2015-16 Utah Jazz - The tanking is over!

[Xiao Yao You]

Go Rudy!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3110751-155/jazz-shootaround-notes-which-guards-start

[QUOTE]The Jazz just finished up shootaround at the Palace on a rainy Wednesday morning in the suburbs of Detroit. But with the NBA tipping off last night and the Jazz getting going tonight (5:30 p.m. on Root Sports), maybe there

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640087/Ready-or-not-the-NBA-season-is-here-for-the-Utah-Jazz.html?pg=all


Fans excited for the realistic possibility of returning to the playoffs after some rebuilding years?

Not as much as I should be.
[QUOTE]Players tired of camp and preseason and battles against each other in practice while also being optimistic about getting the organization back to its winning ways?


A game that actually means something on the schedule for tonight?
Check, check and check.


Good. Now let

[El Kabong]

Keeping the Pistons to shooting 41%, though that's mostly from their bench not hitting much of anything, but having a shocking night from downtown so far (1-9) and still behind.

[Xiao Yao You]

Not very shocking. Couldnt shoot last year and they did little to answer it. Too bad neto cant shoot.lol

[Xiao Yao You]

Scoop: Has the early part of your career played itself out the way you envisioned it? [URL="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13994995/qa-utah-jazz-shooting-guard-gordon-hayward"]Hayward: I didn

[Xiao Yao You]

Scoop: Can new head coach Quin Snyder be too honest at times? Hayward: You are asking me if Coach Quin can be too honest? No, I think honesty is good. I think we definitely needed some reality checks. Like I said, being a young team the hardest part of the season is the mental part. At least for me. (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13994995/qa-utah-jazz-shooting-guard-gordon-hayward) It

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Kurt Helin: The Utah Jazz are going to start Raul Neto over Trey Burke at the point, (http://*********.com/social/) according to @Jody Genessy It

[El Kabong]

Not very shocking. Couldnt shoot last year and they did little to answer it. Too bad neto cant shoot.lol
Neto was the only one on the team who hit 3 pointers and was 3-6 overall. If Hood shooting 0-7 from 3 was the bigger issue in the game, as well as Burks missing a few jumpers he should probably be hitting if he wants to be a really dangerous player. Still early days though.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/game-recap-jazz-pistons-102815/

[QUOTE]One loss with 81 games to go is hardly cause for panic. But for those so inclined, the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/personnel-notebook-roster-housekeeping-d-league-rights-and-a-bit-of-wishful-thinking/

[QUOTE]Because of Jeff Withey

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/10/28/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-lose-opener-in-detroit-but-show-good-sign/


but show good sign

7 guys did anyway.


[QUOTE]EMPTYING THE NOGGIN

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3115868-155/utah-jazz-suspension-served-trevor-booker


But Booker doesn't consider himself the Jazz's enforcer.


"We got guys that, you know, they don't take anything from anybody anyway," he said. "They know how to step up for themselves."

You're the only one we've seen it from



Now Booker is ready to step up and step back onto the court.


The 6-foot-8 lefty put together a nice week of practice before heading out on the road trip, glad to finally be rid of the protective mask he'd had to wear for the past month.


"It's sitting right over there," he said one day, pointing to the bleachers inside the Jazz's practice facility. "Think we're going to have a burial ceremony for it later."


Just before the start of training camp, Booker broke his nose in a pickup game. He needed surgery. He was fitted for a mask, but it was a nuisance, obstructing his vision every time he shot and every time he tried to do the dirty work the Jazz have come to expect from him.


"We missed his energy, his rebounding," Snyder said Thursday, ticking off the ways Booker might have helped in Detroit. "He manages to do a little of everything to help you win."


On Friday night, he'll actually be back in the arena to do it.


afalk@sltrib.com

(afalk@sltrib.com)
Twitter: @tribjazz (http://twitter.com/tribjazz)

Welcome back. They need ya! :cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3115750-155/utah-jazz-notes-neto-misses-practice


The Utah Jazz's thinnest position looked a little thinner Thursday, with only one healthy point guard available to practice.

More importantly only 7 NBA players. :cry:


A knee contusion kept Raul Neto out of action during the team's practice Thursday on the campus of Temple University. He is listed as questionable to play Friday against the 76ers.


Kind of expected that.




The Brazilian point guard was injured in an awkward fall during Wednesday's season opener at Detroit. In the second quarter, Neto contested a shot and fell to the ground. He lay there for a while, clutching his knee in pain before limping off the court under his own power.






"He scared me for a minute there," forward Joe Ingles said.


Neto was able to return to play in the second half of that 92-87 defeat, which gives Jazz coach Quin Snyder hope that the injury won't be a long-term issue.


"I'd leave that to our trainers and doctors to make that determination," Snyder said when asked if the injury was serious. "I hope not. Based on the fact that he was able to go back in the game, maybe that's an indicator, although you never know."

Shouldn't have been in the game if it was serious! :wtf:


On Wednesday night, Neto became the sixth different Jazz point guard to start opening night in as many seasons, and the first Jazz rookie to start at the position since 1979.


Stockton should have as well as Deron.



[QUOTE]Neto scored eight points and dished out three assists in the 92-87 defeat. He played 26 minutes; Utah's other point guard, Trey Burke, played 15.


"[Neto] was solid," Snyder said. "That's what he's been doing.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3112102-155/utah-jazz-raul-neto-starts-trey?fullpage=1


The elder Raul Neto loved to watch his favorite NBA player, John Stockton, suit up for the Utah Jazz.

When his son's name was announced to a chorus of boos here Wednesday night, Raul Neto had done something Stockton didn't do: He started a season opener as a rookie.


Neto, 23, became the first Jazz rookie to start a season opener since Luther Wright in 1993 and the first Jazz point guard to start as a rookie since Duck Williams in 1979.

Luthur started! Says a lot about the organization! :facepalm


[QUOTE]"It's not a thing that I think about too much," Neto said before the game. "

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3107871-155/utah-jazz-lose-season-opener-to


"There are going to be a lot of games that at the end come down to a few plays.

As long as you insist on playing the line-ups you are.

[QUOTE]We had our shots."

After Hayward's go-ahead bucket, Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson put Detroit back on top with 17 seconds left on the clock. From there, Burks missed an open look that would have given Utah a one-point lead. And Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood had his arm hit by Detroit's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he released a 3-pointer to tie the game, but no foul was called.


"I've been a part of them plays a lot," said Hood, who had 12 points but went 0-for-7 from 3-point territory on the night. "It could go either way. He contested the shot. They won the game.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640263/Injured-Raul-Neto-questionable-so-Jazz-might-need-to-go-to-point-guard-Plan-B.html

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz didn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640244/Guest-commentary-What-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-Trey.html


In 2013, Trey Burke was considered by many Utah Jazz fans the steal of the draft


Really? He wasn't a whole lot better then. :eek:



, but it took just one game in 2015, 16 minutes really, to begin the "Trey Burke is not the answer" conversation.


It took last season for me.





[QUOTE]Utah Jazz fans don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640172/Utah-Jazz-game-analysis-Jazz-fall-short-to-Pistons-in-Motor-City.html


If this season opener was any indicator, the 2015-16 Utah Jazz campaign should be one exciting, eventful season.


Going to be frustrating.


[QUOTE]In a back-and-forth battle, the Detroit Pistons held off the visiting Jazz in the closing seconds.



If this season opener was any indicator, the 2015-16 Utah Jazz campaign should be one exciting, eventful season. With the Jazz visiting the Detroit Pistons, the game featured two teams looking to change their long-term fortunes. In a hard fought game, the Pistons came out on top 92-87.


Why the Jazz lost: Utah managed to stay right with Detroit for much of the evening on the road. But in a tight game, the little things stick out a bit more. The Jazz struggled from the perimeter, missed some crucial free throws and committed some defensive mistakes. Detroit made some key plays in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640155/Utah-Jazz-fall-to-Detroit-92-87-in-season-opener.html


They were competitive on the road for four quarters in front of a charged-up crowd at the famous Palace of Auburn Hills.

Against an east lottery team. :rolleyes:


Their defense looked as strong as it did at the end of last season.
Was good. Not close to the end of last year.


They even rallied past a physical Detroit team to take the lead late in the game.

All that was missing for the Utah Jazz in their 2015-16 season opener?
One stop, another make or two and ... a win.


Better minute distribution from the coach would have made a huge difference.


[QUOTE]Some would argue a late foul call was missed, too.


In a game that wasn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640036/Utah-Jazz-commentaries-What-were-most-looking-forward-to-this-season.html


why does everything feel different?

It doesn't. Seems like the same pathetic Jazz organization I've had to put up with for the past 35 years. :mad:

[QUOTE]We asked top Jazz contributors to explain what they're most looking forward to this season.
Stifle Tower/French Rejection

Last season, Rudy Gobert was inserted into the starting lineup after the Enes Kanter trade, and Gobert and the Jazz took off. Led by the

[Xiao Yao You]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13994995/qa-utah-jazz-shooting-guard-gordon-hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640276/Utah-Jazz-Point-guard-Raul-Neto-expected-to-play-tonight-in-Philly-Booker-returns-from-suspension.html


If the Utah Jazz are going to win their first game of the season on their current road trip, tonight presents their best chance. Utah takes on the Philadelphia 76ers in the Wells Fargo Center at 5 p.m. MDT.


Fire the GM and coach if they don't beat the joke that is Philly! :no:


[QUOTE]It helps that the Jazz will be at full strength (not counting Dante Exum

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3119340-155/utah-jazz-shootaround-notes-neto-good
[quote] four of the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3118944-155/trey-burke-unfazed-by-lack-of

[QUOTE]Trey Burke came off the bench on opening night

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Marc J. Spears: A D-League coach projected Idaho (Jazz) taking Perry Jones with 1st pick tomorrow, Westchester (Knicks) taking NY native Jimmer Fredette 2nd (http://*********.com/social/)

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/game-recap-jazz-76ers-103015/


The Player Behind the Player of the Game: Derrick Favors



Got to be Rudy doesn't it. He completely took the paint away from them. Funny that they kept trying though! :lol[QUOTE]It

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/10/30/emptying-the-noggin-defense-stifles-the-rookie/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3120289-155/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-rudy-gobert


"Like coach says all the time, defense travels," Gobert said. "Even when we have a bad night offensively, we know when we play defense we still can win the game."


Good thing because there will be a lot of bad nights offesnsively.



Utah limited the lowly Sixers to just 30.2 percent shooting and helped force Philadelphia into 19 turnovers, leading to 20 points for the visitors.


"That's who we want to be," Gober said. "We've got to do it every night."
afalk@sltrib.com

(afalk@sltrib.com)
Twitter: @tribjazz (http://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3120816-155/jazz-notes-trey-burke-bounces-back


Trey Burke's Michigan homecoming was a disappointment. In Detroit, not far from where he was a college star, the Jazz point guard found himself scoreless and stuck to the bench for much of the Jazz's season-opener. But the third-year pro brushed it off and bounced back on Friday night, scoring 10 points and handing out six assists to help the Jazz beat the 76ers 99-71.


"He didn't have a good game [in Detroit] obviously," said Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who played Burke just 2:40 in the second half of that one. "To see him come in with that level of focus and be able to move to the next play, as they say, and not let that bother him says a lot about who he is right now."

Says they were playing a crappy team.







After subbing in for starter Raul Neto, Burke knocked down his first shot and finished 5 for 10 from the floor.


"My teammates and Coach just told me to be aggressive," he said. "Just be myself.

Being tourself is a scary thought! :banghead:
[QUOTE]Raul did a great job really hounding the ball and making it hard on the other guard. I wanted to pick up there defensively and offensively be aggressive."


Burke said he was "obviously" motivated by his second-half benching Wednesday.


"But I think that's how I should play every night," he said. "Coach felt like I didn't have the same energy Wendesday night and he did what he did with the lineups. But I felt like tonight

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640356/Jazz-notes-Rookies-sing-to-the-birthday-boy-Coach-Quin-Snyder.html

[QUOTE]He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640346/Jazz-beat-Sixers-for-first-win-of-the-season.html


a one-sided result that not surprisingly prompted some in the Philadelphia crowd to boo throughout the night.

Can't blame them after years of that crap. I don't much different about the Jazz other than Gobert.


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640371/Utah-Jazz-game-analysis-Jazz-take-care-of-business-in-99-71-win-over-Sixers.html

[QUOTE]One of the things Utah needs to do this season to achieve its postseason aspirations is to take care of business against the league

[Xiao Yao You]

http://dleague.nba.com/news/2015-nba-d-league-draft-board/

Jeff Ayres to Idaho. Jimmer 2nd. They must not have thought that much of him. Would have been a good chance to see what he could do in their system.

[Xiao Yao You]

Micheal Stockton taken in the draft. Liked him.

[Xiao Yao You]

Ronnie Brewer taken. Would have liked him on Idaho.

[El Kabong]

D in lockdown mode in the 2nd half today. Hayward still struggling on offense again, but I'm sure he'll get motoring along soon. Hood continues to look the goods.

[Xiao Yao You]

His shot looks off but he's always been streaky. The end of the bench will continue to be the concern with this thin roster. See how good they are in a couple weeks when they play the top teams.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Jazz forward Elijah Millsap is on the same commercial flight as me this morning. [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-jazz-pacers-103115/

[QUOTE]0

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/10/31/emptying-the-noggin-an-mind-bogling-2nd-half/

[QUOTE]Wow. That was crazy impressive. What the Jazz did to the Pacers in the 2nd half is hard to fathom. Teams don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3121420-155/utah-jazz-notes-trey-lyles-scores


It was just a matter of we liked Myles Turner a little better."
He looked good. Jazz might have been better off with him too!

So on draft night, the Pacers grabbed Turner with the 11th overall pick, letting Lyles fall to the Jazz at No. 12.


"I thought all my workouts were pretty good," Lyles said. "I did what I could in each of them. But I ended up here, so I'm happy about that."


At 6-foot-10 with some small forward skills, Lyles is a versatile player, but still a project who can be developed slowly in the Jazz system.

But they aren't developing him slowly. They are throwing him into the fire and he's not ready for it. It's a joke! He needs to show he can play at the D-league level at the very least first.


[QUOTE]"I'm getting a lot more comfortable," he said. "The guys are welcoming so that makes it a lot easier. The guys kind of know what I can do somewhat and they trust me somewhat.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3121638-155/utah-jazz-jazz-defense-comes-alive

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640427/Jazz-notes-Indiana-homecoming-goes-well-for-Hayward-and-Lyles.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640395/Jazz-use-big-second-half-to-rally-past-Pacers.html

[QUOTE]We

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2015/11/1/9655030/utah-jazz-idaho-stampede-nbadl-draft-jimmer-fredette-perry-jones-jeff-ayres


Last season the Jazz had a lot of injuries and called up a number of NBADL players -- this time in a surprise move some of them actually came from their affiliate (Jack Cooley (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cooleja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Jerrelle Benimon (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/benimje01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com)). Usually the Jazz just snipe the best NBADL players from other clubs, and have done so in the past with examples like Sundiata Gaines (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gainesu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Othyus Jeffers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jeffeot01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Travis Leslie (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leslitr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), and last season Elijah Millsap (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millsel01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com).

It just became their team last year. They hadn't had their own team since the Flash.


That makes it look like the Jazz use the NBADL as a scouting tool for end of bench players, and not as an actual "development" farm league. Perhaps things will change when the Jazz move the Stampede from Idaho to Utah.

Maybe? They are still using the Jazz for their developmental team and it sucks. Lyles shouldn't be playing yet! :rant


Jeff Ayres (formerly Jeff Pendergraph)
Forgot he was Pendergraph. He could be a decent vet if they get rid of Pleiss or Withey at some point.


There doesn't seem to be much interest -- which may be part of the Jazz end game plan to move them to Utah, and THEN start to use them more frequently.
Maybe if you used the team to develop your young guys there would be more interest.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3123208-155/utah-jazz-loss-in-detroit-helped?fullpage=1

[QUOTE]Those 23 seconds stung.


The Utah Jazz had a razor-thin lead on opening night and the kind of defense that is supposed to protect those kinds of things. But a miscommunication while defending the next play put the shot-blocking Rudy Gobert just out of position as Detroit guard Reggie Jackson drove in for the game-winning layup.


"It was a one-possession game," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said, reflecting back a few days later. "I'm not saying if we stop we win, but we're in good shape

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640435/Utah-Jazz-Analysis-Thanks-to-a-strong-second-half-the-Jazz-run-away-97-76-over-the-Pacers.html


If Utah can become a consistently solid team on the road, it will make its postseason hopes all the more reachable.

They did fine on the road last year. Need to do better at home.
[QUOTE]Grading the performance:


The first half was certainly rough, marking by sloppy turnovers and some uneven offensive sets. Whatever head coach Quin Snyder said at halftime seemed to work. The Jazz were vastly superior in all ways after the break. The wing players were very good and center Rudy Gobert put his imprint on the game, inhaling rebounds and spiking Indiana shots. Reserve guard Trey Burke had his best outing of the season.


Utah Jazz grade: B+


In the two halves, Indiana

[Xiao Yao You]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/239751/NBA-Efficiency-Differential-Rankings-Warriors-Jazz-Cavs-Raptors-In-Top-4


After the first week of the 15-16 NBA regular season, the Golden State Warriors rank first in efficiency differential (http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/team-stats/2016/Advanced_Stats/Team_Totals/Regular_Season) at +16.3, followed by the Utah Jazz at +16.0 and the Cleveland Cavaliers at +13.3.
Full Week 1 Rankings
1. Golden State: 16.3
2. Utah: 16.0
3. Cleveland: 13.3
4. Toronto: 11.9
5. Oklahoma City: 10.3
6. San Antonio: 9.7
7. L.A. Clippers: 9.1
8. Minnesota: 9.1
9. Detroit: 7.2
10. Miami: 7.1
11. New York: 6.9
12. Chicago: 4.5
13. Phoenix: 4.3
14. Dallas: 3.3
15. Sacramento: 1.9
16. Atlanta: 1.0
17. Boston: -0.3
18. Washington: -0.3
19. Orlando: -2.8
20. Portland: -3.6
21. Memphis: -3.9
22. Charlotte: -5.3
23. Denver: -7.2
24. L.A. Lakers: -9.5
25. Indiana: -12.6
26. New Orleans: -15.6
27. Milwaukee: -17.2
28. Brooklyn: -18.3
29. Houston: -20.3
30. Philadelphia: -23.7



Get back to me in a couple of weeks

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640459/Jazz-defense-picks-up-where-it-left-off-2-as-best-in-NBA.html

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/and-heres-your-weekly-utah-jazz-wrapup-4/


Five. Rudy Gobert, asked whether he trash-talked Ian Mahinmi in English or French after blocking his shot: Both.


Definitely caught that! :lol

[QUOTE]Six. Poll: Which of these players does the guy in charge of picking photos for the graphics dislike the most?

Seven. [B]Craig Bolerjack and Matt Harpring

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3129542-155/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-making-lots


Favors may be one of the NBA's most underrated players.
He's always been overrated here.


[QUOTE]The 24-year-old Atlanta native is certainly one of its more understated players. But as the Jazz try to fight their way back to the playoffs for the first time since his rookie year, Favors expects to make a little more noise this season.


So far, his performances have been coming in loud and clear.


Utah has won twice in its first three games to open the season, and Favors has been the team's leading scorer each night. He dropped 26 on Detroit and 20 two nights later against the Philadelphia 76ers.


"He's just had a real focus," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "I think there's a determination right now that he's playing with on both ends of the floor. You can just see it. He's getting the ball deeper and he's not content. You see it in every possession. In some way he wants more."


On Saturday, the Jazz fed the ball inside to Favors on the first possession of the game. With the smaller C.J. Miles on his back, Favors caught the ball about 5 feet from the basket, turned and launched a hook shot that missed.


"Nobody was more upset about that than he was," Snyder said.


It took until 3:30 let in the first half before he turned another mismatch, this one with point guard George Hill on him in the paint, for Favors to score his first points Saturday night.


After that, Favors started to find his way.


The sixth-year power forward hit eight of his 11 attempts in the second half, finishing with a team-high 18 points. With Hayward struggling to find his stroke early on, Favors has been glad to help pick up the slack.


"He's been passionate in the way he's played," Snyder said. "That's probably the biggest thing. It seems like he's enjoying the game. He's attacking the game."


Favors is averaging 21.3 points per game and hitting 52 percent of his shots, though that in itself isn't enough for him.


"I've been working on my game for five years now

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3129213-155/utah-jazz-notes-hood-making-the


Rodney Hood's promotion to the first unit comes as no surprise.

He was starting last year wasn't he? :confusedshrug:
[QUOTE]And three games in

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/whats-happening-with-hayward/

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz are currently 2-1 and have looked mostly impressive against some subpar competition. Derrick Favors has been playing like an All-Star and alongside Rudy Gobert, the defense has been suffocating. But the third member of Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640528/Besides-tough-defense-Jazz-happy-with-offense-ball-handling.html

[QUOTE] they

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640523/Young-vet-Derrick-Favors-trying-to-be-a-vocal-leader-for-the-Jazz.html

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors is a quiet guy, who has always tried to do his talking on the basketball floor with his scoring and rebounding as he's done with his fast start this year (21.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg)

But he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Interesting. [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]I was recently told the Jazz tried to trade for Mario Chalmers this offseason and the Heat didn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: Derrick Favors was sent home from practice today with flu/like symptoms. (http://*********.com/social/) He is questionable for tomorrow

[Xiao Yao You]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ok5g3g5

gets Miami near the tax line if they cut Johnson.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/early-notes-from-utahs-opening-road-trip/

[quote] at what point, is it 10 games, is it 20 games, at what point [does it become] relevant, just statistically speaking?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3133084-155/utah-jazz-notes-at-long-last


Snyder said he wants to be sure his team is clicking on both ends.
Don't expect it with your roster

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3131663-155/utah-jazz-now-fully-developed-gordon


he's now firmly entrenched as Utah's first offensive option.

Actually it looks like Favors and Hood could be and maybe Burks should be.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Philadelphia 76ers today announced the team signed point guard Phil Pressey after being granted an additional roster spot in accordance with NBA hardship relief. (http://www.nba.com/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-sign-phil-pressey) Pressey has appeared in 125 NBA games with the Boston Celtics, averaging three points, three assists and one steal in 14 minutes per game. While at the University of Missouri, Pressey was named All-SEC First Team after leading the conference in assists. During the 2011-12 season, he led the Big 12 Conference in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Pressey is on the active list tonight against Milwaukee and will wear number 26.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640563/Utah-Jazz-fans-should-embrace-newold-home.html


When a team is paying maximum money to Gordon Hayward, naming rights matter.

When a team is millions under the cap and have little on their bench does it matter though? :rolleyes:

[QUOTE] I was in favor of Utah State changing Romney Stadium to Maverik Stadium because I want to see Aggie football still going in 20 years.

This marks the 25th season in the same building for the Jazz. Vivint Arena is replacing EnergySolutions Arena, which succeeded the Delta Center. That puts the Jazz three iterations removed from the days when an arena was a community treasure, rather than an advertising platform. Madison Square Garden kept its name, as did The Palace of Auburn Hills. But others, like the Rose Garden and Boston Garden have been replaced with such unimaginative titles as Moda Center and TD Garden.


Vivint Smart Home Arena is almost sure to get shortened to

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640610/Utah-Jazz-notebook-Hayward-not-too-concerned-about-his-slow-statistical-start.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640639/Morning-links-Forecasting-the-Utes-bowl-destination-Jazz-fans-have-bad-grammar.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640606/After-strong-start-to-season-Jazz-excited-to-play-first-home-game-at-The-Viv.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/user/comments/865640663/Shootaround-Utah-Jazz-excited-about-home-opener-but-Favors-still-questionable.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-blazers-jazz-11415/

[QUOTE]The Jazz struggled on both ends in their home opening loss to Portland Wednesday night. They shot a miserable 5-24 from three-point range (20.8 percent), were under 65 percent from the line and well under 40 percent from the field. To a man, though, Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-a-week-in-the-world-of-jazz/



http://saltcityhoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/pos-pwr-1105151.png (http://saltcityhoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/pos-pwr-1105151.png)

Bigs

Favors has been really special so far this season. So has Rudy, but take a look: Favors has been roughly as solid (http://stats.nba.com/tracking/#%21/player/defense/?CF=TEAM_ABBREVIATION*E*uta&sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT&dir=-1) defensively (http://stats.nba.com/team/#%21/1610612762/players/advanced/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1) while also carrying the team on offense4 (http://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-a-week-in-the-world-of-jazz/#note-4). Stifle is right there with him in macro terms, but what was supposed to be a deep field behind those two has left a lot to be desired. Booker and Lyles have combined to shoot 11.5% from the field thus far and Pleiss and Withey have played just three total minutes.

Booker still brings much needed energy. Lyles looks better with each game which I guess is why they are playing him but Withey and probably Pleiss should both be playing ahead of him until he's ready. It's a joke. Could have been the difference in both games they lost.
[QUOTE]Wings

If this was a

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/04/emptying-the-noggin-cj-and-dame-too-much-too-handle/
[QUOTE]EMPTYING THE NOGGIN

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3138814-155/utah-jazz-lillard-scores-35-to

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3138864-155/kragthorpe-jazzs-home-opener-is-forgettable

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3138785-155/jazz-pace-and-execution-offensively-jazz




Now, Utah wants to become more well-rounded.


With the same players? :confusedshrug:







"I know that we think it can definitely improve," Jazz point guard Trey Burke said. "I think in the first week our defense has allowed us to get a lead. We've been playing off of our defense. I think we know that we have to be sharper and more precise and execute better."


The Jazz have yet to score 100 points in a game through the first four games of the season. Part of that is due to pace; the Jazz are statistically one of the slower teams in the league.


But Utah hasn't shot the ball particularly well, either. The Jazz struggled mightily in their season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons, shooting 46 percent from the field overall.


Forcing turnovers have led to easy baskets. But Utah wants to be better overall in halfcourt sets.


"I think you always want to see better offensive execution," Snyder said. "It's not that we aren't trying to play good offense, but there's a realism to where we are at this point. We're trying to integrate Alec (Burks) and Rodney (Hood) into bigger roles, so a lot of things are going into it. I think as the season progresses, we'll pick up continuity, and we'll be able to find out better who we are."



Close call


Derrick Favors played and started against the Trail Blazers Wednesday, a day after missing practice with flu-like symptoms. He also missed Wednesday morning's team shootaround. He arrived at Vivint Smart Home Arena a few hours before the game, went through his normal routine and pronounced himself fit to play.



Fundamental change


Wednesday's matchup against Portland represented a challenge for the Jazz. In Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Utah went up against a premier backcourt for the first time this season. Lillard and McCollum ended up combining for 62 points.


"It's always fun to go up against those guys," Burke said. "I've been playing against them for three years and they present a lot of problems. They're scoring the majority of their points. They compete at a high level."



tjones@sltrib.com

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3129708-155/portland-trail-blazers-beat-utah-jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640715/Lillard-Blazers-spoil-Jazz-home-opener-Portland-defeats-Utah-108-92.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640721/No-defense-is-bad-news-because-Jazz-dont-have-a-Plan-B.html



Is there a third option?


get better players?


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640741/Utah-Jazz-matchup-analysis-Jazz-hold-advantages-at-key-positions-vs-Denver-Nuggets.html


They still have one of the best defenses in the league.

debatable

[QUOTE] They still have Rudy Gobert terrorizing the paint; Derrick Favors is still able to guard the pick

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640733/Morning-links-BYUs-Collinsworth-Weber-States-Bolomboy-mid-major-players-to-watch-Jazz-making.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640726/Utah-Jazz-analysis-Why-the-Jazz-struggled-on-both-ends-of-the-floor-in-108-92-loss-to-Portland.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640720/Former-Weber-State-star-Damian-Lillard-lights-up-Jazz-with-35-points-in-Portland-win.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640663/Shootaround-Utah-Jazz-excited-about-home-opener-but-Favors-still-questionable.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-jazz-nuggets-11515/

[QUOTE]here

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/05/emptying-the-noggin-catch-and-shoot-game-returns/


another solid road win.

It's a must win as were the Detroit and Portland games. Got to beat up on the crappy teams home and away. What's coming up could be brutal!

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3143560-155/utah-jazz-notes-derrick-favors-not


Favors isn't the type of guy to miss work.

Though he punched out early. :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]On Wednesday night, Favors started and played 25 minutes, scoring six points with team highs in rebounds (10) and steals (4) in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.





"Fav's tough," Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "I think if you saw him [after that game], he was drained. He found energy at various times during the game.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3143365-155/utah-jazz-hayward-booker-find-redemption

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640837/Utah-Jazz-notes-Favors-plays-through-nasty-illness-Lyles-birthday-gift-is-first-field-goal.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640834/Big-comeback-fuels-Jazz-to-road-victory-over-Denver.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3146700-155/utah-jazz-like-grizzlies-jazz-going

[QUOTE]In fact they're quite content playing the old school way

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640921/Jazzs-Gordon-Hayward-shows-signs-of-playing-a-little-bit-better.html

[QUOTE]Guard Alec Burks' eight assists Thursday tied his career-high and equaled the amount starting point guard Raul Neto has dished out all season. ... The Jazz's 11 3-pointers

[Xiao Yao You]

Ronald Tillery: Griz center Marc Gasol (neck strain) is probable but guard Jordan Adams (right knee soreness) is out tonight against Utah (http://*********.com/social/) Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-grizzlies-jazz-11715/


[QUOTE]It would be tempting to call Saturday night

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2015/11/7/9688736/utah-jazz-bigmen-derrick-favors-and-rudy-gobert-are-ridiculously-good


We all should be encouraged at how well Derrick Favors (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/favorde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) and Rudy Gobert (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) have looked so far early on in the season.


Anyone expect less? :confusedshrug:



They aren't getting easy buckets, but they are still killing teams to a combined 23.0 ppg, 20.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.6 spg, and 5.2 bpg as a starting front court. If you look at the fact that Derrick Favors played the last two games with the flu (and only half of the last game, at that) it's all that more impressive. Sure, in previous eras of Jazz basketball we had Mark Eaton (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/eatonma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) blocking 4.5 shots a game, or Karl Malone (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/malonka01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) even averaging 31 points per game. I'm not marginalizing the efforts of previous Jazz bigs. I'm just point out that for our 24 and 23 year old men on the team right now there's a lot to be proud of. And they are only going to get better.


If you are Quin Snyder (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/111859/quin-snyder), though; you hope that they also get some more help. Gordon Hayward (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Rodney Hood (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hoodro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Trey Burke (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), and Alec Burks (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burksal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) are all playing well. But I think they each can turn it up a little more still. Beyond those six, well, it's very slim pickings, indeed.

Not ready to put Trey above Ingles, Booker and Neto myself. :rolleyes:


Trevor Booker (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/booketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) and Joe Ingles (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) are still getting in the groove.
They are? They look like the players from the end of last year. :facepalm


And rookies Raul Neto (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/netora01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Trey Lyles (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lylestr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), and Tibor Pleiss (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pleisti01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) are still trying to find their footing.
Neto is fine. Lyles has sucked. Pleiss hasn't played.

So I'm not upset at any perceived lack of production. I just know that this team is going to get better as the season goes on -- so that in retrospect some of their numbers after five games may not look so hot.

Anyway, here's what we're working with.
https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Smx5Pi32JhW-u0cyLjToGg2lcUc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale%28%29/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4242197/2015_2016_Utah_Jazz_Player_Stats_Game_1_to_5.0.png Who has surprised you the most this season?




Snyder and the front office. Withey(or even Pleiss) not playing over Lyles. Others not playing more.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/07/emptying-the-noggin-as-long-as-the-jazz-defense-was-good/


He is the heart and soul of this team.

Come on! They are likely one of the worst teams still without Rudy. :wtf:
[QUOTE] He had 12 points, 16 rebounds, 3 steals and Quin couldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3152753-155/utah-jazz-notes-ingles-jazz-focused


Their offense isn't as explosive as others, so the Utah Jazz know they can't give away possessions. Six games into this young season, there is just one player in the regular rotation who has yet to commit a turnover.


"I'll see how long it goes for," forward Joe Ingles says with a smirk. "Hopefully for the rest of the year."

He made a bad pass last night. Hayward dug it out of the ground.



So what's been the key?


"Not wanting to get in trouble?" he joked.


Really it's been a matter of better decision making.


When the Jazz brought the 28-year-old Aussie back on a two-year deal last summer, coach Quin Snyder stressed the need for him to take better care of the ball.


"I've hit him pretty hard on not turning the ball over," said Snyder, who has spent significant time with Ingles breaking down film and pinpointing where he made his mistakes during his rookie season in the NBA.
There were some technical things he needed to improve.
"A lot of that's just what I've done with some of the coaches before and after practice with my ball-handling and creating space for myself," Ingles said.
But after that, it's been a matter of simplifying things. Ingles sees the floor as well if not better than anyone else on the Jazz roster. And in his first year in the NBA, he was willing to take some extra risks and throw too many 50-50 passes.
"It's like a quarterback that can see a play," Snyder said. "Then it's do you want to make the great pass? And what's the cost-benefit of that? There are times to go for it and there are other times when you see the percentages to not."
The percentages are trending in the right direction now.
The Jazz committed the fifth-most turnovers in the league last year. This season, they've coughed up the fourth fewest.

It's early. See what it looks like after the road trip.
[QUOTE]And in 110 minutes on the court, Ingles remains unblemished in that category.


"He's got a lot of pride as a player," Snyder said. "I think his focus in that area is something that for our whole team has been infectious."


Lucking out?


It took more than good defense Saturday night to slow down Memphis' Mike Conley.


Or maybe it took less.


The Grizzlies point guard started the night by scoring seven first-quarter points. He finished the night 8-for-25 from the field, but according to the NBA's data, Conley missed nine uncontested shots (attempts when there was no defender within 3.5 feet).
"He got some clean looks that worried you," Snyder said. "

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3147811-155/utah-jazz-nightmare-fourth-quarter-nearly

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3148237-155/utah-jazz-notes-burks-becoming-more

averaging a career-high 15 points a night.

and he isn't playing more? :confusedshrug:

The Jazz faced the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, something that was significant because a road game at Memphis last year was the final game for Burks.


"I remember this because that was the last time we had Alec," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "He's got a long way to go, and I mean that in the most complimentary fashion. There's a real hunger for him looking at people play and how they are doing. I feel like his passing is growing and his maturity is growing."



Closer to 100


Derrick Favors said on Saturday morning that he's feeling a lot better, after being plagued for the last two games with flu-like symptoms. He stayed after shootaround to get some extra post work done with assistant coach Tony Lang. Favors missed the second half of Utah's win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.


"I'm better now," Favors said. "I feel like I have a lot more energy."



Stay on the floor


Snyder said foul trouble is putting a wrench in his first half playing rotations, and has done so in the last few games. Staying away from foul issues is important going forward, Snyder said.


"Every first half, it seems we're in foul trouble," Snyder said. "That's disruptive to a team."



tjones@sltrib.com

(tjones@sltrib.com)
twitter: @tjonessltrib (http://twitter.com/tjonessltrib)

Especially with the lack of depth.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3143415-155/utah-jazz-win-89-79-despite-late

[QUOTE]Trey Burke wants to be the starting point guard of the Utah Jazz. Coach Quin Snyder is OK with this. In fact, Snyder would question him if he didn't want to be the starter.


Still, Burke is coming off Snyder's bench because the Jazz desperately need scoring punch in their second unit, a decision that hasn't always sat well with him. But the former lottery pick out of Michigan has never whined or complained. And now, it looks like he's getting used to his role, even thriving in it.


In Utah's 89-79 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, Burke was arguably the best offensive player on the floor. He scored a game-high 24 points before 19,456 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, and did it efficiently, shooting 8-16 from the field.






Those were game-changing numbers on its face, and it was certainly a game-altering performance. Without Burke, the Jazz would've struggled to attain their fourth win of the season.


"I think he's just been really efficient offensively," Snyder said. "It shows up readily when you look at his shooting numbers. But there's a part of it that you don't see, whether it's in a timeout or at the free-throw line. I think he's just really focused on trying to do every little thing that he can do to help the team win and be a good player."


Burke's night was explosive offensively. He made a career-high six 3-pointers. He consistently got into the lane and caused a good Memphis team issues defensively. He made almost every open look from the perimeter.


His shooting provided coveted spacing for the Jazz offense, and his teammates took advantage. Gordon Hayward scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists. Power forward Derrick Favors - recovering from the flu - turned in a monster performance with 12 points and 16 rebounds.


Rudy Gobert blocked four shots and grabbed 11 rebounds and the Jazz held Memphis frontcourt mates Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to 9-26 combined shooting, a startling statistic.


"I was just trying to be aggressive," Burke said. "Coach told me to take the shots they give me. My teammates did a great job of finding me, and I was able to knock some shots down. To me, it's all about winning, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win."


A furious Memphis rally made this a close game down the stretch, too close for comfort when Mike Conley knocked home a 3-pointer to close the Grizzlies within 84-79.


But for the vast majority of the night, Utah was dominant on both ends. The Jazz defense squeezed Memphis on the perimeter and in the lane, bothering the shooters and locking down the paint. Offensively, Utah's ball-movement in the first three quarters proved sublime. The Jazz got into the lane, pitched out to open shooters and knocked down 12-27 from 3-point range.


This performance reached blowout status early in the fourth quarter when Joe Ingles hit a three to give Utah an 80-59 advantage.


However, the offense then went dry. The defense stopped producing stops, and Memphis went on a 13-0 run to get back into the game.


"I think the level of the game and the physicality raised and we got sloppy," Snyder said. "There was a stretch there where I thought we had some opportunities to convert some things and we didn't take advantage of them. That's a really good team."


The Grizzlies

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640972/Utah-Jazz-Trey-Burke-hits-a-career-high-six-3-pointers-in-win-over-Memphis-Grizzlies.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640993/Trey-Burke-has-career-shooting-night-with-6-threes-in-win-over-Grizzlies.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641002/Utah-Jazz-Analysis-How-the-Jazz-held-off-the-Grizzlies-late-fourth-quarter-run.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640978/Alec-Burks-can-still-get-a-lot-better-Jazz-coach-Quin-Snyder-says.html

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Snyder said the 6-foot-8 second-year player is especially valuable when other teams or the Jazz decide to play small ball because he

[Xiao Yao You]

https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/and-heres-your-weekly-utah-jazz-wrapup-5/
[quote]As of right this second

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641024/Most-underrated-Coach-Q-calls-Joe-Ingles-the-glue-of-the-Jazz.html

[QUOTE]A lot of people notice the absence of the Australian player who isn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3157899-155/utah-jazz-notes-gordon-hayward-finding?fullpage=1

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3154775-155/utah-jazz-look-to-test-themselves

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641071/James-still-NBAs-King-but-Jazz-relish-another-shot-at-LeBron-in-Cleveland.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641074/Jazz-notes-Big-road-test-ahead-uneven-stats-on-O-and-D-Alec-Burks-assists.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/its-trey-burkes-time/


When the Utah Jazz drafted Trey Burke back in 2013 there was a lot of hype surrounding the point guard.


There continues to be a lot of hype around him for some reason. :confusedshrug:


[QUOTE]Burke had just led the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA National Championship game and was named the College Player of the Year. The future was bright and hopes were high for Jazz fans and their new point guard.


Then reality set in, and Burke

[Xiao Yao You]

Asked about Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/using-sportvu-motion-data-to-examine-jazz-roles/

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3160711-155/jazz-shootaround-utah-knows-defending-james

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/top/3454/0/NBA-power-rankings-week-2-Jazz-move-up-after-back-to-back-wins.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641114/Utah-Jazz-3-point-shooting-has-improved-the-last-2-games-anyway.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641103/Morning-links-Pundits-weigh-in-on-Missouri-situation-Devontae-Booker-appears-on-Doug-Gottlieb.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641104/How-to-watch-Jazz-Cavaliers-Expect-an-evenly-matched-game-against-Cleveland.html

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Tony Jones: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert tells me he

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641193/Ex-Jazzman-Mo-Williams-burns-his-old-team-with-29-points-in-Cavs-win.html


[QUOTE]Williams called Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641186/Cleveland-captures-late-lead-to-top-Utah-Jazz-bench-puts-up-49-points.html


A nine-point lead midway through the fourth quarter of an NBA game usually means a victory.

That is unless LeBron James is on the other side.

and your best player gets hurt.


[QUOTE]That

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3157751-155/utah-jazz-lebron-james-takes-over

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3161911-155/utah-jazz-notes-3s-are-starting?fullpage=1

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/10/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-battle-cleveland-for-full-48/

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/news-and-notes-from-jazz-cavs-111015/


[QUOTE]But, in many ways, I think this was the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/early-utah-jazz-impressions-the-bench-2/

[QUOTE]Most of the attention the Utah Jazz have received after a solid

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3163419-155/utah-jazz-despite-inexperiencetrey-lyles-versatility

[QUOTE]Through three weeks, moments of brilliance for Trey Lyles in his NBA rookie season have been fleeting.

There have been missed defensive rotations. There are rebounds he should grab that end up in the arms of an opponent. There are struggles on both ends that make it clear he's a rookie trying to find his way.


And then, there are moments where he shows why the Jazz made him a lottery pick last June.


Take Tuesday, for example. Lyles set a pick for Alec Burks and faded to the 3-point line. Burks drove to the rim, sucked the Cleveland Cavaliers defense in, and found Lyles behind the arc, who was wide open. The 6-foot-10 forward from Kentucky didn't hesitate

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3164870-155/utah-jazz-notes-jazz-look-for

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641275/Can-Jazz-turn-Tuesdays-toe-to-toe-performance-vs-Cavs-into-a-victory-at-Miami.html

[quote] If he can

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641196/Utah-Jazz-Analysis--Highlights-LeBron-James-proves-too-much-in-close-118-114-Jazz-loss.html


- The foul difference was glaring. The Jazz were whistled for 35 fouls, compared to 21 for their counterparts. The result was 43 free throw attempts for Cleveland versus 28 for Utah. The Cavs were plus-9 points from the charity stripe.


Been an issue all year.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]For most of the season, the Jazz have ranked near the bottom of the NBA in assists with just 16 per game heading into this road trip. And whenever he

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3169961-155/jazz-face-big-test-tonight-if

expect Jeff Withey to get some action as well.

He's dressing? :eek:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641300/Utah-Jazz-Rudy-Gobert-is-still-questionable-for-tonights-game-at-Miami.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641289/How-to-watch-tonights-Jazz-Heat-game-How-injuries-will-affect-the-matchup.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/12/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-go-another-48-but-fall-short/


These plays in my mind are the difference but you can go find two of your own. It is 100 possession game there are so many to choose from.
I'd go with the minutes being given to Lyles and Millsap myself. How many more wins do you have if those minutes are given to an actual NBA caliber rotation player?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641392/Jazz-fall-short-in-fourth-as-Heat-deal-Utah-a-close-92-91-loss-on-the-road.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641412/Lyles-gets-first-start-as-Gobert-sits-out-with-bad-ankle-vs-Heat.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3170745-155/utah-jazz-jazz-dont-execute-down

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3171076-155/utah-jazz-burke-burks-combine-to


they're both capable of starting on our team and other NBA teams."

What other team is Trey even a rotation player? :confusedshrug:


Both began the preseason in the starting


lineup, but Snyder decided to bring them off the bench because of fit. With the two in the starting lineup, the second unit struggled to score. Now, the team is balanced throughout.



Burke and Burks have both bought into the move. Burke scored 24 points last Saturday to lead the Jazz to a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. In a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, Burks scored a team-high 24 points and produced a big chunk of Utah's offense down the stretch.


For the season, Burks is averaging 15.6 points per game, second on the team. Burke is fourth at 13.4 points per game.


"It's a good thing for both of us because teams can't key on one of us," Burks said. "We play well off each other and we have good chemistry out there."



Lacking star power


Both the Jazz and the Heat played shorthanded. Utah was without center Rudy Gobert, who was held out with a sprained ankle sustained late Tuesday night in Cleveland. Miami shooting guard Dwyane Wade missed the game to be with his son, who was at the hospital.


"His son is OK," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He is fine. Dwyane will be with him tonight and he will have a statement when he is ready."



A debut


Happy with the way he's been practicing of late, Snyder gave rookie forward Trey Lyles his first career start on Thursday night. Lyles, Utah's first-round pick out of Kentucky this past spring, had been playing steady minutes as a reserve. Jeff Withey was activated in Gobert's absence.

Another debut


Former Jazz second-round pick Jarnell Stokes suited up for the Heat for the first time on Thursday. Stokes was part of the trade that sent Mario Chalmers to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Jazz drafted Stokes in 2014 and traded him that night to Memphis.


"I understand the NBA is a business," Stokes said. "I'm just looking for an opportunity in this world, when you haven't proven yourself."



tjones@sltrib.com

(tjones@sltrib.com)
twitter: @tjonessltrib (http://twitter.com/tjonessltrib)

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/miami-survives-favors-barely/

[QUOTE]The shooting that has made Trey Burke such a valuable off-the-bench sniper abandoned him tonight. He didn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/13/emptying-the-noggin-gone-in-a-hurry/


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3175212-155/jazz-notes-utah-missing-starters-rudy


It happens during every NBA season, to practically every NBA team. This week, it's Utah's turn.

The grind of 82 games is bound to yield injury, from sheer wear and tear over anything else. Guys go through games on consecutive nights, and their bodies momentarily break down. It's an annual rite of passage for almost everyone. Seldom do teams stay as healthy as the Golden State Warriors did last year.

And yet the Jazz front office continues to go with this roster. :wtf:



On Friday night, the Jazz became that broken-down team, missing two-fifths of their starting lineup. They had no Rudy Gobert, who sat out with a sprained ankle, they had no Rodney Hood, who had a sore foot. These are the times when depth is tested, and guys who normally wouldn't play find opportunities. Against the Orlando Magic, the Utah Jazz went through those direct protocols.






"It's a brutal schedule, especially when you look at the games and schedule," Jazz forward Joe Ingles said. "That fatigue and your body is tired and aching and eventually it catches up to you. But it is what it is, it's part of the job. You get used to playing sore, and obviously injuries are a little different. We have no choice but to bounce back from it."


The Jazz plugged Alec Burks into the starting lineup for Hood, and Trey Lyles started his second consecutive game, the rookie learning on the job. That meant more minutes for Ingles off the bench. That meant minutes also for Elijah Millsap and Trevor Booker, who are Utah's two best energy guys.
With two consecutive losses by a mere five points heading into Friday night, the Jazz knew they had no choice but to play through the attrition. The schedule isn't going to let up for Utah anytime soon.
"We'll do different things," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "We have the option of going small, or going big. We can go really small and play Trey [Burke] and Raul [Neto] together, if need be. The games are going to keep coming, so we have to move forward."

Said he wouldn't play them together. I think you to be able to do that though.



No shooting guards


For the second consecutive night, the Jazz missed the starting shooting guard of the opponent. Orlando guard Victor Oladipo was held out of Friday night's game with a concussion he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. He is one of Orlando's best all-around talents, averaging 14 points, nearly seven rebounds and three assists per night. The Magic inserted Channing Frye into the starting lineup, and moved Tobias Harris back to small forward, where he matched up against Gordon Hayward.

Scary thoughts




Gobert may not have played on Friday night, but the France native had bigger things to worry about, like the safety of his family in the midst of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Gobert told The Tribune that he called home and his loved ones are accounted for.



Good times


The Magic heading into Friday were 2-0 in the first halves of back-to-backs. Their matchup against the Jazz is the third. They will play the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3171280-155/utah-jazz-tired-and-depleted-by


0-4 is a real possibility.

It's likely especially if Rudy and Hood aren't playing again.


Derrick Favors picked up two early fouls. And not having him on the floor rendered Utah's defense, well, defenseless in the first quarter. By the end of those 12 minutes, the Jazz were in a 33-15 hole that eventually became 39-17 a few minutes into the second period.

Withey is a better rim protector anyway. Too bad the coach coach doesn't seem to make winning games a priority.


[QUOTE]"It's tough when you come out as slow as we did tonight," Utah point guard Trey Burke said. "We have to find ways to come out with more energy ... more intensity. We can't allow ourselves to dig in holes like that. We have to get ready for Atlanta and find ways to come out with more energy."
Several times the Jazz fought back. But on the tail end of a back-to-back, the legs weren't there and the shooting proved it. Utah shot 39 percent from the field, and missed 17 of its 25 attempts from 3-point range, The Jazz suffered 17 turnovers and again lost the rebounding battle without Gobert in the lineup.


Meanwhile, Orlando shot the ball well when the game mattered most. The Magic put five players in double figures, led by Evan Fournier's 21 points. Tobias Harris was difficult to contain, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The Jazz, for their part, were led by Burke and Gordon Hayward, who scored 16 points each. Burks had 11, but went just 2-13 from the field

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641519/Fournier-scores-21-Magic-runs-to-102-93-win-over-Jazz.html

[QUOTE]Withey and Johnson actually ended up being two of the bright spots off the Jazz bench that outscored the starters 50-43. Withey scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 24 minutes, while Johnson had four points and five rebounds and had a plus-18 in the plus-minus category, meaning the Jazz were 18 points better than the Magic when he was on the floor.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641531/Three-days-in-the-Florida-sun-is-no-vacation-for-the-Jazz.html


For the second straight night, the Jazz struggled from 3-point range, making just 8 of 25.

That's actually pretty good for them.

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/news-and-notes-from-jazz-magic-111315/


Depth is an issue for the Jazz:


I hope you're not just realizing this? I actually don't think it's that bad if Burke continues to play as he has which I have my doubts. The biggest problem has been Lyles playing instead of Withey. I'd look to move Pleiss unless you think he can be better than Withey at some point as well and maybe get another pg.




With injuries afflicting starters Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood1 (http://saltcityhoops.com/news-and-notes-from-jazz-magic-111315/#note-1), head coach Quin Snyder found his defensive and offensive schemes negatively affected sans his anchor in the middle and one of his main shot creators and distributors. Furthermore, his rotations were thrown off entirely. Rookie Trey Lyles made his second start and super reserve Alec Burks was also tabbed to fill in for Hood. It was a long night before it had even started.


Two fouls four minutes into the scrum for Derrick Favors only compounded the situation. As a result, players like Chris Johnson, Elijah Millsap, Tibor Pleiss and Jeff Withey saw their first significant playing time of the season. They certainly hustled and worked hard, but the difference in overall talent was palpable.

Yeah Withey looked like an NBAer not a stiff like Lyles. Johnson, Millsap aren't bad guys at the end of the bench either.


Pleiss, like Lyles, is a project.

A 25 year old one so how much better can he really get? It's appeared he's still adjusting to the rules.


Most Jazz fans recognized potential issues with depth

Potential like anyone missing a game ever? It was apparent in the opener when Booker was out and should have been expected before that.

[QUOTE], but Friday was perhaps the first time where that concern was placed under a microscope. It certainly did not help that Burks had his roughest game of the season, and normally reliable reserve Joe Ingles had his third subpar outing.

In short, the Jazz will have to rely on these young and largely untested players with the hope that the learning on the job/baptism by fire/being thrown to the wolves pays dividends. Not knowing the severity or duration of Gobert and Hood

[Xiao Yao You]

https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/and-heres-your-weekly-utah-jazz-wrapup-6/


[QUOTE]Two. Quin Snyder on why playing time is important for Rudy Gobert:



That

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3174938-155/utah-jazz-team-going-on-a

[QUOTE] after two years of struggles

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641558/Jazz-among-NBAs-slowest-teams-but-thats-OK-with-coach.html

[QUOTE]For most of Quin Snyder

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641551/Snyder-still-feeling-good-about-Jazz-despite-3-straight-losses.html

[QUOTE]After a promising 4-2 start to the season, the Utah Jazz have lost three straight games, the latest a 102-93 defeat to the Orlando Magic Friday night at the Amway Center.

Just don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641541/Utah-Jazz-game-analysis--highlights-Why-the-Jazz-ran-out-of-gas.html

[QUOTE]A short-handed Utah Jazz squad had a tough Friday, falling to the energetic Orlando Magic 102-93. The Jazz remain winless on their current four-game road trip.


Why the Jazz lost: Utah faced an uphill battle before the game commenced, as starters Rodney Hood and Rudy Gobert were forced to sit out due to nagging injuries. It did not help that leader Derrick Favors encountered early foul trouble. Orlando took advantage of the situation and pounced on the Jazz, building up an early double-digit lead. Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Ainge said he understood that his rookies would need crash-course mentoring and seasoning before making an impact. While there may be disappointment among Celtics fans that three draft picks played Saturday night in Canton, there weren

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]So here

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE][URL="http://*********.com/social/tweets/"]Rudy Gobert: Innocent lives being taken on both sides

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]With all of the Boston Celtics' draft picks, Danny Ainge is more liberally using the D-League for players to get experience.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-jazz-hawks-111515/

[QUOTE]4.0

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/15/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-wrap-up-road-trip-with-solid-win-in-atlanta/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641620/Jazz-salvage-a-win-in-final-game-of-long-road-trip-as-Millsaps-shot-doesnt-fall.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641618/Old-home-weekend-for-Utahs-Favors-and-Millsap.html


Jeff Withey, who has been inactive for the majority of Jazz games this year, got the nod as the last active player over Tibor Pleiss, probably because of his eight-point, seven-rebound performance Friday night in Orlando.

Probably because Snyder's secret was out and he couldn't continue to play Lyles after everyone saw that. Anyone that watched pre-season already knew.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641550/Utah-Jazz-pre-game-Key-to-the-Jazzs-road-game-against-Atlanta.html




A former Jazz standout, Millsap is one of three Hawks who is averaging over 16 points per game. The other two, Jeff Teague and Al Horford, both are coming into this game averaging over 17 points per game. This triple threat may be too much to handle for the Jazz if Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood are out again. Any one of these players could go off for a 30-point game easily.


Luckily it was Teague that was out. Still their best win.




But most Utah Jazz fans have seen the Hayward that turns up his gears and gets to the basket at will.


Sounds like Burks not Maxi G.



If they can keep him contained, the Jazz will have a much bigger chance at winning this game.

prophetic!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3184358-155/jazz-postgame-thoughts

towards the end of the game the Hawks were forced to the perimeter.

From the get go.

It made an enormous difference because in every game teams will go through perimeter droughts, if only briefly. Tonight, that drought allowed Utah to take that 95-88 lead and it turned out to be the difference.


Slow Start:



Gordon Hayward's struggles are becoming increasingly obvious. Tonight, he had seven points and six rebounds, and did so in 38 minutes. The more concerning thing is Hayward playing 38 minutes and taking just nine shots. As Utah's top perimeter option, there are times he has to force the action and look for his offense, because an aggressive Hayward is good for the Jazz.

They were all over him. They have other guys that can get it done. He doesn't need to force anything. Alec would be getting 20 a game if they played him as much as Hayward and Hood is unstoppable inside the arc. Favors has been tough around the hoop.


He knows he has to find his groove and he's not frustrated. But teams are loading up on him and he knows he has to adjust to this.

Let them keep doing it. Going to open it up for others. When he is open he needs to hit shots though.



What it means: The Jazz are 5-5, which is probably a good record considering they've played eight of those 10 games on the road, and have played against three of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The schedule lightens up a bit in the next two weeks in terms of circumstance. The Jazz don't face any back-to-backs in the next few weeks. But it's still a tough stretch with the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans in their next five games. Oh well. That's what being in the Western Conference is all about.



Tony Jones

Should be better than 5-5. If Withey had played. If he played his best guys more minutes. :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3183042-155/utah-jazz-paris-attacks-in-goberts

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3181191-155/utah-jazz-eastern-road-trip-ends

[Xiao Yao You]

Adam Johnson: The Idaho Stampede reacquired Jack Cooley, (http://*********.com/social/) the team announced today.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Minnesota wants to be at the cutting edge of player health and maintenance; [URL="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14149298/the-long-hard-road-redemption-plan-minnesota-starting-make-sense"]before Saunders

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/rudy-gobert-derrick-favors-and-the-value-of-a-block/

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/what-have-we-learned-thus-far/


So what have we learned about the Jazz thus far? Utah Needs Rudy Gobert


We didn't learn this last December? :facepalm


As obvious as that may seem, watching the Jazz play without Gobert during part of the road trip was painful at times. The defense is clearly designed to funnel opposing players to the rim so Gobert can swallow up any shots. While extremely effective when the Frenchman is on the court, this strategy is not as potent when Gobert is off the court.


But Favors is one of the best himself no? :confusedshrug:


[QUOTE]There were stretches when the Jazz wings would force opposing players to the basket, which resulted in easy shots without Gobert on the court. Derrick Favors can clearly hold his own and more on defense but early foul trouble plagued him for parts of this road trip, making Gobert

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3191879-155/monson-jazzs-offense-must-rise-to


The thing we know about the Jazz now that we already knew but that we know better than we knew is this: This collection of young players is making it difficult for opponents to score.


They've been pretty inconsistent at that end too. Don't care what the latest stats tell us.



[QUOTE]But that's only the half of it. The better half.


Come whatever else may, that defense is the rack of confidence nailed onto the wall upon which every other positive aspect hangs. Without it, the Jazz would be a slightly more cohesive version of the Brooklyn Nets.
And the Jazz are fully aware.


Sparked by the presence and priority of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, the other players understand the importance of what they get done at the less glamorous end, and even more importantly, they relish it. There's duality to that, positives and negatives. They relish it because they have to in order to win. They're not good enough offensively to not relish it.


That's why you hear players talk the way they do

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3193135-155/utah-jazz-raul-neto-living-his


He saw his childhood idol standing there, so Raul Neto did exactly what you would would have wanted to do: He asked for a photo.


And, naturally, John Stockton was happy to assist another Utah Jazz point guard.


"That was one dream I had," Neto said with a smile, recalling that encounter with the basketball legend at a Utah football game earlier this year, "and now it's true."

Hopefully he'll get to spend some time with John. Trey obviously learned nothing from his time in Spokane but I'm sure Neto and Exum would.


[QUOTE]For Neto, the Jazz rookie who is playing Stockton's old position in an arena guarded by a statue of the Hall of Famer, each day in the NBA has been another part of that dream come true.






"I think every moment is special for me," he said.


The 6-foot-1 Neto is quiet, unassuming and inconspicuous. Thousands of fans cheer him on when his name is called as Utah's starting point guard, but he can still go unnoticed when he's out around town.


His role once the ball is up in the air can go unnoticed at times, too.



Through 10 games, Neto is averaging just 17 minutes a game

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3192855-155/utah-jazz-notes-goberts-brief-absence


When Rudy Gobert's left foot rolled awkwardly late in last week's game at Cleveland, a fan base had to hold its breath for a little while.
Not sure the front office wouldn't be happy with another tank though. :rant




There's a lot more riding on that left ankle than just Gobert's 7-foot-1 frame.


In the end, the Jazz were fortunate that Gobert's injury was not more serious, only causing him to miss two games (both losses) on the road trip. But the center's momentary absence exposed what has been an early weakness: the team's backup big men.

The weakness is the front office and coach who were playing a 20 year old that hasn't earned the minutes over someone who has actually already proven he can play in the league and earned it in pre-season.



So far this year, forward Trevor Booker hasn't matched his production of a season ago. Rookie Trey Lyles owns the worst plus-minus on the team. And backup 7-footers Tibor Pleiss and Jeff Withey haven't been able to win regular playing time.


:rolleyes:

[QUOTE]"It really puts a spotlight on your bench," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said of Gobert's absence. "

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3184522-155/utah-jazz-take-positives-from-difficult

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Derrick Favors told us that the USA Basketball snub from this summer still drives him to work on his game,

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/wing-t-formation-the-3-wing-lineup-makes-a-case-as-utahs-best/

[quote]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2015/11/17/9752016/utah-jazz-gordon-hayward-derrick-favors-rudy-gobert-alec-burks-trey-burke-jazz-jam-session


But I do believe the team will be making some sweet music by the time the season gets important. 12 % of the season isn't important? :rolleyes:

[quote]

We

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2015/11/16/9743282/downbeat-1673-10-games-in-are-the-jazz-in-trouble-rudy-gobert-derrick-favors-utah-jazz


As much as it shouldn't make that much of a difference whether the Jazz play at home or away, it absolutely does and should be highly considered as a significant factor in some of these losses.

More about who they play. They've played better on the road since last year for whatever reason.

Some positives from this team so far:

Favors has been an absolute stud so far this season! (Averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks)


Burke has found his shot, especially his outside shot!


Burks has been shouldering the offensive load, and has been obliterating opposing benches in that sixth man slot.


Gobert is king.


Hood is the real deal, averaging 13 points as a sophomore. He is the player we all wanted C.J. Miles to become.

Maybe if CJ had been 6'9"? :facepalm With his size and skills he's pretty unique.



The Jazz are 9th in the league in 3-Point Percentage while making 36% of their shots.


Don't expect that to continue.




Some notes that may become red flags if they persist all season:

Hayward is still in a bit of a funk, he's regressed back to 2012-13 Hayward. Still a solid player, but not one capable of leading a team to the playoffs at this point. I'd love to see the alpha dog Hayward of the 2014-15 season again, please!

I'd have no problem with him being the 4th option and doing other things more.



We really only have 6 players I trust to have a net positive effect on this team on a consistent basis in Burke, Burks, Hood, Hayward, Favors, and Gobert.
Burke? :wtf:



Ingles would be the only low usage player that I am reasonably pleased with at this point. We need the other players deep in our rotation to start stepping up or at the very least not be a liability when they are on the court.


The Jazz are still 29th in assists per game at 18.7. (On the plus side, they allow a league-low 16.8 assists per game, the keystone of Jazz games this year is that they are appear to play very similarly to grudge matches every single night)


The Jazz are 24th in 3 point attempts this season with only 20 per game. I'd love for them to break into that 25 to 28 attempts per game range.
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Some of these issues should fix themselves, but I can see some of them persisting but hopefully not so much to hold our team back too much.
Keep it up Jazz, you're still on track for that 6th-8th seed in the West in my book!

6th-8th isn't that exciting after the end of last year especially with the struggles or Hou and NO. They should be thinking first round home court. :cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2015/11/15/9738514/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-rudy-gobert-trevor-booker-trey-lyles-tibor-pleiss-jeff-withey-downbeat-1672


(Jazz fans in Australia can't even get Jazz gear, despite there being two Aussies on the team.
They don't have internet? Postal service? Kabong? :confusedshrug:


Bosh finished with 25 points, but he did a lot of his damage against the overmatched Trey Lyles (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lylestr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com) and scored 11 of those in the eight minutes Favors was resting.
In Quin we trust? :rant
By today's standards he doesn't have the stretch ability or offensive mobility to be a power forward, but he's not over seven feet tall. I guess this is why I default to calling him, simply, a 'bigman'.
He's longer than many 7 footers. Height means little. All about length and size.
.

Trevor Booker (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/booketr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), for all of his energy and enthusiasm, is a legit 3rd big on a championship contender. A 4th big? Maybe.
He might be the 4th or 5th big at times if Withey was playing. They can also go small.




Tibor is a 26 year old rookie who stands at 7'3. He's a center, through and through, but right now he's not that impressive. He turns the ball over 20% of the time he's on the court, and gets only 4.3% of the available rebounds.
He's played a few garbage minutes. I like what I've seen from him. Better than I expected but I'd look to trade him. He rebounded in pre-season.




Do you want to send your 26 year old dude, who has played in Europe for years, over to the NBADL?
Lyles is the D-leaguer. Pleiss might benefit from it for a while. He seems to still be adjusting to North American ball.


This is not the same thing as Kyrylo Fesenko (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/fesenky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com). Fesenko was 21 years old in his rookie year with the Jazz. He was able to get better by playing anywhere.
Yet he still sucked!


Can Tibor catch up to the NBA's speed by playing in the NBADL? We may find out after this road trip, contingent upon Gobert's health.
Lyles should be in Idaho tonite.


Quin Snyder (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/111859/quin-snyder) is serious about development. And he knows that getting your time in the NBA is more meaningful.

He thinks that anyway. Many teams think otherwise. 40 minutes a night as the man in Idaho or a couple minutes a half being overwhelmed in the NBA? :rolleyes: Johnson and Millsap were two of the best players in the D-league. Makes them fringe NBAers. Let's see Lyles dominate down there first and than see what he can bring to the team. He could still spend most of his time in Utah. while playing games with Idaho.




After all, this is still a developmental year for this team

sadly. It should be about winning now.






If you remove Withey from the equation -- as Quin Snyder did for the vast majority of this season

Trust in Quin!? :banghead:


Even the threat of floor spacing is better than standing there with the ball in your hands like a confused Jarron Collins (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/collija03.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com). Sometimes we get the rebound back too.
Lyles reminds me of Collins now. Setting screens and looking like shit.



our 3rd best big is Trevor Booker. And while he is limited, he's the only man for the job. Hayward/Ingles/Hood? :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/11/13/9728514/derrick-favors-utah-jazz-highlights-stats-underrated-so-underrated


The only thing Favors didn't have going for him on Thursday was his jumper, as he was 1-for-5 on shots not near the basket against Miami.
His jumper has been off all year. He made most of those last year.



That shaky performance, though, is not indicative of the strides he's made as a mid-range shooter. In order to provide the Jazz's (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/utah-jazz) offense with some spacing that is sorely lacking when he shares the court with The Stiffle Tower, Favors has been forced to move to the perimeter more often.
Think he's probably played down low more actually. He spent more time on the perimeter with Enes I'd guess.



He's making it work, though, shooting a solid 38 percent on long two-pointers for the season. His transition into modern power forward is not complete, but it's underway.


Games like Thursday's, however, serve as a reminder of the player Favors could be if he had ever had a chance to play as the lone big man with a perimeter-oriented power forward. Before Gobert took over, Enes Kanter (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/149905/enes-kanter) was around making life harder for Favors on both ends. The Jazz defense is now thriving with the incredible rim protection the Favors/Gobert pairing provides. However, Favors' individual numbers are affected and mask just how good he really is offensively.
Per 48 minutes Points Rebounds Blocks Free throw attempts Field goal percentage Without Gobert 29.5 18 4.2 10.6 53.2% With Gobert 21.7 11.8 1.6 5.6 48.2%

By accepting a move to power forward for the good of the team, Favors is sacrificing individual accolades. He's rarely mentioned among the league's best young big men and is overshadowed by the flashier Gobert. Yet, without his willingness to compromise, the Jazz wouldn't be a potential playoff team with an elite defense.


Fortunately, Favors is somehow still 24 years old despite this being his sixth season in the league. The Jazz do occasionally play Favors alongside a rangier and quicker player in Trevor Booker, allowing him to have room to operate when Gobert rests. Long-term, the hope is that Lyles can grow into a capable stretch big man, giving Utah the option of sliding Favors to center for more minutes.


For now, though, he'll continue to sacrifice for the good of the Jazz while still posting numbers that only four others in the entire league can match (http://bkref.com/tiny/ftDGl). Like many talented, but selfless players before him, Favors will only get his due when he and his team achieve postseason success. Until then, he will continue to be the league's most underrated player.


Is someone underrated if everyone keeps saying they are? :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641812/Rarely-in-Utah-Jazz-excited-to-finally-play-a-home-game.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641805/Jazz-notes-Slow-starts-the-norm-for-Utah.html

[QUOTE]Ten games into this season, it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3197190-155/jazz-shootaround-notes-hayward-says-5-5

[QUOTE]The Jazz just finished up shootaround preparation for tonight

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641818/Utah-Jazz-pre-game-Toronto-makes-long-trek-out-west.html


Derozan, who is averaging just over 21 points per game, is coming off a big game against the Warriors where he scored 28 points in the loss. He will be a handful for second-year Utah guard Rodney Hood. Hood, who is averaging 13 points per game, is coming off a big 20-point game Sunday night.
These two players are known for their offensive games, and whichever player can slow down the other is going to be a huge key to this game. Both are prone to play isolation basketball, so whichever has the quicker step will have the advantage.
Wouldn't say Hood has much of a first step. Not sure anyone has really slowed him down inside the arc either. Lowry is probably a bigger match-up.


The Jazz bench will need to come up huge Wednesday as it completely outmatches the Toronto bench. Alec Burks, who is the leading scorer for the Jazz, is a leading candidate for the sixth man of the year. He is thriving as the first man off the bench and can get into the lane on any isolation. He and Trey Burke will have to play a huge role against the Raptors.

Not sure the Jazz bench outmatches other benches. Scoring isn't the only part of the game as everyone seems to think especially when it comes to bench players.



DeMarre Carroll, a former Jazzman and fan favorite, comes back to Utah better than ever. He has improved his offensive game since his season with the Utah Jazz. So, not only will be a lockdown defender against Utah’s Gordon Hayward, but he will also be able to shoot and drive better than ever. Expect the small forward position to keep a quiet well-fought game.
Derrick Favors' offensive game is another big key. If Favors can push Toronto’s Luis Scola around and have a big game, the Jazz will have a much better chance of winning. Scola, who has never been known for his defensive game, will have a rough game if Favors can establish his 20-foot jumper early in the game.


Lowry has been a standout in the Eastern Conference. He is one of the top point guards and will likely be an All-Star this season. Lowry will be a lot to handle for Utah's point guards. Although he is a small point guard, he is quick and bulky, often being able to get other players involved because of his ability to drive on his opponent. Shutting down Lowry will be a huge key for a victory for the Jazz.


Fatigue may be a huge factor too. The Raptors played until nearly 11:30 p.m. Utah time Tuesday night then had to fly to Utah. That could be one of the biggest advantages for the Jazz. If the Jazz can come out running, they may be able to outmatch the worn-out Raptors.

Jazz running? :oldlol:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/18/emptying-the-noggin-comeback-close-game-wins-are-sweet/

[QUOTE] Favors is the first full sized big to be able to switch onto point guards. Draymond Green and Paul Millsap are able to do this for the Warriors and the Hawks but they are undersized. Favors is doing this a 6

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-raptors-jazz-111815/
[QUOTE]Numbers of Note

-1.0

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641915/Derrick-Favors-provides-spark-in-final-minutes-to-power-Jazzs-victory.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641902/Jazz-notes-Quin-Snyder-taken-back-by-Kevin-McHales-firing.html


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641916/Rudy-Gobert-Utah-Jazz-get-the-last-laugh-against-Toronto-in-93-89-win.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3185949-155/utah-jazz-jazz-rally-from-dunk

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3198177-155/jazz-notes-demarre-carroll-has-high


"I think DeMarre fits anywhere," Snyder said. "Any time you've a guy that plays hard, that plays with emotion, that makes shots, you'd take that anywhere."


Except in Utah. :cry:



[QUOTE]Somber solidarity


Center Rudy Gobert's sprained ankle is "pretty much" 100 percent healed.
But that injury certainly seemed trivial compared to the pain the 23-year-old Frenchman and his countrymen still feel after last week's attacks in Paris.


On Wednesday, the Jazz honored the more than 120 victims with a moment of silence and a rendition of the French national anthem before the game.
"I appreciate it," Gobert said. "All the French people really appreciate the support."


Gobert was in Orlando the day of the attacks and was able to speak with Magic forward Evan Fournier, a friend and fellow Frenchman, about the tragic news.


"We were both shocked," he recalled.


Days later, Gobert said he is trying to shift his attention elsewhere.


"I'm not over it, but I can't let it distract me," he said. "So I've just got to stay focused on basketball and I know they're taking care of it over there."

Shocked


Fifty-six wins and a trip to the Western Conference Finals last year? Not good enough for the Houston Rockets apparently.


On Wednesday, the Rockets fired coach Kevin McHale after a 4-7 start to the season. For Snyder, it was a reminder of "what a difficult and volatile" occupation coaching in the NBA can be.


"Obviously any time that you learn of a coach being fired, as a coach you're taken aback, particularly over the circumstances," he said. "I'm not close to that situation. I don't know the details. I do know that he took that team a long way last year.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3199744-155/kragthorpe-utah-jazz-get-tough-in

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-early-western-conference-tiers-game-balls-for-favors-and-more/



Tier 1 (elite SRS that align to 55-60 win teams): GSW (12.23), SAS (9.01)

Tier 2 (good SRS, just above or below 50 wins): OKC (4.29), PHX (3.86), UTA (3.55)

Tier 3 (.500-ish, borderline playoff teams): LAC (1.19), MIN (0.87), DAL (-0.74), POR (-2.00)
Tier 4 (sub-.500): SAC (-3.50), DEN (-3.64), MEM (-4.17)
Tier 5 (the dregs): HOU (-6.22), LAL (-6.73), NOP (-7.42)

That's where the Jazz should be expected to be after last season's finish. The talk of sneaking in as an 8th seed was bullshit! :banghead:


[QUOTE]Based on a simulations that play out the rest of the season 7500 times based on teams

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642010/Warning-Dunk-on-2-or-trash-talk-2Rudy-Gobert-at-your-own-peril.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641924/Utah-Jazz-Analysis--Highlights-Jazz-ride-impressive-first-and-fourth-quarters-to-win-93-89-against.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3202391-155/utah-jazz-confident-committed-alec-burks


so far, the shooting guard has looked the part of a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

He's looked like an all-star candidate other than his minutes. :wtf:


Burks has always been a gifted scorer. He can slash and get to the free throw line better than almost anyone else on the Jazz roster.


Almost? Who's close? :facepalm


[QUOTE]He can amaze with his finishes around the rim, contorting his body and putting the right kind of English on a layup to make shots he has no business making.


But while the guard joked at one point during preseason that he could "score on accident," Burks' early success this year has been about being deliberate, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.


He's finding his place within the Jazz's system, the coach said. He's playing more under control and making better reads.


"Sometimes, he used to be one foot in front of the 3-point line just kind of watching," Snyder said. "Now there's recognition and he's behind the line, ready to shoot."


Snyder continued, "There are a lot of little things, habits that are hard. Literally, which foot do you want forward?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3206642-155/jazz-shootaround-is-the-jumper-back



This puts a ton of pressure on Favors to be great defensively tonight. He's got to track Nowitzki out to the 3-point line. He's got to put pressure on him and keep him uncomfortable 15-18 feet away from the basket. And he's got to keep him away from the free-throw line. Oh, and for the Jazz to have a chance to get a road win,


Try Rudy if he can't deal with him.



Favors has got to score and rebound as well.


Not their only option.



Utah comes into tonight with a 6-5 record, having won consecutive games over the Atlanta Hawks and the Raptors. The Jazz are turning out to be a balanced scoring team, a team that customarily puts five players in double-figures. Intriguing tonight will be how much Utah coach Quin Snyder plays his three-wing lineup, or if the Jazz go small when the Mavericks go small - and the Mavs will go small.


Dallas coach Rick Carlisle plays unique groups. He has a bundle of solid and experienced point guards - Williams, Raymond Felton, Jose Barea, Devin Harris - and he plays them all in his rotation, spreads the floor out and creates spacing and shooting.



How the Jazz handle that could very well decide the outcome of tonight's matchup. Other than Nowitzki, the Mavs will struggle to match up well with Utah on the interior. So Dallas has to exploit it's speed advantage if it wants to win. And the Jazz have to counter that, if they want to win.
In a game of contrasting styles, the team that can impose its will should have the best chance at coming out with a victory.



Tony Jones

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642030/How-to-watch-the-Jazz-Mavericks-game-Former-teammates-face-off.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642072/Shootaround-Jazz-hope-to-snap-Dallas-slump-Jeremy-Evans-and-Deron-Williams-chat.html

[Giaodollo]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/18/emptying-the-noggin-comeback-close-game-wins-are-sweet/

other than Rudy? :coleman:

I like Johnson.

Garnett could defintely do it in his young days.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/20/emptying-the-noggin-the-evil-big-d-continues-its-dreadful-ways/


They are all vets. They all understand how to win. They understand the ins and outs of an NBA season and how to address it. They are not trying to prove anything as all of them have established their value and been paid. They are playing the game to win and they are playing as a collective group.

good thing the Jazz don't need vets. :confusedshrug:
[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3207853-155/jazz-notes-ex-teammates-gordon-hayward-and

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3208143-155/utah-jazz-dallas-mavericks-hold-off

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642128/Jazz-notes-Gordon-Hayward-Jeremy-Evans-rekindle-their-friendship-2-sort-of.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642118/Jazz-cant-overcome-second-quarter-woes-fall-on-road-to-Mavericks.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2015/11/21/9774940/the-downbeat-1778-jazz-need-big-man-help


http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/155479/1_medium.pngThe Utah Jazz (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/utah-jazz) have a great core of Hayward, Burks, Hood, Exum, Favors, Burke, and Gobert. In fact, if the Jazz could play them to the ground Thibodeau style, the Jazz would be one of the top 6 teams in the West. But, as has been discussed on this site before, the Jazz's main objective this season is not the playoffs. It's still very much in development. So what are the Jazz trying to develop?


:banghead:


A Reliable 3rd Big

The Jazz drafted Trey Lyles (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/257521/trey-lyles), signed Tibor Pleiss (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/111514/tibor-pleiss), accepted Trever Booker's 2nd year, and signed Jeff Withey (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/198055/jeff-withey) all with the hope of having a reliable backup big. Surely someone out of that core would step up to the plate. Unfortunately, 12 games in all of these players look out of their league. So what is the plan with all of these players?

Lyles looks out of his league. Haven't seen enough of Pleiss really. Withey can play. I still like Booker's energy even if he has struggled.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/155483/2_medium.pngTrey Lyles

Most likely Trey Lyles is going to become a resident of Idaho at some point or another.

He's back in the rotation. Wouldn't count on it.


He's going to get pretty familiar with Boise and other cities that are anywhere from 100,000-200,000 residents in size. Don't scoff either. This is not an indictment of Trey Lyles, this is an opportunity. The Jazz are more aligned than they ever have been with their D-League franchise. Rudy Gobert (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/198023/rudy-gobert) saw huge gains by playing in the D-League and Trey Lyles will be no exception. This will allow the game to slow down for him so that in his second year he'll be a reliable 3rd big in the Jazz's rotation. Until that time, expect Trey to struggle. Remember, he played a position-less role at Kentucky. I don't think he, nor the Jazz, know where he fits right now. D-League will allow Utah to experiment with his future role in their offense and find out what they have without the knocks to his confidence. Prediction: D-League Development
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/554201/3_medium.pngTrevor Booker (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/112570/trevor-booker)

This is really a make or break season for Booker. Last year Booker was a bargain contract. He played well above his abilities and was a spark plug off the bench. Contrast that to this year where he's a spark to setting our defense a blaze. He has played out of control and his hustle plays are negated by his lack of focus on the defensive end. It's easy to see the Jazz coaching staff has told him to play with his signature energy, but unless he can figure out how to reign it in, hit a few open jumpers, and focus on defense he is at risk of the Jazz making an in season move to remedy this. Booker is getting to the point in his career where performance is expected. The Jazz don't have the resources to spend as much development with him as with other players. This could also reflect how much patience they'll have over the course of the season.


Prediction: Displaced by small ball lineups or big man acquired through trade.


A trade? They obviously don't want to block Lyles.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/155491/4_medium.pngTibor Pleiss

Tibor was acquired through the trade that sent Enes Kanter (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/149905/enes-kanter) to the Oklahoma City Thunder (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/oklahoma-city-thunder). He was the teammate of coveted Jazz asset Ante Tomic (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/24650/ante-tomic). Unfortunately, his defensive stints have been as effective as Kanter's. He's been atrocious and the game is just too fast for him and different. I believe Tibor will adjust, it just won't be this season. Expect Tibor to join Lyles in the D-League for some development, conditioning, and much needed playing time in the American style. Tibor has the size but he isn't ready for the athleticism of the NBA ... yet. Give him development, an offseason at P3, and time to adjust and he'll be a value acquisition next year. But this year? Don't expect much from him.


Prediction: D-League Development.

He's 25 so I'm not sure you can keep him around for development for long.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/155495/5_medium.pngJeff Withey

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of all the terrible big man play is Jeff Withey. Jeff Withey is what he is. The Jazz are not going to spend a lot of time on development with him, but he is a stop gap until the backup Jazz bigs get their act together or are replaced. The Jazz had a huge need for a backup big in the offseason (I advocated Bismack Biyombo (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/150201/bismack-biyombo), but what do I know). Instead the Jazz kept to their core of trying to find undervalued players and hope they break out. Last year was a great example of that succeeding with Rudy Gobert, Trevor Booker, and Joe Ingles (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/251424/joe-ingles). This year it's an example of how it can blow up in your face. That strategy, while cost effective for small market teams, comes with a lot more risk. That's why other teams with front the cash required to minimize that risk of failure.



The other side of that coin is the Jazz have to dump countless hours into development. If the player doesn't have work ethic, it will fall on deaf ears. So while Jeff Withey is nothing spectacular. He knows what he is, he knows what he does well, can't carry a team, and he understands the NBA game. All great qualities for your 5th big. But if it's your 3rd best big, you're in trouble.


Prediction: Takes hold of the 3rd big spot until displaced by trade acquisition.

He should at least be an option to Booker or small ball depending on the match-ups

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3207923-155/utah-jazz-coming-of-age-derrick

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642179/Utah-Jazz-tradition-continues-on-in-Dallas-with-D-Will-Evans-Harris-and-Matthews.html


Evans is playing a diverse role with the Mavericks, getting time at small forward, power forward and center.


never did see him at the 3 in Utah. Liked him in certain match-ups at the 5 last year


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642138/Utah-Jazz-analysis--highlights-Deron-Williams-leads-the-Mavericks-past-the-Jazz.html

[Xiao Yao You]

https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/and-heres-your-weekly/

[QUOTE]One. Derrick Favors, asked if an All-Star berth would mean a lot to him:


I mean, it would. You know, I

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3213461-155/utah-jazz-point-guards-will-try

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642226/Jazz-have-made-strides-since-Snyders-memorable-postgame-interview.html

[QUOTE] The Jazz have endured one of the toughest schedules in the NBA, earning a hard-fought 6-6 record that is actually better than it looks considering how many road games they

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642231/Utah-Jazz-hope-to-rebound-against-Enes-Kanter-and-Oklahoma-City-Thunder.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/3218781-155/shootaround-notes-jazz-preparing-for-kevin

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-tale-of-two-teams/

The Jazz defense has been an absolute headache for most of their opponents.

Except the ones that are good offensively. :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]Hopefully, once Dante Exum returns from injury, a lot of what hinders the offense will fade out. Unfortunately, Exum almost certainly won

[Xiao Yao You]

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/239939/The-Young-Jazz-With-An-Old-Soul

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-thunder-jazz-112315/

[QUOTE] It could be a longer season than many had expected if the Jazz continue to have so many issues with simple defensive concepts, elements all the talent in the world won

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/23/emptying-the-noggin-thunder-put-the-clap-down-the-on-the-jazz/

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3221056-155/durant-returns-to-torch-jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3218337-155/utah-jazz-thunder-dominate-jazz-111-89

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3220406-155/utah-jazz-enes-kanter-says-past

[QUOTE]It might take a while

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642318/Jazz-cant-handle-Durant-fall-to-Thunder-111-89.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642320/Kanter-doesnt-deserve-the-abuse.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642317/Jazz-notes-Thunder-coach-shares-a-funny-Frank-Layden-story.html

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/whistling-dixie-do-the-jazz-have-a-fouling-problem/

Jerry has to be proud! :rolleyes:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642407/First-half-breakdowns-are-dooming-Utah-Jazz.html

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3221600-155/utah-jazz-want-to-win-in


It's no coincidence the Jazz were blown out by Oklahoma City on Monday night with Gobert missing a large chunk with a tailbone contusion.
Love the guy but it was a blowout by then.
[QUOTE]"I think it's something that's important and something that more and more teams are looking for," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "Around the league, more teams are willing to play lineups that make it a strength

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642450/Utah-Jazz-LA-Clippers-matchup-Pace-of-play-will-be-key-in-tonights-game.html

[QUOTE]Hood, an excellent passer, has become an isolation player as of late. His lack of passing has stifled the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Gordon Hayward: But the guy who has impressed me the most has been Trey Burke. (http://www.gordonhayward20.com/2015/11/24/the-first-hurdle/) It

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3224577-155/utah-jazz-beat-los-angeles-clippers

[QUOTE]For Hayward, shots haven't fallen as often as he'd like this season and the Jazz star has drawn some criticism for his slow start

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765682111/Utah-snaps-13-game-losing-streak-to-the-Clippers-Hayward-leads-the-way-with-30.html


In the process, the Jazz might start to rely more on Raul Neto at the point. Neto played 26 minutes, finished with six assists and scored a career-high 10 points as both Rodney Hood and Trey Burke sustained minor injuries.
The Brazilian rookie played a pivotal role in the third quarter, when he contributed seven points, two steals and an assist during a 14-2 blitz that enabled the Jazz to turn a 51-48 deficit into a 62-53 lead with 6:43 left in the period.


"He handled the pressure," Hayward said. "He made great passes, great reads, great shots."

Need to put the ball in his hands more. He makes good things happen when they run the pick and roll with him. That's his game more than catch and shoot.

Despite ending five years of frustration against one of the Western Conference's best teams, the Jazz know they remain a work in progress.
"We've still got a lot of improvement to do," Favors said. "We can only be the best that we can be, and 7-7 is good enough for us, for right now."

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2015/11/25/9799692/dikembe-mutombo-los-angeles-clippers-utah-jazz-trey-burke-trey-lyles-downbeat-1781


And maybe the bigger issue is that the Jazz have not defeated them in four seasons. I never believed in my life that it would take the Jazz more than once a few months to beat them, not an entire presidential term. Let's hope the Jazz get a win tonight.

They've been trying to lose the past two years and I'm not sure they are really trying to win this year either.

.
.

As the Lieutenant Governor of Utah suggests, perhaps he just does get it already?
Not sure he gets anything other than firing shots at the rim.
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his offense has just been a little off. Lyles is shooting .296 / .200 / .500 so far this season.
Just a little! :roll:

I do not believe the Stampede can help anyone. And it seems like Dennis Lindsey agrees (look at all the guys who were sent down . . . no, really, try to find a list). Instead playing in the NBA, practicing against NBA players, and making mistakes in the NBA will help him the most.
Most of the league seems to think otherwise. Why do that have the Idaho team if they think this? Cooley would play for another team and they could still pick him up. I got to think playing 40 minutes as the man in Idaho would be better. He could still be with the Jazz most of the time if they think practice is the thing for him.


It's clear that he's not getting the minutes right now, but if you look at the list there are lots of young bigmen who didn't play early either -- some of them ended up becoming rotation players (http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=per_game&per_minute_base=36&per_poss_base=100&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=2001&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=1&age_min=0&age_max=20&height_min=81&height_max=99&shoot_hand=&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&birth_state=&college_id=&draft_year=&is_active=&debut_yr_nba_start=&debut_yr_nba_end=&debut_yr_aba_start=&debut_yr_aba_end=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&award=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=mp_per_g&order_by_asc=Y). (Some examples are: Josh McRoberts (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcrobjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Kendrick Perkins (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/perkike01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Samuel Dalembert (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dalemsa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Zach Randolph (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/randoza01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Andray Blatche (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Andrew Bynum (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bynuman01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Alex Len (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lenal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Robin Lopez (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lopezro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), Zaza Pachulia (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pachuza01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), J.J. Hickson (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hicksjj01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com), and Kosta Koufos (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/koufoko01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com).) And fo this Jazz team, that's what we want Trey to be one day. And the more he plays in the NBA the sooner it will happen.
Koufos did play early and he did it well. Would still love to know why he ended up behind the stiff Fessenko?
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I still will always dream of a possibility that the Jazz could have signed you as a free agent, and that your jersey would today hang up there in the Aunt Viv next to the greats, Stockton, Malone, and Garth Brooks.

They could have signed lots of guys. Nothing has changed really despite new owners, new GM, new coach...

[Xiao Yao You]

www.sltrib.com/sports/3231094-155/utah-jazz-notes-dant%C3%A9-exum-takes?fullpage=1


And he's been seen working on free throws and doing other light work at the team's practice facility.

Be nice if he was able to improve his free throw shooting during this time anyway. Not that he ever got to the line.
[QUOTE]Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said he hoped this week's brief road trip would help Exum's progress.


"It's just good for him to be around it," the coach said. "He's working by himself a lot on his rehabilitation. That's not something he gets to do with the team. So any time he's able to reconnect with the guy and be around, it's an opportunity for him to go and experience the season, as well as kind of invigorate him, give him a little juice and encouragement."


Nothing but Neto


When Trey Burke's back started acting up and it was announced he would miss the second half of Wednesday's game against the Clippers, many presumed the Jazz would rely on their three-wing lineup.


And yes, Snyder closed the game without a point guard on the floor. But it was rookie point guard Raul Neto who helped build up the lead Utah's "Wing-T" look would defend.



Neto bested his season high in one quarter alone, scoring 10 points. He also dished out four assists and notched a steal in the period en route to a 102-91 victory.


"Raul had a really good night," Snyder said. "It's a heck of a thing to be a rookie in this league and have to play against Chris Paul."


Neto made the most of his extended minutes. He finished the game with 10 points and six assists.


"Sometimes just know that there's nowhere to go and 'Here it is. I'm going to play against Chris Paul and Trey Burke's out and I've got to play' it can relax you too," Snyder said. "You can be a little bit more reckless. There's not a downside. You don't have to be afraid in any way, and I thought he played fearless basketball."


Two nights earlier, Neto matched up against Oklahoma City All-Star Russell Westbrook and struggled to hold his own. Neto looked much more comfortable against the L.A. star.


"I think I just did my job," Neto said. "I tried hard against OKC. I tried hard tonight. I think everything went better tonight than the other night."


He's been the Jazz's starter since opening night, but Neto has been mostly a caretaker of the position.


On Wednesday, he was a catalyst.


In the middle


Clippers forward Blake Griffin had an All-Star performance against the Jazz. Griffin scored a game-high 40. But, for the most part, the Jazz will live with how Griffin did it.


"He beat us with mid-range jump shots," center Rudy Gobert said. "If he wants to hit mid-range all night, we'll take mid-range all night."


Griffin went 18-for-23 from the floor on Wednesday

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/26/emptying-the-noggin-lots-to-be-thankful-for-after-jazz-win-in-la/


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/nothing-like-beating-the-whiners-in-la/


[QUOTE]Following a team that

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3224611-155/utah-jazz-notes-young-jazz-hoping

[QUOTE]Booker, a career 51-percent shooter, believes shots have to start falling.
"I mean, right now, nothing is falling

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642423/Morning-links-What-would-Stephen-Curry-look-like-in-a-Utah-Jazz-uniform-Gordon-Hayward-blogs.html


Bleacher Report examines how much better each NBA team would be with Golden State Warriors star; Utah Jazz forward writes about the first month of the season; ESPN's Zach Lowe looks at the Jazz's place in the small-ball revolution.




The Golden State Warriors set a record Tuesday night for best start to an NBA season by beating the Los Angeles Lakers to move to 16-0, with reigning league MVP Stephen Curry leading the way once again.


A few hours before the Warriors' historic victory, Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal examined the impact Curry would have on each of the NBA's other 29 teams by replacing (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2590281-how-much-better-would-your-team-be-with-steph-curry/page/11) its current starting point guard with him. In what could be seen as a sort of tease, a Photoshopped picture of Curry wearing each squad's jersey accompanied the story.


Fromal determined the "Curry effect" by examining the total number of points added per 100 possessions that he would bring.


As far as the Utah Jazz are concerned, Fromal projects that putting Curry in the starting lineup would move Quin Snyder's club from a playoff contender to a postseason lock.

"So yeah, this team has a lot of potential with Curry in the fold," Fromal concludes.
playoffs? You think? :oldlol:[QUOTE]Gordon Hayward blogs about first month of NBA season

One of the storylines to emerge from the first few weeks of the season for the Jazz is the fact that Gordon Hayward has struggled some offensively.
As he has been known to do with regularity, Hayward posted a lengthy blog (http://www.gordonhayward20.com/2015/11/24/the-first-hurdle/) Tuesday, where he addressed that topic and a number of others regarding Utah's 6-7 start.


"So I think we

[Xiao Yao You]

http://rockmonster.blogs.deseretnews.com/2015/11/25/warriors-thunder-talent-takes-the-cake/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-importance-of-trevor-booker/


It is apparent that rookies Trey Lyles and Tibor Pleiss are long-term projects.


Pleiss is 25. He won't be with the team past next season if he doesn't show something. Lyles is getting better every game. Think he could help them in the short term but until then Withey needs to play even ahead of Booker depending on the match-ups.


[QUOTE]Jeff Withey has been solid in limited minutes. That makes Booker

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642426/Fan-shows-his-long-distance-life-long-loyalty-to-Utah-Jazz-2-all-the-way-from-Israel.html

[Xiao Yao You]

We talked to five players to learn more about life in the D-League and how that first call up went for them: Anthony Tolliver, (http://*********.com/2015/11/27/we-talked-to-a-bunch-of-players-about-the-time-they-got-their-first-call-up-from-the-d-league/) Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Langford, Marqus Blakely and Elijah Millsap.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642590/Utah-Jazz-Hayward-finally-has-breakout-game-everyones-been-expecting.html


The 6-foot-8 Hayward, generally regarded as Utah's best player, spoke rather nonchalantly about what brought about his big night.


He's certainly not their best and might be 5th best.



[QUOTE]"I hit some shots," he said matter of factly. "(I've) still got to just be aggressive and look for the time to get my looks and get my shots. (I was) just competing more than anything, just wanted to win."


Hayward admitted that getting a couple of shots to go down early in the game helped set the tone for what was to come.


"I got a lot of good looks," he said. "When that happens, it's a lot easier instead of always starting with a couple of fadeaway 2s or some tough floaters. I got some good looks early, and then once you see the ball start to go in, things start to open up for you."


Hayward admitted that the fadeaway hasn't been falling as consistently as it did for him last season. But he's not losing sleep over it.


"It's just a little bit of a rhythm thing, a timing thing," he said. "I'll get it back; it'll be fine. It's something that I've spent a lot of time on so, I'm not worried about it."


After Wednesday night's performance, it may be upcoming Jazz opponents who'll start losing sleep over the prospect of Hayward performing like he did against the Clippers.


In that 33-point outburst on the road

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642598/Utah-Jazz-notebook-After-a-road-heavy-early-season-slate-Jazz-aim-to-fatten-up-record-at-home.html

[QUOTE]In fact, Utah stays home for nine of its next 12 and 11 of its upcoming 14 games

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3235481-155/utah-jazz-notes-hayward-jazz-hope



Injury report


Burke and guard Rodney Hood are both dealing with back spasms and both listed as questionable to play in Saturday's game against New Orleans. Hood's injury appears to be less severe, however. He practiced Friday, while Burke did not.



afalk@sltrib.com

(afalk@sltrib.com)
Twitter: @tribjazz (http://twitter.com/tribjazz)

Would think Hood is playing than.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3235315-155/utah-jazz-anthony-davis-provides-another


Jazz coach Quin Snyder knows Favors will be Davis' primary defender. He also knows guarding Davis will take a village, meaning he's prepared to switch up on Davis. He's willing to run double-teams at him, and to shade his defense towards Davis whenever he has the ball.


Hopefully Rudy will be on him if he goes off. He might not play hopefully! :applause:




"There's a lot to think about with Anthony Davis because he's so multi-dimensional," Snyder said. "He's another one of those guys in the same conversation as LeBron James and Chris Paul, one of the best players in the league at his position. There's so many things that he can do, he can shoot, he can post up and he can score in a number of ways. There's no way you're going to be able to completely stop a guy who's that good."
So what do the Jazz do against Davis?


One option is letting him have his points, minimizing the impact of his teammates while trying not to allow him to completely take over the game.
The Pelicans were just 4-11 as going into Friday, and one reason is that Davis' supporting cast is missing Tyreke Evans. And while Jrue Holiday is healthy, he's still on a minutes restriction.


As a result, Davis has had to do a lot by himself, especially without Evans, who provides a lot of the perimeter offense. Davis has gotten used to the extra defensive attention he's received, and has increased his production as of late. It's a big reason New Orleans has won three consecutive games and is looking more like the playoff contender it was projected to be when the season began.


"Davis is just a great player," Utah forward Gordon Hayward said. "He's big, he's athletic, he can shoot it, pass it and handle it. He's talented enough that we're all going to have to guard him, it's not going to be all on one person. We just have to be ready, and we have to figure out a way to play well."


tjones@sltrib.com

(tjones@sltrib.com)
twitter: @tjonessltrib (http://twitter.com/tjonessltrib)

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7112615/


The chatter makes sense. The combination of Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks had produced 118 points per 100 possessions in their 93 minutes together going into Wednesday, per nbawowy.com. While the defense needs some fine tuning1 (http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7112615/#note-1), the trio has been effective. Even when the third guy is Joe Ingles, it really works2 (http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7112615/#note-2).


Johnson should be getting Ingles minutes. I like him more every time I see him. Ingles has been struggling. Millsap actually looked good last time he came in too.


[QUOTE]The lineup has been discussed primarily as a means of keeping a traditional point guard off the floor. But here

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642605/Jazz-vs-Pelicans-matchup-preview-Both-teams-heating-up-as-December-nears.html

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642646/Jazz-notes-Tibor-Pleiss-new-wardrobe-accessory-doesnt-impress-teammates.html

[QUOTE]Utah Jazz rookie Tibor Pleiss recently got a new accessory for his wardrobe. His teammates, by the way, aren

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642650/With-Favors-out-Trevor-Booker-comes-up-big-with-double-double-in-Jazz-victory.html

Another argument for the Jazz trading Favors and going smaller. Gobert/Booker has looked great together the past two years. Let's hope this gets him going shooting wise.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642639/Alec-Burks-scores-21-as-Jazz-pull-away-from-Pelicans-101-87.html


[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3232892-155/utah-jazz-win-over-pelicans-puts

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3232894-155/utah-jazz-jazz-close-by-committee

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2015/11/28/emptying-the-noggin-wire-to-wire-for-jazz-over-pelicans/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-pelicans-jazz-112815/



[QUOTE]61.5