2016-17 regular season!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676714/Shelvin-Mack-provides-spark-off-the-bench-in-Jazz-30-point-victory-over-Kings.html

[QUOTE]As for Mack, he acknowledged that his lack of playing time this year has been

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676786/Big-questions-loom-about-Jazz-rotations-as-playoffs-approach.html


So do you give Mack a chance to keep playing when Hill and Neto return?

I can see him being in the mix still. I think Neto is the best fit but even than with Hill able to move to the two and Neto also plays off the ball mostly when he's in there Mack could give them a spark


And what will the Jazz do with the power forward and center rotations when (and if) Derrick Favors returns now that Joe Johnson has been switched to that position?

I imagine what they were doing. What they should do is bring Favors and Hood off the bench.


And will Dante Exum get minutes as a shooting guard over Alec Burks?

Maybe but should he?


And what type of role will Jeff Withey and Boris Diaw have if Utah ever gets a healthy front line?

Withey won't play if Favors comes back. Diaw should probably still start but his role will be reduced greatly

[QUOTE]Oh, and how about Hill

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/jackson-matching-riley-front-office-success-article-1.3013269?cid=bitly

[QUOTE]Riley has a home court advantage because Miami is a prime free agent destination. The weather, the zero state income tax and the chance to play for a top franchise are too good for a lot of players to turn down. There are already whispers that if Utah can

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-joe-solving-a-big-man-issue-rudy-playoff-race-more/


Enter Joe Johnson, a lifesaver for a team needing to squeeze productive power forward minutes out of its injury-riddled roster. Johnson has become a full-time four now, and the team is better for it, especially given the recent play of their alternative options.

He's had his own issues especially when he was starting

[QUOTE]2. Jerry calling a play

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/29/15119248/utah-jazz-112-sacramento-kings-82-game-recap-rodney-hood-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-shelvin-mack

[QUOTE]Joel Bolomboy collected another DNP-CD. (He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/3/31/15133834/utah-jazz-sacramento-kings-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-joe-johnson-downbeat-amazing-players-edition


There are very few players that I have loved since Stockton and Malone like I currently love Rudy Gobert.

Probably only early AK since Stockton for me.


Everyone see Rudy in 7th and Hayward in 20th? Rudy is 7th!!! Rudy is such a winning player.

That was evident more than two years ago. He should be in the MVP talk really


I keep going back and forth on whether Hayward will be back. I don’t think he leaves to go to Miami, but Boston sure makes a lot of sense. Hayward strikes me a great player who will cede the leadership role to another player on his team. Isaiah Thomas seems to be the vocal leader on the Celtics, so Hayward doesn’t have to take on that role. Obviously his connection with Brad Stevens lends familiarity. Boston also has an easier path to the finals, especially with Cleveland showing signs of weakness. Plus they’ll have excellent draft picks to add cheap talent. Certainly there would be more pressure in Boston as a max player, but from a winning standpoint, Boston makes the most sense.

I’m also not convinced that George Hill is the answer at point guard anymore. We’ll see what he does in the playoffs, but playing only 2/3 games isn’t enough.

Boston will also go deep into tax territory to win. Wouldn't blame him for leaving for Boston. Miami doesn't make much sense unless they are signing other guys with him

George has been healthy most of his career though.


Boston is a great team, but they will have the exact same cap space issues the Jazz will have in 2018 if they sign Hayward to a max. Does a big three of Horford, 30 year-old IT, and Hayward sound like a title contender to you?

You forgot Avery Bradley, Crowder, all of their picks etc. The only thing I see holding them back right now is a rim protector but if you put enough talent on the court it might not matter. They have a lot of talent right now without Hayward and more on the way.


More wins – Jazz

Think Boston is better if it's about winning like he says.


Best player – Gobert>IT>Whiteside

Hayward would be the #2 scoring option on Boston which would suit him better


Coaches – Stevens=Snyder=Spoelstra

Snyder hasn't shown he's anywhere near those two.


It will be interesting to see what BOS does BRK’s pick. Maybe they trade it for an All Star wing with a decent contract?

Yeah you might see them get Butler or George. Sounds like they were trying to get the pair. One of them plus Hayward would be quite the coup

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/3/31/15135276/nba-playoffs-2017-los-angeles-clippers-oklahoma-city-thunder-utah-jazz-memphis-grizzlies-standings

[QUOTE]The Jazz don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/3/30/15131232/nba-free-agency-2017-boston-celtics-miami-heat-gordon-hayward-utah-jazz-alec-burks-mehmet-okur


Maybe they try to sell Gordon on playing PF in the East?

That's what I'd do. Horford doesn't want to play the 5 though. But it sounds like they didn't want to give up Crowder and Bradley to get George and Butler but that may change this of-season


The Boston Celtics have the disadvantage here because they just payed Jae Crowder a long-term deal for big money, and also have a lotto pick SF on the roster who is going to be there for at least the next three seasons. To me this is a problem. But of course, if you could convince Jae to play PF or Jaylen to play SG it could be okay. Still, think about it!

Hayward would be their 2nd best player. He plays 2,3 and 4. Crowder's deal isn't that much. He could easily be traded or come off the bench at the 2,3,4. So could Bradley at the. Unlike the Jazz the Celtics aren't going to be worried about money nor are they going to be worried about blocking a lottery pick like Jazz fans are

[QUOTE]Does he care more about a possible WCF against GSW or NBA Finals against GSW? That

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/03/30/utah-jazz-backup-point-guard-spot-tougher-determine-ever/

[QUOTE]Head coach Quin Snyder has drawn a lot of criticism from Jazz fans for not solidifying that spot, but to be perfectly honest, the reason why he has yet to do so is largely because it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2700431-rudy-gobert-1st-jazz-player-to-reach-tuesdays-stat-line-since-team-move-to-utah

:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5125104-155/jazz-shootaround-50-wins-its-not


"It would feel right to get to 50 wins, and hopefully win a couple series if we can," Hood said after shoot around Friday morning. "I think it would be special."

As far as I'm concerned it's disappointing. Should have been going for 50 last year. The front office should be ashamed

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43697624&nid=304&title=utah-jazz-mailbag-the-point-guard-rotation

[QUOTE]Maybe that

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2017/3/31/15123556/utah-jazz-nba-playoffs-2017-george-hill-dante-exum-shelvin-mack-raul-neto-rotation


Dante Exum has a higher ceiling, and should get a longer leash than Quin Snyder has given him this season.

He's ye to prove he belongs in the league so I'd say he's had more opportunities than he deserves

[QUOTE]George Hill is a solid basketball player and a big part of the team

[WayOfWad3]

One thing spectacular about the game was how Gobert smothered whoever he was switched onto of DC's perimeter players. I believe Beal got by him once or twice, but every time since then Rudy forced a miss or got a block

[Xiao Yao You]

And Draymond thinks he deserves DPOY because he covers every position. Rudy can too. They'd just rather have him at the rim if at all possible for obvious reasons

Beal stared him down once but Rudy wasn't even covering him just trying to help and Beal didn't go over the top of him or anything and was staring him down. I knew it would just piss Rudy off and he was playing angry and dominating after that.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Candace Buckner: Coach Scott Brooks, who

[Xiao Yao You]

LaMarcus Aldridge (left thumb sprain), Manu Ginobili (rest), Danny Green (left quad contusion) and Dejounte Murray (left groin) are all out for tomorrow

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Derrick Favors, George Hill, and Raul Neto are all still out for the Jazz against the Spurs on ABC tomorrow. Otherwise, clean injury report.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43706594&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-wizards


The Jazz were without what head coach Quin Snyder called "two of our three best defenders" in George Hill and Derrick Favors

Neto has been better than Hill. Ingles is probably #2. Hayward probably ahead of Hill too


he's going to get a ton of money this offseason. But you get the feeling that the Jazz will do anything in their power to keep him around.

hopefully but if Hayward leaves like I think he might they probably let Joe and Hill go too.


George Hill's return likely means one of Exum or Mack isn't going to play minutes.

I think Neto and Mack need to both be in the mix somehow and Burks too. Exum can watch and learn. He's not intense enough for playoff basketball

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43706058&nid=304&title=gobert-hayward-power-jazz-to-95-88-win-over-wizards


"I haven't been saying nothing to the refs lately because I know what situation I've been in, but the way they've been officiating today doesn't make no sense," said Wall, who received a technical foul in the third quarter after making contact with Gobert around the belt. "You shoot 31 free throws to 16. We're an aggressive team that attacks the basket. That don't make no sense. I had to get (my arm) bandaged up because I'm bleeding and the ref tells me that's not a foul. It's getting out of hand.

"We didn't lose this game. The refs made us lose this game. We fought hard to give ourselves a chance. But you don't shoot 31 free throws to 16 the way we attack the basket as a team. That's how I feel about it."

cry me a river

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676887/Jazz-notes-Utah-hoping-Derrick-Favors-will-be-back-soon.html


Snyder and the Jazz medical staff want to make sure Favors is ready to contribute and be fully healthy when he does return.

fully healthy? that would be a game changer

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/3/31/15146226/utah-jazz-95-washington-wizards-88-shelvin-mack-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-john-wall-bradley-beal

[QUOTE]But I think we can easily applaud Mack

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/01/potential-wing-targets-in-case-joe-ingles-is-too-expensive/


Ersan Ilysova

Isn't he mostly just a stretch 4?


Since landing in Atlanta Ilysova has fit right in. Xavier Cooper of Soaring Down South claims that Ilysova has been a “perfect fit” in Atlanta.

If he fits in Atlanta he could fit here. Maybe taking Diaw/Favors spot not Ingles?


If Atlanta can’t keep Ilysova and Utah can’t keep Ingles, the Jazz should take a hard look at signing the 29-year-old Turkish man who is having a career renaissance.

He's a guy that they would look at regardless because he's a stretch 4.


Similar to Ilysova, Jerebko is six-foot ten-inch European combo forward

Think he's now more of a 4/5 actually. But he shoots the 3. Certainly a guy they will look at and who will probably be available.


Jerebko is willing to “go after loose balls and grab tough rebounds”, as his role on the Celtics is to play “with a high level of energy, helping on the boards and defending at a high level”.

sounds like their kind of guy


on the wrong side of 30 and never flashing ability in his career to fill in for a starting role if necessary, Utah can consider Jerebko but would be smart to find a younger, more talented glue guy if possible.

Probably playing his best ball like Ingles and Hill. They need quality on the cheap and this could be the guy. They need vets. They don't need to get younger


Casspi checks off almost all the boxes on what the Jazz might be looking for at the trade deadline. He’s a 27-year-old, versatile wing who can play the 2, 3 and 4 and who has thrived playing anywhere from 12 to 28 minutes per game. He could start for the Jazz or be an excellent role player as a scorer off the bench and adequate defender.

This makes Casspi the best possible replacement for Joe Ingles if Utah has to replace him. Chances are that Casspi will be looking for a team with a winning culture and stability after years in Sacramento and bouncing around to New Orleans and Minnesota this season.

Sounds like the guy but the Jazz could have tried to get him recently and didn't so do they like him? or him them?


Bojan Bogdanovic

more of a 4 too I think which is where the Jazz will need help more than on the wing. Can shoot so I'm sure he's on their radar


Andre Iguodala

He might be Hayward's replacement!

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: John Wall was fined $15,000 for his public criticism of officiating after the Wizards loss to the Jazz this week.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Tom Orsborn: Pop on Diaw:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Michael C. Wright: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has an opinion about some of the candidates for NBA Coach of the Year:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://stats.nbadleague.com/player/#!/1627820/

I'd guess he will get one of the two D-league/NBA contracts. He could use more seasoning and the D-league will be even better next year with the new contracts and more NBA teams with clubs.

He has a lot of the same things to work on as Dante. First he needs to get stronger. That could help him with some of his other issues like finishing. Needs to work on his shot from 3 and the line. Too many turnovers. Great handle though!

He's a playmaker. Hits the glass. Defends.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://stats.nbadleague.com/player/#!/1627762/

Obviously needs to get stronger. After the year he had in the D-league I imagine they will be counting on him to be in the rotation mix possibly even starting with a strong off-season

Defense could probably get him in the line-up and strength will help him there

[Xiao Yao You]

Too bad Hanlan isn't in the pipline. Spurs won that trade

[Xiao Yao You]

Not only do Jazz coach Quin Snyder and general manager Dennis Lindsey have fond memories of working for the Spurs before they headed West, but Gregg Popovich admires what they

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Josh Robbins‏: The Magic will waive C.J. Wilcox today to sign Patricio Garino for the remainder of the season & to a non-guaranteed salary for 17-18.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The NBA

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2701057-nba-free-agents-who-could-earn-big-paydays-in-2017-postseason


The Jazz need him. Every team needs a player like him.

Yep. The fact that he's restricted would usually be a good thing but there will be so many teams with money to spend that someone moght give him a ridiculous offer. You know he's a guy that someone will try to steal with Hayward and Hill the first priorities.


Only three players, aside from Ingles, are shooting over 40 percent from long range while averaging at least five assists and 2.5 steals per 100 possessions: Malcolm Brogdon (which, oh my), Mike Conley and Chris Paul. That's impossibly good company, even when you're playing less than anyone else.

Needs to start and play more


The Jazz (probably) have to pay Gordon Hayward and George Hill. Dante Exum and Rodney Hood are up for extensions. That creates an opportunity for outside suitors to swoop in with aggressive, hard-to-match offers.

Just how aggressive those overtures will be is up in the air. But they're coming. And the better "Jingles" plays for the duration of the Jazz's postseason push, the higher his already sneaky-high price tag will soar.

Projected Annual Salary Ceiling: $12-14 million

Depends on the price tag for all of these guys. 12-14 million sounds like a lot for a guy that's not a big scorer but it's comparable under the new cap to what Burks got and just above Johnson and he is way more important than them right now. Also more important than Hood or Exum at the moment. If someone offers a lot more than that you might have to say bye though I think he might take less to stay here especially if his buddy Hayward does.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Chuck Cooperstein: Just been told by the NBA that team broadcasters won

[Xiao Yao You]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43727930&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-spurs


it really was Boris Diaw's best game of the season

+/- was -5 so that is debatable. Certainly his best shooting night but he doesn't rebound, has his problems defensively and turns it over a lot.


I've really enjoyed the Boris Diaw Experience in Utah. His contract is non-guaranteed next season, but becomes guaranteed if he's not waived by July 15, 2017. The Jazz may need to trade him or waive him before that date in order to afford new contracts for Hayward, Hill, and Ingles.

In other words, time might be running short on Diaw in a Jazz uniform. Savor these last few quirky performances while they last.

Can't see them picking up is option but they might look to sign him to a cheaper deal. I wouldn't mind having him around at the end of the bench on a minimum contract just not in the rotation. I like his game he just hasn't been consistent enough and he hasn't hit the 3 which is the whole idea of having him and Lyles instead of Booker. Not much doubt they would be better this year with Booker.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43741064&nid=304&title=rudy-goberts-defensive-impact-felt-inside-and-out


The Rockets average 40 3-point shots per game against the rest of the NBA. Against the Jazz, in three meetings this season, the Rockets have taken 31.3 shots, making them at only a 32 percent clip. Harden has averaged fewer assists per game (about seven) than he has against any other NBA team this year.

Capela arguably outplayed Rudy earlier in the year though.


Gobert's the league's best defender himself: he guards the most shots per game (13.8 per game, compared to Green's 11.2 per game), and of course, he leads the league in blocks with 2.7 per game.

Kind of surprised he leads. I think his biggest impact is that people don't even want to go into the paint because he's there. The only teams that have had success are ones that get him away from the rim. He'd certainly block a lot more shots if guys weren't afraid to challenge him.

Loved when Beal was staring him down on a play where Rudy was late helping. I knew it would just piss him off and it did. Game over! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677001/Jazz-notes-Gregg-Popovich-impressed-with-Utah-feels-bad-for-teams-injuries.html

[QUOTE]Snyder gave a nod to another member of the Gonzaga family too, adding,

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/5138283-155/rodney-hood-to-sit-vs-trail

Hood will join three other players

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5134236-155/utah-jazz-despite-knee-pain-rodney


Obviously, I'm not going to be at my best every night, and it's not always going to feel great. But just having my body out there, it's good for the team."

No it's not. That's why you're sitting tonite. Hayward does other things when he's not at his best. If you aren't scoring you're better off on the bench.


defensively, he's been huge for us."

the numbers tell a different story I believe


Hood being in the fold has given Snyder an opportunity to solidify his rotation a bit. And in doing so, he has made a big decision: He has left guard Alec Burks out of the immediate rotation. As a result, Burks has received two consecutive coaching decision DNP's (did not play), as Snyder has given the bulk of those minutes on the wings to Hood, Joe Ingles and Gordon Hayward.

He's shortened his rotation for the playoffs. Burks should definitely be part of it though. The complaints I hear about Burks are the things Hood does. Hood rarely passes the ball though he did have a couple nice ones recently. Burks is certainly more of a playmaker and all around player. If they'd let him play his game he can certainly fill it up like Hood does on occasion.


The first round of the postseason is notorious for its time between games; in that sense, the downtime could help Hood and the Jazz, who have played just 13 games this season with their preferred starting lineup.

that would be the hope

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2017/4/4/15169260/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-golden-state-warriors-los-angeles-clippers-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward


That 40 win season, up from 38 the season before, had to have been classified as a downer. And the main culprit was injuries.

The main culprit was/is the front office and coach still not being all in after the emergence of Rudy. 6th best team to end 2015. Go into last year without a veteran pg to play with Neto. Continuing to hope Burke would somehow fit instead of dumping him when it was already obvious he never would. Lyles playing over Withey. Pleiss?


this hasn’t been an injury free Jazz season. Not at all. It is a successful one because of the added depth.


It's successful because of Hill and the improvements of Hayward, Gobert and Ingles. I think you could argue they were actually deeper last last. The past two years they have greatly underachieved as far as I'm concerned and with the cap space they have there are really no excuses this year.

The Spurs have fewer numbers of 100 minute line-ups. But they do have a TON of 50-99 minute line-ups, and shuffle people around all season long because of imaginary injuries and rest. They are an anomaly, and we should discount them in this exercise. But even the Spurs’ top unit has about 400 minutes together at this juncture of the season.

that's depth and coaching


Just look at the “starting” units for the eight teams. Utah is last. This isn’t a coaching thing, I’m not bagging on the Jazz for this.

sure it is. Ingles should be starting! Hood should have started the year on the bench.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/4/3/15167744/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-san-antonio-spurs-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward


Who do you think is working their butt off in practice more: Trey Lyles or Joel Bolomboy?

Before the year they said Lyles worked more than anyone other than Hayward I believe. You got to wonder what he's been working on though.


Andy Bailey @AndrewDBailey

Rudy Gobert is...

1st in DRPM
1st in DWS
1st in BLK%
2nd in WS
2nd in DRtg
2nd in DBPM
5th in RPM
6th in DRB%
9th in VORP

:bowdown:

He should be in the MVP talk as far as I'm concerned. Without him the Jazz suck. With him they are a top 5 team despite all of their shortcomings!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/4/4/15175930/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-george-hill-orlando-magic-oops

[QUOTE]Trey Lyles is one. Joe Johnson is possible one as well (listed as J.Johnson here, I

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/4/4/15174654/utah-jazz-vs-portland-trailblazers-five-things-to-watch-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-damian-lillard

[QUOTE]it

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/04/utah-jazz-orlando-magic-potentially-targeting-trey-lyles-offseason/
[QUOTE]
He has at times shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, but we don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/04/will-utah-jazz-healthy-come-playoff-time/


The final guy that has been the most worrisome injury-wise has been Rodney Hood.

You forgot Hayward who doesn't look right now!

[QUOTE]To be quite honest, even if he is

[Xiao Yao You]

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

who cares! :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Rudy putting on a show as expected! :cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Elam landed on something more radical: eliminate the game clock from crunch time. Under Elam

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

The Ringer

[Xiao Yao You]

Whether or not Hayward decides to stay will probably depend on how much the Jazz are willing to offer him, but this can

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]In an interview on The Vertical podcast with Adrian Wojnarowski, Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey went on the record with some of his complaints with how the Jazz are officiated, including some more concrete data from the league

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Eddie Sefko: Doc Rivers on tanking

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: The NBA has delivered teams a new salary cap projection for the 2017-18 season: $101M. The cap is $94.1M this season.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/04/04/11778/

[QUOTE]What the Jazz are doing this season is truly remarkable. The injuries this team has faced should have crippled their season. It has crippled teams year in and year out, and somehow it hasn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43775803&nid=304&title=6-jazz-players-have-injury-status-changed-and-more-notes-from-jazz-practice


Derrick Favors, Raul Neto, and Rodney Hood have all been upgraded to being questionable for Friday's game, after all being out on Tuesday. Favors has missed the last 14 games with a knee contusion, Neto has been out the last four games with a groin strain, and Hood missed just Tuesday's game with lingering knee soreness.

George Hill has also been out for four games, but his status has been upgraded to just doubtful, not questionable.

Jeff Withey missed Thursday's practice due to an illness, and he is also questionable for the game. Ideally, the Jazz would have at least one of Withey or Favors available to play backup minutes behind Rudy Gobert.

Dante Exum, after missing the entire fourth quarter on Tuesday due to a hip contusion, was not on the injury report. When asked for clarification, Jazz PR confirmed that meant that he is available for Friday's game, barring a new injury in shootaround or something like that.

Favors, Neto, Hill, Alec Burks, Trey Lyles, and Joel Bolomboy played a round of 3-on-3 after practice. Everyone looked like they were moving well, though it obviously wasn't at full speed.

Who will play the point guard now though? Mack has looked good. I think I'd look to play Exum since you know he has to play rather he deserves it or not and either Neto or Mack. The way they play it doesn't matter if Exum is at the one or the 3. Their wings handle the ball. They spot up. They run they pick and roll. Etc.


Hayward's teammate Joe Ingles has a problem with the plan.

"I'm waiting for my own billboard. I'll donate to my own billboard's GoFundMe," Ingles said. "I'll put a couple of bucks into it!"

Ingles is a free agent this summer too, after all. A billboard for Jingles (I liked the "Don't Go, Joe" idea) isn't the craziest plan, either.

Depending on the price Ingles may be the more important signing. Hayward isn't worth 30-35% of the cap that much is clear

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43768436&nid=294&title=jazz-gm-dennis-lindsey-goes-public-with-officiating-concerns


The data shows that many of the calls that are missed are due to the Jazz moving bodies around the floor on their lengthy offensive possessions, cutting and screening for each other. Opposing teams have found success by "grabbing, holding, pushing or pulling" the Jazz, and getting them out of those motions, even though they're committing fouls.

The Jazz feel that the referees aren't biased against their franchise, coach, or players, but against their style of play. And the league isn't instructing its officials on how to correctly adjudicate that movement-oriented style.

Maybe you should adjust the way you play depending on how the refs call the game? We hear that all the time!


"We had two players who were hurt on fouls. One, on Alec Burks, when he was up in the air was fouled, and suffered an ankle and a knee injury," Lindsey said. "Then we had Derrick Favors, who was grabbed and pulled and twisted on a non-call, that made him miss a period of time as well."

Favors is made of glass! Burks injury was bad lucj and really not a very smart play by Alec who was trying to prove something instead of just laying the ball in like he was so good at


"What we're asking is for the league to catch up with our style of play, because frankly our fans like how we play," Lindsey said. "Our players like that all five guys touch it. Gordon likes it. Rudy likes it."

I like when the ball moves but as the season has gone on they have gotten worse at letting the clock run down too low and getting off bad shots much like the two previous years. Need to move the ball and get off a good shot not a forced shot at the end of the clock

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43756414&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-trail-blazers


The reality is that Dante's getting better.

Could he get worse? Most of the time he's looked like a D-leaguer at best.


I'm imagining a potential second round matchup between the Jazz and the Golden State Warriors.

Dream on. Houston is the one team I think they could have beat. They aren't equipped to take on the Clippers. I'm hoping they can make it competitive but I am doubtful.


Gobert easily could have passed that ball.

He was looking to pass when he first got it and nobody came for the ball so he took off. He's an impressive player that's for sure! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43756414&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-jazz-vs-trail-blazers



Could he get worse? Most of the time he's looked like a D-leaguer at best.



Dream on. Houston is the one team I think they could have beat. They aren't equipped to take on the Clippers. I'm hoping they can make it competitive but I am doubtful.



He was looking to pass when he first got it and nobody came for the ball so he took off. He's an impressive player that's for sure! :bowdown:


Gobert's already well surpassed what I thought he was capable of.

I some ways maybe. But I expected him to step up his game a year ago. He showed signs of having a post game and a face up game his 2nd year. I thought it was just a matter of confidence just like what happened on D and it has been. He just keeps getting better. The sky really is the limit. He's the guy you build around. If Hayward, Hill and Ingles want to be part of it for the right price great. If not they will move forward with one of the best players in the league.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677246/Eaton-endorses-Rudy-Gobert-as-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-it-takes-one-to-know-one.html


Deseret News Sports @desnewssports
Who was the better big man?
12:26 PM - 6 Apr 2017
Mark Eaton
Rudy Gobert

Seriously? :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677288/Teammates-arent-afraid-to-make-defensive-player-of-year-case-for-Rudy-Gobert.html

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677176/Gordon-Hayward-encourages-donations-to-cancer-research-fund-in-response-to-Stayward-campaign.html


"Here in Utah, we've seen it too many times. Draft the good player, watch him become a great player, and then watch him leave in free agency," Jones wrote.

Who are you talking about? They let Millsap leave. They traded Deron. Who are all these greats?

[QUOTE]
Just over an hour before that, Hayward posted on his social media channels encouraging people to donate to a fund for cancer research that he has a close connection to.

One of his former college teammates at Butler, Erik Fromm, is aiming to raise $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of his father, Leonard, and former Bulldog Andrew Smith, who died from cancer in 2016.

Hey everyone if you could help me help @erik4romm reach his goal of 100k to honor his father and

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5142924-155/utah-jazz-salt-lake-tribune-team


Lindsey and his staff stripped the Jazz down to the chassis, parting ways with proven veterans such as Paul Millsap

Letting Paul and Demarre go was the first mistake of many he made.


one with a roster of budding stars in Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood.

the word star continues to be used very loosely!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5142458-155/utah-jazz-mailbag-what-to-do


If Hill doesn't come back, the Jazz absolutely will be in the market for another point guard.

They should be but this is the Jazz we're talking about. No absolutes when it's about spending money to win basketball games.


I wouldn't be shocked if they use one of their two first-round picks on a point guard, someone like Juwan Evans from Oklahoma State. Exum will be in the mix next season. But no way will he be the only point guard in the mix.

With Exum, Neto and Ty Wallace in the pipeline pg would seem to be the last position they would go after. They will need a vet to put around those 3 be it Mack or Hill or someone else.



There aren't many teams that will approach 50 wins in the Western Conference with their preferred starting lineup playing just 13 games together.

Their preferred line-up isn't their best and Ingles I believe hasn't missed a game or even had a bad game despite what is sometimes written.


It's difficult to pinpoint specific areas at this point because there are so many variables of what could happen between now and the end of July.

Their young unproven guys are Exum, Lyles, Bolomboy and Wallace so I'd say center for sure is the biggest need in the draft despite Rudy. Than I'd say wing though Wallace and Exum have the length to play there as well. After that best player avalible. I'm ready to send all of their young guys and assets for Jimmy Butler myself though! :applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5142610-155/utah-jazz-notes-dante-exum-shows


His numbers aren't mind-boggling, averaging 9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Starter? He's starting to look like he may belong in the league and maybe even in a rotation but if they go into next season with him penciled in as the starter it will be a joke!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-picking-opponents-playoff-sprint-fighting-frenchmen-more/

[QUOTE] the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/4/5/15174994/espn-nba-2017-list-best-value-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-dante-exum-john-stockton-downbeat


So my question is: which bench guy is going to have one of these epic defensive / heart / effort moments this playoffs for the Jazz? It’s going to be Dante Exum, right?

Sure doesn't sound like Dante. Neto maybe


Frank Urbina @frankurbina_
20 points on 6 shots for Gobert tonight ��. We still got a ways to go this season but I cannot wait to see what he does next year.

I can't wait to see the epic battle that awaits with Deandre! :bowdown:


Gobert is on pace to:
Have a top 100 WS/48 season all time. His current value of 0.254 WS/48 will put him even with Shaq in 1998-99, Wilt in 67, better than Stockton’s best ever season of 0.2377, and better than all but two of Malone’s best seasons.

Have a top 150 WS season all time. He has 13.87 now, which is good for 193rd all time. If he gets to 14.5 in the next four games, then the only active players with seasons better than that are LBJ (7x), Nowitzki (5x),Durant (3x), CP3 (3x),Harden (2x), Curry (2x), Pau, and Wade.

This is hall of fame level production. We’re totally spoiled to have this monster on the jazz.

Maybe one day he will get his due?

[Xiao Yao You]

http://nbamath.com/rudy-gobert-is-the-catalyst-for-utah-jazz-success/

[QUOTE]Since March 16, Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://saltcityhoops.com/curious-case-of-gordon-hayward/

Funny stuff! It was obvious he was a ball player from the get go.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/06/seeds-1-3-clinched-west-interesting-dynamic-arises-utah-jazz/

Unless it's a back to back Durant will probably be playing to get tuned up for the playoffs. Let's not forget the Clipps beating the Jazz with their stars all resting last year. nothing is a given

[Xiao Yao You]

I will be there tonight!

[Xiao Yao You]

Gordon Hayward spoke to reporters Friday for the first time since Jazz fan Garrett Jones created a GoFundMe account on Tuesday to raise $5,000 for a billboard aimed at encouraging the All-Star forward to re-sign with Utah when he becomes a free agent this summer. The goal was reached Friday, as 452 donations had added up to $5,271 at 12:15 p.m.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677340/Utah-Jazz-notes-Team-walking-fine-health-line-before-playoffs-Gordon-Hayward-talks-Stayward.html


Rodney Hood is expected to play and Derrick Favors is probable. Raul Neto is questionable, while George Hill is doubtful.

That report marks an upgrade for Hood and Favors from Thursday, as both were listed as questionable for the game.

:applause:

[QUOTE]The Jazz can clinch the Northwest Division title Friday night with a win over the Timberwolves and an Oklahoma City Thunder loss to the Phoenix Suns.

It would mark Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/4/7/15217884/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-quin-snyder-jerry-sloan-downbeat

This year because of Rudy though Deron was more of a star than Hayward. Sloan may have been a better coach as well

[WayOfWad3]

http://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat/2017/4/7/15217884/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-gordon-hayward-rudy-gobert-quin-snyder-jerry-sloan-downbeat

This year because of Rudy though Deron was more of a star than Hayward. Sloan may have been a better coach as well
I'd take the old team in five or six. Boozer & Williams was dynamite, and AK would definitely smother Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Alex Kennedy: The Utah Jazz officially won the Northwest Division tonight. pic.twitter.com/pHahaRbzPX

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]On Saturday night, the seven-time All-Star joined the 20,000-point club.

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Gordon Hayward suffered a quad contusion in tonight

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Tom Orsborn: Pop on final road trip:

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Shams Charania: Sources: Suns signing former NBA guard Elijah Millsap of D-League, younger brother of Hawks star Paul Millsap, for rest of the season.

[Xiao Yao You]

Anthony Slater: Warriors list Steph Curry as probable vs Jazz tomorrow, Matt Barnes (ankle/foot sprain) as out.

[Xiao Yao You]

Jeff McDonald: Dejounte Murray (groin) is listed as out for Monday

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, and Raul Neto are all OUT for the Jazz against GSW. George Hill and Gordon Hayward are questionable.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43805631&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-damian-lillard-drops-59-in-jazz-loss


It's hard to blame the roster construction for this one: the Jazz have two good defensive point guards, and both were hurt tonight. But I'm not sure we've ever seen worse games from Exum and Mack.

I thought Dante was the next great thing on D? Pretty sure he's had many games as bad. Roster construction is certainly a problem when you have 14 million in cap space unspent


The Blazers went under every screen and played six feet off of him, which ruined much of what the Jazz were trying to do offensively. Unable to shoot, Exum tried to attack, but with all of that extra space, his defenders had time to react. That meant he lept, got himself up in the air without anything to do, and turned the ball over. That's everything that the coaches have told him not to do, and his 14 minutes of playing time were deserved.

He doesn't deserve time if he can't hit shots. No reason any team should be letting him get to the rim. They should make him shoot. Same with Mack lately too really.


Mack had two really ugly turnovers himself, and, well, you saw the defense above. He was unplayably bad, except that the Jazz had no other good point guards. So naturally, he played 27 minutes.

Burks is sitting on the bench.


The results show on the floor, and he's been one of the Jazz's most consistent contributors.

but not very consistent

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43815678&nid=304&title=health-strong-finish-key-as-utah-jazz-prepare-for-playoffs

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677466/Damian-Lillard-gives-Joe-Johnson-game-ball-after-historic-game.html

[QUOTE]Jazz fans shouldn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677434/Jazz-notes-Joe-Johnson-reaches-20000-point-mark.html

[QUOTE]Johnson is only averaging 9.0 points for the Jazz, the lowest since his rookie season, and Snyder took the blame for that.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2017/4/9/15239890/nba-playoffs-2017-history-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-kareem-abdul-jabbar-shaquille-oneal-hakeem-duncan


It’s an exclusive club to be sure, as every other player to make it eventually joined the Basketball Hall of Fame (I’m including Dwight Howard here as well because he will make it when he retires).

Certainly don't see him as a lock.

the next thing is assists - of which he has 97. Can he get three more in the next two games? If he does so he’s part of an even crazier club of 1000 / 1000 / 200 / 100.


This group, if we include not just NBA data, but also BAA and ABA, is 13 players strong.

Artis Gilmore - 6x
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 4x
Shaquille O’Neal - 3x
Hakeem Olajuwon - 3x
Tim Duncan - 2x
Elvin Hayes - 2x
Dwight Howard - 2x
Caldwell Jones - 2x
David Robinson - 2x
Bob Lanier - 1x
Bob McAdoo - 1x
Dikembe Mutombo - 1x
Billy Paultz - 1x

This one means a lot less with The Whopper on the list! :lol


Can you imagine if they had played him full time from his rookie year until now? Sure he would have struggled but I can’t help but think where he would be right now.

He may have been destroyed mentally? Who knows? He wasn't ready for the NBA as a rookie. He should have spent more time in the D-league than he did.


Dante at pg next year. I think it’s time. Raul can back him up and we gotta have ingles back. Let hill walk.

Rather Hill walks or not they need to look for a vet to come in and compete for the starting job. You also have another young guy in Wallace that will probably be on the roster. No more of this handing shit to people because they have upside. I can see Neto and Exum in the rotation. Ideally they'd like Exum guarding ones with his length but offensively their guys play the same 1-4 and sometimes 5.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/9/15239626/nba-playoffs-2017-golden-state-warriors-san-antonio-spurs-utah-jazz-injuries-los-angeles-clippers

[QUOTE]I don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/09/utah-jazz-week-twenty-five-outlook-predictions/3/


If Utah loses tomorrow and the Clippers win, then LA will officially clinch the fourth seed while the Jazz will be slotted in fifth.

If such ends up being the case, then a Jazz team that has struggled through countless injuries this season could very well opt to rest most of their key guys in this contest.

I'd rest Rudy, Ingles, Hayward, Johnson and Diaw. Everyone else that is healthy enough to play need the reps. May want to play Ingles briefly because I don't think he has missed a game


As fun as this season has been despite its ups and downs, the Jazz were never considered to be a realistic championship threat.

Not when you aren't all in. Spurs and Golden State are the only teams better if the Jazz spend their money and anything can happen at that point.


the goal of this season in the eyes of many was to prove to soon-to-be free agent Gordon Hayward that this team is on the right track

and if I'm him I'm thinking the Celtics are going to do what it takes to win big. The Jazz aren't. Can't blame him if he leaves. I' sure he'll get booed though just as he was on draft night. :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

Allen and Zach Randolph are both unrestricted free agents after this season. That means they are guaranteed to play just four more home games. Two regular-season games, and two playoff home games. After that, who knows? “I’ve already talked to the front office, and if it works out for us that we can have him back, I love him,” said Fizdale when asked about Allen’s future with the team. “But I also know that we have to make some decisions based on what’s best for the unit. That’s where we’ll come together and we’ll see what’s on the table and we’ll give our input on what gives us our best chance moving forward.” – via Memphis Commercial Appeal

In other words, maybe the Grizzlies will be able to afford Allen, maybe they won’t. They already have $74 million tied up in Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons next season. So you can imagine that they might find a way to bring Allen back on a two-year contract. Or you can imagine they might look at Wayne Selden’s prototypical NBA body and $1.3 million salary and try and persuade themselves — wrongly, I think — that Selden can do what Allen can do for less than half the price. – via Memphis Commercial Appeal


Randolph could be a nice fit

[Xiao Yao You]

But Green just does so many things defensively for the Warriors, switching onto and guarding just about anyone in the league who has the ball in his hands at a given moment. He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/04/10/morning-tip-selections-2016-17-awards-rookie-year-mip-coy-sixth-man?collection=david-aldridge

[QUOTE]ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Guards: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder; James Harden, Houston Rockets

Forwards: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Center: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Not only has Gobert done all the above on the defensive end, he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Connor Letourneau: Warriors announce officially that Kevon Looney (left hip strain) is out tonight vs. the Jazz.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43821038&nid=304&title=jazz-shootaround-notes-injury-update-a-game-ball-gift-from-lillard


So after having a nearly full roster except for George Hill, the Jazz will have more players sitting out Monday.

Gordon Hayward is the headliner. He had sat due to a left quadriceps contusion for a game on March 27, though had played through it since. However, he got hit in the same spot on his leg against Portland, bruising the bruise, so to speak.

"The question is, do you want Gordon at 80 percent or 90 percent?," head coach Quin Snyder asked me after practice. Clearly, the Jazz are choosing the latter.

He wouldn't have shown up anyone.


Rodney Hood is out with his right knee soreness issue, and Derrick Favors is also out with his left knee soreness issue. Again, the calculation for Hood and Favors is similar to the one the Jazz made with Hayward, though Hood and Favors may be more seriously hurting.

Raul Neto turned his ankle pretty badly on Saturday, which was unfortunate because he was easily Utah's best point guard option. He left the Moda Center in Portland in a walking boot. Neto will be out, "hopefully a week or two, hopefully he can be back for the playoffs? We don't know," Snyder said.

Dante Exum is still dealing with the after effects of a hip contusion he picked up in the Jazz's first matchup at home against Portland a couple of weeks ago. "It hurts," Exum said. "Certain movements hurt. A lot of the explosive stuff, sometimes I just get a sharp pain. It's something I can play through. I want to get minutes and continue to play and get ready for the playoffs."

The good news: George Hill is probably going to try to play, barring any bad signs before the game tonight. "We're going to see where he's at, dust him off. That's the plan," Snyder said.

Hill!


We'll see how the Jazz adjust to what the Clippers do over the course of what could be a long, multi-week series.

Wouldn't count on it being long. Should win one maybe two because of Rudy

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/10/report-gordon-hayward-leaving-utah-jazz-after-playoffs/

[QUOTE]And ultimately the biggest asset to keep Hayward in Utah isn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/10/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-dpoy-love-associated-press/


:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: George Hill will play

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Kevin Durant on Rudy Gobert:

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, and Rodney Hood are all PROBABLE for tomorrow

[WayOfWad3]

Andy Larsen: Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, and Rodney Hood are all PROBABLE for tomorrow’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Raul Neto is OUT. – via Twitter andyblarsen
Yeah I don't know how I feel about this. The odds of us beating SA with or without our/their starters is slim regardless, and LAC isn't going to blow the final game against the Kings (one can hope). I say rest up for the playoffs and get Bolomboy/Lyles/Burke some run so they can actually test out their limits. The 4 seed is out of reach in my opinion, so best take advantage of a game that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things

[Xiao Yao You]

Yeah I don't know how I feel about this. The odds of us beating SA with or without our/their starters is slim regardless, and LAC isn't going to blow the final game against the Kings (one can hope). I say rest up for the playoffs and get Bolomboy/Lyles/Burke some run so they can actually test out their limits. The 4 seed is out of reach in my opinion, so best take advantage of a game that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things


I'm guessing they are just hoping to have them playing well once the series starts. Bolomboy should've been getting more time all year from the looks of it. Kind of a joke he hasn't considering their problems there

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]For example, Gobert mentioned that he will try to persuade Hayward to re-sign with the Jazz when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. When I asked him what he

[Xiao Yao You]

By now, Gobert has grown accustomed to being overlooked. After all, this is his fourth year in the NBA and his career literally began with a slight, as he slipped to No. 27 in the very weak 2013 NBA draft. Rather than let it frustrate him, the center uses the lack of attention as motivation.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://*********.com/2017/04/11/rudy-gobert-may-fly-under-the-radar-but-he-has-his-peers-respect/

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/04/11/emptying-the-noggin-jazz-win-50th-with-veteran-leadership/


Summary: The Jazz win their 50th game of the regular season with a surprising 105-99 victory over the Warriors, despite playing without Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors.

Why is it surprising? They had 3 of their 4 best players. Ingles and Gobert almost led them to a win over them earlier in the year with all of their guys playing the whole game

[QUOTE]The first quarter of basketball was high scoring and exciting. That gave way to a more Jazz-paced game and with both teams

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43828689&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-jazz-reach-50-wins-by-defeating-warriors


Quin Snyder downplayed the accomplishment, saying "I'm proud of our team for what they've done this season. I'm not as big on 50 wins. I'm big on us improving. I'm glad we're in the playoffs. It's a round number. It's divisible by 10. It doesn't need to be 50 to represent what our players have done this year fighting through a lot of adversity."

And of course, Snyder's right: this milestone is mostly about our society's base 10 number system. The Babylonians, on the other hand, are wildly unimpressed with the Jazz; they can't even get in double digits in their base 60 system. (On the other hand, they'd love the Warriors. 60 wins for three straight seasons? Pretty impressive.)

But given that humans are wired this way, it means something. 50 wins has become a measure of a successful season. That matters as the Jazz try to chase free agents, or to keep their own this offseason. That matters as the Jazz try to get their own young players to work hard on their own development. And that matters for recognition, which the Jazz front office, coaches, and players really do deserve.

In China 12 is important so 48 wins would have been a big deal or 60 which even I would have been able to appreciate. :D


very year since hiring Quin Snyder, the Jazz have improved in significant ways. That's meaningful, and again, helps bolster the story the Jazz can tell.

And teams around the league notice that. Take Steve Kerr, who, when asked about the loss, simply began by complimenting the Jazz. "Fifty wins, that's a hell of an accomplishment considering where their team was a few years ago. They've done a really good job there building the roster and coaching. That's a really solid team."

Indeed they are, with or without round number bias.

All comes down to Rudy as far as I can tell. Lindsey would probably be in the same position as Hennigan in Orlando without him. They would have traded Hayward before he left. They would have had some higher picks the past couple years and maybe Kanter signed to a huge deal ut no Gobert.


One thing Hill does pretty well that the other healthy Jazz point guards struggle with is up-close ball pressure, while still not getting beat on straight-line drives. That ball pressure makes everything for an opponent harder. Getting into screens, moving to where you want to go, even calling plays becomes a non-trivial task when the ball is pressured. That reduces the number of actions that the opposing team can run, leading to late-shot clock attempts. Even better, it also can lead to turnovers.

Neto does it and even starts it in the backcourt sometimes


Joel Bolomboy played the fewest minutes of any Jazzman tonight, and yet I thought he was one of the Jazz's best players on the floor during his minutes. He ended up with two points and six rebounds in 15 minutes, so that's not impressive, but he really showed what he can do and contributed in a real way to the team concept.

6 boards in 15 minutes is impressive. A joke they haven't played him all year!


The biggest problem for him right now is that his screens are awful: they don't create any advantage for the Jazz at all. Gobert had the same problem early in his career, but he's improved upon that to become one of the best screeners in the NBA. If Bolomboy can improve that aspect, he'll become a consistently positive impact player. Not bad for the 52nd pick in the draft from Weber State.

Needs to get stronger. He certainly looks like the guy that could be starting next to Rudy as early as next year.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43830585&nid=294&title=ben-anderson-jazz-have-aced-their-hayward-audition


Rudy Gobert and George Hill left Oracle Arena with a stunning 105-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors

:facepalm

[QUOTE]The two have proven themselves as upper-echelon players in the Western Conference, and are a third star away from the coveted big-three combination NBA front offices seek to build a championship contender. The Jazz have a slew of draft picks over the next two season, plus young talent they could package to bring in another star to support Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/warriors-jazz-playoffs-stephen-curry-kevin-durant-nba-playoffs-seeds-schedule-utah-golden-state-041117

[QUOTE]Curry can't stick with Hill, but can Kerr put Klay Thompson on the Jazz point guard? Where do you hide Curry in that scenario? Both Dante Exum and Shelvin Mack

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677610/Jazz-have-something-to-play-for-on-final-night-of-regular-season.html

[QUOTE]Although the Jazz don

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677567/Utah-Jazz-cant-afford-a-slow-run-up-to-the-playoffs.html

[QUOTE]If nothing else, the win said the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677623/Jazz-notes-Joel-Bolomboys-opportunity-Warriors-react-to-Utah-loss.html

[QUOTE]Bolomboy appreciated the chance to play. Showing his good attitude, the rookie even politely corrected a reporter when asked if playing in a win over the Warriors helped make up for a rough year of going back and forth from the D-League.

[Xiao Yao You]

https://theringer.com/utah-jazz-2016-17-nba-playoffs-first-round-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-9ecb093c7a41


Because they missed the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, they have never been the plucky upstart happy to win a few games in the first round. Utah has skipped a bunch of steps in the team-building process.

I thought they don't skip steps?

[QUOTE]Hayward

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5166408-155/utah-jazz-george-hills-return-bodes


Dante Exum played very well at shooting guard.

I guess except for the actual shooting part of it. Rather see Burks


Joel Bolomboy showed his upside as a future rotation player.

Showed he should have been in the mix this year. I think he's got a chance of starting once they move away from Favors next year. Hopefully Trey can still be a back-up but Bolomboy is more of a starter

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.clipsnation.com/2017/4/11/15240264/nba-playoffs-2017-preview-los-angeles-clippers-a-guide-to-hating-your-2016-17-utah-jazz


Gobert has a great nickname and is French and has a 48 foot wing span and still somehow manages to be kind of boring.

Not sure how anyone could watch Rudy play and say it's boring. :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE]Is Gordon

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/12/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-receives-high-praise-players-around-league/


Jazz fans have known for quite some time how impactful and downright special of a player Rudy is

Not sure they have. The media and the announcers still want you to believe hayward is the straw that stirs the drink when it hasn't been the case for over 2 years.

[QUOTE]I love the fact that Durant admits that Gobert has exceeded his expectations. I guarantee that

[Xiao Yao You]

https://twitter.com/RTHoopsTalk/status/851530846779691008


First Team All NBA:

G - James Harden
G - Russell Westbrook
F - Lebron James
F - Kawhi Leonard
C - Rudy Gobert

:applause:


Daniel‏ @wetsweatshirt Apr 11

I know he's great but 1st team?

who deserves it more? :confusedshrug:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/11/utah-jazz-shelvin-mack-needs-to-stay-aggressive/


In many circumstances, Mack has tended to settle for jumpers this season rather than attack the basket, which is not the style of play Jazz fans want to see out of him.

Don't think he's settling. His job is to take what the defense is giving you. And it the other team has scouted the Jazz they will leave Mack open so he can't get to the rim

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/11/utah-jazz-vs-la-clippers-playoff-preview-player-comparison/


Utah has been one of the most banged up teams in the league, a fact which very well could have contributed to some of their losses to LA

You have to show up to play no matter and what and the Clips did and the Jazz didn't


for these intents and purposes, we’ll be operating under the assumption that each player brought up here will be in full health and ready to go for the postseason. That seems highly unlikely, especially in the instances of Derrick Favors who’s looked off all season long and Rodney Hood who’s struggled incessantly with injuries. Even Gordon Hayward and George Hill’s recent bouts with injuries are reasons for concern.

3 of those 4 have said they won't be 100% all year. You hope the rest between games will make a big difference


Rodney Hood vs. J.J. Redick

Let's hope Ingles and Diaw continue to start


However, even when healthy, Hood has become quite the streaky player.

He was your next great player earlier in the year! He actually had been consistent before he got the flu


Therefore, I’m giving the Clippers the edge once again in this match-up due to Redick’s red hot shooting ability and Hood’s glaring inconsistency.

I give the edge to Ingles.


compared to All-Star Gordon Hayward, Mbah a Moute simply can’t measure up.

yet he's shut him down this year


it’s quite clear that Hayward has the edge in this one.

but it's not


Hayward was stellar in the lone win and has been able to punish formidable defenders all season long

actually he hasn't


Derrick Favors vs. Blake Griffin

Hopefully Diaw though I think Bolomboy could have been the guy. They really blew that one and considering how much they have loved Exum and Lyles it sucks he didn't get a shot with all the struggles they've had at the 4


However, it’s also important to note that in all but the final bout against the Clippers, Gobert didn’t play all that well and in many ways looked outmatched by Jordan.

Wouldn't say that.


if Joel Bolomboy’s minutes against Golden State were any indication of future usage, then the Jazz could have a diamond in the rough to bring off the bench in limited minutes against the Clips

Be surprised if he's not in a suit next to Raul


Both Utah and LA are pretty comparable in terms of their second units, but thanks largely to the play (especially recently) of Joe Johnson as well as the three-point shooting prowess of Joe Ingles, I’m going to give the Jazz a slight edge in the bench match-up.

Advantage – Jazz Bench

Again hopefully Ingles and Diaw are starting but got to give the edge to the Clipps here regardless I think. Ingles looks like the one place where they have the clear advantage assuming he starts. Sweep? Hopefully they can get 1 or 2 wins in the series.


If the Jazz are able to roll out their intended starting lineup for the entire series, I’m picking them in seven games, otherwise, I’m going to give this one to the Clippers in six.

Do we know their intended line-up? When Favors returned him and Hood came off the bench for the first time. I'd guess that is the intended line-up. Makes too much sense. The fact that they waited this long to do it is a joke really

Did you actually watch the previous games against the Clipps?

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Meanwhile, the Nuggets will take a wait-and-see approach with forward Danilo Gallinari. The veteran can opt out of the final year of his contract and test the market as an unrestricted free agent this summer. At that time, the Nuggets will be one of the teams in the mix for his services.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]David

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/4/12/15268566/utah-jazz-vs-san-antonio-spurs-overtone-nba-playoffs-kawhi-leonard-rudy-gobert


The last time we played the Spurs in a meaningful game at the end of a season was in the playoffs five years ago. This team has so much more talent than that playoff team (led by Al Jefferson) and more fight ... and Rudy Gobert.

For all the talk of depth that team was certainly deeper. Unfortunately it was built around Jefferson and not Millsap.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2017/4/12/15258194/utah-jazz-vs-san-antonio-spurs-game-preview-last-game-rudy-gobert-kawhi-leonard-gordon-hayward-boris


George Hill, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Rodney Hood will all play, with only Favors having a minutes restriction.

don't get hurt any worse than you may already be


The Bolom-man was quite effective in 15 limited minutes against the Warriors, with 2 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block. Expect to see a more of him tonight against the Spurs bench, especially Davis Bertans, a younger, more athletic, and overall better version of Matt Bonner. In a game where the starters probably (hopefully) will play less than 20 minutes each, a fun bench matchup is worth looking out for.

doubt he's dressed

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/2017/4/12/15268446/nba-playoffs-2017-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-gordon-hayward-george-hill-dante-exum-boris-diaw-rodney-hood

[QUOTE]Hayward is the star of the show. He

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677679/Jazz-notes-Utah-relieved-to-have-players-healthy-together-again.html

[QUOTE]Jazz coach Quin Snyder didn

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Pop on trading away Boris Diaw:

[Xiao Yao You]

Hill looks good. Maybe they can survive a bad series from Hayward? Finally benched Hood and Favors! Going to miss Neto though. Burks should play instead of Dante too.

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Gregg Popovich on Quin Snyder

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Brooklyn

[Xiao Yao You]

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjazz/2017/04/12/emptying-the-noggin-see-you-in-the-playoffs/


Boris has been really good the last few games and makes all the correct plays. It will be interesting to see if the Jazz continue to use him as a starter in the playoffs.

I imagine they'll stick with the line-up of the past 3 games. Makes too much sense. Why they didn't go to it earlier is the question.

Hood is a 6th man rather he thinks so or not. He can have the ball in his hands more with the 2nd unit which is what he likes.

Favors can only play limited minutes. They stagger their minutes anyway so why not just stagger them at the beginning of the game. If they need to go big they can bring in Favors earlier or keep him in longer. If they want to go small they bring in Iso Joe.

Ingles has became their pg. with 18 assists over the final 3 games and he can play whatever role you need him to without needing the ball. I don't think Diaw is ideal but Johnson didn't do well starting. Could have been Bolomboy. Chance wasted there!


The second quarter has been the offensive problem all season, with the Jazz ranked 29th in the NBA in offense during the frame, but tonight the Jazz opened the quarter with Hill, Ingles, Hood, Johnson and Favors.

Which is likely a result of them bringing those guys off the bench!


Favors is the key to all of this and he looked terrific tonight. His bounce is going to be big in the playoffs.

Wasn't that impressed. Looked good in the Minnesota game. Which bringing him off the bench allows you to play him depending on how he is feeling from game to game. Same with Hood. Hopefully with the 2 and 3 games off between games them and Hill will benefit


Rodney Hood was aggressive taking 13 shots in 23 minutes.

When is he not aggressive? He's actually passed it a few times recently!


Joe Ingles finished the year shooting 44% from 3.

go Joe!

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43851989&nid=304&title=the-triple-team-3-thoughts-on-the-jazz-winning-final-season-game-against-san-antonio


I thought the defensive continuity was remarkable given the circumstances. After all, the Jazz haven't had the starters all together in a month. It's probably fair to expect they wouldn't gel on the floor in their first game back in that time. But, they did. And that's a massive credit to Quin Snyder and the coaching staff.

I'd give most of the credit to Rudy. Makes everything else a lot easier


I asked Snyder about Favors' role Wednesday night.

"Who starts, who finishes, who plays is going to depend on the game. We know what we've decided with Joe Johnson and I think our team has found a groove with that lineup," Snyder said. "But as far as Fav goes, we have confidence in him in a lot of different roles."

bring him off the bench!


the Jazz do have two days off in between Game 1 and Game 2, and again between Game 2 and Game 3, should benefit Utah. The Jazz are somewhat beat up, with nagging injuries for Rodney Hood, Hill, Gordon Hayward, Favors, Dante Exum, and others.

might help the Clipps even more? Not sure what their injury situation is right now

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=304&sid=43851556&title=hayward-scores-14-jazz-beat-spurs-101-97


The win was a season-best ninth straight at home, the longest streak for the Jazz since 2012.

About time they started taking care of home court


Utah had its ideal starting lineup of Hayward, Rodney Hood, Hill, Gobert and Derrick Favors all available for the first time since March 5, though Hood and Favors didn't start.

Who says it's ideal? Looks like the coach may have finally decided it wasn't

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2702639-nba-position-power-rankings-end-of-regular-season-edition-centers

#1! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677724/For-fifth-place-the-Utah-Jazz-deserve-a-medal.html


who knew the fierce nature of Gobert?

anyone that's been paying attention the past couple of years?


A fast postseason exit would dampen fan enthusiasm, but it would be unfair for them to complain. Fifth place is where many experts picked the Jazz in the preseason, but that was before the team got slammed by injuries. They should have been scrapping to finish eighth. Instead, they won six more games than ESPN predicted.

Getting past the first playoff round would be a bonus. Anything further? It deserves a medal.

Considering they were the 6th best team at the end of the season 2 years ago and they have 14 million in cap space and an exception that they did not even use there is plenty to complain about. They were supposed to be deep so either they are deep or or you quit talking about the injuries.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5166811-155/utah-jazz-polish-off-the-spurs?page=2


The memories of the postseason, meanwhile, are more vivid for the veteran point guard Hill, who had some advice for his teammates.

"It's the real season now," he said. "It starts now."

Be interesting to see which guys are up for it. Have serious doubts about Hayward but as a team they didn't do well against the Clippers or most of the best teams.

[Xiao Yao You]

http://purpleandblues.com/2017/04/13/according-man-games-lost-healthy-utah-jazz-wouldve-logged-60-wins/

Who knows what they could have done if they were all in with or without injuries?

[QUOTE]it

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Portland Trail Blazers played 13 games between March 14 and April 4, and in all but one of them, Maurice Harkless attempted a 3-pointer. Then, suddenly, during an April 4 game in Utah, Harkless simply stopped. And now we know why: To ensure that he

[Xiao Yao You]

http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-draft/2017/4/14/15301742/nba-draft-2017-mock-draft-utah-jazz-round-up-1-tyler-lyndon-donovan-mitchell-andrejs-pasecniks


Pick #24:
Tony Bradley (C from North Carolina)
Harry Giles (PF from Duke) x2
Rodions Kurucs (SF from Latvia)
Mathias Lessort (PF/C from France)
Tyler Lyndon (SF/PF Soph from Syracuse)
Donovan Mitchell (SG Soph from Louisville) x2
Moritz Wagner (F Soph from Michigan)

I think you have to look center first based on the young guys they currently have. Maybe someone that could also play alongside Rudy eventually like Favors.

[QUOTE]Pick #30:
Jordan Bell (PF/C Jr. from Oregon)
Bonzie Colson (PF from Notre Dame)
Andrew Jones (PG from Texas)
Luke Kennard (SG from Duke)
Tyler Lyndon (SF/PF Soph from Syracuse)
Donovan Mitchell (SG Soph from Louisville)
An

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Kristaps Porzingis skipped exit meetings with New York Knicks management due to frustration over what he perceives as the dysfunction and drama surrounding the organization, team sources told ESPN.com.

[Xiao Yao You]

In an effort to assist the local community, the Utah Jazz and six corporate partners teamed up to provide charitable donations of cash or services worth more than $262,000 to a variety of schools and nonprofit organizations along the Wasatch Front this season.

[WayOfWad3]

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You]In an effort to assist the local community, the Utah Jazz and six corporate partners teamed up to provide charitable donations of cash or services worth more than $262,000 to a variety of schools and nonprofit organizations along the Wasatch Front this season.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Two of the most important men for the Nets

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: The Utah Jazz will have picks 24 and 30 in the first round of the NBA Draft

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The same bravado that makes Green a Defensive Player of the Year front-runner is a big reason he is regularly late running back on defense, per a FiveThirtyEight report published Wednesday. The story

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]With the Celtics fading in the first round, the chances of Carmelo Anthony wearing green are increasing. According to an NBA source, the Celtics coaching staff was in favor of trading for Anthony at the trade deadline, but general manager Danny Ainge had too many reservations. One of Ainge

[Xiao Yao You]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2704809-jimmer-fredette-has-a-decision-immortality-in-china-or-role-player-in-america


"Obviously he knows he's not Russell Westbrook ... but he thinks he can be Raul Neto for the Jazz. He can bring five to 10 minutes, hit some shots and contribute," Emery says. "I'm a Utah Jazz fan and I wondered why teams wouldn't bring in Jimmer to sell jerseys at the very least. There is value from what he can do on and off [the court]."

He's no Neto but he could be a 6th man probably not for the Jazz though. Look what Crawford did this year returning from China.

[Xiao Yao You]

David

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Teague will be a free agent this summer, and after finishing Game 4 with 15 points and 10 assists, including a critical steal and three-pointer down the stretch, he made clear that he hopes to remain with the Pacers.