2016-17 regular season!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4990265-155/utah-jazz-unlikely-to-agree-on

wonder if this is a possibility now?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674100/Joe-Ingles-emerging-as-3-point-specialist-for-Utah-Jazz.html


11 of 34 (32.4 percent) from the left.

Better keep him from taking them there

He's hardly a specialist. He does a lot more than shoot 3's

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674444/Utah-Jazz-Analyzing-Quin-Snyders-rotation-after-the-All-Star-break.html

[QUOTE]The Jazz entered the season with a whopping four point guards on the roster after they decided last summer to guarantee Shelvin Mack

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/2/28/14765248/george-hill-and-utah-jazz-contract-extension-gordon-hayward-nba-boston-celtics-free-agency


Among the reasons that Utah declined to put in a waiver claim on former Jazz star Deron Williams earlier this week, according to league sources, is because the club wants to use its nearly $14 million in available cap space to renegotiate and extend Hill's current contract.

Adding Williams' $9 million salary would have essentially forfeited the Jazz's means to sign Hill to an extension, since it needs the cap space to make an offer attractive enough for the 30-year-old to surrender the right to become a free agent this summer.

Should have made a decision on Hill before the deadline and not wait until the last minute than. Now they have cap space and a need for more talent. Don't tell me Lindsey is a candidate for Executive of the year again. He blew it big time again!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/02/28/should-the-utah-jazz-add-jimmer-fredette/

He's certainly someone to look at.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/02/28/utah-jazz-hasnt-george-hill-been-extended/


Last season, everyone knew the Jazz had potential; another gear they had yet to reach. However, they ultimately fell just one game short of a playoff berth.

Blame that on the coach and front office. Look what a 3rd stringer did for the team once they finally decided they weren't tanking anymore.

[QUOTE]For the Jazz front office, it makes more sense for them to wait and see a bigger sample size before locking up Hill long-term. He

[WayOfWad3]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2694290-nba-trade-deadline-2017-ranking-every-teams-starting-5-post-deadline



I'm hoping once buyouts are done and they have finalized the roster that we will see changes. Hood certainly needs to come off the bench and probably Favors unless they get Bogut.
I've been hearing Bogut to Cleveland, I'll have to look into it. And yeah, Ingles needs to start. His ability to be so efficient with so much less time on-ball is huge for players like Hill and Hayward, not to mention he's a better and more willing passer

[WayOfWad3]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/2/26/14746386/utah-jazz-102-washington-wizards-92-game-recap-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert



It's a team game. Anyone would trade Hill/Hood for those two. Put Gobert on Washington and they probably blow out the Jazz.
It was one game, whoever wrote that article wrote one of the most idiotic pieces of Jazz news I've ever read

And I've also been hearing $20mil a year for Hill atm. Someone is going to lay him that, and that'll be the largest contract he's ever going to get

[Xiao Yao You]

I've been hearing Bogut to Cleveland, I'll have to look into it. And yeah, Ingles needs to start. His ability to be so efficient with so much less time on-ball is huge for players like Hill and Hayward, not to mention he's a better and more willing passer

Better defender and doesn't need the ball in his hands. Hood was made for a 6th man role where he can have the ball in his hands and just look to score.

I think people are assuming Bogut will go to the Cavs but he has a ring and it sounds like he wants to be guaranteed a role. He may not like his role on the Cavs as much as elsewhere. Not sure the Jazz are that serious about making any changes anyway. Might be like going after Joe last year which led to getting him this year. May go after Bogut in the off-season if he's ready for a back-up role

[Xiao Yao You]

It was one game, whoever wrote that article wrote one of the most idiotic pieces of Jazz news I've ever read

And I've also been hearing $20mil a year for Hill atm. Someone is going to lay him that, and that'll be the largest contract he's ever going to get

He was my least favorite Jazz writer before I found that purple and blues site. Those guys are bad as well. Calling Hood/Favors/Hayward their big 3 earlier in the year might be the worst thing I've seen but the guy has been a Hood homer all year. The slcdunk guy writes like he doesn't watch games but just looks at the advanced stats.

Be another big off-season for the Jazz with 3 of their 4 best players free agents. Hayward could opt in though.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Tim MacMahon: Source: George Hill has been advised he can get much better deal this summer than what Jazz can offer now. @Aaron Falk reports talks dead.

[WayOfWad3]

Better defender and doesn't need the ball in his hands. Hood was made for a 6th man role where he can have the ball in his hands and just look to score.

I think people are assuming Bogut will go to the Cavs but he has a ring and it sounds like he wants to be guaranteed a role. He may not like his role on the Cavs as much as elsewhere. Not sure the Jazz are that serious about making any changes anyway. Might be like going after Joe last year which led to getting him this year. May go after Bogut in the off-season if he's ready for a back-up role
Yeah, if he wants more then he can go elsewhere. If Hill leaves in the summer, Jazz could go after both Deron and Bogut to fill any holes the roster will have. Bogut having a ring though does change things

[WayOfWad3]

He was my least favorite Jazz writer before I found that purple and blues site. Those guys are bad as well. Calling Hood/Favors/Hayward their big 3 earlier in the year might be the worst thing I've seen but the guy has been a Hood homer all year. The slcdunk guy writes like he doesn't watch games but just looks at the advanced stats.

Be another big off-season for the Jazz with 3 of their 4 best players free agents. Hayward could opt in though.
Hood/Favors as part of the big three?! That's hilarious, not even close. Even you've known since 2015 any "Big 3" would by default have Gobert, and Rodney/Favors had already shown to be injury prone. Good Jazz articles are tough to come by today, even David Locke called Hayward the best player in the Wizards game where Gobert went for 15/20/4

[Xiao Yao You]

Hood/Favors as part of the big three?! That's hilarious, not even close. Even you've known since 2015 any "Big 3" would by default have Gobert, and Rodney/Favors had already shown to be injury prone. Good Jazz articles are tough to come by today, even David Locke called Hayward the best player in the Wizards game where Gobert went for 15/20/4

That article was when Hill was averaging 20 + points a game early on too.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]To clear a roster spot for Bogut, the Cavs will have to waive someone, and may do so Wednesday so that player can be eligible for the playoffs with a different team. The Cavs will likely waive either Jordan McRae or DeAndre Liggins, two young players whom they did not draft that are making about $1 million a piece this season.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Chris Haynes: Jose Calderon will still able to latch on with another contending team. Golden State exercising goodwill by honoring contract agreement.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Albert Nahmad: For Gordon Hayward, All-NBA could cause him to consider exercising his $16.7M player option to qualify for DVPE extension this summer.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Sirius XM NBA: David Falk on one-and-done and the lack of maturity those athletes have:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: Warriors had feared they could have had to start playoffs without Durant, but there

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Chris Haynes: Washington, who must waive a player for arrival of Brandon Jennings, still hasn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Perhaps Deron Williams could be a decent summer fallback plan for the Jazz if things don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.espn.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/30489/how-much-is-george-hill-worth-to-the-jazz

[QUOTE]Hill just might become a max player this summer. That has been the advice given to Hill, league sources told ESPN, which is why he declined the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: China MVP, Jimmer Fredette, playing for Shanghai in playoffs, starting to engage NBA teams on March return. He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/01/emptying-the-noggin-unprecedented-shooting-night-puts-thunder-over-jazz/


The trades for McDermott and Gibson completely change the Thunder. They are a ton better than they were previously. They have no gaps other than at backup point guard.

Amazing what a team can do with cap space and they had less than half of what the Jazz had to use


George Hill played 38 minutes tonight and in the 10 minutes he was off the floor, the Jazz played Dante Exum and Alec Burks at point guard and the Jazz were -13 in those minutes.

How about Mack who was so good for them last year or Neto who would seem to be the best fit despite his lack of length? Chalmers?


Alec Burks had 13 points and it was his first time in double figures in six games.

First time he's played much. He needs to play. They have no one else like him

[QUOTE]if the Thunder are going to hit 12 straight threes and 16 of 23 overall, then it isn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43340387&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-thunder


Give Hayward credit for holding onto the ball far more frequently this year too: he's turned his average from 2.5 turnovers per game to 1.9. Certainly more spacing this season has certainly helped, but Hayward's holding onto the ball in big situations this season.



He's turned it over several times down the stretch

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674556/With-a-healthy-team-Jazz-cant-find-any-time-for-Trey-Lyles.html

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674560/Jazz-matchup-to-watch-Rudy-Gobert-vs-Karl-Anthony-Towns.html

Rudy's got the best of him so far

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4995153-155/monson-where-have-you-gone-derrick


Derrick Favors paused, but not for long, as he considered the answer to a question that was posed to him shortly after he arrived in Salt Lake City, as the other end of a trade that sent Deron Williams packing: Can you be a 20-and-10 guy for the Utah Jazz?

The young power forward, a No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft, looked up and said: "I can be that if that's what the Jazz want me to be."

He's never looked like that even before Rudy emerged. I remember Locke predicted Favors would be one of the best rebounders in the league the year Rudy took over for Kanter.


His contract was extended, for a span that brought him security but also was for an amount south of market value.

He's highly overpaid at the moment


That deal runs out next season, when he will become a free agent. And that's likely what he'll do: test the market.

He will be eligible for an extension. If he plays well they may be able to trade him somewhere where he will agree to an extension. His future doesn't look to be with the Jazz past next season even if he returns to form


Can Derrick Favors be Derrick Favors again?

That's the big question. Hopefully for the Jazz he can be so they can get a good return for him


Whether the Jazz's decision not to extend Favors now is due to the fact that they no longer believe in him, no longer trust him, no longer prioritize him, or, rather, that they wish to send a signal to him that he must prove himself, his soundness, his health, his fortitude to be re-signed is a mystery. Or, is it that Favors, himself, has doubts about the Jazz, how they plan to use him, how much they're willing and able to pay him? With NBA salaries rising, he's certainly interested in seeing what other suitors will offer, beyond whatever it is that the Jazz are/will be/won't be willing to do.

He'd be stupid not to take the extension. The Jazz would have been stupid to give him one. Next year may be a different story


it seems unlikely that the Jazz can keep them all, unless the luxury tax is paid. And the only time it's smart to do that is if you're in authentic contention for a championship.

makes sense if more playoff games pay for whatever tax you are paying regardless of championship contention

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/3/1/14779472/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-schedule-gordon-hayward-boris-diaw-downbeat-2044

[QUOTE]If the Jazz are

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/01/utah-jazz-free-agency-george-hill-seeking-max/


But the issue is with a small market team committing to $80 million annually to Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and George Hill with extensions coming up for Rodney Hood, Dante Exum and Trey Lyles. Additionally, no one should ignore the impact Joe Ingles is having on the season, and he is also a free agent.

Ideally you don't overpay anyone so you can trade them down the road if you have to. Obviously there's no guarantees there as guys get hurt etc. But right now Exum and Lyles aren't anyone you worry about. Would be great to keep Hood but I think someone will pay him a lot more than he is worth. You probably look to trade him eventually unless Hayward and/or Hill leave. Ingles they need to keep hopefully.


Utah will have to pay into the tax if they want to continue to contend in the upper echelon of the Western Conference.

not necessarily

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/01/utah-jazz-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-keys-game

[QUOTE]Rubio is a solid passer and playmaker, he

[Xiao Yao You]

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has recalled forward Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Tonight would be a great game to give Bolomboy a shot

[Xiao Yao You]

Marc Stein: Jose Calderon and Andrew Bogut have cleared waivers, according to league sources

[Xiao Yao You]

George Hill isn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]David Locke: Kevin Durant Grade 2 MCL sprain same as Rudy Gobert last year. Missed 5 weeks but more importantly was never comfortable again all season

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Rodney Hood (sore right knee) will not play tonight.

[Xiao Yao You]

Though the split between the Jazz and Williams was sore and highly publicized, MacMahon said Williams still loves Utah, and would prefer to end his playing career in Salt Lake City as a member of the Jazz.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Jazz were one, offering Williams a homecoming to the place he played his first five-and-a-half seasons. There was mild surprise on that front

[Xiao Yao You]

David Locke: Jazz announce that Rodney Hood is out for tomorrow night v. Brooklyn

[Xiao Yao You]

Spencer Checketts: Quin Snyder:

[Xiao Yao You]

Center Rudy Gobert said the Jazz need to toughen up. It was clear they still had a bad loss hangover after falling 109-106 to the Thunder in Oklahoma City the previous night.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674662/Utah-Jazz-will-soon-pass-the-taste-test.html


George Hill has been a strong addition to the Jazz this year, while Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson have had their moments. Among the young acquisitions in recent years, Rodney Hood impresses me, Trey Lyles baffles me and Dante Exum tantalizes me.

But none of the recent Jazz moves comes close to being as important as the following:

(a) The Miller family establishing a legacy trust to ensure the team stays in Utah.

(b) The announcement that Vivint Arena is dramatically upgrading its food services.

The legacy thing is obviously big especially if it means they will go intom the luxury tax but food? :rolleyes:

[Xiao Yao You]

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/5010486-155/jazz-shootaround-quin-snyder-dislikes-dant

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5001904-155/utah-jazz-nothing-good-to-say


"Tonight we were probably the worst team I ever seen," the Utah Jazz center said. "It's just about us. Just be ready, come out and have some balls."

:lol Surprised they printed that!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43350837&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-timberwolves


Look, nobody on the Jazz was good tonight. Even Dante Exum, who put up the Jazz's best stat line, made many mistakes.

Was probably the best game of his career by far! So if he was not good why is he in the rotation? He needs to play with that kind of energy all the time. I'm not sure if he has it in him. He's natural passive. It's taken Ingles until he was 30 not to be so layed back on the court. I could live with Exum missing shots and fouling if he was getting after it like young guys should do.


Lyles finished with three points, no rebounds, one assist, and one turnover on 1-6 shooting in 20 minutes tonight. Defensively, he was overaggressive, and not good, but maybe that's the right idea in a game where everyone else seems to be sleepwalking.

But offensively, he just has to take better shots. I get that the shotclock is winding down here, but Lyles' pumpfake isn't at all convincing here, then he passes up an open Joe Johnson in the corner for a floating layup thing that is a really hard look.

Thought he made a couple of nice passes. The time on the bench had him at least trying to play the right way. He just doesn't know how. D-league!


the Jazz need him to be better so that they don't have to give up an asset when they trade him this summer for salary cap space

Maybe you mean Joe Johnson? Burks is certainly very tradable

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-030317/

[QUOTE]So why does everybody still discount Gordon Hayward, even at the acme of his career thus far? Probably because he

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/3/3/14803398/ncaa-march-madness-nba-draft-2017-utah-jazz-gordon-hayward-cleveland-cavaliers-golden-state-warriors


25. Jazz: Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse | Sophomore

He's a good shooter at 6'10", and for a good team, he's worth an investment as a stretch–four project to help off the bench.

they already have two


30. Jazz: Josh Hart, G, Villanova | Senior

Four-year senior, not great at anything, good at everything. Extremely Jazz.

that does sound like more their type of guy


I don’t know if another 6’10 face up stretch big or a guard named J. Hart move the needle for us ravenous Jazz fans.

Who will late in the 1st round?


23. Jazz: Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany | Age 18

The Jazz don't have any real needs right now, which gives them flexibility to either take a project or to find a player who can fit into the rotation some way.

While Hartenstein might be the least ready of the 4s we've ranked, there is a high ceiling with him. There aren't many 7-footers with his combination of athleticism, elite skill level and motor. He can be volatile, but he should be worth a gamble at this stage of the draft.

Plays the 3 at 7'? They do have a couple two contracts to give to projects next year


30. Jazz (Via Warriors): Luke Kennard, G, Duke | Sophomore

Elite shooting will always be a long-term need, and Kennard has a claim to being the best shooter in the draft.

Might be a fit. You have to remember almost the whole team may be different next year if they pay Haywrd, Hill and Ingles!


because the Utah Jazz have so many free agents (Gordon Hayward, George Hill, Boris Diaw (non-guaranteed), Shelvin Mack, Joe Ingles, Jeff Withey, Raul Neto (non-guaranteed)), they may elect to keep two guys if they can be rotation players. But my idea is to trade one of them in a package to make more room to re-sign Hill, Ingles, and Hayward -- in that order.

First rounders, even at the end of the first round, are guaranteed contracts. Utah’s GM Dennis Lindsey may see more benefit to having cap space than having another low ceiling project.

Can still trade them after the draft and you see how free agency goes. The Jazz will still have their cap space to use at the draft too. Might be a big non guaranteed contract they could take on.

Center would seem to be the place of need. Lyles and Bolomboy don't appear to be more than small ball centers at best despite their length and size

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/03/were-utah-jazz-too-conservative-around-trade-deadline/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/02/nba-rumors-deron-williams-looking-finish-career-utah-jazz/

[QUOTE] Many feel that Williams

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/01/utah-jazz-rolled-karl-anthony-towns-t-wolves/


Former Jazz draftee (and guy we maybe wish the Jazz had kept instead of moving him for Trey Burke) Shabazz Muhammad chipped in with 18 points off the bench.

Could we stop with this kind of talk? These trades are generally made before they pick. If the trade doesn't happen we have no idea who the Jazz pick. Probably a different pg. Dieng is the guy they probably wish they had

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/01/utah-jazz-kevin-durant-injury-gordon-hayward/


Now the interesting part of the discussion happens if KD misses the rest of the season. Does 59 games out of 82 earn you an All-NBA spot?

Can't see Hayward making it over Durant. Jazz better hope not


, it could work out in favor of both Hayward and the Jazz.

The Jazz paying Hayward 30-35% of the cap isn't in their favor. Will hamstring the team much like AK did.

[Xiao Yao You]

Sean Cunningham: Garrett Temple says he

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5013951-155/monson-jazz-gm-dennis-lindsey-offers


Exactly where Gordon Hayward ranks in the pantheon of NBA stars is arguable, but one thing is not: He is the Jazz's top player

How can you say it's not arguable. I can see thinking Hayward is the best but to say it's not arguable?


Just think, if you dare, what the Jazz would be in the seasons ahead if Hayward, an unrestricted free agent in-waiting, were to sign somewhere else. Everybody panic. Not only would the Jazz lose their leader, there likely would be a negative snowball effect. If Hayward didn't re-sign, George Hill, another free agent, might not re-sign, and if neither Hayward or Hill stayed, where would that leave the Jazz engine then?

I worry more about giving him 30-35% of the cap to keep him and having nothing left to put a team around him and Gobert.


He recognizes when the time came to add the veterans, we did so

No you didn't. That should have happened more than two years ago when Gobert emerged. The tanking should have stopped than. And even now you have big holes in the roster while not spending the cap space. I wouldn't blame Hayward for going to Boston or elsewhere where they will be all in.


We don't care if Rudy Gobert turns into Hakeem Olajuwon. We just want him to be the best version of Rudy Gobert that he can be.

too bad Tag didn't get that treatment


There's only 90 to 100 possessions in a game, you can only divide that up so many ways.

Which is one reason Hood and Favors(unless he is really back as it appeared last game) need to come off the bench.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5011264-155/utah-jazz-vintage-derrick-favors-performance

If he's really back which I doubt at this point they could be a totally different team. His performance was a lot bigger than Hill's as far as I'm concerned.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674878/Utah-Jazz-help-themselves-get-some-help-in-playoff-race.html


Hood missed the past two games with right knee soreness, while Johnson sat out Friday's win over Brooklyn with a mild left groin strain.

At least they get to pay everyone more money with their excess cap space!

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674821/Jazz-notes-Quin-Snyder-reluctant-to-give-progress-report-on-Dante-Exum.html

[QUOTE]It

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/04/speed-kills-utah-jazzs-dante-exum-shown-signs-brilliance/


Dante Exum, the former number five overall pick in 2014, has shown a lot of improvement in his third season. To me, he has shown signs of stardom.

I'm more hopeful he won't be a complete bust and can be a rotation player but he's a long ways from being a star

[QUOTE]He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/04/are-the-utah-jazz-meeting-expectations/

no

[QUOTE]Unfortunately the next man up philosophy hasn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/04/utah-jazz-northwest-division-comparison-march/

The division title still means absolutely nothing!

[Xiao Yao You]

Sean Cunningham: Tyreke Evans out for Kings for planned rest. Garrett Temple probable to play vs Utah.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Dave Joerger knew Rudy Gobert, the hero of Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43395092&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-kings


the Jazz opt not to foul. That's an interesting decision on its own, but the Kings' dutifully waste time until Hill comes up with a steal with 16 seconds left.

it worked out but I still think you foul. Even with the steal a lot of time was wasted. Didn't understand that call at all


the Kings run this inbounds play with Willie Cauley-Stein to set a screen for Lawson, which then Hayward denies. Afflalo has to inbound the ball to WCS, but then Ingles can just foul the second-worst free throw shooter on the Kings. Why is Cauley-Stein even in this play? Just have someone else set the screen!

yeah that was a bad call too it would seem. Maybe because the Kings are still trying to figure things out? Cousins would have been in there before and he is a good free throw shooter if nothing else. He hit some down the stretch of their win against the Jazz


The Jazz definitely take over five seconds to inbound the ball on the game tying play. It's not called, despite a short 5-second call given earlier.

thought the same thing! Maybe because it was the last play of the game they let it go?


the Kings go super early to get Cauley-Stein an incredible near-dunk that was a few inches away from being one of the best posters of all time.

great effort from Rudy! :bowdown:


Hill forces an incredibly tough jumper which he airballs.

He also took way too much time to get a tough shot up. He played horribly down the stretch after such a great game.


I wonder if the Jazz's injuries on the wings are hurting them here. Hill has his nagging toe injury, and Hood said today that his knee injury may bother him all season long.

Great! Hill, Favors and Hill will be hurting all year long. Please move Hood and Favors to the bench. Makes too much sense. Not exactly sure who starts for Favors but do it. Put in whoever has played the best with their 4 best players rather it be Diaw or Johnson or whoever.


Both Hill and Hood have great length,

Hood's length is short for his height and less than Dante, Hill, Burks and Ingles I believe as well as Wallace on the Stars. Hayward is the same as Hood I think.


Exum couldn't shoot at all,

What's new?


the good news is that the Pelicans have such bad guards that it shouldn't be much of a problem. It may be in the future, though.

Hard to believe they didn't think they needed any help!. How about playing Neto when others aren't getting it done? He was dressed I think. Mack sprained his ankle in warm-ups.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Virtually any team with cap space should pursue Hayward, but considering his desire to contend for a title, it

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]February offered a glimpse of what Hayward could be: He scored 25.5 points on 18.1 shots per game (both career-highs for a month) with an effective field goal percentage of 58 (the third-most efficient scoring month of his career). I asked Hayward at All-Star Weekend if he

[Xiao Yao You]

https://theringer.com/while-you-werent-looking-gordon-hayward-became-amazing-abb2d361c744#.fv057wrv3

[QUOTE]Hayward has gotten himself to where he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has recalled forward Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz

[WayOfWad3]

If it's really all about winning like he says the Celtics are probably a better situation. They will go all in to win titles. Something we have yet to see in Utah. They may reget not getting some of the Celtics assets for him. May be able to do a sign and trade for something but not much I imagine. Just some contracts that the Celtics want to get rid of anyway.
I agree. If he's about winning, then Boston is the place for him to go. If he doesn't go there I'll be a little shocked seeing as the odds of winning a title here in Utah are much less (unless the super team breaks up after 2 years). Celtics have the team and the cap space ready, more so than the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

I agree. If he's about winning, then Boston is the place for him to go. If he doesn't go there I'll be a little shocked seeing as the odds of winning a title here in Utah are much less (unless the super team breaks up after 2 years). Celtics have the team and the cap space ready, more so than the Jazz

and they'll go deep into the luxury tax to win

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]David Locke: Jazz will be without George Hill (toe soreness) Joe Johnson (groin) and Shelvin Mack (sprained ankle) tonight v. Pelicans

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674931/Morning-links-Gobert-earns-stat-line-of-the-night-Bryce-Cotton-carries-Perth-Wildcats-to-Aussie.html


The fact that New Orleans can go big with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins probably means fewer minutes at stretch four for Joe Ingles

Why? I can see Joe bothering Davis at one end and hitting 3's on him at the other

[QUOTE]And while George Hill has been huge for Utah this year the

[Xiao Yao You]

Brad Turner: Clippers assign rookie Brice Johnson to D-League in Salt Lake City. This will be Johnson

[Xiao Yao You]

By the time you read this, Joel Bolomboy could be a member of the Utah Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5026023-155/utah-jazz-to-make-a-playoff


If the Jazz are to make a run in the postseason, they are going to need a healthy Rodney Hood in the lineup. Coach Quin Snyder said as much Monday night after Utah held off New Orleans. The statistics offer further proof.

Hood, the Jazz's starting shooting guard, has played in 45 games this season. The Jazz are 31-14 when he's in uniform and 9-10 when he sits.

They need everyone healthy because they are are thin thanks to the front office


On the tail end of a back-to-back against the Pelicans, Snyder elevated Joe Ingles to the starting lineup and placed Hood on a minute restriction.

need to keep it that way


Why is Hood so important to Utah's offense? He offers all-star forward Gordon Hayward protection as a second scorer and creative force. When Hood is out of the lineup, teams can key on Hayward. And when Hood is out of the lineup, the Jazz don't have a primary scorer on the floor to lead the second unit when Hayward is taking a rest.

Hill? Burks? He's important because they need more guys that can play nor necessarily score.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5022328-155/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-shines-in


"No, no. They're great players," Gobert said with a smirk when asked if he was out to prove anything on the court Monday night. "I wasn't an All-Star, so I'm not as great."

I wouldn't trade either of them for Rudy. AD is soft and Cousins is an idiot.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5026073-155/utah-jazz-mailbag-is-gobert-or


Utah's plan is to keep rising through the Western Conference while others are seeing windows close.

the Jazz window may close this year


The Jazz have upside. Gordon Hayward is 26. while Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood are 24. Dante Exum and Trey Lyles are 21. Derrick Favors is 25.

1 is a free agent. Hood will be in another year. Lyles and Exum haven't proven they belong in the league. Favors may be done?


I think free agents will want to play with someone like him.

how will they pay them?


The Grizzlies are so much like the Jazz and have one of the few players in the league in Marc Gasol, who is kryptonite to Gobert.

he shut him down the first game

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675068/Even-the-Jazz-cant-avoid-NBA-trend-of-resting-players.html

[QUOTE]When NBA blogger Zach Harper tweeted Monday that Favors had been stuffed on dunks more than anyone in the league, Favors replied,

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675036/Joel-Bolomboy-The-6-foot-9-NBA-office-temp.html


Bolomboy, a 2016 second-round draft pick from Weber State, is a work in progress. The Jazz reason that he has more to gain on the floor with the Stars than on the bench with the Jazz.

Why does this not apply to Lyles and Exum?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43407013&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-pelicans


I think 10 or 20 years ago, a center like Gobert would have been put on a diet to put on some weight to deal with big men of Cousins' size. After all, Cousins is a bully at 270, and Gobert weighs just 250 despite being three inches taller. But the NBA figured out that weight isn't all that useful, actually, not compared to length and athleticism

They are putting muscle on him


Of course, the Jazz's offense didn't work well for long this game. Two things happened. First, the Jazz had to make substitutions. Alec Burks, Raul Neto, and Boris Diaw are just not as much of an offensive threat as the players they replace in the lineup.

Neto could be a better offensive threat than Exum if given the chance. Burks has been better than all but a couple guys on the team when given the chance himself. Diaw and Favors may be a wash.


That's why the Jazz so frequently go to the small lineup at the end of games: once teams make adjustments to help more, the easiest way to nullify that adjustment is to space it out so that the help is too far away. Without Johnson or Hill, that's impossible, though.

they're deep or they aren't?


Given the Jazz's salary situation, I imagine that the Jazz's interest in Hill essentially ended once the Pelicans offered him a four year contract worth more than $5 million per year, let alone $12 million.

instead they gave 22 million to Johnson

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/07/amid-utah-jazzs-success-dennis-lindseys-former-mantra-holds-true/


The current roster has been masterfully built.

yet they have big holes and 14 million in cap space

[Xiao Yao You]

Several teams had already inquired about high-scoring guard Lou Williams and offered draft picks. At least one of those offers (from the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz) included a first-round pick. Why, Jeanie Buss asked, were the Lakers waiting? Johnson couldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675110/Morning-links-Woj-lobbies-for-Dennis-Lindsey-as-Executive-of-the-Year-Ziggy-Ansah-launches.html


how well they drafted, how well they develop their guys. Rudy Gobert in the late-20s they drafted, Rodney Hood, early-20s.

Missed with Burke, Kanter and possibly Exum and Lyles. Probably a good thing they traded Hill even if they only get one year out of him.


Quin Snyder, which was a genius hire by Dennis Lindsey. He knew Quin, he knew what Quin could be, he knew how terrific of a teacher and a leader and knew the tough route that Quin had taken since Missouri and all the things he had learned going to Russia, and the D-League and an assistant and Quin's becoming an elite coach in the league.

not seeing it sorry

So what did any of that do with this year's Executive of the Year? Hill was a great move unless he leaves. Diaw was a horrible trade. On the hook for 11 million next year with Johnson. Have big holes in the roster and money unspent. Off hand I'd say Toronto's GM easily. Not sure they had holes to fill and he stacked their deck without 14 million in cap space!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/8/14849762/utah-jazz-houston-rockets-game-preview-james-harden-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-kawhi-leonard-lebron


Utah will be short-handed once again as Derrick Favors will be out due to knee soreness. At the time of this writing, George Hill (toe) and Joe Johnson (groin strain) are questionable. Shelvin Mack, who has been out of the rotation as of late, is also out with an ankle sprain. This means it may come down to Dante Exum and Raul Neto to run the point for the Jazz should Hill be ruled out.

Usually shorthanded even when Favors plays

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/08/utah-jazz-injury-woes-strike


it seems highly unlikely that it will be fully healed and ready to go by the start of the playoffs

It's been an issue since last off-season so will it ever get better at this point?

[QUOTE]Joe Johnson has proven vital to this team

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Cavs could waive an additional player

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Sam Amick: DeMarcus Cousins fined $50k by NBA for inappropriate language toward fans in games v. Lakers on Sunday & Pelicans

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Marc Stein: Free Agency news: League sources say swingman Omri Casspi is about a week or so away from clearance and drawing interest from playoff teams.

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Joe Ingles on Rudy Gobert:

[Xiao Yao You]

David Locke: George Hill and Derrick Favors are listed as questionable. Shelvin Mack is out

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675185/BYU-international-basketball-tracker-Jimmer-Fredette-ends-season-with-50-point-game-Plaisted-lands.html

[QUOTE]While the Chinese season has ended for Jimmer Fredette

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675279/Seldom-used-players-get-chance-to-contribute-for-Jazz.html


With Derrick Favors out with his injured knee, Withey provided some nice backup minutes for Rudy Gobert. He contributed four points and five rebounds.

May have been Snyder's greatest move in the past two years. Withey should have been playing ahead of Lyles the whole time. Still waiting for him to pull out the corner 3 he was supposed to be working on.

Neto needs to play. He's a perfect role guy. You will get the same effort from him every night. Exum has had a couple games where I thought he brought it. I'd be ok with Mack too but I think ultimately Neto might be the better fit for how they want to play.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675136/John-Stockton-named-to-College-Basketball-Hall-of-Fames-2017-class.html

:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5036119-155/utah-jazz-does-gordon-hayward-deserve
[QUOTE]
Hayward rolled an ankle late in his team's win Wednesday over the Houston Rockets, but said he does not believe the injury will be an issue Saturday at Oklahoma City.

"I rolled it a little bit," said Hayward, who had to briefly come out of the game. "I wanted to go out and re-tape it and worry about it after the game, but I needed to get out. It was bugging me.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5031414-155/utah-jazz-balanced-effort-leads-to


Johnson started at power forward for the first time this season and came up with big buckets, especially late in the contest.

Time to start both Joes'.


Both units would be better off

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/09/breakdown-quin-snyder-has-found-powerful-big-man-options/


Favors and Gobert are the #1 defensive 2 man line-up in the NBA.

In limited minutes though. He staggers their minutes. Same with Hood. Might as well stagger them to start the game. Makes more sense to have Favors as Rudy's back-up. When the match-ups call for it or Favors has more hopt to his step you can bring him in earlier and play him more.


After the all-star break Quin Snyder moved Joe Johnson to the 4 as his exclusive position. A move Snyder has been waiting to make all season, but with the injuries to Burks and Hood coupled with the need to play Trey Lyles and Boris Diaw was unavailable until now.

What need? Lyles can play in the D-league and Diaw can sit on the bench.


The one problem for the Jazz has been that when Derrick Favors has been at the 5 with Joe Johnson at the 4 the defense has been terrible. This is a bit surprising, but with Favors battling injuries he has not been able to do peak Derrick Favors defensive things this season.

The problem is everyone looks good surrounded by Hayward, Gobert and Hill.
Favors has never been the rim protecter he's been made out to be. I think against 2nd units you can get by with him. Start Joe. Bring Favors off the bench. Might have the same problem with whoever replaces Joe. Give Bolomboy a shot!


If Favors gets healthier it is possible this lineup could be good defensively switching all picks.

which won't be this year

[QUOTE]Diaw isn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/09/emptying-the-noggin-the-jazz-never-blinked/

[QUOTE]By playing no point guard, James Harden had to guard someone. When Dante was on the floor, he just camped out on Dante and didn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43428008&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-rockets

[QUOTE]Maybe the most interesting quotes given postgame were from Quin Snyder about Johnson playing the four.

Defensively, he can guard bigger guys. He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43446257&nid=294&title=rudy-goberts-step-forward-difficult-schedule-coming-up-for-jazz


if they come, I just kick it to the corner."

Gotten good at that recently


Two years ago, dude was hilarious to watch," Ingles said.

2 years ago he made the team competitive. They were hilarious before that or sad depending on if you are behind a tanking team.


I feel more and more confident," he said.

I think that's the main difference. I thought once he got confident he'd contribute more offensively like he did defensively once it started to click


"I wouldn't even call that foul trouble, I'd call that undisciplined," Snyder said.

yet you will keep playing him :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-031017/

[QUOTE]Should Utah stay ahead of the Thunder, the NW Division title would help them in a secondary tiebreak situation with the Clips, but that

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/11/14891736/nba-playoffs-2017-history-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-mark-eaton-kareem-abdul-jabbar-dikembe-mutombo

[QUOTE]What about 1000 / 1000 / 200?

Yeah, that

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/10/14890992/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-chicago-bulls-dante-exum-george-hill-ron-harper-gordon-hayward-gobert


But where he really shines is on-the-ball defense.

constant foul trouble is shining?


I have no doubt he could start in the NBA right now.

I do. He could be out of the league in a couple of years. He just doesn't play with the fire you need at this level, Europe or Australia may be his future if he doesn't step it up.

[QUOTE]Dante is a slow growth stock at this point. The returns haven

[Xiao Yao You]

http://fansided.com/2017/03/09/dante-exum-next-generation/

[QUOTE]Exum is already flirting with being branded a

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/10/utah-jazz-quin-snyder-high-praise-joes-recent-interview/

[QUOTE]In fact, Coach Snyder went as far as to say that Ingles has become Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/10/utah-jazz-at-oklahoma-city-thunder-keys-to-the-game/2/

[QUOTE]I wouldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/10/are-the-utah-jazz-headed-for-an-offseason-shakeup/


The Jazz already have nearly $74 million committed to the 2017-18 season alone, which only leaves about $28 million to get to the salary cap and about $39.5 million to the luxury tax threshold.

So 40 million for 3 of their top 4 players if Hayward opts out. Most of that would go to Hayward. So obviously there will be big changes unless Hayward opts in.


With Gordon Hayward and George Hill expected to command over $50 million per year (and not to mention Joe Ingles‘ next contract), the Jazz need to find a way to keep them locked up long term and still have enough money to work with Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, and Trey Lyles‘ expiring rookie deals.

Don't think you worry about those young guys. You pay your best guys while not over paying them so they will be tradable down the road if Dante, Lyles, Bolonboy or Wallace emerges down the line. I think Hood will be unaffordable for what he brings.


Allowing only Mack and Withey to walk won’t cut it, the Jazz need even more space. The next contracts to go would be Boris Diaw and Alec Burksand unloading those contracts would free up an extra $18 million.

I think Johnson goes before Burks. He's an old man. He only has so much left in him. Johnson is looking like a tradable piece now at least.


Barring an unexpected breakout from Burks

Why is it unexpected? He's been pounding the glass. Almost had a double double. He's putting up points and getting to the line in limited minutes while trying to change his game to fit the team. You forget he's already put up 15 a game in the league off the bench and is what 25? I think he might not be the best fit for the team ultimately but his contract is a bargain if he's healthy and I think his best ball is still ahead of him. Hood will get a lot more money and while they like him more I don't think he brings as much to the table overall.


Diaw’s contract has a clause that says if the Jazz waive him by July 15th they won’t have to pay him his $7.5 million for next season. That works out pretty conveniently in case the Jazz can’t find a taker for Diaw on the trade market.

He's gone. If they were going to trade him it was at the deadline. Maybe sign him to a minimum deal later for an end of the bench role


So with renouncing the rights to Jeff Withey, Shelvin Mack, and unloading Diaw and Burks, the Jazz still only have $57.8 million to hand out to Hill/Hayward/Ingles before hitting the luxury tax. Is that the best they can do with Exum, Hood, and Lyles’ pending free agency?

That may be about just enough depending on if Hayward makes the all-NBA team. Johnson makes a but more than Burks. But than you have to fill out the rest of the roster which could be at 17 next year!


There were rumblings of a Derrick Favors trade coming soon, but I believe getting a healthy, 100 percent Derrick will only help a Jazz team already on pace for 50-plus wins.

I'd guess they'll go into the season with Favors if they think he will return to form and than trade him later to someone with cap space for assets and cheaper contracts


While it’s good that the Jazz run two or three deep at every position, that luxury could very well come to an end next season.

Which is why it's hard to understand them having 14 million in cap space and doing nothing with it. This year may have been their best shot to do something.

I think you keep Hayward, Hill and Ingles at the right price and don't worry about the rest. I don't think Hayward is worth 30-35% of the cap. Not sure Hill is worth the max he expects either. Had heard 20 million for him which sounds a lot better. Ingles at 10 I've seen. Hayward is supposed to be all about winning so you hope he takes a bit more than other teams can pay him and not expect the full max. May be able to do that and still fill out the roster on the cheap.

[Xiao Yao You]

https://16winsaring.com/utah-jazz-at-a-crossroads-d4e557955668#.e826majph

[QUOTE]Diaw

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2696799-the-biggest-x-factor-for-every-2017-nba-playoff-contender

Looking more like Joe Johnson

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2696228-nba-free-agency-2017-an-early-look-at-each-teams-top-potential-targets


Shaun Livingston enters the equation if the Jazz can remain far enough under the luxury tax to brandish the full mid-level exception. He won't leave the Warriors if given the choice, but they'll have some ridiculously hard calls to make as they try to fit Stephen Curry's and Kevin Durant's new deals onto their tab.

Not a great fit assuming they have any money to pay guys other than minimum deals. They want guys that shoot 3's


Terrence Jones won't be giving discounts this summer, but he jells with the Jazz's bigger picture.

not the best fit and he was cut because of some issue not because of the trade so that makes him very unlikely in Utah where they only like boy scouts

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/09/utah-jazz-should-give-joel-bolomboy-chance-prove-himself/

[QUOTE] Since I

[Xiao Yao You]

Aldridge, Durant and Love all out and the Jazz with 14 million in cap space.

:rant

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim MacMahon: Jazz PG George Hill (toe) plans to play vs. the Thunder. Derrick Favors (knee) is out.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Tim MacMahon: Rudy Gobert, who sat today due to right leg soreness, says he expects to play Monday against DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers.

[Xiao Yao You]

Great run by the bench especially Dante, Neto, Burks and Bolomboy. He should have brought Ingles or Hill in earlier and they may have won.

Bolomboy got out muscled at times like I figured he would but he did a solid job despite some obvious nerves. Give him some more run!

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Favors was examined Saturday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing, the results of which showed a bone contusion on his left knee. In order to allow the injury proper time to heal, he will continue to receive treatment and will be reevaluated later this week. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Derrick Favors underwent an MRI and has been diagnosed with a bone contusion in his left knee. He is out tomorrow night

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/11/emptying-the-noggin-despite-a-nice-rally-jazzs-game-against-the-thunder-was-never-close/


This game ended before it started when the Jazz announced they would be without Gobert and Favors facing the Oklahoma City Thunder

I thought they were deep? That's why the GM stood pat despite 14 million in cap space!


Favors and Gobert not playing decided the game.

Pretty sure their record is pretty good this year without Favors. Let's not act like he's as importance as their franchise player


Andre Roberson does as good a job defensively on Gordon Hayward as anyone in the NBA.

But Hayward is a star and needs to show up in big games when they need him most

[QUOTE]Without Gobert, there was no rim-roll pressure on the rim, so when the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43462520&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-thunder


I'm torn on whether or not to give Bolomboy the minutes that usually have been played by Lyles. On one hand, Bolomboy probably can't play worse than Lyles has recently. On the other hand, maybe you hope Lyles can play himself out of his funk by playoff time.

The D-league is there for a reason! Bolomboy has done his work down there already and it showed Saturday. I say he's earned a shot. He still needs to work in the weight room but the Jazz need a big besides Rudy that can play. Lyles has to learn to play with teammates. They've obviously told him this but he's thinking too much about it when he's in the game now. He needs to go to the Stars and lead them to wins not just by scoring like in Summer League but by leading the team in every aspect as their best player.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5046567-155/utah-jazz-from-the-locker-room


"We missed him, especially on the defensive end," shooting guard Alec Burks said after the Jazz's 112-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday afternoon. "Rudy is a game changer. Everybody knows that. So you miss him when he ain't out there."

Still makes me wonder how good they could play now if everyone was 100% but Rudy. Last year they sucked though Withey only played when Favors was out as well so we didn't get a fair look then either.


It is, admittedly, the smallest of sample sizes. And the Jazz were also without starting power forward Derrick Favors, himself a solid defender, against a bruising Thunder frontline of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter.

"This was probably the worst game to miss both of them," Jazzman Joe Ingles said. "We needed one of them."

Favors isn't a great defender without Rudy next to him. Doubt he would have made a difference. Withey couldn't stop them!


it might actually help highlight Gobert's case for Defensive Player of the Year, as voters pick from among a field of candidates headlined by Golden State's Draymond Green, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and the Jazz's own French Rejection.

As well as MVP and all-NBA. Makes Hayward and Snyder not look as great as they are hyped to be either.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5041876-155/utah-jazz-notes-russell-westbrooks-triple-double?page=2


Center Rudy Gobert and Joel Bolomboy have been nominated for the 2017 Governor's State of Sport Awards for the top male pro or Olympian and top male collegiate athlete, respectively.

:applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5042161-155/utah-jazz-dante-exum-scores-a


Gobert is expected to undergo a precautionary MRI on Sunday and hopes to be ready for the Jazz's game Monday against the Clippers.

Guess they didn't like the MRI. He said he would play. Now he's questionable.


Jazz forward Trey Lyles scored 10 points in what was his best showing in weeks.

He still didn't look good.


Exum, in particular, could provide a boost.

I'd say Bolomboy, Burks and Neto myself. Until I see the same effort from Exum from game to game I have my doubts. Those other guys I would expect the same effort game to game.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.espn.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/31046/jazzs-dante-exum-learning-to-live-in-the-fast-lane


Exum showed enough glimpses before the All-Star break to influence the Utah front office's decision to ultimately pass on picking up Deron Williams

Executive of the Year? :roll:


The Jazz didn't want to stunt Exum's growth after seeing him regain his rare explosiveness about 18 months after his knee buckled while playing for the Australian national team.

D-league


There are a few point guards, such as Westbrook, who accelerate faster than Exum. Good luck finding one who stands 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan.

There's one on his own team. Burks


"What's happened with him is, as he's gotten more physically capable, kind of back to where he has been, he's explosive,"

He's looked explosive all year

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675455/Utah-Jazzs-Dante-Exum-speeding-up-his-game-and-his-learning-process.html


Power forward Derrick Favors will miss multiple games this week

Good thing they didn't need to make any moves because of their great depth!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/13/utah-jazz-dante-exums-stellar-play-creates-a-problem-for-front-office/

[QUOTE]Dante Exum is coming off a career-high 22 points in Saturday

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/12/utah-jazz-vs-los-angeles-clippers-keys-game-2/

[QUOTE]I

[Xiao Yao You]

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/245269/Previewing-The-2014-Draft-Class-Extension-Market


An extension for Exum is likely tied to Hill’s free agency this summer. If Hill stays in Utah, are the Jazz going to commit to Exum on a big contract?

Can't see them committing anyway. If they can get him to sign to a cheap extension they might. Might be stupid for him to turn down a guaranteed multi million dollar contract considering he has yet to prove he belongs


Four years/$64 million if Hill leaves.

Fire the GM if you give him 64 million. I'd give him maybe 4 million for 4 years based on hope.


If Hill leaves, the Jazz will likely keep Exum around and install him as the starter moving forward, as they have other pressing free agency concerns this summer as well.

They better sign a vet if Hill leaves rather it's Deron or someone else. Exum has hardly looked like a starting pg or even a back-up


Extension Prediction: Four years/$80 million. Unlike Exum, whose future is tied to Hill to some extent, Hood is a guy the Jazz want to retain at almost any cost. After extending Rudy Gobert, Utah will attempt to do the same with Hood, especially as insurance if Gordon Hayward leaves this summer.

Hood is tied to Hayward,Hill and Ingles. Need to keep those guys at the right price. Won't be able to pay Hood if they do.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Cavs still need to make at least one roster move

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim MacMahon‏: Jazz backup PG Shelvin Mack is still unavailable due to a sprained ankle. Hopes to be cleared to play later this week.

[Xiao Yao You]

For Favors and Millsap, both black, their nervousness stemmed from a lack of knowledge about Utah.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]What do your teammates think about your country music? Jimmy Butler: The majority of them hate it. Some of it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://theundefeated.com/features/how-black-utah-jazz-players-have-embraced-salt-lake-city/

[QUOTE]Collins, the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Rudy Gobert will play and be in the starting lineup

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675479/Utah-Jazz-matchup-to-watch-George-Hill-vs-Chris-Paul.html

Hill has had some success against him anyway. Maybe there's hope

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/13/14905752/utah-jazz-los-angeles-clippers-game-preview-chris-paul-rudy-gobert-dante-exum-five-things-to-watch

[QUOTE]Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/13/has-derrick-favors-become-expendable-or-is-he-the-utah-jazzs-missing-link/


Lyles is still just 21-years-old and has plenty of time to develop and prove himself.

a little over two years anyway

I think even if he returns to form he'll have to go before the trade deadline next year.

[Xiao Yao You]

Doc Rivers acknowledged

[Xiao Yao You]

The $125 million renovation of the Vivint Smart Home Arena will begin on the main plaza and ticket box office lobby on Monday after the facility serves as the site of the NCAA Tournament

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Marc Stein: Sources say Casspi is now evaluating his options and has drawn interest from multiple playoff teams, including the Grizzlies and Clippers.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43490145&nid=294&title=ben-anderson-jazz-primed-for-deep-playoff-run

[QUOTE]Joe Johnson, who Jazz fans should expect to see close games at the power forward position for the rest of the season, has 101 career playoff appearances, while Boris Diaw has appeared in 108 postseason games. Hill has 75 postseason appearances between his time with the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers at the point guard position. In addition to those three, how Hayward, Gobert, Rodney Hood and Favors handle their first significant postseason minutes will likely determine the Jazz success in this season

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43489640&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-clippers


the Jazz finished with Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Joe Johnson, and Rudy Gobert

Ingles should have been in there. He had a great game. Rodney sucked!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5056969-155/utah-jazz-hit-the-road-with

[QUOTE]Blake Griffin dipped his shoulder, leaned into the defender and didn't feel the give his 250-pound frame probably expected.

Could Gordon Hayward have stood his ground like that even a year ago?

"Probably not," Hayward admitted. "He's one of the strongest guys in the league."

The lessons here: First, don't skip leg day. Second, things change

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/dazed-and-contused-further-disruption-to-jazzs-rotation/

[QUOTE]The other options are headlined by Boris Diaw, who started Monday. His on-court numbers are weirdly good when he plays with other starters, which is only surprising because, by most raw quantitative measures, it has not been the Frenchman

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/14/14926870/los-angeles-clippers-utah-jazz-matchup-tie-breaker-playoffs-4-5-seed-downbeat-nba-playoffs


If the Jazz get out of the 1st round, call this year a success and give Dennis Lindsey an Executive of the Year award and Quin Snyder a Coach of the Year award for making it through all these injuries.

How anyone can seriously call Lindsey Executive of the Year while the rotation continues to have big holes and they have 14 million in cap space and an exemption unspent is beyond me. As far as I'm concerned his job should be in jeopardy.

Snyder's rotations have sucked all year as well. They've lost many games because of the insistence to play Lyles and Exum while not even giving Neto, Withey and Bolomboy a look.


I see Utah holding onto Exum, especially with his improvement as of late.

for another year anyway. If someone gives him a big offer sheet and he still hasn't proven himself I don't see how you can keep him.

[Xiao Yao You]

The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has assigned forward DeAndre

[Xiao Yao You]

Deron Williams desperately wants to come back and finish his career in Salt Lake City, where he has not one but two homes, one of which George Hill is living in right now.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Specifically, Windhorst said the Nets are likely to pursue Hill, who

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5058457-155/utah-jazz-mailbag-what-to-do


The Jazz have the right to match any offer Ingles gets, but they are going to have to work to keep him. Depending on the number, Utah may have to move someone to accommodate Ingles. But it's worth it.

Ingles is very important on the court and just as important to team chemistry. He's one of the leaders.

someone will try to steal him with a high offer but the Jazz need to keep him as long as the price isn't too high. If Hayward leaves I'm guessing they may let Hill and Ingles go but hopefully not. I've had enough tanking. They can still be good without Hayward. He' the 4th most important player on the team now without a doubt


First, his post game and his mid-post game. He's still not where he wants to be with his back to the basket. It's good, but it can get better.

Second, his ability to catch the ball 15 to 18 feet from the basket and create offense can improve. He's entering a territory where he's among the best in the league at his position, so he also has to work on consistency.

Third, he's gotten to the point where teams are throwing their best defenders at him, so he has to deal with that as well.

Hayward's strides have been remarkable. The question is this: Can he go from an all-star to a superstar? That's his next step.

To me the biggest thing is he needs to be able to lead the team and play big in the big games


Trey Lyles will be fine. He's caught up in a numbers game right now.

The Jazz start Favors at power forward. Their best lineup statistically features Joe Johnson at power forward. Boris Diaw is one of the most grizzled vets in the NBA, and he plays power forward.

At this point, there isn't enough playing time to go around, and that's why Lyles is out of the rotation.

He's out of the rotation because he's a gunner that doesn't make shots or do anything else. He'd be playing if he was worthy of it. He's played most of the last two season ahead of more worthy players. Favors and Diaw aren't great at this point. No mention of Joe Johnson!

[QUOTE]Still, Lyles has to do two things this summer

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5057922-155/monson-jazz-clippers-feud-is-a-beautiful

Yeah it's good that the Jazz showed up this time. The Clippers acted like it was a playoff game last time as they should have with the 4th seed on the line and kicked their asses!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2697726-nba-players-facing-likely-decline-next-season


We are watching the best possible version of George Hill this season, so a decline is the only reasonable expectation.

I think if he's back in Utah and healthy he can do better. He was putting up big numbers before hurting the toe.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/14/utah-jazz-make-big-statement-still-work/

[QUOTE]The other thing Utah needs to do between now and the postseason is to get fully healthy and stay that way. Yes, that is somewhat out of their control and given Derrick Favors

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/15/report-brooklyn-nets-making-plans-to-sign-george-hill-can-utah-jazz-retain-him/


Report: Brooklyn Nets Making Plans to Sign George Hill, Can Utah Jazz Retain Him?

They can. Will they or should they is the question.

[QUOTE]Utah isn

[Xiao Yao You]

Jazz forward Boris Diaw announced today in an official statement that he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Aaron McMann: Pistons starting Jon Leuer over Tobias Harris vs. Utah, likely a matchup-based decision vs. Boris Diaw. Jazz starting Joe Johnson instead.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy on Rudy Gobert:

[Xiao Yao You]

Wade exited with 8 minutes, 35 seconds remaining after getting tangled up with Zach Randolph on a rebound and spraining his right elbow. He wore a sling afterward and will undergo an MRI exam Thursday morning.

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Rodney Hood told me his knee was pretty sore against the Clippers. He tried to play through it tonight, but couldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/15/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-control-the-whole-game-at-the-palace/


Tobias Harris had no inkling to drive at any point all game except the minute that Gobert checked out of the game. Once Jeff Withey was in at center, Harris drove to the basket for a dunk and a layup. When Rudy returned, Harris lost interest again.

Yeah I think more than the blocks and the changed shots this is where his importance is felt most. People don't even want to go in the paint! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5058511-155/utah-jazz-snyder-praised-by-stan


"He's not doing anything different than he did last year. He's just got more personnel to do it with. He's just done an excellent job with these guys. They are very very good."

Actually he is doing things diferently. Exum and Lyles weren't benched last year. Withey only played when Favors and Gobert were out. Amazing the difference when you at least try to get the best players on the floor!


But even with losing records in those first two years, the improvement in the team was noticeable. He won 38 games in year one, when many experts picked Utah to win no more than 30 games.

No one could have predicted Gobert would emerge. They were as bad as anyone before that.


The Jazz went 40-42 a year ago and narrowly missed the postseason.

After being the 6th best team at the end of the previous year that i horrible!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5063695-155/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-good-while


Utah's starting power forward has been out with a bone contusion in his left knee, matching the contusion he's battled in the other knee this season.

Wonderful. I figured it was just the same injury. Now he'll be playing(or not) n no legs! Good thing they saved their cap space for the draft! :cry:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-031617/

[QUOTE]When Jazz fans ask me why Diaw

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/16/utah-jazz-potential-point-guard-targets-if-george-hill-cant-be-retained/7/

[QUOTE]And regardless of your feelings of whether Hill is worth that much to the Jazz or not, that

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/16/utah-jazz-tbt-looking-back-at-big-als-time-with-the-jazz/

Al Ball was maybe the darkest period in the franchises history. :rant

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: Gordon Hayward on losing to the Cavs:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Chris Fedor: Rudy Gobert now has a block in 37 straight games. That

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/presents170316b/how-utah-jazz-turned-rudy-gobert-next-bill-russell


"As a kid, he was not necessarily confident," Fournier said. "But he was always competitive."

Same old Rudy! I thought his offense came down to confidence. Once he got that confidence on D over two years ago he never looked back. Now it's happening on offense too! :bowdown:


"He was lost going into that jungle of the workouts," Ndiaye said. "In Chicago, he was bad. He was really bad."

The Jazz liked him there including Sloan


Young players usually struggle to excel as NBA defenders. First- and second-year players are almost never in the top 20 as measured by defensive Real Plus-Minus. Yet at 22, Gobert finished the season an incredible 13th, just ahead of Tyson Chandler.

Bet it was a lot higher from mid-December.


Halfway through Gobert's second season, the Jazz traded Kanter away, clearing the way for Gobert to be the team's center of the future. A few months later came his breakthrough performance, at the 2015 Eurobasket, where Gobert blocked Pau Gasol at the end of regulation to key the French national team's upset of the favored Spanish team.

"That was the moment for me where I was like, 'This guy's got a chance to be really good,'" Hayward said.

"After that, he never stopped to get better," French national team coach Vincent Collet said.

It started in mid December 2014. He had looked solid off the bench before that. After that he was awesome! The game I still remember was him shutting down Aldridge, mostly on the perimeter. Aldridge didn't even want to go at him by the end of the game which we've seen from AD recently as well.


GOBERT IS 4-OF-24 on shots outside the paint during his career, according to nbasavant.com. However, he firmly believes that he can develop a face-up jump shot that boosts his game to the next level. Gobert has added so many things to his bag of tricks and swears this is next.

"I think I'm a good shooter, to be honest," Gobert said. "I've been working on my shooting every day since I played basketball. In practice, I've always been a good shooter. It's just translating it to the game."

His shot looks good facing up. Just like everything else it's about confidence. Seen it more with his passing lately. Once it starts to click he'll be hitting face up shots. Maybe even out to 3 which supposedly he does in practice.

Great article abut a great player! :applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

Jazz coach Quin Snyder likes the Russell-Gobert comparison, especially in light of how crucial Russell was to his team

[WayOfWad3]

Yeah but I get tired of Bolderjack acting like this streak and double doubles are the only thing that matter. Who cares? He is a winner. The numbers are meaningless really
I really don't care either. The streak has no bearing on the season or how good he really is.
And how has Dante looked to you? David Locke said in one of his recent podcasts that Snyder took him into a one on one film session a couple weeks back and just drilled him for all these simple mistakes he was making, hence the uptick in play recently. I think he's looked pretty good and it's actually given me hope for the future, but it's a small sample size

[Xiao Yao You]

Dante is doing alright. Stll not sure he has the motor to bring it consistently enough. He's getting better though

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43514601&nid=304&title=5-players-jazz-fans-should-watch-in-the-tournament

Brooks doesn't have the length they love. I think they have to look center first. Then probably a couple wings. They have 3 young pg's though two of them could play on the wing too and two young PF's

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43528407&nid=304&title=dante-exum-has-gotten-better


The Jazz clearly need a reliable starter ahead of Exum. But at times this season, it looked like the Jazz would need to sign two point guards this summer, a starter and a reserve. It looks like Exum has checked the latter box.

I wouldn't say that. I think he needs to show more and more consistently

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865675897/Is-Rudy-Gobert-the-next-Bill-Russell-The-Jazz-sure-hope-so.html

[QUOTE]Van Gundy was impressed how Gobert willingly accepts his role in pick-and-roll action even when he isn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2017/3/18/14968878/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-lineup-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-george-hill-dante-exum-joel-bolomboy


Beyond those three the team has more depth than any previous Jazz team ever.

No they don't. I'd probably say the Big Al teams actually

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Milos Teodosic: Many of you ask me about my future and my personal blog on Eurohoops is the right place for me to share my thoughts with you. First of all, until the season is over I don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43552279&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-bulls


Everyone has loved what veterans George Hill and Joe Johnson have brought to the Jazz this year. There's no doubt: the Jazz wouldn't be in the fourth seed of the Western Conference without them

They could have gotten other guys. Look what Mack did for them last year. The fact that they stlll have 14 million going to waste besides that! :rant



Usually, Johnson makes enough shots to make up for it

recently not usually

[Xiao Yao You]

He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/03/20/george-hill-staying-steady-with-bigger-role-looming-payday/


Will anyone offer that much to a 31-year-old who has missed 27 games this season? The Kings, Knicks and 76ers are desperate for point guards and could have major cap space. At minimum, Hill could use those teams for leverage.

Can't see him leaving the Jazz for those teams unless the amount of money is just too much compared to what the Jazz want to pay

[qrich]

I have Utah taking Allonzo Trier & Kyle Kuzma on my Sweet 16 mock. (https://mikeksmind.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/sweet-16-mock-draft-3-0/)

Thoughts?

[Xiao Yao You]

Do they play center? That and than a couple of wings would seem to be there biggest needs at the moment.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/21/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-lose-3rd-straight/


The injuries to Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood have put a minute burden on Joe Johnson and Joe Ingles that is very intense.

Ingles should play the 4th most minutes on the team unless I am missing something? Johnson should have been benched in this one. He wasn't getting it done.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43574733&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-pacers


Rodney Hood started the game with three fouls in his first four minutes of play, and immediately had to be sat. When he did come back, he picked up a fourth in the second half, and then started playing toreador defense, allowing the charging Pacers to score rather than put his body in front of guys.

Why Quin continues to play him is beyond me. If he's not hitting shots he doesn't have much value. I guess he went to Duke?


Joe Johnson scored just two points, shooting 1-7. He has now made just five of his last 22 shots, right when the Jazz needed it most. It may just be a normal shooting slump. It also may be that Johnson struggles more against better starting unit defenders. It also may be that fatigue is also a part of what's going on, playing more minutes throughout the game with Favors out.

He should not have played 30 minutes. Give Bolomboy or even Lyles a shot. They couldn't have done any worse.


I thought Dante Exum had solidified his backup point guard role

why would anyone think that? He's been very inconsistent


Boris Diaw was fine, except for the team-low -11 he had.

He's actually been playing pretty good lately. Wouldn't put much into the +/-


Jeff Withey got roasted by Al Jefferson

He has not looked like the same player from last year or even earlier this year. Has he been sitting too long?


Joe Ingles was decent in a supporting role with the starters, but didn't contribute his own scoring.

He shouldn't be counted on to score. He had 7 boards and 5 assists with a block and a 3. Typical Joe performance. Start him and play him more. Johnson should not have played more than him for sure. He was awful!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676068/Jazz-notes-Green-seats-are-on-their-way-out-of-Vivint-Arena.html


Not having Favors' size and Hood's shooting is making it difficult on the Jazz.

than please quit calling them deep. They obviously are not

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/21/rumor-paul-george-would-love-to-play-with-gordon-hayward/

[QUOTE]It

[Xiao Yao You]

http://fansided.com/2017/03/21/positional-power-rankings-30-best-power-forwards-nba/14/


He opted to come to Salt Lake City to play for Quin Snyder’s Jazz team in free agency this past summer.

:wtf:


is a good glue guy down low for the Jazz defense

:facepalm

http://fansided.com/2017/03/21/positional-power-rankings-30-best-power-forwards-nba/22/


Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors may end up being the odd man out during free agency in Salt Lake City this summer, but the guy has been a marvel at power forward for the Jazz the last few years. They will sorely miss him when he likely leaves in free agency.

:rolleyes:


Favors would have to go to a team with a true center like Gobert or play the stretch five along an undersized power forward.

First he has to show he's a starting caliber player again but assuming he is I see him him as more of a 5 in the weak east or a 5 on a crappy west team. He's not a rim protector. He can't stretch the floor as a 4.

Who wrote this crap anyway? Johnson is arguably their best 4 now.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/21/for-the-utah-jazz-finding-consistency-more-players-is-the-key/


If Derrick Favors ever returns and if Rodney Hood ever gets fully healthy

Both already have said they won't be 100% all year as well as Hood and this was before Hood and Favors went down yet again. Hood and Favors need to come off the bench! Not sure who else starts besides Ingles. Maybe Diaw? He's playing pretty good again and does well with Rudy.

They will certainly need to play less guys more minutes in the playoffs. With the days in between games in the playoffs hopefully Hill, Favors and Hood can play close to their top form though with Favors he has rarely looked like that all year.

One thing is certain. The Jazz are far from deep and a lot of question marks remain with most of their team and coach and GM

[qrich]

Do they play center? That and than a couple of wings would seem to be there biggest needs at the moment.

Trier's a two-guard, may be able to spot some time at the three. Is a solid defender and always seems to make the right move. Like most, he is unstoppable when he gets it going (at least in college).

Kuzma spent three-years at Utah, is listed at 6'9, a solid rebounder and low post presence.

[Xiao Yao You]

Trier's a two-guard, may be able to spot some time at the three. Is a solid defender and always seems to make the right move. Like most, he is unstoppable when he gets it going (at least in college).

Kuzma spent three-years at Utah, is listed at 6'9, a solid rebounder and low post presence.

May have saw Kuzma play last year or the year before. Not this year since their coach interrupted their great rivalry with BYU. The Jazz want guys that have length and can at least potentially shoot the 3, defend, pass and handle the ball. Trier is listed with average length. Kuzma will probably get a look because the Jazz usually give the local guys a shot.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/21/rumor-paul-george-would-love-to-play-with-gordon-hayward/

[QUOTE]Could the Utah Jazz appease George

[Xiao Yao You]

Mika going pro. I could see the Jazz liking him. Not sure his length but if he can take his shot out to 3 he might be able to play the 4 in the league

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/22/15027414/utah-jazz-vs-new-york-knicks-five-things-to-watch-john-stockton-rodney-hood-jeff-hornacek-eisley


Play-offs are almost in the bag, but you rather have home court than fall all the way back to 7 and be swept by the Spurs (because you know that will happen).

I'd expect them to compete with the Spurs this time around. A team built around Al ball was an easy target. Especially when they moved their best player to the 3 so Favors could start!

[Xiao Yao You]

David

[Xiao Yao You]

Thank you Rudy for bringing it every night and giving the team a chance to win despite the rest of the clowns you play with! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

Withey looked like his old self again tonite. Wonder what's been wrong with him? So Exum plays next game? :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676227/BYUs-Mika-declares-for-NBA-draft-but-maintains-college-eligibility.html


Mika didn’t rule out playing overseas next season as an option as well.

““That is an option and obviously we’re aware of that," he said. "We’ll have to go with the flow, see what happens and go from there.”

As far as his role in the NBA, Mika said he sees himself playing the four position.

“Because of my size and how I play, I think my skills will be best utilized and developed if I play the four and can spread the floor a little bit,” he said. “My athleticism, my quickness and my shot are things I’m going to be working on but there are also things that were underestimated this year because I did play with my back to the basket. I played as a big man, a true five for college. I’m not going to be perfect at all these things. I’m going to try to improve them. But I think I can show more potential than people realize. That’s my hope. I think it will work out.”

Sounds like he is gone. I think he should have declared before he went on his mission and certainly last year when he came back. He was one of the top freshman bigs in the country. Being willing to be stashed overseas will help his value. I see him as a 4. He shoots well from the mid range. Easy to see him extending it to 3. Be able to take small ball 4's in the post and play some small ball 5.

Yoeli's time to dominate now! I can see him going pro too.

[Xiao Yao You]

Spencer Checketts: Quin Snyder on NBA teams resting players:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Sometime before the best season in franchise history, Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller asked one of his superstars for some fashion advice. What did John Stockton think about changing jerseys?

[Xiao Yao You]

Rivers, understandably, is paying close attention to the Jazz.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/23/emptying-the-noggin-gobzilla-takes-over-new-york/

[QUOTE]Exum didn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43611113&nid=304&title=is-gobert-utahs-best-since-karl-malone


Could Gobert be Utah's best player since Malone?

best since Stockton.Not much doubt


Both players currently fall short of the resumes of Williams, Boozer and Kirilenko as the best players since Malone left the Jazz, but have significantly closed the gap and appear to have a lot left to offer for the team that drafted them.

AK's all star year is the only one comparable. Deron and Boozer only played one end of the court. Rudy is the man!

the Jazz may have found their first true superstars since Malone and Stockton left the team.

Hayward is a very good all-around player. not a star

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2698613-metrics-101-the-top-5-nba-defenders-at-every-position


:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676308/Rudy-Gobert-credits-career-night-to-staying-aggressive.html

[QUOTE]In fact, Snyder said he has instructed his guards and wings to be aggressive at getting to the basket so that, even if they miss a shot at the rim when Gobert

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2697832-every-nba-teams-biggest-flight-risk-in-2017-free-agency


If he stays, they can pay all their free agents without hesitation (except Shelvin Mack and Jeff Withey, who are rendered expendable by Dante Exum and Joel Bolomboy).

Those guys hardly make any one expendable!


Anything less than a surprisingly deep postseason push and/or qualifying for the DPE should persuade Hayward to enter free agency with his (apparently small window of) options open.

I can see him leaving. Better than giving him $200 million though

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/24/15058018/devin-booker-70-points-utah-jazz-phoenix-suns-nba-draft-2015

duh!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/23/utah-jazz-shooting-guard-becoming-major-area-concern/

Start Ingles and it looks a lot better. Burks at least does other things if his shot isn't falling. Hood just shoots for the most part.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/245403/Gordon-Hayward-You-Cant-Blame-Players-For-Staying-Or-Changing

don't let the door hit you on the way out Choker!

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim MacMahon: Rudy Gobert:

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones‏: George Hill on if homecourt matters in the first round:

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Gordon Hayward diagnosed with a left quadriceps contusion, which he picked up in the 4th quarter this afternoon. No word on long-term status

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Rudy Gobert on today

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/25/emptying-the-noggin-jazzs-collective-slump-continues-in-la-loss/

[QUOTE]Gordon was shut out in the first quarter of the game, which is Gordon

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43633467&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-clippers


Speaking of Gobert, he wasn't happy after the game. "One team came out ready, and the other team didn't come out as ready," said Gobert. It's easy to know which team was which.

Update: Gobert really wasn't happy. As he told ESPN: "We've got guys that compete, but some of us don't compete. Some of us just think about scoring. That's what it is."

At least they have 14 million in cap space! Hopefully they'll get some more guys that want to compete with Rudy in the off-season.


At one point, Hill crouched down during a timeout and clearly was in pain as the trainers looked on. I'm not sure if it was a hip or a groin injury, but it clearly impacted his play for the rest of the game.

appeared to be grabbing his privates. I imagine he got hit or kicked there. Time for a cup since you won't wear a mouth piece?


The big question mark with Hood has always been whether or not is secondary skills can be good enough when his shot isn't going down. Right now, the answer hasn't been yes.

It's never been yes. Bench him please!


Alec Burks wasn't doing anything offensively, and struggled defensively with Jamal Crawford.

Not sure anyone could have slowed Crawford. He was in the zone like he often is against the Jazz


The defense is why Raul Neto is playing, by the way. The Jazz allowed just 95 points per 100 possessions with him in the game tonight, compared to 117 points per 100 with Burks in the game and 121 points per 100 for Hill. Snyder is looking for defensive intensity anywhere he can find it, and right now, the only perimeter player regularly showing that is Neto, despite his huge size disadvantage.

Like Rudy he competes all the time. He has a hard time finishing amongst the trees but his shot is starting to fall and he needs to play. Exum can fight for minutes on the wing where they need help besides Ingles and Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676483/Morning-links-Jamaal-Williams-a-fit-with-the-Patriots-Kyle-Van-Noy-gets-accurate-birthday.html

Rudy for defensive player of the year? Wonder how much money he gets? I know he had bonuses in his contract. I'm sure that is part of it but I guess he wouldn't get anything this year on his rookie deal.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5098582-155/monson-rudy-gobert-has-earned-nbas


Where would the Jazz be without Gobert's play and presence? They aren't the best team in the league, but without him, they would be nowhere near where they now are.

It's hard to say because they certainly would have lost more games and gotten better lottery picks but if he hadn't emerged two years ago they likely would still be tanking which they act like they still are anyway and would have traded Hayward.


:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2017/3/27/15071148/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-george-hill-joe-ingles-joe-johnson-big-three

Obviously Hill. Too bad he isn't 100%. Ingles is certainly the next guy. Who is next in line is the bigger question. Hood before he got the flu probably. At least they have 14 million in cap space though!

[QUOTE]The three wingmen, Ingles, Hood, and Johnson, are behind them. But not too far behind. It

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/26/15068366/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-nba-history-books-1000-1000-200

[QUOTE]a franchise with it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/26/utah-jazz-running-out-of-time-to-fix-rotation/


despite all the injuries that young sharp-shooter Rodney Hood has endured all season, assuming he can get any semblance of consistency back, he should have a place locked down in the starting lineup as well.

Why? Other than the fact that he went to Duke I don't get the love he gets. Everything points to him coming off the bench healthy or not and has for me since the off-season


the starting lineup should look how Jazz fans had hoped all season; with George Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Playing that group sounds pretty good to me, but the problem lies in the reserves.

The problem is everyone other than Rudy. Favors should come off the bench too. I guess Diaw starts because of his play with Rudy. Not ideal but it is what it is! :D


As you can tell, that’s only eight guys. Most teams in the playoffs will roll in with a 10 or 11-man unit that will undoubtedly play and confidently know what role they need to fill.

Most teams shorten the rotation and the Jazz need to do that because of their lack of depth. But 14 million in cap space!


Dante Exum has once again fallen out of the rotation on the back of one bad game. Yes, that’s right. He had put together a riveting stretch that had Jazz fans believing in the future more than ever, but then had one bad game. As a result, he once again had his confidence shattered and was unfairly dumped from the rotation, because apparently, Dante Exum is the only NBA player ever to have a single bad game.

To me it's more a lack of effort by him. I've only saw him play with energy for a full game maybe once! Than you have Neto one of the few guys that will lay it all out there with his dad Rudy!


With the poor performances from Alec Burks recently, Exum could eventually take his place in the rotation if Neto continues his solid play.

I'm all for him getting a shot at the roation if Burks or Hood or whoever isn't getting it done. D-league for him and Lyles would still make the most sense though. Have 5 more days to do it!


All the problems the Jazz have had with the rotation could have all been solved quite easily at the trade deadline. It’s no secret that Utah was far too passive in shoring up holes on the bench. I wonder how this would have gone if the Jazz had been able to get Lou Williams and Taj Gibson at the deadline instead of staying put.

I doubt they wanted Gibson because he doesn't miss 3's like Lyles and Diaw and they weren't ready to give up Lyles or Exum to do it I imagine like the Thunder did with Payne. Hard to believe there weren't moves available to them though. Lindsey Exec of the Year! :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/25/utah-jazz-its-time-for-dante-exum-to-take-burks-minutes/


Exum should be getting more meaningful minutes at the two-spot is because he has absolutely been more effective this season than Alec Burks has, particularly of late

Highly debatable. Burks has still been scoring points though he's not getting the calls like he has in the past and his shot have been off. I think a lot of that is because they are trying to change his game to fit them instead of just letting him play. He has pounded the glass as well. Him and Hood deserve the first shot. If they aren't getting it done give Exum a look

[QUOTE]the sheer fact that if Exum

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/25/rudy-gobert-every-right-call-utah-jazz-teammates/

[QUOTE]Obviously, there

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Aaron Falk: The Jazz had a team meeting following Rudy Gobert

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

Snyder said he doesn’t plan on resting any healthy players over the final eight games of the season. “We’re in a different position than teams that have elected to rest guys,” Snyder said. “We’re not a team that’s won championships or is established within the standings. We’re always conscious of our players’ health and how we manage that. It’s a fluid process similar to how much we may play a guy in a given game. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility (that we’ll rest a player).” – via Deseret News

I'm they will depending on the standings

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Jazz forward Gordon Hayward is listed as questionable for tomorrow

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/28/emptying-the-noggin-shorthanded-jazz-find-long-ball-range-in-win-over-pels/

[QUOTE]Raul Neto had a terrific game as the backup point guard, bringing great energy to the floor and igniting the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43659335&nid=294&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-pelicans


Quin Snyder called timeout, and immediately pointed to Joe Johnson, telling him to prepare to come in the game for Boris Diaw. Then, he explained during the timeout that Johnson would be guarding the Pelicans' center and top-10 player in the NBA, Anthony Davis, while Rudy Gobert would be assigned on Dante Cunningham.

It was an option that the Jazz had prepared.

"That was great. We talked about it before the game," Gobert said. "We were waiting to see if AD was going to hit shots. He did, so we did the adjustment, and I think it was great. I was able to protect the rim, and Joe could be more aggressive on AD."

That's how they are going to have to look to play moving forward. Teams have hurt the Jazz when they get Rudy too far from the rim. The Celtics were probably the toughest match-up paying 5 out and than having Isiah taking it to the hoop


"Underlooked" isn't a word yet, but it should be. What else do you call something that is both underrated and overlooked?

You use those two words not the one by the genius coach with multiple degrees


When defenses are bad and the Jazz are spacing the floor, they really can play some beautiful basketball.

Always play well when the ball is moving.


Diaw and Neto in the paint aren't such a big threat that you need to pull over two players to the ball.

Diaw is their best post player actually.


As a rookie, Gobert got himself into foul trouble way too frequently, making himself difficult to play many minutes.

His hands were the biggest problem. He wasn't ready and should have spent most of the year in the D-league.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43656155&nid=304&title=ben-anderson-outspoken-gobert-signals-changing-of-guard-for-jazz

[QUOTE]Gobert has laid claim to the leadership role of this basketball team, and it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676550/Morning-links-BYU-is-in-good-hands-with-Tanner-Mangum-Jazz-stumble-in-Power-Rankings.html


"Four consecutive road defeats this month would suggest that the Jazz badly need home-court advantage if they want to see Round 2

Been better on the road besides that trip. I think at Houston is their best bet at the 2nd round and even that will be tough because I don't expect much out of Hayward regardless.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676648/Jazz-matchup-to-watch-Rodney-Hood-vs-Buddy-Hield.html

[QUOTE]Rodney Hood, is putting up similar stats as Hield

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5110985-155/utah-jazz-mailbag-why-do-the


Neto was on the floor at the end Monday night because George Hill tweaked his toe.

wonderful :cry:


I think he holds a lot of value as a guy who can create for himself and get to the basket.

The Jazz bench needs that. Can Burks provide it?

I think they just need to let him play his game. They've been trying to change the way he plays.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5112287-155/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-trying-to


The former offensive liability is now one of the NBA's better screen-and-roll men, the product of his dedication in the weight and film rooms.

hasn't been a liability since his rookie year

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5109477-155/utah-jazz-rodney-hood-provides-needed


Hood missed three games in December with a right hamstring strain. In January, he got hit with the double whammy of a right knee hyperextension and a bone tension that kept him out five games. Early in February, he missed seven more games with an LCL spring and bone contusion on that right knee. This month, he's had two stints of two games apiece he's missed with soreness in that same right knee.

you forgot the flu. Hasn't been the same since


Hopefully, he'll be a 100 percent for the playoffs, but what he did tonight was great."

already said he wouldn't be. Hopefully all the days off in the playoffs will help him, Hill and Favors

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5108925-155/jazz-notes-playoff-berth-marks-milestone


What matters to the Jazz is a playoff appearance that signals the end of Utah's rebuild that began in 2013 when the front office let Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson become free agents.

They might try tanking again next year if Hayward leaves. They didn't let them become free agents. They let them leave


Bringing in veterans to help out with the younger players has been important as well.

Was a mistake to wait until this year to have vets around the kids


"This is something that we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the year and that we've wanted to accomplish," Snyder said.

By we who do we mean? I haven't really gotten the feeling that you or the front office are all in. Act like your still tanking really


Burks had been expecting the birth of his first child.

congrats Alec!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/29/15103052/utah-jazz-sacramento-kings-game-preview-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-buddy-hield-joe-johnson


Dante Exum either seems to flash his glorious potential or not step on the court.

He's shown flashes. Mostly he is unimpressive though

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/3/29/15105220/utah-jazz-downbeat-2060-where-is-jerry-sloans-statue-sacramento-kings-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward

[QUOTE]Dennis Lindsey saw the problem that hurt the team over the last decade and went out to collect both complimentary and redundant talent so that injuries - which always happen - shouldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/29/utah-jazz-george-hill-still-x-factor/

[QUOTE]Hill has made a great impact on the Jazz offense this season. He is averaging a career-high 16.9 points per game. He has stepped up into a point guard position that desperately needed a boost on the Jazz offense. There is a strong tie between Jazz wins and the offensive production of Hill this season. In games where he scores 20 points or more, the Jazz are an impressive 14-1. The Jazz are a perfect 8-0 in games when he scores more than 22 as well, which is five points above his season average.

In games where Hill has at least seven assists, the Jazz are a strong 11-3.

These numbers support the theory that Hill is the ultimate X-factor for the Jazz. When Hill is shooting well, the Jazz usually win. When he is not shooting or scoring well, the Jazz tend to struggle. Obviously guys like Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert are the most important and vital cogs in the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/29/utah-jazz-draymond-green-comments-minimize-rudy-goberts-impact/

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/28/utah-jazz-at-sacramento-kings-keys-to-the-game-2/

[QUOTE]There

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/28/will-the-utah-jazz-hit-the-50-win-mark/

Should have won 50 last year. Not getting there this year is a joke especially with 14 million in cap space!

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: The Jazz will be without Derrick Favors, George Hill and Raul Neto tonight. Gordon Hayward participated in shootaround but is questionable. – via Twitter DJJazzyJody


Aaron Falk: Sorry to not clarify earlier, Alec Burks is back with the team and expected to play tonight – via Twitter tribjazz

[WayOfWad3]

I'm really hoping Rudy doesn't get a block so Boler can shut up about the streak

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]KC Johnson: (Dwayne Wade

[Xiao Yao You]

I'm really hoping Rudy doesn't get a block so Boler can shut up about the streak

indeed! :lol

[WayOfWad3]

Jazz could have the cap space to do it but not sure they have the assets other than Rudy
I really wouldn't want Wade even though he's my favorite player. David Locke has lots of of compelling stats/evidence that Wade is a detriment to teams nowadays instead of helping, at least in a more featured role. If he can make a Joe Johnson-esque role player change then maybe it'd be a good acquisition. Too much money and too much to give up though

[Xiao Yao You]

I really wouldn't want Wade even though he's my favorite player. David Locke has lots of of compelling stats/evidence that Wade is a detriment to teams nowadays instead of helping, at least in a more featured role. If he can make a Joe Johnson-esque role player change then maybe it'd be a good acquisition. Too much money and too much to give up though

I posted that for Butler not Wade. Wade might be nice in a 6th man's role when he's ready for that.

[Xiao Yao You]

Paul George and Jimmy Butler were involved in trade rumors at the deadline, and all indications are that those conversations will resume this offseason. One front-office source told me recently that Butler is

[Xiao Yao You]

Chris Miller: Both Derrick Favors (Knee) and George Hill (groin) ruled out Friday vs. @Washington Wizards #DCFamily #WizJazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/03/30/emptying-the-noggin-mack-is-pivotal-in-jazzs-win-over-sacramento/


Shelvin Mack came off the bench and was key in the victory.

and Exum sucks. That must hurt some people


Sometimes, the deals not made are the most important. It was highly anticipated that the Jazz would trade Shelvin Mack at the deadline. That never happened. Tonight, the no-deal turned into a big deal for the Jazz. There is value in having someone on the bench who knows your system and knows what your coach wants. If the Jazz had traded Mack, they very well may lose this game, which seems insane to say in a 30-point blowout. But without Hill and Neto, Utah needed Mack. The Jazz were negative when Exum was on the floor until garbage time. Mack was the key to the win tonight.

If they had spent the 14 million in cap space they could have had a lot better team. I think there was nothing to lose. This team is likely out in the first round unless they drop to 6th but with 14 million in talent plus their exception on a buyout who knows? At least a 2nd round battle and then anything can happen.


One has to wonder if the wing rotation will be much deeper than Hayward, Hood and Ingles in the playoffs. If Hayward ups his minutes to 36 or even up to 40 and Hood can manage 32 with Ingles playing about 28, there are no more minutes.

Johnson could play their some if Favors comes back. Hill and Rxum could play their if Mack and Neto are in the mix. I still think Alec has a lot to offer. Don't really see the big difference between him and Hood other than Hood went to Duke and Alec has a better all-around game.

[QUOTE]Jeff Withey has been giving the Jazz a really big 14 minutes a night. He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43682746&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-kings


What changed the tide? Believe it or not, it was the play of Boris Diaw and Shelvin Mack, both pretty unlikely heroes.

Mack was huge for them last year. He almost got them to the playoffs. Amazing that as soon as they got Hill that was all forgotten. Diaw has been playing well too and makes almost 10 million a year. He's had a couple other nice stretches this year. He's won a title. Unlikely?


Mack, I think, thrives on coming into an unstable situation and showing himself to be a class above the competition quickly. After all, that's what he did when he was first traded to Utah, when he immediately won the starting point guard spot after just one game coming off the bench.

That hurt them initially. I think they should have just left him on the bench and they probably would have made the playoffs.


Quin Snyder did something you don't see very often at this level of basketball: he made a sub after just two minutes of play, taking out Dante Exum and putting in Shelvin Mack.

Did it all the time the past two years. Think that is the 2nd time this year


Knowing that he'd be without his two first-choice point guards, Snyder preached ball security and playing defensively with Exum and Mack at shootaround today. Then, at the first opportunity, Exum got himself caught up in the air and turned the ball over.

When this happened, Snyder called Mack in, and as Exum went to the bench, he asked his assistants to scoot over, making room for Exum to sit right next to the head coach. I asked Snyder what he told Exum.

"I want Dante to be aggressive. I trust what he's doing defensively. When he's attacking, I want him to attack with that aggression," Snyder started. "But he's got to take care of the ball. That's true of any of our guys. Particularly if he's out there with Gordon and Rodney. I think he knows that and he's working at it, there's just a couple of plays that I'd have him be more conservative then try to make a play in a tough spot."

Hayward does that stuff all the time! :confusedshrug:


did it work? Well, Exum didn't exactly set the world on fire after the conversation. The Kings played 10 feet off of him, giving him space to shoot. He made the right play (shoot it!) but never made any of the shots. But, on the other hand, Exum also turned the ball over again only one more time, and on a completely different kind of play.

And, was it the right thing to do? Personally, I like these kind of teaching moments, where there's a quick conversation that happens and then the player goes back out to try to apply what he's learned.

That's the biggest problem with him. No one will guard him and force him to shoot if they are smart anyway. No way anyone should be letting him get to the rim. A couple of his shots were in and out though.

[QUOTE]Still messes w/ his confidence. When other guys make mistakes, they don't get called to the principal's office mid-game. https://twitter.com/eldiablov90/status/847279182778204161

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=304&sid=43682482&title=hayward-helps-jazz-knock-off-kings-112-82


Mack had missed four games recently with a sprained ankle and played only three minutes in his first game back Monday. He was needed against the Kings with guards George Hill and Raul Neto each out with strained groins.

"He (Mack) had five deflections, and that's what we want from the guys on the bench," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "They come in and they do that, and the offense sometimes just takes care of itself."


Wasn't it more games than that? He was leading the team in steals before he lost the back-up role.


BLOCK STREAK ENDS FOR GOBERT

Gobert leads the NBA in blocked shots per game, but he had zero against the Kings, halting a string of 42 straight games with at least one or more, dating to Dec. 23. The streak was sixth longest in franchise history.

So now Boler will be back to double double streak?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43676952&nid=294&title=injuries-hit-jazz-again-with-george-hill-raul-neto-out-vs-kings


I had noticed Hill tweaking his groin on Saturday against the Clippers, but when I asked Hill about the injury Monday, he said "I don't remember that", insisted he was fine, and made me doubt whether anything had happened at all. And of course, he came out and played well at home, scoring 17 points. For him to be out Wednesday means that something really did happen there.

And Neto is even more surprising, because he looked great in his point guard minutes Monday, even finishing the game.

When did Neto get hurt? He probably played through it because he knows he may never play again if he goes back to the bench.


Derrick Favors is still out with his knee contusion that's saddled him since early March. Favors did not participate in shootaround, but did work on standstill shooting afterwards. No timeline for his return has been released by the Jazz, and frankly, I'm not sure they know of one internally either.

Doesn't sound like he's close. Good thing they have 14 million in cap space though!


Joe Ingles threw his hat in, saying he wanted to play point guard too, but Exum squashed that idea.

"There's not a depth chart. It's not like football, where there's a QB1 and a QB2, that's not how it works," Snyder said. "It has much more to do with other factors."

Alec and 3 wings could have worked as well.


When Rodney Hood's out, that's like 20 points on a given night."

Or less since he averages what 13?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5117367-155/utah-jazz-alec-burks-on-hand

[QUOTE]Utah played without starting power forward Derrick Favors, who has missed the past 11 games with a knee contusion. But the plan, league sources tell The Tribune

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2700250-nba-teams-that-could-look-drastically-different-next-season


Gordon Hayward's free agency (player option) stands to have a trickle-down effect on the Utah Jazz.

If he stays, Utah has enough incentive to foot the bill for George Hill and Joe Ingles (restricted). If he leaves, the flood gates will swiftly open. Paying top dollar for Hill and Ingles won't make as much sense if Hayward's departure effectively triggers a rebuild centered around Rudy Gobert.

My guess is they will try to tank again if Hayward bolts which I think is very possible. But as we've seen it's hard to tank with Rudy in the line-up. I'd still keep Hill and Ingles for the right price though they may want to go elsewhere if Hayward leaves. I think they could still be really good especially if Favors and Burks return to form and some of their young guys finally step up and they make some other moves with the 30 million they won't be paying Hayward.


Substantial turnover will be unavoidable even if the Jazz don't lose Hayward.

Which is why I don't get not being all in this year?


Hayward is almost certainly opting out of the last year of his deal to sign a max contract this summer that will pay him $30.1 million in the first season.

He could opt in and go for a much bigger deal next summer.


Even if Hill gives the Jazz a bargain and signs for below the max, those two players would make up for over half the cap.

Is he a bargain at that rate though? Healthy he probably is. Some of those other guys that were written about recently are intriguing replacements.


The rest of the contracts that would still be on the books for next season (including the first year of Gobert's extension that will pay him $21.2 million) puts the Jazz in luxury tax conversations.

and Ingles needs to be signed ahead of any of those other contracts besides Rudy of course


Dante Exum and Rodney Hood are extension-eligible this summer as well. There is no feasible scenario in which Utah enters the season after next with both of them, Hill and Alec Burks. At least one of the remaining three becomes chopping-block fodder if Hill returns.

Can't see Hood being around after next season if they sign Hayward, Hill and Ingles. He will cost too much. Maybe none of those guys. Ty Wallace may be the back-up


Derrick Favors is already trade bait. The Jazz shopped him ahead of February's deadline, per Lowe, and won't be able to pay him along with everyone else who's up for a raise. Plus, they have played some of their best basketball when surrounding Gobert with four shooters. Favors runs counter to that model unless he's coming off the bench at the 5.

He's an expensive back-up 5. He'll start next year with them to show he's healthy. Gone by the trade deadline if they sign their big free agents. If he returns to form and Hayward is gone he may get an extension.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676713/Jazz-coach-Snyder-salutes-Gobert-being-Jazz7s-most-recent-top-scorer.html

[QUOTE]When asked if it's a good thing that Gobert has been the leading scorer or if it means scorers like Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and George Hill haven