.

Going back to the Jazz’s home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 9, he has averaged about 25 minutes a night, up from his season average of 18.

and needs to play 10 or 15 more a night


In that stretch, he’s putting up 6.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. And with the 7-foot-1 Frenchman on the court, the defensively challenged Jazz are defending like a top-10 team.

and there even needs to be a discussion about this? They are one of the worst defensive teams in the league without him.


"I think with him," Snyder said, "getting more and more experience is going to help."

boy all those degrees have really payed off! :rolleyes:


At this point in his career, however, Gobert represents a trade-off. Look at all the pairings of the Jazz’s four rotation big men, and Gobert is part of the best defensive combinations. He’s also part of the three worst offensive combos.

But offense isn't their problem. They need to figure out what the best line-up is around him starting with Enes and Favors. Might be able to trade Booker and others that don't fit with Rudy for some help too. But again winning isn't something they want to do too much of so there is the dilemma.


If there were concerns last year about Kanter and Favors being able to play together on the offensive end of the floor (something they’ve certainly availed themselves of this season), Gobert and Favors truly provide some spacing issues on the court.

Wow! It's not Enes being thrown under the bus for a change. :eek:


Their offensive rating, an estimated 95.3 points scored per 100 possessions, is the worst of the Jazz’s big-man duos.

That pretty much tells me the whole story right there. Either Favors is dealt in the off-season or they pay Enes and go with a 3 man rotation for the next couple of years until Rudy gets paid.


But Gobert is showing himself to be an elite rim protector and a game-changer on the other end of the floor.

The sample size is small (just 37 minutes playing tighter over eight games), but Gobert and Favors look to have the potential to be an impressive defensive duo. In their admittedly limited time on the floor together, their defensive rating, an estimated 96.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, is roughly 20 points better than the pairing of Kanter and Favors.

And how does it compare with Enes and Rudy at both ends? The idea that Favors is part of any equation is ridiculous.


So for now, matchups will most heavily influence Snyder’s rotation.

But Gobert is starting to make a case for himself.

afalk@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribjazz

Rudy belongs in there no matter the match-up. He is the man. Not Maxi G, not Favors, and certainly not Burke(Big 3, leader, :roll: ). Play him Enes and Favors. Plenty of minutes. Go with the hot guys and se what happens.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"I've been on him hard. It's not OK for him to be passive, just to be out there and be in a backup role as a 19-year-old," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said last week in Miami. "He doesn

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Marc Stein: Rockets are making the rounds on Christmas Eve, offering up anyone in the bottom third of their roster via trade to make room for Josh Smith. Joey Dorsey, Tarik Black, Isaiah Canaan, Nick Johnson, Clint Capela ... Rockets seeking taker on any of the above to make room for Josh Smith. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Marc Stein: Rockets were confident they'd find palatable deal soon to open roster spot for Smith. HOU preference is one more trade over waiving someone Twitter @ESPNSteinLine


http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m3qcpa4

Canaan looks better than Burke right now. He can shoot. His assists aren't as high but I'd guess he's just spotting up which he could do with Maxi G, Burks, Hood, Exum, Trey, etc. Steals are pretty good too. Turnovers a bit high. Seems to be a great fit for them offensively. Can't be any worse than Burke defensively. I'd guess the Jazz are familiar with him. He had to be on their radar coming out of the draft as one of the pg's in the draft. Makes them deeper. Jazz probably don't do it for the same reasons Neto isn't here.

Capela is young with upside. Blocks shots and rebounds. Need to put on weight. Send to D-league. Could be depth if Kanter or Favors go. Dorsey is a vet. He has a 2 year deal. I'm guessing next year is not guaranteed though. Jazz have too many big guys with this deal but Booker is starting to look expendable with some value for someone. Novak certainly is if they can find a taker.

For Houston they get a great end of the bench energy guy in Evans with an expiring deal. A young guy in Clark with some potential as a spot up shooter like Canaan but maybe better defensively and an expiring deal. Murry is non-guaranteed. They also save some money off their luxury tax bill.

Throw in picks, cash, Tomic, etc. to make it work.

:cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

Merry xmas!

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Most Valuable Player: With all due respect to Derrick Favors, who has been tremendous throughout the early season1, the nod here goes to Gordon Hayward. No Jazz player garnered more offseason attention than the swingman. Off the heels of a 16/5/5 season that saw him assume the primary option role with mixed results (41 percent shooting), Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]But for the Jazz franchise, now in its first season of a hybrid affiliation with the D-League

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]the Jazz really have been experiencing a tough schedule so far this season.

According to NBA.com, the Jazz have possessed the second toughest schedule in the NBA so far this year

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]As the NBA assists king, Utah Jazz legend John Stockton has seen it all, and so has his

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]If not for Brett Brown, Joe Ingles might not be in the NBA.

On his journey to becoming a 27-year-old rookie with the Utah Jazz, the time Ingles spent with Brown, who coached the Australian national team for four years leading to the 2012 Olympics, was instrumental.

"He was huge for me," Ingles said. "He was probably the first coach up to that point that really kind of got the best out of me.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"When you

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Guard Tony Wroten, the team

[Xiao Yao You]

Under Snyder, the Jazz have featured a new offense, a different defensive focus

Really? Could have fooled me. Without Rudy the defense has sucked as much as ever.


and have seen contributions from several international players. The team is currently 9-20, but has showed signs of improvement. A 3-3 record on the recent Christmas road trip is an encouraging sign of where the team is going.


It appears the Jazz are hoping to build a core of Hayward, forward Derrick Favors, guard Alec Burks and rookie guard Dante Exum, and then trying to find pieces to complement them. However, re-signing Hayward helped keep a significant part of the puzzle in Salt Lake for the foreseeable future.

No Trey? I thought he was part of their big 3? A leader?

Rudy should have them re thinking things. He's the guy to build around obviously. Favors has to prove he can play effectively with Rudy as does everyone else.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Sixers rank 11th in the NBA in defensive efficiency and in their last two games, wins over Orlando and Miami, they held the Magic to 88 points and Heat to 87.

A strong defense is something first-year Jazz coach Quin Snyder has been trying to instill in his team, and he

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: Jazz SG Alec Burks did not participate in shootaround because of ongoing issues with his left shoulder. He is doubtful tonight vs. Philly. Twitter

not someone they can afford to lose with their lack of depth

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Jazz couldn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]1. Was this a poorly-played offensive game, or a well-played defensive game?

I asked Quin Snyder, Derrick Favors, and Gordon Hayward this question after the game, all of them said some version of

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Booker missed the last game of Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Patrick Christopher, a D-League signing who has been with the team for less than a month, passed up an open look.

That would have upset his coach on any night

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Alec burks will travel with the jazz to Los Angeles but is OUT for tomorrow night against the clippers Twitter @Tjonessltrib

That one will be ugly unless they get a clue and play Rudy.

[Xiao Yao You]

When they play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, they will do so with four wins in their last five games. And the offense is playing a major role in their success.

It's all about Rudy no matter how else you want to spin it. Offense hasn't been their biggest problem. They can't stop anyone without Rudy on the floor. The offense will be fine someday when they get players that can shoot and spread the floor.

[QUOTE]"We

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]When he entered the game Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, Christopher was surprised by his lack of nerves. "I ran to the table as fast as I could," he said. "There

[Xiao Yao You]

Jazz have played two elite Western Conference teams on the road and played both of them down to the wire. Winning in Memphis and falling short in LA tonight. That is big time progress.

No progress would keeping your best player on the floor and winning the game. It's ridiculous really. Either they are stupid or they don;'t want to win. Either way it's a joke!

[QUOTE]This was the first time the Jazz have d

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Gordon Hayward has been among Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

Gordon Hayward wasn’t having it.

"There are no moral victories in my book," the Jazz’s young captain said.

Derrick Favors wasn’t buying it either.

"A win’s a win and a loss is a loss," he said.

OK. OK. Fair enough.

Agreed. If your best player was on the court I could live with it but when it appears that you are purposely throwing games away or your coach is too stupid to realize who the best player on the team is it's hard to live with.


But the Clippers are the Clippers.

and the Jazz are the Jazz. Thanks Ty!


So while the Jazz’s 101-97 road loss to one of the West’s best, a hard-fought game that saw 10 lead changes and 15 ties, isn’t cause for celebration, it still showcased the one thing that really matters in a season with no chance of making the postseason: progress.

No chance because they gave themselves no chance. What we've been seeing is without a D-league dominated roster around Rudy and Maxi G is that they could have been in the mix for the last playoff spot at least. They gave themselves no chance with the roster and continued personnel moves. The question is will the tanking continue next year? Or is Neto another high draft pick going to be enough to try and compete next year?


Hayward once again led his team, scoring 22 points while dishing out seven assists and grabbing four rebounds. Rookie Rodney Hood, playing place of injured starter Alec Burks, had his best all-around game to date. And center Rudy Gobert continued to impress with 11 points and 13 boards.

"I like this young team," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after the game. "They are going to be a really good team."

On Monday night at Staples Center, however, they weren’t good enough.

The Jazz trailed 99-96 with under a minute left. But Utah forward Derrick Favors missed a pair of free throws that could have cut the lead to one and the Jazz fell to 10-21 on the year. Free throws were an issue for Favors all night. The forward scored 15 points and had nine rebounds. But he hit just three of his nine attempts for the game.

"Gotta make them, man," Favors said. "I don’t know. Didn’t want to hit them tonight. They was just coming off wrong."

He probably feels Rudy and Enes breathing down his neck. Got him thinking too much.


The Jazz as a team went 13 of 22 from the stripe, costing themselves crucial points down the stretch.

"We missed a lot of free throws there in the fourth," Hayward said. "All of us. Those are freebies you gotta hit."

Jazz big man Enes Kanter scored 16 points and had five rebound. Point guard Trey Burke had 11 points and six assists.

Clippers all-star Blake Griffin led all scorers with 24 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. L.A. got 20 points and eight assists from point guard Chris Paul and 17 points apiece from guard J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford.

The game was tied at 77 heading into the final frame, but the Clippers clamped down defensively to close out the game. In the fourth quarter, L.A. recorded five of its 12 blocks. The Jazz, meanwhile, hit on just 7 of 26 attempts in the fourth and Hayward was held scoreless on just two attempts.

"We got stops when we needed to," Paul said. "I think Matt Barnes did an unbelievable job on Gordon Hayward. We know how he can score the ball, but when he was making all of those moves, Matt was right there and he never gave up on plays."

With the loss, the Jazz dropped to 10-21 on the season. The team returns home for a quick turnaround and a game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"That’s the best part of the NBA," Hayward said. "You have a loss and you get to the play the next day and get that loss out of your mind."

afalk@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribjazz

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] it all came down to free throws as the Clippers made 17 of 22 free throws, while the Jazz made 13 of 22. That

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks, who has missed the last two games with a left shoulder injury: After examination by the Utah Jazz medical staff it has been decided that Alec Burks will undergo a surgical repair on his injured left shoulder. The procedure will be performed by Jazz head orthopaedic team physician, Dr. Travis Maak, on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at the University of Utah. NBA.com

As a result, Burks will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season. He is expected to be ready for the start of 2015 Jazz training camp. NBA.com

[Xiao Yao You]

D-League team Idaho Stampede announced that Kevin Murphy has left the team and will continue to play the season overseas. Murphy was selected with the 47th pick in 2012 draft. The player is represented by agent Zach Kurtin. Sportando

Might have been a spot of him actually.

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Quin Snyder on Alec burks: "We're losing a big piece of what we do. It's not easy but best thing for him to get healthy. He's been getting better but it's in his longterm best interest to get it fixed right away" Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: Quin Snyder: "We've added Patrick Christopher, the roster is constantly being evaluated. We like the group we have" Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: Quin Snyder on Rodney Hood: "We have five millennials now in the starting lineup. Rodney is going to get a lot of experience" Twitter @Tjonessltrib

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Tony Jones: So I was told the entire Jazz bench had words for Shabazz Muhammad after he blatantly taunted them with the three goggles Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: On the record, Gordon Hayward had this to say: I don't think anyone was happy about it Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Play some d. Another player lit you up for a career high. One of the two guys yu traded for Trey! :facepalm

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Chris Vivlamore: Hawks update on Al Horford: He is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Jazz. #ATLHawks Twitter @CVivlamoreAJC

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Any win is a good win.

The front office might think differently.


Wins are going to be hard to come by.

Which should please the front office.

[QUOTE]Alec Burks is out for the season. This is going to be a gaping hole for the Jazz. Rodney Hood is a nice player but you don

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[QUOTE]Quin called a quick timeout, clearly incensed at his team

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We certainly didn’t want it to be a deal where he loses an entire offseason to rehab. We’d like to rehab this and get him back to playing basketball, particularly within a very new system to Alec.

Yeah losing almost an entire season is better than an off-season. :rolleyes:


Is there a timeline?

We’re just going to give a very conservative estimate: That he’ll be able to return to full contact by the time training camp hits, and if it’s before that then that’s good. But we want to certainly protect him timeline wise.

Which is why the surgery is now I assume.


After waiting for the Gordon Hayward extension, is there disappointment in not waiting for Alec Burks?

I don’t think so. Every contract signing, our medical staff does a thorough review – so X-Rays, MRI’s, physical exams, and Alec at that point in time passed. So no disappointment, because we don’t think this is going to impact the long term playing career, either from a length standpoint or a quality standpoint, so we’re very comfortable with the decision we made and the knowledge that we had at that particular time.

What else would he say? :confusedshrug: He would have came a lot cheaper after this I'm sure. He might have had to sign for the qualifying offer. Could be big with Enes now up.


Will you look to sign someone to give guard help?

Well, we have 15 now – some partial and some non-guaranteed, so we do have some flexibility. But we’re comfortable with where we’re at. Misfortune is another person’s opportunity – certainly Rodney will get some of those minutes, we wanted to see Rodney as a 2-guard so here’s a little bit of his opportunity. Last night Dante played a lot with Trey, and Dante’s certainly big enough to handle the position as well. And then there’s some guys that haven’t received as much opportunity – Ian Clark, Toure’ Murry, Patrick Christopher – who we’ll be able to kick the tires with a little bit and take a look at, and as you would imagine we’ll be evaluating what’s available to us. Frankly, Quin’s very comfortable where we’re at, and we’ll see how the young guys do.

Still be stupid not to apply for another roster spot and use it. You're like 4 million or something under the cap.


Did you see any impact on Alec’s game before now because of the injury?

Not really. I think more of an impact is getting used to a new system. He was actually in very good rhythm the last few games, helped us close out the Memphis game. Look, [there are] more pullups vs drives, [there’s] a little less finishing, better shooting, all that. But I don’t think there were enough games to document that as a trend. That’s just where we were at as a team – if Alec were playing the same minutes but with a second unit, his usage was probably a bit higher, so adjusting to playing with the starters was a new thing as well, so there are several factors in there and how to parse that out [along with] him protecting his shoulder, I don’t know.

That's not good. I was hoping that was at least an excuse for his inconsistent play. For a guy they just signed to that much money that is concerning.


Were you pleased as an organization to see Alec stay aggressive?

Thank you for the question. I’ve said this several times, but we’re young, rebuilding, things happen to players. I’ve seen situations where guys have limped away, conveniently so. The public needs to know Alec’s heart was really in the right place all through this period. This is killing him. But there are times when organizations and agents and doctors need to say ‘Hey, you’re not superman, this is the reality of the situation.’ I think as that running conversation took place, and Alec in particular when he takes blows from behind where he can’t see things, I think was impacting a little bit of his mindset and psychology of continuing to go. But frankly, I was ecstatic with not only his level of play but his toughness: still going to the basket, his willingness to get hit, chasing defenders on pindowns and pick and roll. I didn’t get the sense that he ever let go of the rope. He dealt with the situation all the way through.

Are you impressed with Rudy Gobert’s development and the defense he gives to this team?

Yeah. Rudy was able to use last year, even though he didn’t get the minutes, he was able to get a lot of time with Mark McKown to improve his body, then there were some skillset things that we wanted him to address. Him and Alex Jensen changed his free throw, we changed his shooting slot, and then I think the summer league was the start of him hitting a different level. Then it certainly continued with the FIBA World Championships and we’re very pleased with his development.

I bet. So much so that you aren't going to play him for fear of another failed tanking effort.


You mentioned the opportunity for the other guys on the team. What are some specifics that you’re looking for out of these guys?

Sure. With Rodney, Rodney was dealing with a foot injury as well, and with this period back, he was dealing with almost a training camp period for a rookie. Things were coming at him really fast. I think now that he’s not backing up Alec and Gordon he’ll get steady minutes and we’ll see more consistent contributions. We were really pleased last night with his all-around play, he did several things well.

and than last night you saw why he should be in the D-league not starting in the NBA. Is their a worse starting backcourt in the league now?


With Dante, it’s been documented, he’s going to have the ball and create situations for us going forward. There’s a little bit of debate, is that best as a PG, is that best as a 2? Funny thing is, he can use his size as a point guard and he can use his speed as a 2-guard. So where his creative abilities best manifest themselves, we can take a look at that a little bit now. Albeit at 19, we might not find out for a while what the best position for him and what the best position is for us. But it certainly allows us to experiment a little bit more with those minutes, with Alec’s absence.

Might find out more if he was in the D-league as the man not being overwhelmed as a role player in the NBA.


And then at the end of the roster, we’ll continue to look at guys and try to develop some guys that are at the end of the roster who could be available going forward, and it certainly affords an opportunity going forward. So while we’re disappointed in Alec [‘s injury], we’re going to use it as an opportunity to learn more about the players we have.

Which I'm sure is why they've looked at Christopher. They have decisions to make in the next week and half.


With under 2 months to go until the trade deadline, what’s your mindset going into that period?

We’re going to address moves that have the long-term interests of the Utah Jazz in mind. I think Quin, I really appreciate his mindset: he’s been as mindful in what we’re going to look like 2 years from now as what we’ll look like 2 weeks from now. So Rudy or Dante could have some rough stretches, as you can see, and they’re still out there. So I think, not that we wouldn’t address a particular need on the short-term, I think we’ll weight 12 months, 24 months heavier than we would addressing a need 2 weeks out.

i.e. tank as much as possible


How do you feel about the timeline of this team’s development and growth overall?

I think we’re seeing signs, as you guys can see. It was a tough loss last night. I felt like we played well enough to win and we weren’t able to convert some shots and free throws, and those things happen. I do think some of the foundational pieces are proving their worth, and what we need to do is continue to connect those pieces. Those returns right now, I think we’ve seen some real progress. Our habits, our communication, our activity on defense has been significantly better over the last 6 or 7 games. I would hope that the players, with all of their hard work, see that it’s starting to bear fruit and they’re getting excited about that.

Then offensively, again, there have been signs, and we’ve trended better than most young teams offensively, but losing Alec, we’ll have to adjust to that. That’s a very significant offensive contributor, and we’ll have to find the best ways to do that; whether that’s Trey with the ball more, Gordon with the ball even more than he already has it, Dante, we’ll learn more about Rodney, the flow offense, there’s a lot to it.

Quin is not dumbing it down because we have a young group. There’s a lot of expectations. Some of the subtleties of what we want to do will get lost because there’s so much coming at them. For example, Dante’s cut out of flow where you see Joe pass by the ear of guys is one of the things, one of the situations we got in San Antonio with Manu and Tony. Some of those subtleties we hope to capitalize on, but frankly we’re years away from mastering what we want to do.

Andy Larsen

All I can say is they better not be pulling this shit again next year.:no:

[Xiao Yao You]

Shabazz Muhammad made yet another 3-pointer and turned to the Utah bench, flashing a '3 goggles' gesture.

The Jazz got mad and then they got even.

"I don't think any of us were happy about that. But we should be able to get mad without people doing stuff like that," said Gordon Hayward, who added that their late-game play did all the talking.

Hayward scored 11 of his 26 points in the final four minutes to help the Utah Jazz rally to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-94 on Tuesday night.

Muhammad scored a career-best 30 points, including a jumper to lift the Timberwolves to a 92-84 lead with 4:22 to play. But it was his 3-pointer and taunt a few possessions earlier that irked the Jazz.

"Yeah, we took that personally. When he did that, each of our guys started taking their own matchups personally and we all came out and played harder," said Derrick Favors, who had 15 points.

So what's it going to take for you to play harder regardless?

[QUOTE]Trey Burke set a career-high with 26 points to overcome the loss of starting guard Alec Burks. Before the game it was announced that Burks would have shoulder surgery and miss the rest of the season.

In the final three minutes, the Timberwolves scored just once -- a Gorgui Deng layup -- while committing three turnovers, missing two free throws and allowing the Jazz to score at will.

"We were kind of panicking on offense," said Muhammad. "We are a young team and we need to learn how to slow down in the last three minutes."

STATS MIN UTA
Points 94 100
Field Goals 38-82 (46%) 38-79 (48%)
Three Pointers 8-17 (47%) 7-19 (37%)
Free Throws 10-14 (71%) 17-22 (77%)
Rebounds (Offensive) 34 (8) 43 (11)
Assists 26 16
Turnovers 11 14
Steals 7 5
Blocks 4 3
Fouls 23 19
Technicals 0 1
Full Box Score/Player Stats
Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points but the Timberwolves have lost nine in a row -- their worst skid since losing 11 consecutive games from March 30-April 17, 2012.

Meanwhile the Jazz have won six of eight games, extending their best stretch of the season. Utah's defense, which is near the bottom of league, has made big strides.

"It was really just defense," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "It seems everybody made a play on the defensive end whether they were the actual player that deflected the ball and stole it, someone who pressured the pass or someone who denied the pass. The defense created a couple easy baskets and gave us a boost."

Reserve point guard Mo Williams sparked a Timberwolves rally in the third quarter with three straight jumpers and then had a couple assists to start the fourth. Minnesota's blazing 10-0 start in the final period gave the Wolves an 82-72 lead on Muhammad's back-to-back 3-pointers.

But the Timberwolves, who have the worst record in the Western Conference, came up empty again when the Jazz increased the pressure and got the crowd into the game.

"They got aggressive and we didn't match their intensity. We played more not to lose than to win," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.

___

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: The Wolves played without injured starters Ricky Rubio (ankle), Nikola Pekovic (foot and wrist) and Kevin Martin (wrist). . Minnesota has dropped nine straight on the road for the first time since Feb. 22-March 21, 2013. . The Timberwolves had 26 assists on 38 baskets and outscored the Jazz in the paint, 42-36.

Jazz: Enes Kanter grabbed 10 rebounds in his first 12 minutes of play and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. ... As Utah held onto a 95-94 lead, Burke was called for a charge but the call was changed to a blocking foul on Thaddeus Young after officials reviewed the play on video. ... Utah's largest lead of the game was the final score.

CAN'T STAY AWAY

Even though Burks faced surgery the next morning, he was out on the court with his teammates hoisting one-handed shots before the game and smiling. He had many opportunities to sit out games when the shoulder was painful but chose to play through unless the training staff held him out, Snyder said.

THE SILENT TIME OUT

Snyder called a fourth-quarter timeout when the Jazz were trailing by 10 and said nothing. "We knew what he was saying without him saying anything. He was encouraging us all game . but he wanted us to figure it out on our own at that point. He was tired of talking. We understood the message," Burke said.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host Sacramento on Thursday.

Jazz: Host Atlanta on Friday.

Copyright

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Utah being dominated by the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

They were never dominated.

[QUOTE]A half-hour later, Snyder smiled wryly at the moment. But that

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[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has assigned guard Toure

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Happy New Year!

[El Kabong]

Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! :banana:

Not sure what I think of Patrick Christopher yet. In the Wolves game I thought there were times he was too quick to shoot, but I suppose they can't rely soley on Hayward and Burkes has been a poor shooter so far this year, despite his recent hot streak. Exum and Hood looked like they couldn't buy a basket even if they had a stack of $100 bills in their hands as well.

Also, i'm getting a slight feeling of schadenfreude now that Ty has been named coach for the rest of the year for the Kings and their season appears to be going down the shitter and DMC is starting to act out again. Cannot understand why D'Alessandro says he wants the Kings to play a more free wheeling style on offence and then puts Corbin in charge. They were better off letting Malone coach out the year then getting a suitable replacement, but it's looking like a tank job since the Bulls get their #1 pick this year if it's 11+.

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Yeah Ty might not have the best coach if they want to run. Cousins isn't the best player for that either I wouldn't think for that matter.

[El Kabong]

2-19 including 0-11 from 3 point land. There's the real Trey Burke we're been loving this year. At least Exum had a decent shooting night, hope he can keep it up and hopefully start taking a few minutes (and shots) away from Burke. Jazz were +17 when he was on the floor last night.

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Exum wil be playing. Hood is out and Christopher and Burks are done. Murray might even play tonight.

Harping thinks Trey's starting to get it together. 5-18 2 games before that one.

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Chris Herring: Utah plans to waive ex-Knick guard Toure Murry, according to a league source. Murry's status in Utah led handful of teams to inquire abt his status for potential trade, but no deal was reached. Will be waived tomorrow. Twitter @HerringWSJ

Thought the recent injuries may have saved him.

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As an intriguing prospect in Europe, the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz are keeping tabs on undrafted Iowa State guard DeAndre Kane, league sources told RealGM.

Kane, a rookie, has averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds and five assists in the EuroChallenge for Antwerp in Belgium. Although his deal with the club is expected to run through the remainder of the NBA

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[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz have waived guard Toure

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[QUOTE]Do you start with Trey Burke

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[QUOTE]The chart shows that Hayward allows the player he defends to shoot above his season average from every distance on the floor, with the increase in FG% given in positive numbers. Even so, the color coding shows that relative to the rest of the Western Conference at his position, his opponent

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With Enes Kanter out because of an ankle injury, center Rudy Gobert stepped in and had his best game as a pro

Debatable. He's done it against good teams too.

[QUOTE], scoring a career-high 13 points with 11 rebounds and six blocks. In the third quarter alone

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Forced into scramble mode by a raft of injuries that left depth at shooting guard almost nonexistent and kept center Enes Kanter out of action, all the Jazz did was knock the stuffing out of the Timberwolves, 101-89 at Target Center.

Outside Alec we are talking D-league talent here so I don't think there's a big difference when you come down to it.

[QUOTE]This after getting into the Twin Cities at 2 a.m. after a home loss.

Playing on the back end of back-to-back games, it was the Jazz that had the energy, not the hapless Timberwolves, whose losing streak stretched to 11. It was the Jazz proving that injuries don

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The Utah Jazz on Sunday waived the second-year combo guard, clearing a roster spot that sources say will be used to bring guard Elijah Millsap up from the D-League.

:cheers: I'm surprised. I believe this is his first call up and he's been one of the best D-leaguers for a few years now. Looking forward to seeing another Millsap on the team. Maybe he'll stick and they can get Paul back next year!

[QUOTE]With injuries to Alec Burks, Rodney Hood and Patrick Christopher, the Jazz have been in search of help at the wing and Murry apparently was not in the team

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[QUOTE]"You know, Elton Brand is diving on the floor for loose balls. He

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before Quin Snyder and Trey Burke could get some sleep on the overnight plane ride to Minnesota on Friday night, the coach offered sound advice: Never stop believing in your shot. Never stop believing in your game. One night will never define you as an NBA player.

It hasn't been one night though. It's one and a half seasons.

[QUOTE]Against the Atlanta Hawks, Burke shot 2-19 from the field, 0-11 from 3-point range, and agonized over every miss because the loss to the Hawks was a close one.

That made Saturday night

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[QUOTE]"He

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Shams Charania: D-League's Elijah Millsap has passed his physical with Utah and his return to NBA will be on a 10-day contract, league source tells RealGM. Twitter @ShamsCharania

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Toure' Murry, who was a minor hit with the Knicks last season, ends his stint in Utah having played more for the team's D-League affiliate than with the Jazz, where he logged just one minute. Agent Bernie Lee, who represents Murry, doesn't think his client was given a fair shake in Salt Lake City. "Utah just didn't see value in giving (Toure') a real opportunity to prove himself, which is their right," Lee told *********. "I had a sense things were working against him early when during the Jazz's first open scrimmage in the preseason the team-employed radio voice used the forum to crush his future NBA prospects. Just an odd situation through and through.

I was there. Not sure what Locke said that was so horrible though?


He went to Utah as a young developing point guard who played 51 games for an extremely visible team and today leaves Utah having played his last game as an assigned player in the NBADL having been asked to play the four. Perspective and opportunity are a funny thing in basketball." *********

Lee said Murry will explore free agent opportunities if he clears waivers: "If there isn't a spot for him immediately, he will enter the NBADL and go on to continue to develop and prove himself as an NBA-caliber PG." *********

They had him playing the 4? Again why do they even have a D-league franchise? :wtf:

[Xiao Yao You]

As an intriguing prospect in Europe, the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz are keeping tabs on undrafted Iowa State guard DeAndre Kane, league sources told RealGM. RealGM

[Xiao Yao You]

We asked Gino Pilato of the fantastic website D-League Digest for the scouting report on Millsap and this is what he had to say: "He will look to attack the basket often. Despite his knack for finding alleys in the lane, Millsap will step back or take the pull-up jumper without hesitation. He turns the ball over too much, but can really impact a game on the defensive end. When matched up against Reno, Millsap caused fits for Brady Heslip, he was in his pocket every chance he had. The following contest against L.A., Millsap took on another tough offensive assignment in Manny Harris and was once again successful. Position-wise, Millsap is in a grey area in the NBA, but can serve as a forward or guard in the D-League." *********

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[QUOTE]if you take a look at the draft from a scouting perspective, the biggest market inefficiency was Exum falling to No. 5. In last year

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[QUOTE]When it comes to long-term potential, it doesn

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[QUOTE]Before the game, coach Quin Snyder said of Millsap,

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One of my biggest pet peeves is coaches not shooing the 3 when they are supposed to late in games. Too many coaches take the easy 2 because it feels good but it has no positive impact on your win probability. Quin Snyder does it correctly. It is so refreshing. There are going to be games when we shoot a 3 with :40 seconds left and the game is over because we missed but it is a better play than shooting the 2 and still being out 2 possessions. The chances of winning these games is almost nill but Quin is increasing them by playing the final seconds correctly.

Except for the fact that the Jazz don't have great shooters and Indiana wasn't giving them the 3 ball and time was a wasting.


Dante Exum looked a bit overwhelmed to start. He was 1 for 6 in the first quarter and 0 for 4 from 3. He got it going a bit in the third but neither he or nor Ian Clark had an assist tonight. The Jazz missed Trey Burke just as much in this one as they did when he was hurt last year.

Not sure they missed Trey at all but Exum is overwhelmed. He should be in the D-league. Probably Clark too.


Impressed by the 5 rebounds and 4 assists by Elijah Millsap. If you are a 5 year D-League player you are not going to come into the NBA and score 20. You have to find a niche where you can contribute and he did that tonight.

Joe Ingles became the play maker with Clark and Exum not being able to create. He finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Super all around game in 37 minutes

Yes it was but you're going to have a difficult time if he's playing big minutes. Ideally he's probably on the end of the bench on a good team.


Huge burden on Favors (43 mins) and Hayward (41 mins) tonight. Both answered the bell.

They did?


Would like Hayward to have more of an impact earlier in the game. Again what are we asking he had 24-7-3 but it feels like he was too absent earlier. However, what I am asking for him to put up 30-10. That is just stupid so maybe it is unfair to request that.

As a max player it's not.


Maybe the other side of the story is that defenses are built entirely built to stop him with our current roster situation and Gordon is working his way thru the game and figuring out how to put up numbers and he is finding a way every night. If it is the later then this is an incredible accomplishment and a huge growth step.

He's putting up numbers by forcing shots in iso situations. Not good.


Favors had 27-11-1-2 tonight. HUGE !!! And he nailed two clutch free throws. I am such a big Derrick Favors fan.

As is everyone but me apparently. I noticed he had some issues guarding the perimeter which he's going to have to be able to do with Rudy.

[QUOTE]Don

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[QUOTE]Hibbert heaped praise on Gobert and his NBA potential. I could barely get a question about the similarities he sees between Gobert now and himself at a younger age before his answer was out:

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[QUOTE]This game would have been different if the Jazz made their outside shots. The Pacers shot over 7-13 for 53.8% from beyond the arc tonight, but meanwhile, the Jazz shot just 4-23 for 17.4%. If Utah had shot their season average percentage from behind the arc, the Jazz would have hit 7 threes; if the Pacers shoot their average percentage, they would have made 4. Instead, those totals are reversed, and instead of winning 110-96, the Jazz lost 105-101. Such is life.

It

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With so many players missing from the lineup, Snyder is using the entire roster to stay fresh. Lesser-used players like Jeremy Evans and Steve Novak saw action Monday.

Only 10 active players. He's played 10 man rotation most of the year.


Going forward, Burke will travel on the upcoming four-game road trip, and will be available to play as soon as he is deemed healthy by training staff. In the meantime, with a game at Chicago on Wednesday, Snyder said he will have to continue to juggle lineups.

Isn't strep contagious?

[QUOTE]

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With three starters out and using guys that had hardly played a lick all year, including one who had joined the team less than 12 hours earlier, the Utah Jazz had little chance of winning Monday night, even if they were playing a mediocre team from the Eastern Conference, right?

One of those starters is out all year. Another shouldn't be starting in the NBA and him being out might be a plus. They are deep up front. Evans was a rotation player a year a go and Novak has been in the past.

[QUOTE]Well, the Jazz didn

[Xiao Yao You]

the Jazz started an all-rookie backcourt for the first time since 2009.
Now that's taking tanking to the next level! I'd call Ingles the SF though and Maxi G the SG and Ingles rookie status has a big asterisk by it anyway.
This backcourt, however, has a different twist this time around.

[QUOTE]Fellow rookie and fellow Australian Joe Ingles joined Exum in the backcourt. It's Ingles' second career start. He made his first start on Saturday.

"For Australian basketball, it's great," Ingles said about the two starting Monday. "The people back home love it. Love watching us compete

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It's looking more and more like Monsieur Rudy Gobert, the Jazz's 22-year-old 7-foot-2 Frenchman, could be a really, really good NBA player.
He already is if you've been paying attention.


Is it possible that he just might suddenly be the most important piece in the Jazz's dream for an eventual NBA title?

He's easily the most important piece right now. Someone they can build around defensively for sure. Time to begin!


As unlikely as that statement seemed before the season, it is becoming more and more possible by the week.

Don't think so. He was great defensively and on the boards last year. How he could contribute offensively was the only question.


During a Jazz radio broadcast last week, broadcaster David Locke said he spoke to an NBA source who said he thinks Gobert could very well finish his career in the top five all-time in career blocked shots — not in Jazz history; in NBA history.

Well obviously. Will come down to durability like anyone good.


At Minnesota on Saturday, Gobert had six blocks in 31 minutes, to go along with 11 rebounds and 13 points on just seven field-goal attempts. Also important, he had just one turnover and three fouls.

And that wasn't the only good/great showing he's had recently. He's even shooting almost 70 percent from the foul line, which any coach in the league would take from a shot-blocking big man.

for any big man


Trey Burke also had a terrific game in Minnesota on Saturday. If only Burke could play the Timberwolves every game, he'd be a first-ballot hall of famer.
at least when Rubio isn't playing


In two games vs. the pesky Timberwolves last week, Burke put up 54 points, going 20-for-37 from the field (7-of-12 on 3-pointers), with 12 assists, 10 rebounds and just one turnover in 76 minutes.

In his last three games not involving the T-Wolves, however, the second-year point guard is just 11-for-47 shooting (3-for-20 on 3-pointers), for 36 total points to go along with 15 assists, six rebounds and four turnovers in 108 minutes.

Consistency needed.

Ironically, perhaps, it was the T-Wolves who traded the pick that the Jazz used to draft Burke. Maybe Burke just really, really wanted to play in Minnesota so he's out for revenge.

No, that can't be it. Nobody wants to play in Minnesota.

And that's coming from Utah.

Coach Quin Snyder may have considered playing Burke a bit less, and Dante Exum a bit more, versus the Hawks in a home loss on Friday. Burke was 2-for-19 (0-for-11 on 3-pointers) with a +/- of -19 in 39 minutes. Exum was 5-for-9 (3-for-7 on 3-pointers) with a +/- of +17 in 22 minutes.

Reverse those minutes and the Jazz probably win by six instead of losing by six.

Maybe that's the beauty of wins and losses not mattering much this season. You can let guys play through things and live with the results.

Overall, the Jazz seem to have legitimately improved as of late, especially on defense. Even in losses, the Jazz are a lot more competitive as demonstrated by the close loss in LA to the Clippers last week.

If Gobert continues to progress as he has lately, this Jazz team could go from fringe playoff contender in three years to fringe Western Conference contender in three years.

They should be fringe playoff contenders this year. It's a joke that they threw the season away before it ever even started.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jazz coach Quin Snyder settled his rookie during an early timeout and, down three with a chance to tie the game late, the coach showed a vote of confidence as big as any he could offer: he drew up a play for Exum to take the 3.

"I

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[QUOTE]Millsap

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[QUOTE]"I thought we missed a lot of open shots that we normally make," Hayward said. "Defensively, I just think the plays Indiana was running were tough to guard. They were knocking down threes. Offensively, we executed well. We got good looks, we just weren

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Gino Pilato: According to one NBA scout recently, "Elliot Williams is the top guard option in the entire NBA D-League." Twitter @DLeagueDigest

Jazz still need help and should have one or two more roster spaces opening up. Former first rounder with decent size.

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Marc J. Spears: D-League Santa Cruz G Elliot Williams is expected to sign a 10-day contract with the Jazz soon, sources said. He is in SLC taking a physical Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Jody Genessy: I was told the Jazz we're going to clear multiple roster spots, which is why I added the clarification about Patrick Christopher. It's possible something else is in the works, though. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

I called it! Multiple spots? Trade? I count Christopher, Burks spot if they apply for it and get it as two. I guess that is multiple. Doubt they'd cut Exum's guy Ingles. Could eat more contracts I guess.


The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Brandon Davies, General Manager Billy King announced today. NBA.com

Nets Daily: Brandon Davis, waived today, had no guarantee. Neither does @Darius Morris $75K guaranteed to @CoryJay34 $100K for @jerome_jordan They stay Twitter @NetsDaily

Could be a nice local guy to take a look at.

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Williams played quite a bit with Philly last year. Didn't hit the 3. Maybe he's defending? He's been getting a lot of assists which could it nicely. They need some shooters and defenders though.

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[QUOTE]Easily the most divisive, hot-button member of Utah

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[QUOTE]Utah

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[QUOTE]Millsap received a call-up to the Utah Jazz with injuries to Alec Burks and Rodney Hood while the Jazz cleared space with the release of Toure

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Williams is a former first round pick of the Portland Trailblazers. His career has been marred by injury. But at his best, the left-handed shooting guard is extremely athletic, can handle the ball in both backcourt spots and is considered an all-around presence on the floor.

Williams played most of last season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is currently averaging 21.3 points per game in the NBA Developmental league with Santa Cruz.

The Jazz are currently 12-23 on the season, and headed on a three game road trip this week that will culminate on Saturday at the Houston Rockets.

Tony Jones

Another lefty that can handle the ball. Says he does it at both ends. He has been shooting the 3 ball though he didn't hit them last year in the NBA. They could us another athlete for sure.

Someone said the Jazz can't get a roster exemption for Burks because they are under the cap. You'd think they'd be rewarded for that not penalized. Doesn't make much sense that teams over the cap get to spend even more.

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[QUOTE]That

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[QUOTE]"At the beginning of the year, we had all of our guys," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "That being said, we had some difficult times with a lot of the great teams we played. November was a learning experience for us. But we

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Elijah Millsap played 18 minutes for the Jazz in a 105-101 loss. That either tells you a lot about how little Jazz coaches think of Evans and Novak or how much they think of Millsap, the 27-year-old younger brother of former Jazz forward Paul Millsap.

They obviously don't think much of Evans. He's gone by next season. They think Novak is an end of the bench specialist which is what he is. Mills does play a different position though so not sure what the point there was. :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]Elijah Millsap was signed by the Jazz after he averaged 20.6 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Bakersfield Jam this season. He was thrust into the action late in the first quarter Monday night and after a miss in the lane and an airball that sailed a couple of feet past the basket, Millsap calmed down and played some solid minutes for the Jazz.

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Marc Stein: Yet again we see value of true rim protector. Grizz still refusing to trade Koufos; Denver holds out for two firsts for Mozgov. And gets 'em Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

We saw it in a 35 minute showing from Rudy!

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Jody Genessy: Jazz center Rudy Gobert said its his goal to become a permanent starter in the NBA. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Just a matter of time. Likely by next season at the latest. They could play him/Kanter/Favors big minutes and it wouldn't matter much who started though. Need to trade Booker as good as he's been. He has trade value I'm sure.

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[QUOTE]Jazz held them to a season low points, a season low FG% and more than anything else took the game to the Bulls and the Bulls didn

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[QUOTE]First half points: a season-low 32.

Total points for the game: a season-low 77.

First half FG%: season-low 28.3%.

FG% for the game: season-low 33.3%.

FTA: 20, tied for 6th lowest on the season.

Assists: 17,tied for 3rd lowest on the season.

Starting lineup: 13 of 49 for 26.5%.

Cap it all off with the Jazz

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Given the injury situations, Williams and Millsap will have opportunities to show what they can do.

We'll see. Hood will be back soon. Ideally they'd send him to the D-league with Exum but that's not happening.

[QUOTE]This continues Lindsey

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[QUOTE]Williams was a first round pick back in 2010 and showed potential in Portland, but struggled with injuries early in his career. He played 67 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season and was the second overall pick in the D-League this year. He was ranked as the third best prospect in the league before earning a Call-Up.

Size/Athleticism: Physically, Williams is similar to Golden State

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[QUOTE]Maybe we all should have seen this coming more clearly: Gobert as a main cog, one of the main cogs, in the Jazz

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[QUOTE]Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard who was averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 assists per game for the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors, arrived in Chicago after the team

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Williams had to fly to Utah to officially sign his 10-day contract, and then he had to take a flight to Chicago to meet up with his new team.

Had to fly for the physically more likely. Hard to believe they couldn't do all that in Chicago in today's day and age.

[QUOTE]In a Wednesday whirlwind, the 6-foot-5 guard got a crash course in the Jazz system and then made his Utah debut.

In just 1:45 of action, Williams, sporting a No. 25 jersey, scored five points, including an off-the-backboard 3-pointer on his first shot.

Quite the welcome back to the NBA.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder likes Williams

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[QUOTE]Utah head coach Quin Snyder certainly has his team

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The Bulls (25-11) went 3-2 on a five-game homestand. They are 11-7 at home this season and have come out flat against teams with losing records a few times.

So the Jazz beating them wasn't so much a surprise. This is the team to beat? :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]"You're always concerned," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I don't want to overreact, but I don't want to underreact, either."

With outside temperatures dropping below zero, the United Center was colder than usual

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"Pretty much every game we do it, but not 48 minutes," said Gobert, who finished the night with 11 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Jazz held the Bulls to a season low in points.

A lot easier when you play 36 of the 48 though.

[QUOTE]The Bulls (25-11) are the playoff team with legitimate title hopes, known for a tenacious and suffocating defense. On Wednesday night, with Favors and Gobert playing together, the Jazz improved to 13-23 by taking a page out of that playbook, holding Chicago to 28 of 84 shooting.

"Rudy was a monster defensively for us," said Gordon Hayward, who had 18 points, five assists and four rebounds to start the team

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Thanks to the fearsome frontcourt pairing of fill-in starter Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, the Jazz were a big reason why Chicago had such a tough night.

:rolleyes:

[QUOTE]Utah