2021-22 regular season Utah Jazz news, notes and game coverage

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/11/29/22809336/utah-jazz-show-dominance-in-complete-win-over-the-portland-trail-blazers-donovan-mitchell


Speaking of Donovan Mitchell. Tonight was a vintage night for Spida. With a line of 30 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field and 37% from three, Mitchell looked like the all-NBA player he’s aspiring to be. This season Mitchell has been working hard to improve his playmaking and, while his assists are up this season, his shooting hasn’t been there consistently. Tonight was another story. When Mitchell is finding open shooters while also scoring the ball, it makes him one of the elite players in the league. If the Jazz can get more of this from Mitchell where he’s slicing up defenses and knocking down shots, the Jazz are on the verge of getting some big win streaks.



hopefully he becomes one of the elite players on the team first


Finally, credit needs to be given to Jordan Clarkson who had a fantastic shooting night. Clarkson shot 7/15 from the field but 6/10 from three. That three ball is the thing that vaulted him to 6MOY last season and if that shot starts falling consistently, it’ll not only put Clarkson in the running again for 6MOY, but also help the Jazz win a lot of games. It appeared that a lot more of Clarkson’s threes tonight were catch and shoot, rather than pull up threes. Could that be the difference? Clarkson can obviously do the pull up three but maybe he should wait for those catch and shoot threes and then instead of a pull up, just drive to the lane where he has incredible touch.



He sucked form 3 last year. He got it because he scored a lot of points on the best team.

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50294575/things-are-different-for-joe-ingles-when-he-starts--but-not-for-the-reason-you-may-think


O'Neale isn't about to lose his starting spot; the Jazz value what he brings defensively too much to change it up. The same goes for Mike Conley or Donovan Mitchell, so is Ingles stuck in a weird state where he'll only be at his most effective when someone is injured? Well, not necessarily.



Bojan is the one to go to the bench but Ingles needs to play less not more


The good news for Ingles and the Jazz is his success in the starting lineup is less about beginning the game on the court and more about playing alongside Rudy Gobert.



for Ingles and everyone

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/11/30/22810412/rudy-gay-is-exactly-what-the-utah-jazz-needed


Rudy Gay came into this league as a scorer, and in his 16th season, that’s still his primary role. His scoring takes a different role now though. Early in his career, he lived in the midrange. He created a lot of his shots for himself. He was a primary creator and scorer. As the years have gone by, he has had to do what many aging stars have done. He’s had to evolve into a valuable role player. So far this season, Gay has a career-low Usage percentage of 19.9%. He’s also averaging his most three-point attempts per game since his second season in the league. He’s taking fewer possessions as a creator, and more as a finisher.



star? He was close to that level but never really a star


Gay’s impact on offense is noticeable. The Utah Jazz over the last few seasons have loved to employ shooters at the power forward position. This helps provide the necessary spacing for Quin Snyder’s offense. Gay has fully accepted that role. He is shooting 11.9 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, third-most among rotation players on the team behind only Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Mitchell.



with Clarkson being their worst shooter. Makes a lot of sense! :facepalm


When the Jazz signed Rudy Gay, a lot of the talk around the move was about his versatility, and how the Jazz can utilize him in different ways. So far, he hasn’t had to venture far from the role of bench scorer. That will likely be how he spends most of his time. He’s slotted right into the role left by Georges Niang, and he’s played it perfectly so far. Quin Snyder has found over the last few years that he can punish opposing benches by staggering his starting lineup with his second unit. He has built his rotation so that there are a significant number of minutes each game in which Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert join Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, and another bench player. This lineup has dominated the opposition’s second units. Rudy Gay has slid seamlessly into this lineup and elevated it. The Conley, Clarkson, Ingles, Gay, Gobert lineup is +24.5 points per 100 possessions so far, by far the best lineup that Utah has regularly used this season.



just imagine what they could do without Clarkson


Even players recognized as superstars like Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnet were better than they are remembered. Their superstardom comes from their offense, with their incredible defense being an afterthought. If Hakeem were not good at offense, he would be forgotten just like Mark Eaton even though he was an all-time great defender (like Eaton).

Eaton sucked

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/01/two-ways-utah-jazz-catch-wests-best/


While it may be that a backcourt of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell is ill-equipped to accumulate pilfers (although Mitchell is doing his part, with 1.9 per game), any frontcourt combination of Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale and Joe Ingles has the prerequisite length to gamble in passing lanes. Furthermore, Gobert’s presence offers a remarkably attractive insurance policy against any failed attempts.



that's not long sorry. Mitchell would be long at the 1. He's not a 1

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/11/30/joe-ingles-starting-utah-jazz/


No lineups featuring Royce O’Neale have come close to replicating that success. When he shares the floor with Hassan Whiteside, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Mitchell, the team enjoys a +12.7 differential (70th percentile). That’s solid, but it’s also the best Utah Jazz lineup featuring O’Neale. It’s not nearly as good as the two top Ingles lineups (which are also the two top Jazz lineups) and furthermore, it comes with several members of the second unit.



Shitty lineup


Of course, looking at the performances of lineups featuring both Jazzmen doesn’t settle the manner entirely. Using the same data to make the same argument, Jordan Clarkson should be starting, and functionally, his offense is imperative to the second unit (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/25/jordan-clarkson-jazz-sixth-man-of-the-year). We need a more direct comparison of Ingles and O’Neale.



Clarkson should be traded. That would help everyone out


All told, the decision may be inconsequential. Both Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale figure to be key contributors to the Utah Jazz moving forward. However, the numbers may suggest that Ingles should be the one making his contributions with the starting group.



O'Neale can play big minutes. Ingles shouldn't Bojan needs to be benched. They need a starting 4

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Royce O’Neale was a full participant in Utah Jazz practice today. Trent Forrest (non-COVID illness) did not participate (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/2/22801494/udoka-azubuike-suffered-a-subluxation-of-the-ankle-what-does-that-mean-utah-jazz


“If you had a previous injury, that may indicate that the ligaments have healed stretched out, that there’s some instability of the ligaments,” Jung said. “If the ligaments are more lax or flexible it allows the bones to essentially move out of position when he rolls his ankle.”


That could become a chronic problem according to Jung. But, since surgery isn’t an option being pursued as of yet, that could mean that there isn’t significant stretching or instability with Azubuike’s ligaments.


No matter the case, Azubuike is looking at another season mostly spent rehabbing an ankle injury. That rehab and a timeframe could end up being similar to last season’s.


“Obviously there’s enough stretching of the ligaments that it’s more than just your run-of-the-mill sprain,” Jung said. “So you would expect the timeframe of at least a very bad ankle sprain. But it also depends on what ligaments are injured and then how quick he’s able to get stability back in the joints, as well as strength and range of motion.”



looking like another Dante Exum. Hopefully Zanik will know when to cut the leash umlike Lindsey continuing to double down on the horrible Exum pick

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/november-rewind-the-big-questions-and-moments-from-a-9-6-month/


Voter fatigue could be a significant obstacle, but Gobert is still the Vegas favorite. Anthony Davis is the next closest by some Vegas oddsmakers’ estimations, but the Lakers are scuffling and Davis has not looked as dominant on the defensive end. But awards are narrative driven, and if the Lakers turn it around, no team absorbs more spotlight, and Davis could win major storyline points. Draymond Green appears to be Rudy’s biggest competition at this point. The Warriors share the league’s best record and best defense. Draymond has been phenomenal. While Rudy is once again dominating in all sorts of categories, the Jazz may need to match the Warriors’ league-wide rankings to hold the crown. Especially when you factor in the storylines surroundings the Golden State’s resurgence and voter fatigue.



I'd be surprised if he gets it even if he's better than ever. Might not get All NBA with Minnesota not sucking either despite being better offesnively too


Next is Donovan Mitchell. He’s another All-Star lock. If his 3-point shooting was up to normal we’d be talking about him a lot more. From a numbers standpoint, he’s not too far from last season, where he was a legit All-NBA candidate until his injury. He’s doing some things better this year, including rim finishing and perimeter defense (his steal rate is at an all-time high). He’s shown flashes of better decision making, despite some lapses where he tries to match hot-shooting opponents shot-for-shot. His 3-point shooting should normalize, and Don will hit a hot streak that launches him back into the All-NBA conversations, and maybe beyond. It’s also worth noting that Mitchell is playing about a minute less per game. His scoring stacks up much more favorably against the league’s elite when you use per 36 minutes or per 100 possessions comparisons.



nice to be an all star lock and not even have to show up until January


And lastly, Snyder is always a deserving candidate for Coach of the Year, but this award often goes to the most surprising team, and it will be hard for the Jazz to surprise anyone this season after finishing with the best record.



COTY!!! :roll:


This may just be a roster issue. Mitchell and Conley are smaller players; Clarkson has never been a defensive player; and Ingles has looked slow. Look, every team has weaknesses, and the Jazz may be good enough everywhere else to overcome this. With a healthy Mitchell and Conley, they probably are. But if it continues to be a big enough weakness, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jazz shop one of their backup guards for a perimeter stopper.



Clarkson needs to go. Need a starting 4. Move O'Neale to the wing and Bojan to the bench


We’re a few weeks away from many players becoming eligible for trade. It’s clear that the Jazz have a perimeter defense problem, but is it bad enough that the roster needs a shakeup? Now is the time to evaluate as we get close to trade season.



roster shakeup and new head coach


Jazz fans are right to be excited about Gay. There’s was tempered enthusiasm before his debut given his 35 years of age and the team’s weakness at the point of attack, but Gay has been nothing but exceptional in his first seven games. He’s averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds, knocking down two and half 3s per game at a 53% clip. He provides length and just plays the right way. It’s hard to ask for much more. But actually — I’m curious how much more the Jazz will ask for him come playoff time. He’s playing 19 minutes per game now, which feels like a good amount for a player with his mileage. But could he be a closer, playing 30+ minutes in the playoffs? If he keeps up this play, the Jazz may need that from him.



would be great if he could give you 30 minutes but hasn't done that in 5 years. Low 20's seem more likely

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/03/donovan-mitchell-run-offense-utah-jazz/


Should Donovan Mitchell run this Utah Jazz offense?

ideally their offense would be built around Mitchell and Gobert pick and roll but he's not ready. Conley and Ingles should have the ball not Mitchell and Clarkson. Unfortunately that won't change unless the coach and roster do


The concept of a “point guard” has changed radically over the past few years. Gone are the days of John Stockton (https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/13/utah-jazz-time-teams/) when a floor general’s first, second and third responsibility was to set up their teammates. In today’s NBA, point guards score, and few players in the league do that as well as Donovan Mitchell.



Conley can score and make his teammates better


In other words, Mitchell is a more efficient offensive player when he’s not deferring to the long-time floor general. (https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/02/ranking-utah-jazz-lineups/) Conventional wisdom may dictate that Mitchell is a shooting guard, but in the modern context, we can do away with those labels. Donovan Mitchell is a lead guard, and at this stage in his career, Mike Conley may not be.



The offense is better with Conley no doubt

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/five-things-know-early-season


Utah can play up to 10 players, all of whom are current starters or started at some point in the last 2-3 seasons. That sort of depth is unparalleled when you can combine Paschall, Whiteside, and Gay with reigning sixth many of the year Jordan Clarkson and runner-up Joe Ingles — that five alone could start in the league.



too bad Clarkson sucks, Ingles looks out of shape and Whiteside is Whiteside

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/02/ranking-utah-jazz-lineups/


If Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder deserves credit for one thing (side note: he deserves credit for a lot of things) it might be his ability to recognize what works, and stick with it.



too bad he doesn't try something else when it's not working or trying to to find something that works better


The Jazz have leaned increasingly on four-out lineups featuring a conventional rim protector in the middle during his tenure, with considerable success. This year, many observers thought Snyder might deviate from his formula, particularly with the team’s offseason acquisition of potential small ball center (https://thejnotes.com/2021/11/20/utah-jazz-secret-weapon-rudy-gay/) Rudy Gay. So far he’s stuck to his preferred script. Spoiler alert: all 5 of the most used Utah Jazz lineups in 2021-22 so far feature either Rudy Gobert or Hassan Whiteside at the center position.



many observers haven't been paying attention


Wherever you land on that debate, it seems evident one of them will have to come off the bench, as 3-wing lineups are not working for the Jazzmen. As per CleaningtheGlass, this grouping has a -4.7 differential, good for the 23rd percentile in the NBA.



Bojan is the guy to bench. Need a starting 4 not Ingles


For whatever reason, this group particularly struggles on the defensive end. The 118.4 points they allow per 100 possessions rank in the league’s 7th percentile (per CleaningtheGlass). Snyder should probably look to this group as seldom as possible, perhaps exclusively in the interest of fatigue management.



no Gobert:facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Jared Butler on seeing limited playing time with Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gobert: “Well, it definitely took a pride shot and coming to grounds with my situation because you know, coming to a veteran team — it’s just like if I’m a freshman coming into Baylor last year and expecting to play me over Davion Mitchell or [MaCio] Teague… (https://www.ballysports.com/watch/vod/utah-s-jared-butler-is-coping-and-thriving-with-heart-condition) it’s just unlikely for anybody in their right mind would think that. So for me, it’s just been trying to understand my situation but at the same time still believe in myself because I know what I’m capable of and I know if I was on another team with a different situation, I KNOW I would be getting more playing time. So that’s just been my focus and just trying to stay ready and continue to get better because I know my time is coming and basketball is a long season so, that’s just been my focus.”

– via Bally Sports (https://www.ballysports.com/watch/vod/utah-s-jared-butler-is-coping-and-thriving-with-heart-condition)




you're not playing over Clarkson either and he sucks. That is the reality

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/473994/473994/


SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz downed the Boston Celtics 137-130 (https://statsdmz.nba.com/pdfs/20211203/20211203_BOSUTA_book.pdf) in arguably their best win of the season.



130 points and their best win of the year! :roll:


Ironically, what Gay has done best with the Jazz is a lot of what Georges Niang did last year, he just brings more experience, a bigger frame, and a little more confidence looking for his shot.



Niang didn't lack confience :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Chema de Lucas: Ex NBA Dante Exum, close to signing a three-month deal with Barça. (https://*********.com/social/) Expected to be in Spain next week.
– via Twitter chemadelucas (https://twitter.com/chemadelucas)

[Xiao Yao You]

Chema de Lucas: Ex NBA Dante Exum, close to signing a three-month deal with Barça. (https://*********.com/social/) Expected to be in Spain next week.
– via Twitter chemadelucas (https://twitter.com/chemadelucas)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/5/22818601/utah-jazz-cleveland-cavs-preview-rudy-gobert-evan-mobley-ricky-rubio


Today’s game will showcase a matchup of one of the best centers in the league in the last couple years in Rudy Gobert, and the future of the center position in Evan Mobley. Mobley has been terrorizing both opposing offenses and defenses all year long. Before going down with an injury a few weeks ago Mobley was right in the thick of the ROY conversation. The Cavs struggled in his absence, at one point losing 5 games in a row. Since his return last week, the Cavs have ripped off four straight. He changes so much about what the Cavs do, especially defensively. He’s insanely gifted with skills that a big man simply should not have.



couple of years? :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Bickerstaff said the biggest benefit of having Ricky Rubio is that his willingness to accept a bench role “allows me to hold everyone accountable. … He’s a starting PG in the NBA — on a good team. If he’s willing to do that, there’s no reason for anyone not to sacrifice.” (https://*********.com/social/)

– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)



He's not a starter. He's a energy guy off them bench ideally. Just like Hood is a 6th man not a starter. Starting because Gobert can carry the team regardless isn't a starter on a good team

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Hassan Whiteside is OUT today vs. Cleveland (left glute contusion) (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Quin Snyder on having to play smaller with Whiteside out: “It is something that we’ve anticipated throughout the season and something we’ve wanted to do as well. … It’s ironic that this is the game where it happens — we’re playing against three 7 footers.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)

[El Kabong]

Team should probably thank Gobert for covering some very lackluster defensive efforts against the Cavs.

[Xiao Yao You]

Team should probably thank Gobert for covering some very lackluster defensive efforts against the Cavs.

the media seems to have noticed for a change anyway

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474253/utah-jazz-forward-rudy-gay-reaches-17000-career-points/

:applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474236/donovan-mitchell-becomes-fourth-fastest-active-player-to-score-7000-points/


The fifth-year guard is the third-fastest Jazzman to reach the mark. Only Adrian Dantley and Pete Maravich scored 7,000 points in fewer games.



greatest player in franchise history! :lol

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/06/two-studs-one-dud-utah-jazz-win-cavs/4/


All told, Clarkson is now shooting 37% from the field and 29.4% from downtown on 8.9 attempts per game. That’s gruesome. We’ll maintain a semblance of hope that he can turn it around, but 23 games into the 2021-22 season, it’s getting increasingly hard to call this a slump.



throw in the last 4 months of last year when he sucked too :cry:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50303259/that-was-ricky-right-there-rubio-doing-same-thing-in-cleveland-he-did-for-jazz


Mitchell knows a thing or two about how helpful that can be. It's been four years now since Mitchell was the young guard with loads of talent and was handed the keys to the Jazz's offense. There were a lot of reasons why Mitchell succeeded: Mitchell had talent, Quin Snyder and the Jazz system; but one of the biggest reasons was the presence of Rubio.



and yet they sucked without Gobert


Mitchell, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards and now Garland have all taken big steps just by being around Rubio.


lottery picks getting better. Thanks Rick! :facepalm


It's a pretty similar situation in Cleveland. The upstart Cavs have surprised just about everyone with how they've begun the season. Cleveland was expected to be a surefire lottery team, but at 13-11 they are smack in the middle of the playoff battle.



not similar. Jazz still had their best player and had been a playoff team

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-stars-being-stars-smallball/


Both Gobert and Mitchell rank in the top 10 for Dunksandthrees.com’s Estimated Plus-Minus metric (https://dunksandthrees.com/epm). Mike Conley ranks 13th, the product of his lights-out shooting, disciplined facilitation, and overall veteran savvy. It’s a huge luxury to have a player of Conley’s caliber as their third best player.



debatable who's their 2nd best

[Xiao Yao You]

Barça and the player Dante Exum have reached agreement for the Australian guard to join on a short-term contract until February 28 (https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/basketball/first-team/news/2399021/dante-exum-reforc-per-al-perimetre).

– via FC Barcelona (https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/basketball/first-team/news/2399021/dante-exum-reforc-per-al-perimetre)




good idea. See if he can stay healthy for a couple months first

[Xiao Yao You]

Multiple sources said that the Pacers are receptive in trade dialogue with rival teams centered on potentially moving guard Caris LeVert and either two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis or center Myles Turner. (https://theathletic.com/3003299/2021/12/07/pacers-potentially-move-to-rebuild-receptive-to-trade-talks-on-caris-levert-domantas-sabonis-myles-turner-sources/) All three players have frequently garnered significant interest from rival teams. Pacers officials have received frequent calls on both of their big men over the past several seasons, but new head coach Rick Carlisle wanted an opportunity to spend time with Sabonis and Turner and grow with the roster.

– via Shams Charania, Bob Kravitz, Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3003299/2021/12/07/pacers-potentially-move-to-rebuild-receptive-to-trade-talks-on-caris-levert-domantas-sabonis-myles-turner-sources/)



Sabonis would be nice. So would Turner for that matter

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/7/22822679/the-utah-jazz-death-lineup-is-looking-as-scary-as-ever


In the 2019-20 NBA season, Quin Snyder began experimenting with the Utah Jazz (https://www.slcdunk.com) bench lineups. He decided to stagger minutes between his two starting guards, Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell. This decision resulted in a lineup featuring two starters in Conley and Joe Ingles against opposing benches. Joined by bench scorer Jordan Clarkson and two young and unproven front-court players, Georges Niang and Tony Bradley, this lineup dominated other second units. That was the beginning of Utah’s death lineup.



until Bradley became the reason for all their problems! :facepalm


Quin Snyder has used this lineup more and more every year, and for a good reason. The strength of the Utah Jazz is in its depth. Some teams are built around a central superstar. Some have a big three. While the Jazz have three All-Stars, their true strength is having the best top to bottom 9-man rotation in the NBA.



Gobert


Most teams will play a second unit comprised of four or five bench players. The Utah Jazz primary bench lineup includes two starters, both of which are All-Stars, then adds the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and his runner-up, and a veteran who used to be a star and is now one of the best floor-spacing power forwards in the league. As an opposing defense, how do you expect to guard a Mike Conley/Rudy Gobert pick & roll with Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, and Rudy Gay spotting up on the three-point line? That unit is currently scoring 126.3 points per 100 possessions, good for the 93rd percentile. That’s hard to stop.



leave Clarkson open for starters

[El Kabong]

T'Wolves got curb stomped and all Beverly and Edwards can do is talk smack about Gobert being overrated.

[Xiao Yao You]

T'Wolves got curb stomped and all Beverly and Edwards can do is talk smack about Gobert being overrated.

shut them down in the 2nd half :applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/8/22820537/utah-jazz-mailbag-do-jazz-have-more-moves-to-make-this-season-rudy-gay-hassan-whiteside-joe-ingles


The Jazz also need to decide what to do with Miye Oni (https://www.deseret.com/2021/9/24/22690116/utah-jazz-insiders-newsletter-does-miye-oni-have-place-on-this-team), who has pretty much fallen out of the rotation, at no fault of his own. The Jazz’s depth chart is just a little more robust this season and that makes Oni the odd man out. The Jazz need to decide by Jan. 7 whether they want to guarantee Oni’s contract for the rest of the season, and if they don’t, that would leave the Jazz with two roster spots to fill (the already-open roster spot and the one that would be left by Oni).



hard to imagine them keeping him. I think he's a great guy to have at the end of the bench but too much money involved and roster flexibility is important especially since Forrest might need a roster spot. Be great if they could resign Oni to a two way to replace Forrest but he will have interest elsewhere. Sad that Hughes is wasting a spot for the 2nd straight year. Ideally him and Clarkson get dealt but probably won't


It’s what happens after an offensive board that the Jazz need to focus on. The Jazz are 10th worst in the league in opponent second-chance points with 13.3 per game through the first 23 games, that’s where the concern should be. If a team gets an offensive board against the Jazz, they need to be in better position to defend that second possession.



the problem with that it many of those probably come because their center is defending and you're asking other to rebound who don't. Would be nice to have a starting 4!


Eric Paschall (https://www.deseret.com/2021/10/27/22748693/eric-paschall-and-hassan-whiteside-have-been-welcome-additions-to-utah-jazz-through-three-games) would get more playing time on a team that did not have Rudy Gay ahead of him in the rotation. It might seem harsh, but that’s just the way it is.



he'd get more playing time on a team without COTY living but mostly dying with Clarkson

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/9/22825625/donovan-mitchell-hottest-player-in-nba-utah-jazz-player-of-the-week


December is a great time to start finding your groove as an NBA player. All-Star voting will start in the next little bit, and it would be a surprise if Donovan Mitchell isn’t named to his third straight All-Star game. Especially if the Jazz keep winning, he simply can’t be denied.



he's made it twice without showing up until January so why not?


Where will Mitchell end up this season? Can he beat his career high 26.4 ppg set last year? If he keeps up his recent play, he should shatter it. Most importantly for Donovan, he needs to stay strong and healthy for the playoffs. We saw what we could do in the playoffs last season, and even on a hobbled ankle he was unstoppable. Healthy Donovan in the playoffs, playing like this??? Sign. Me. Up.



will he play D and pass?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/8/22822976/should-utah-jazz-trade-for-domantas-sabonis


To put it briefly (my rough draft spent five paragraphs and 200-plus words to say this), Turner and LeVert wouldn’t fit on account of there either being no room or them not adding new skills that would change the Jazz for the better. Utah simply isn’t in need of another rim-protector or a slasher with limited defensive prowess.



Turner fits. LaVert would certainly be better than Clarkson

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim MacMahon on Christian Wood: The sense that I get is by no means are the Rockets looking to move him. Certainly there’s potential for him to be in his prime when the young guys grow up, and maybe the Rockets are ready to be competitive again. But they’re willing to listen (https://open.spotify.com/show/2mZHt3zBxyIuc0PYLdDDkr) and I think that you know, aside from Jalen Green, the Rockets should be willing to listen to every single guy on the roster.

– via Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2mZHt3zBxyIuc0PYLdDDkr)




he'd fit

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/9/22826014/instant-analysis-rudy-gobert-hassan-whitesides-contributions-spur-utah-jazz-to-win-over-76ers


Here’s a list of basketball players on the Jazz roster that seemingly never fail to do amazing things from one night to the next: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley. Nearly every single instant analysis article of the season is going to have something about one, if not all, of those players. If they’re not mentioned it’s probably only because I don’t want to sound like a broken record. But I can’t really get around the truth, and the truth is that Mitchell continues to improve every single game, Conley seems like he might be the player that defeats Father Time and Gobert just always seems to find a way to dominate a game. All were true on Thursday.



just because Mitchell is in every article it doesn't mean he's doing amazing things. If he did he'd be the guy carrying the franchise. He isn't


Embiid looked absolutely gassed during the game and at one point ran to the locker room pointing at his chest like he needed to catch his breath. It’s just such a stark reminder that things are not back to normal and that this virus can impact even the most healthy and conditioned of people. Weird times.



hoax! :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/10/2-studs-1-dud-utah-jazz-76ers/3/


They’ll still benefit from better performances from Clarkson than the one they got last night.



they'd really benefit from hi, being on another team

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/5-things-jazz-blowout-sixers


3.) Are The Jazz The Deepest Team In The League?

they are every year until the aren't. Be hard to say that as long as Clarkson keeps playing and they don't have a starting 4


When in need of an offensive punch, Whiteside can slide in down low. When another playmaker is needed, Ingles is available. Clarkson is lightning in a bottle, while Gay is the league's perfect small-ball center when the Jazz elect to go small.



don't think they've yet elected to go small. Forced to yes

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474592/jazz-guard-donovan-mitchell-receives-vote-in-nba-mvp-straw-poll/

:facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

“You have a lot of supporters Kyrie,” Stockton told fellow vaccine skeptic podcast hosts Chad Fisher and Tony Farmer. “Not all them of can get to you, and you can’t get to all of them, but there’s every bit a majority out there that’s sitting there pulling for you. They’re just not quite as bold as he is. I’m proud of him as an individual to take that kind of individual risk and be that bold for what you feel is right.” (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)

– via Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)




John Stockton is now dishing assists to Kyrie Irving and anti-vaxxers. While taking aim at “serial felon” vaccine manufacturers and “segregation” mandates, Stockton applauded Irving’s stance against the jab and pled with the Nets point guard to “hang in there.” (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html) The comments were part of the Hall of Famer’s interview with the DNP-CD Sports Podcast, which will be released Monday through Hot Pie Media.

– via Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)






Stockton, 59, the NBA’s all-time assist leader, had previously appeared in a vaccine conspiracy documentary while citing his “significant research” into COVID-19. On the podcast, Stockton said doctors are unknowingly peddling a dangerous vaccine because of fraudulent research pushed by pharmaceutical companies (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html).
– via Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)






Stockton said he would’ve “trusted the doctors” and taken the vaccine early in his playing career, but would’ve resisted once he became more established and educated. “There’s not a chance I would risk any of that to play,” Stockton said. “My hope would be other guys would join in. And all of us lock arms. And none of us play.” (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)
– via Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)






The COVID-19 vaccine, including Pfizer’s, was proven safe and effective through extensive clinical trials. Long-term side effects are “extremely unlikely,” according to the CDC. But Stockton claimed he’s certain the vaccines are harmful. “I can see it on the Internet,” he said. “And I know people. So indisputable.” (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)

– via Stefan Bondy @ New York Daily News (https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-john-stockton-kyrie-irving-anti-vax-20211210-pruowtvctbfrviajewftgs2tfa-story.html)



sad :cry:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/11/22817874/the-timberwolves-trash-talk-backfired


First up was Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who said that the Timeberwolves were missing shots at the rim not because Gobert is good, but because Gobert was in people’s heads. He noted that Gobert wasn’t blocking shots, but because he carries a reputation of being a good rim protector, guys get scared.



they should be scared as you found out the hard way! :roll:


Through games played on Thursday, Gobert leads the league in rebounds and field goal percentage. His 14.7 rebounds per game top the charts, followed by Denver’s Nikola Jokic with 13.4 per game, and Gobert’s 72.5% field goal rate is nearly two percentage points above Richaun Holmes’ 70.7%.



not even close. Keep it up Rudy! :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/10/22828569/three-trade-targets-the-utah-jazz-need-to-consider-nba-trade-deadline-larry-nance-eric-gordon


Even though the Jazz are already very good, and the addition of Rudy Gay has looked like a game-changer for them, the Jazz can’t sit tight at trade deadline. A move for the Jazz that improves either their starting unit, or gets them an impact player to come off the bench, could make them frontrunners for the championship this season. Here are three players that seem reasonably gettable that could be the difference for the Jazz.



need to look to move Clarkson and Hughes somehow. Get a starting 4 or at least another guy that can give them some minutes there so Royce doesn't have to play there as much


Larry Nance Jr - Portland Trail Blazers (https://www.blazersedge.com)

he's been my guy for a while and Portland doesn't seem to be getting much out of him. Can't imagine they want Clarkson. Maybe for Paschall?


The fit also makes a lot of sense if the Jazz are looking to consolidate their possessions with their two best offensive players, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley. With the Blazers looking to improve their roster around Damian Lillard, they’d probably be happy to trade Nance for Bogdanovic. In a vacuum, Bogdanovic is likely considered the better player.



Portland like the Jazz have plenty of offense


For the Rockets, why would they make the trade? Gordon’s contract is the first reason. Gordon has three years left on his contract and is making $18 million this year. In two years it rises to $20 million. It’s the second-biggest contract on the team behind John Wall. That’s a big contract for a player in his thirties that is likely a bench player for the rest of his career. The Jazz have a couple of options to make this one worth it for the Rockets. They can either send the Rockets a 1st round pick plus Jordan Clarkson or they could send them an expiring Joe Ingles contract plus a pick that would help them clear their books. One of the best things for a rebuilding team is having the cap space to take on contracts to collect more picks, just ask Sam Presti.



that contract isn't great but if it means getting rid of Clarkson I'd do it. Not sure you have to include a pick though. Clarkson only has two years left on his contract so it makes sense for Houston. Throw in Hughes if anything ideally


This is probably the least likely of these three trades but it’s one that most likely takes the Jazz over the top. Harrison Barnes is probably the best player on the Kings at this point and for the Kings to want to do this they have to be big fans of Bojan Bogdanovic. It’s not to say they wouldn’t probably think about it, but Barnes is a better overall player than Bogdanovic. He basically does everything better than Bodanovic except Bogdanovic has the edge in shooting. To make it happen Utah likely has to add things to make this worth it for the Kings. The problem is that Utah doesn’t really have the most enticing draft pieces or young players that could make this more possible. The carrousel of trades for centers the last few years has really crippled Utah’s ability to make a trade like this. **Sighs in Desmond Bane**



again Clarkson/Hughes are the guys to get rid of. Gordon seems most likely out of these. Nance ard Barnes would be better gets


Grayson while he is cheap please

God no! No Duke players. We've been there, done that


Jazz used a first round pick in a title window for a 3rd string center……

yep because they needed to start developing a young center. Had young guys everywhere else

[Xiao Yao You]

Is Pascal available for trade, or is he untouchable? Other than Scottie Barnes, who are the untouchables? — Frank S. Eric Koreen: Siakam’s not untouchable. Barnes is untouchable, and Anunoby is probably close. (https://theathletic.com/3007821/2021/12/10/pacers-trades-og-anunobys-role-pascal-siakams-value-and-more-raptors-mailbag-part-2/?source=weeklyemail&campaign=602288) But let’s go beyond that. Siakam still seems to be one of the more confusing parts of this season. I think it’s genuinely difficult to separate his performance from the team’s struggles (and his in the past), given how this team is constructed and how unhealthy the Raptors currently are. His true shooting percentage is higher than it has been since his breakout third season when he won NBA Most Improved Player. It’s still a lot closer to the two years that came after — which included one season in which he was named All-NBA Second Team — than that one, but it is progress. His 3-point percentage is up to 36, but he continues to take fewer per minute, down from 6.2 per 36 in 2019-20 to 3.8 this year. Given his struggles last season, that is understandable. His usage percentage is slightly down from last season, as are his assists. His turnovers are slightly up, which is a worry but a minor one. The Raptors aren’t exactly swimming in spacing.

– via Eric Koreen @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3007821/2021/12/10/pacers-trades-og-anunobys-role-pascal-siakams-value-and-more-raptors-mailbag-part-2/?source=weeklyemail&campaign=602288)




guess Clarkson isn't enough?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474696/gobert-whiteside-crush-wizards-for-jazz-road-sweep/


However, their efficiency on the offensive end, shooting a combined 89 percent from the floor for 38 points is even more impressive.



they need D more


In very atypical Jazz fashion, they have a better record on the road than they have been at home.



it's actually typical under Snyder except for last year. At least they've been a better road team rather the record was better or not

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/11/22828681/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-beat-wizards-sweep-four-game-road-trip


It seems like Bogdanovic thinks more about a foul before he drives than a lot of other players. He is really crafty and smart and strong and if he just focused on scoring he might actually get more calls, but he seems disappointed by non-calls sometimes before one of his shots even gets near the basket. It’s a bad habit that needs to be broken.



it won't change

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/12/utah-jazz-dominate-inside-vs-wizards/


Whiteside replicates much of what Gobert brings to the table: elite rim protection, rebounding and general interior dominance. His skill set allows Quin Snyder to have his team control the paint for 48 minutes if he chooses. Last night, the benefits of that luxury were on full display.



he's not elite. He's a shot blocker. Big difference

[Xiao Yao You]

David Locke: The Utah Jazz have now surpassed the Golden State Warriors for best differential in the NBA (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter DLocke09 (https://twitter.com/DLocke09)

[Xiao Yao You]

One source said the Kings are still shopping a package including Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III in hopes of getting a good player in return. (https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256556286.html) Sources told The Bee over the summer the Kings had expressed interest in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons and Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam.

– via Sacramento Bee (https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256556286.html)



Clarkson and Hughes?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/13/22826015/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-has-always-been-a-scorer-but-he-is-adding-new-playmaking-skills-his-game


“I talk to a lot of the opposing coaches and mess around with them and a lot of them will say like, ‘JC we’re not going to let you get off tonight, we’re not going to let you score,’” Clarkson said. “And sometimes I take some crazy shots and do stuff like that and it’s just me being me. But a lot of teams are forcing me to pass and I just try to make the play and do what’s best for us.”



:roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

Brooklyn has been open to discussing trades for Irving, sources told B/R, although none of those calls have seemed to generate significant traction. But Brooklyn has expressed a surprising willingness to discuss sharpshooter Joe Harris, (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more) according to league sources, though he would surely require a pricey offer. “It’s crazy to me; he’s their only real three-and-D player,” said one assistant general manager. “But his name keeps popping up.”

– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more)



they want Clarkson?

[Xiao Yao You]

The Denver Nuggets are looking for upgrades on the wing, according to league sources. It appears JaMychal Green is available to that end (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more).

– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more)




Clarkson?

[Xiao Yao You]

Sabonis’ value around the league seems mixed, but there are several teams in the playoff picture, such as the Blazers and Kings, team executives have pointed to as potential landing spots. The Trail Blazers have Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington available. Sacramento has weighed trade interest for each of Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley and Harrison Barnes dating back to last season’s trade deadline, and Carlisle is known to have an affinity for Barnes from their time together in Dallas. Rival executives believe only rookie standout Chris Duarte and fellow first year Isaiah Jackson are untouchable in Indiana. Malcolm Brogdon cannot be traded this season following a contract extension in October. “Sabonis, Turner, Warren, LeVert all can be had at the right price,” (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more) said another assistant general manager.

– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951461-latest-nba-trade-buzz-sourced-intel-on-simmons-kyrie-lakers-and-more)




Clarkson?

[Xiao Yao You]

Dallas Mavericks PR: Kristaps Porzingis finished last night’s game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks in 25:17 of time. Porzingis became only the third @NBA player since the 1973-74 season to hit those statistical thresholds in under 26 minutes, joining Bill Walton and Hassan Whiteside. (http://twitter.com/MavsPR/status/1470788595883683843) pic.twitter.com/hrXfMu7zFz
– via Twitter MavsPR (https://twitter.com/MavsPR)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/14/four-realistic-trade-targets-utah-jazz/


Hart is one of the best rebounders at his position in the NBA, as his 6.8 rebounds per game rank third among players who qualify for the shooting guard position. On a related note, Hart’s positional versatility is as strong as any player in the NBA’s. You won’t find a lot of guys who are listed as SG, SF, PF on Basketball Reference.



Their new starting 4! :facepalm


If any of those stats are concerning, it’s admittedly the three-point percentage. Still, it’s realistic to hope that Hart’s accuracy from deep is suffering on a Zion-less Pelicans team that’s struggling to keep afloat. In Quin Snyder’s spaced-out, hyper-efficient attack, he may trend towards his career 34.7% mark.



not good. If it means Clarkson's gone sign me up!


Which, again, might make him difficult to acquire. On the other hand, the Cavaliers suffered a significant loss this season when Collin Sexton’s year was prematurely ended by injury. They may be seeking guard depth, with sophomore wing Isaac Okoro currently manning the shooting guard position.



Clarkson!

[Xiao Yao You]

Andrew Greif: Serge Ibaka (personal reasons) is OUT tomorrow (https://*********.com/social/) vs. Utah. Batum and PG are both questionable to play.
– via Twitter AndrewGreif (https://twitter.com/AndrewGreif)

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Jared Butler was listed as OUT on the Jazz’s injury report today due to right knee soreness (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

You touched on Mo Bamba earlier. What have you seen from him in a contract season and looking ahead at his future? Cole Anthony: I’ve seen Mo grow and become more active offensively and defensively. He’s worked on his shot. I think he’s pretty good. He’s top-three in the league in blocks. (https://*********.com/lists/qa-cole-anthony-on-most-improved-player-candidacy-future-of-the-magic-and-more/) He’s one of the premier rim protectors. In saying all this, Mo has two or three more levels that he can get to. That dude has a chance to make a lot of money playing this game. The moment he gets that and really embraces that, I think Mo can be the best defender in the league. I think he can reach that Rudy Gobert level, but I think he can be better than that. Mo is offensively skilled. He has a nice touch. I really am happy with what I’ve seen from him this year, but I still think he has a long way to go, which is to say how gifted I think he is.

– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/qa-cole-anthony-on-most-improved-player-candidacy-future-of-the-magic-and-more/)



he's got some talent and the length. Good luck being better than Gobert though

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/14/22833578/breaking-down-donovan-mitchells-unexpected-improvements-in-year-5


The most noticeable change in Mitchell’s game for me this season has been his finishing in the paint. Historically, he hasn’t been great at the rim and has been even worse in the ‘floater range’ (3-10 feet). This year, his field goal percentage in both ranges has skyrocketed. He’s shooting a career-high 71.3% at the rim and a career-high 49.1% in the floater range. Those improvements are immense and have completely changed his scoring profile. Mitchell’s overall 2P% (54.2%) is almost 7% higher than last season! There are only ten qualified guards in the NBA shooting over 54% inside the arc. Mitchell and his teammate Mike Conley are both on that shortlist.



the thing I've noticed is he's finally using his left hand. Still seems to be a work in progress but it still bothers me that guys can't use the proper hand to finish depending on what side of the basket they are


Last season, 20.1% of Donovan Mitchell’s field goal attempts came in between 10 feet out and the three-point line. This season, he’s dropped that to only 15.2%. He’s done that while at the same time increasing his three-point attempts from 42.3% of his shots to 46% of his shots. That’s right, 46% of Spida Mitchell’s shots are coming from beyond the arc, and that’s an excellent thing. Even with his early-season struggles from three, he’s still shooting well enough to make this change well worth it, and his percentage is rising quickly.





now if they could just replace all of Clarkson's attempts by someone else


Eric Gordon is on one of the least team-friendly contracts in the league

if they take Clarkson in exchange I'd do it in a second


Mitchell will be the Jazz GOAT

let's see him be the best current player first. Looks like with Conley playing less he's finally #2 anyway

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/15/utah-jazz-vs-clippers-odds-lineup-dec-15/


Mike Conley is healthy, and with Rudy Gay functioning as the small-ball (https://thejnotes.com/2021/11/20/utah-jazz-secret-weapon-rudy-gay/) 5 the Jazz were lacking in last year’s postseason, the Jazz are better built to withstand a similar strategy from the Clippers. Both teams are hot, with the Jazz (19-7) (http://www.thejnotes.com) having won seven straight and the Clippers (16-12 (https://clipperholics.com/)) on a four game winning streak of their own.



the coach would have to play Fay at the 5

[Xiao Yao You]

JD Shaw: The Jazz have appointed former Celtics executive Danny Ainge as Alternate Governor and CEO, the team confirms. Statements from owner Ryan Smith and Ainge: (https://*********.com/social/) pic.twitter.com/yVHjpjyHVG

The Jazz have appointed former Celtics executive Danny Ainge as Alternate Governor and CEO, the team confirms. Statements from owner Ryan Smith and Ainge: pic.twitter.com/yVHjpjyHVG (https://t.co/yVHjpjyHVG)
— JD Shaw (@JShawNBA) December 15, 2021 (https://twitter.com/JShawNBA/status/1471197740143194113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)


– via Twitter JShawNBA (https://twitter.com/JShawNBA)




Chris Grenham: Danny Ainge, per Utah’s press release: “Joining the Jazz was a natural and perfect fit for me, as my roots in Utah are deep and strong. This is a team that has a tremendous foundation of players and people, and Justin and Quin are doing an amazing job.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter chrisgrenham (https://twitter.com/chrisgrenham)






Ben Rohrbach: The term “alternate governor” implies Danny Ainge will hold an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter brohrbach (https://twitter.com/brohrbach)

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Danny Ainge’s title is Alternate Governor and CEO of Jazz Basketball (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




Adrian Wojnarowski: Jazz owner Ryan Smith has had a longtime friendship with Ainge, who was a legendary player at BYU. Ainge stepped down as Celtics GM after last season, but now returns with the Jazz to oversee basketball operations and work closely with GM Justin Zanik (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




Hopefully he's smart enough to get Clarkson out of town if not COTY too

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/trade-talk-exploring-jazz-targets-as-trade-season-launches/


So back to Barnes. He’s not an All-Star-level player, but he might be in the next tier. He can score, he can defend, he’s athletic. I don’t doubt he’d be an excellent fit in the Jazz starting lineup. But is he that much of an upgrade to Bojan Bogdanovic? Let’s compare some stats and include some other potential forward upgrades:



huge upgrade. Ideally Bojan moves to the bench and Clarkson is gone


The Jazz would most certainly need to trade one of Jordan Clarkson or Joe Ingles, to match salary and give Gordon minutes. Utah would have to add a lesser salary like Udoka Azubuike to make the money work. The Rockets have 15 roster spots, so taking back two players complicates things. And then there’s a question of value. Do the Rockets want Joe or Jordan, or believe they could flip them for assets from another team? How much draft compensation do they demand? Is a first round pick enough?



Hughes and Clarkson ideally are the guys to trade. Maybe Oni if the trade is made while his contract is still non guaranteed


Clarkson has had an inefficient season. Utah’s winning streak coincided with the uber-efficient Rudy Gay taking some of Clarkson’s possessions. It begs the question: do the Jazz need Clarkson to soak up possessions like they did when they traded him a few years ago? What happens if they give those shots to four of the league’s most efficient players plus Donovan Mitchell?



dump Clarkson and they get better even if it just means Pachall, Forrest or Butler take his minutes


But do the Wizards want to trade one of their starters? Right now it seems unlikely. A few things could shake up the situation. If Bradley Beal is traded, any change is on the table. If Rui Hachimura returns to the starting lineup, KCP could see a reduced role. The Wizards could use another distributor to feed Beal — I think Ingles would fit on their team. But would Joe simply choose retirement if traded? Who knows.



as with any trade the question should be do they want Clarkson


I have no idea which team asks for draft compensation. Utah could argue they’re trading the reigning Sixth man who averaged 18.4 points per game last season. Memphis could argue they’re trading a young player on a great contract. For all I know, the Grizzlies have zero interest in dealing him. But I like this trade, personally.



any trade that gets rid of Clarkson I like though I thought the same with Exum :cry:


There are two big obstacles: 1) I doubt Smart would be okay with moving to a bench role and playing 10 fewer minutes per game. 2) Smart is only shooting 28% from 3 this season. He does shoots at volume and can hit hot streaks, so he defenders can’t leave him alone. But the number one offense in the league would certainly dip with Marcus Smart.



if he replaces Clarkson the offense gets better


That said, I don’t see why OKC would trade him. And if they did, I can’t imagine what the cost would be. Dort’s minuscule salary further complicates the trade when trying to match salaries. I’d love Dort on the Jazz, but I don’t see how they can make it happen.





Hughes and picks


Nance has long been a favorite target of mine, but Utah’s signings of Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside changed the situation. Nance plays both power forward and center positions, has shot the 3 serviceably in past years (though only 27% this season), and is a decent defender who specializes in deflections. He’d be a nice fit, but at this point it only makes sense to give him Bogdanovic’s spot. I’m not sure I want him locked in solely as a starting power forward. He only took 3.3 3-point shots in his most accurate season, so the offense would take a hit if he slotted into Bogey’s role. Further complicating the trade are two things: 1) Nance for Bogdanvic doesn’t work. Blazers would have to add two more players to get the math right, and Jazz don’t have the roster spots to do a 3-for-1 trade. 2) The Blazers just promoted Nance to the starting lineup, so he’s likely not available anyway. But it’s a good segue for our next target…



who cares if the offense takes hit when the defense needs help? They need a starting 4.


Holiday is a 3&D guard on the now rebuilding Pacers. He defends decently, he shoots the three decently, he’s reportedly available. Check, check, check. He’s still a questionable fit. For one, he doesn’t do much beyond shooting the three, and even then, he’s only a 36% shooter. He’d be a clear overall talent downgrade from Ingles or Clarkson, even if his skillset might be a better theoretical fit. He’s also a little too good to add as a 10th man. If he was willing though, there are few better break-in-case-of-emergency players available. The 13-year vet has only made the playoffs twice in his career, after all. The Jazz could trade two young players and some draft compensation to make the money work. It’s a long shot either way, and I’m sure other contenders will ask about him. Also worth noting, Holiday refuses to get vaccinated, so that may make a trade a non-starter anyway.





Clarkson sucks! Too bad the guy is an anti vacc idiot!


There are other other forwards mentioned on Twitter: Brandon Clarke, Maxi Kleber, Josh Hart — all interesting, but hard to fit on the team, because they’re not better than the rotation players they’d replace.



you keep saying that but Clarkson is a joke!


Michael Carter-Williams could be a Trent Forest upgrade. Maybe one of Elijah Hughes or Miye Oni plus a second round pick gets the Jazz a more seasoned point guard option. Beyond MCW, there aren’t many 3rd string point guards available. Raul Neto would be excellent, but is playing an important role for the Wizards.



COTY doesn't like Neto neither did Jazz fans until he was gone


Gary Harris is one of the better perimeter defenders and should be available. Unfortunately his salary is too high to trade for.



probably works for Clarkson/Hughes?


But if I’m the GM of the Jazz, I try a few things:



Look to dump Clarkson/Hughes and get a starting 4

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2021/12/15/22838214/utah-jazz-hire-danny-ainge-to-front-office-ryan-smith-justin-zanik-quin-snyder


My take on this is it’s a good move for the Jazz overall. You can’t help but wonder how Justin Zanik feels about this, though. In his first year with the team he’s done a solid job. We’ll see if Zanik stays long term, and is happy with his role, or he moves on. As far as Quin Snyder, who was hired by Dennis Lindsey, it will be interesting to see how that relationship evolves. It’s no rumor that Snyder and Lindsey butted heads and was a big part of Lindsey being demoted to a consultant role. Snyder now has completely new ownership and head of management than what he had when he was hired. Snyder has done a good job as the Jazz’s head coach and it will fascinating to see if playstyle adjusts with the new CEO in place. I’ll also be watching that relationship with Ainge, he’s going to want to make an imprint on the team. My guess is we’ll see that affect happen at the trade deadline with a rotation player. This quote from the Woj story is really interesting.



hopefully someone that isn't afraid to fire a coach that won't make adjustments


Unless the playstyle comes after we have a much different roster, I hope Ainge has little to no impact on playstyle at all! In the past, the Jazz philosophy was supposed to be " hire smart people and get out of the way to let them do their job. " If he occasionally gives Quin a suggestion to think about, fine, but I don't want Ainge trying to tell Quin what to do at all. Ainge is not a better coach than Q, and that could lead to a toxic environment and/or bad decisions.

Ainge was a good coach. COTY has been good as long as Gobert is on the floor


Overall, I'm nervous about this hire. It seems high risk to me. I hope they prove me wrong. Maybe they could start with getting us a backup PG at the deadline.

a starting 4, dump Clakson, Hughes and COTY

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Danny Ainge: “I’m not gonna be the guy that’s running the day to day. That’s gonna be Justin. (https://*********.com/social/) I’m happy to communicate with him. I can be a sounding board for him. … This is going to take some time to develop.”
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)




Eric Walden: Asked who had final authority to make basketball decisions, Ryan Smith talked about a collaborative process and said that if there were disagreements, Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge would bring the issue to him (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)







Eric Walden: Danny Ainge said, “I needed a break from Boston.” Said he was working 16- to 18-hour days, and he doesn’t plan on doing that with the Jazz (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Ryan Smith on Danny Ainge: “This is a real unique role. This is an unprecedented role that hasn’t existed. (https://*********.com/social/) Danny brings what he’s good at.”
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)




Chris Grenham: Danny Ainge said his recent time spent with Ryan Smith and Dwyane Wade, among others, helped to sell him on this opportunity (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter chrisgrenham (https://twitter.com/chrisgrenham)

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Danny Ainge: “The roster is strong. It’s a really good team. … I’m not sure what needs to be done, but we’ll look with Justin’s team, and with Quin, and figure out what we need. (https://*********.com/social/) But it’s a dang good team.”
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)





Ben Anderson: Danny Ainge said he started to feel the itch to return to the league in the last few weeks (https://*********.com/social/). He’s been watching games and knew he wanted to come back. #TakeNote | @kslsports
– via Twitter BensHoops (https://twitter.com/BensHoops)

[Xiao Yao You]

Danny Ainge: Excited for this next chapter with the Jazz! This is an amazing team with great leadership. (https://*********.com/social/tweets/) Here we go! #TakeNote
– via Twitter danielrainge (https://twitter.com/danielrainge)

[Xiao Yao You]

Ben Anderson: Quin Snyder on the @Utah Jazz addition of Danny Ainge: “Adding Danny and his breadth of experience both in management and playing, coaching — I think it just adds to a group that’s already very strong. (https://*********.com/social/) and I look forward to it.” #TakeNote | @KSLSports
– via Twitter BensHoops (https://twitter.com/BensHoops)

[Xiao Yao You]

He doesn’t want to go out like Nate Robinson, who was knocked out by Jake Paul last year. And he doesn’t want to look as goofy as Lamar Odom, last seen pummeling Aaron Carter in a cartoonish exhibition. Beyond that, he’s just looking for the experience. “I’m very aware of that and that it takes a unique skillset to box,” says Williams. “I am taking this as a one-off, and we’ll see what happens. I never know until I get in there and see what happens, but this is just a one-time thing that I wanted to do. It gave me a reason to get back in shape and have a chance to fight, because I’ve always wanted to fight.” (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard)
– via Chris Mannix @ Sports Illustrated (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard)




Williams shrugs when asked why he’s getting into boxing. “Checking a box,” Williams said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. He initially planned to fight in February 2020, but his opponent backed out. The pandemic shelved those plans until Williams got a call in early November asking if he was interested in facing Gore. Williams had watched Paul, who along with his brother, Logan, a fellow YouTuber, have made a splash in boxing and have found success. He believed he could, too. “I wanted to fight in some way, shape or form,” says Williams. “Originally I didn’t think boxing was a way to do it because this celebrity boxing thing wasn’t really a thing until the last year and a half, two years when the Paul brothers kind of made it popular. I’m just looking at it as I’m fighting Frank Gore on Dec. 18, and then you probably won’t hear from me for a while again.” (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard)
– via Chris Mannix @ Sports Illustrated (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard)







“People are asking me, ‘Why are you doing it?’” says Williams. “I’ve had people be like, ‘What are you thinking?’ Well, I’m doing it because I want to do it. Yeah, it’s scary. I’m sure I’ll be nervous, but I think it’ll be fun, too. (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard) I think it’ll be a unique experience that not a lot of people get a chance to do, especially in front of a crowd and the world.” At 37, Williams isn’t looking for a second act. “I’m not trying to become a world champion or anything,” says Williams. The first act was stressful enough. Once, Williams ranked among the NBA’s elite. He was the heir to John Stockton in Utah. The superstar who would lead Brooklyn to a championship. Not long ago there was a debate over who was better: Williams or Chris Paul.
– via Chris Mannix @ Sports Illustrated (https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/deron-williams-frank-gore-boxing-jake-paul-tyron-woodley-undercard)

[Xiao Yao You]

Chris Forsberg: Brad Stevens on @Toucherandrich on notion Danny Ainge was forced out: “I was here for that entire sequence of events and he let everybody know he was stepping away and wanted to step away to have more time to spend with his family, (https://*********.com/social/) rejuvenate, and figure out what’s next.”
– via Twitter ChrisForsberg_ (https://twitter.com/ChrisForsberg_)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474903/jazz-stick-to-recent-script-in-easy-win-over-clippers/


However, the guard once again showed he has one of the quickest switches in the NBA, turning a mediocre night over the first 24 games into a superstar-level performance to close the game.



too bad he's so inconsistent

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474890/jazz-extend-win-streak-to-eight-with-victory-over-clippers/


The Jazz struggled to score in the second half without Mitchell, and after building a 15 point lead in the third, saw the Clippers cut their deficit to just eight with just over nine minutes left in the game.



good thing Gobert shut down the Clippers :bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/474892/rudy-gobert-hassan-whiteside-have-perfect-first-quarter-against-clippers/


The Jazz set a franchise record with nine alley-oops, four of which went to Gobert, four to Whiteside, and one to Mitchell that resulted in an impressive windmill finish as the Wizards paid for sticking with an undersized lineup throughout the game.

not surprising that didn't come when Stockton was with the team since he never threw one. Would have been interesting to see him and Gobert playing together

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/15/22832960/analysis-utah-jazz-get-contributions-from-everyone-as-they-win-revenge-game-against-clippers


The Jazz are really fortunate in the amount of offensive weapons that they have. If Donovan Mitchell isn’t hitting through part of the game, Bojan Bogdanovic can easily pick up the slack. If Joe Ingles doesn’t have it, Jordan Clarkson has no problem letting loose. Rudy Gobert cleans things up, Mike Conley is always going to contribute with scoring and playmaking, and everyone else in the rotation chips in. That’s exactly the kind of game the Jazz had on Wednesday night and they needed every bit of guys recognizing who was hot and at what moment.



Clarkson sucks


“I took one deep one and thought I should have moved in a little closer.” — Donovan Mitchell

good idea since you shoot 18% on the long ones

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/15/22839111/utah-jazz-pull-away-after-big-third-quarter-from-donovan-mitchell-los-angeles-clippers


That ability to take over games is a big deal for Mitchell who is playing at an absolutely elite level. For the game, Mitchell ended with 27 points and 6 assists. He shot 10/15 from the field and 2/7 from three and was a team-leading +29. Yes, the Clippers didn’t have their best players, and there are reasons to be a little concerned that this game was even close in the third quarter, but to have a player like Mitchell who can carry this team on his back is a massive advantage for the Jazz as they prepare for the playoffs. But it’s not just the scoring. Mitchell dished out 6 beautiful assists and looks like he’s finding an impressive comfort level finding open shooters. Mitchell struggled with that playmaking at times to begin the year, but it looks like he knows better every game when to take the shot and when to find the open player. If Mitchell can continue this play, there’s no telling the heights he’ll reach.



even nicer that they have someone that carries them when Mitchell is sucking for the first half :facepalm


This is now 8 in a row for the Jazz who look like they’ve really found a groove. There’s no reason not to believe that this win streak doesn’t continue if they get top ten like play from Mitchell and all star stuff from Rudy Gobert.



while Gobert has the top 5 status and Mitchell doesn't :roll:


What would we even do with Schroder? Sit Mitchell or Conley to make room for him in the starting lineup? Move Clarkson further down the bench to make Schroder the 6th man? Or make Schroder our 9th man after trading a starter to get him?

get rid of Clarkson. O'Neale never!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/16/22839391/utah-jazz-hitting-stride-nba-dominating-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert


The Jazz now have several players shooting above 40 percent from three, which might be their biggest reason for success over the last stretch. Mike Conley is shooting 45.7 percent from deep, which is 1st in the league for players with over 100 attempts. Bojan Bogdanovic, who struggled in the early stages of the season, is up to 42.2 percent which is 7th in the league. The Jazz also have Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, and Rudy Gay who are all shooting above 40 percent from three. Having 5 guys shooting above 40 percent is a huge factor in the Jazz success. Add in Donovan Mitchell, who is now up to 35 percent, and you have an absolute unit of a three-point shooting team.

too bad the guy that takes the most 3's is under 30%

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/16/3-studs-1-dud-utah-jazz-clippers/


The Clippers were without Nicolas Batum last night, who was their go-to option as a small ball 5 in the playoffs last season. Still, they should have considered giving Justise Winslow some run in that position. He’s not exactly a reliable three-point threat, but Gobert still would have been forced to leave the paint to cover him.



why would he leave to cover someone who's not a threat?


It’s a shame that Donovan Mitchell got off to an uneven start in the 2021-22 season. If he’d started the year on the pace he’s been on lately, we’d be talking about the best season of this young man’s career.



it's a shame he thinks the season starts in January not October :facepalm


Donovan Mitchell is the engine of this Utah Jazz offense, no matter where he lines up. The fact that it’s the best offense in the NBA speaks volumes about how effective of an engine he’s become.



and the engine revolves around Gobert


All told, Clarkson has at least boosted his three-point percentage on the season over the 30% threshold by now (30.5%). That’s still subpar, but the fact that he’s trending upwards is encouraging.



give him an extension!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/15/nba-trade-targets-utah-jazz/


With Snell on the veteran minimum, taking on his salary would pose little to no problem for the Jazz if they were serious about making a run at him. Snell would not be a needle-tipping addition for the Jazz, but he would fit the billing of the defensive-minded wing they are searching for on the trade market.



Hughes/2nd rounder for Snell?


The 35-year-old is making $4.9 million this season, making him a reasonable target from a financial standpoint for the Jazz. If they want to make a low-risk move to add more defense, Temple could be their man.



and played for COTY in the gleague

none of these guys gets rid of Clarkson though! :(

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/danny-ainge-returns-home-elevate-utah-basketball


After graduating from BYU, Ainge elected to pursue basketball full-time, where the Boston Celtics selected him. He spent nine years with the team, winning titles in 1984 and 1986 while being named an all-star in 1988. He also played for Sacramento, Portland, and Phoenix before retiring in 1995.



selected in the 2nd round because he didn't go to the NBA after graduation. Stuck with baseball for a while

[Xiao Yao You]

“I don’t mind playing through rebuilds and stuff like that, but the one thing about it is I’m not getting any younger. I’m getting older and at some point, I want to start contending for championships. (https://sports.yahoo.com/thaddeus-young-says-he-wants-to-play-for-a-contender-amid-usage-drop-with-spurs-181853804.html) I haven’t been in any situation where I’ve been able to contend for a championship. I want that feeling. I want that aspect of being able to go out there and being able to compete for a championship every single night. That’s the part that I really want to get to.”

– via Chris Haynes @ Yahoo! Sports (https://sports.yahoo.com/thaddeus-young-says-he-wants-to-play-for-a-contender-amid-usage-drop-with-spurs-181853804.html)



Spurs want SMOTY?

[Xiao Yao You]

Chris Haynes: Free agent guard Shaquille Harrison will sign a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, (https://*********.com/social/) league sources tell @YahooSports .
– via Twitter ChrisBHaynes (https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes)

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz were always going to replace Lindsey, and, according to sources, Zanik hoped he could be that guy. (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/) So it’s somewhat of a surprise this sort of move comes in the middle of December. But with the Jazz all-in on winning a championship this season and planning to be active on the trade market, the move sets the hierarchy and provides clarification on who is running what in the front office.
– via Tony Jones, Jared Weiss, Tony Jones and Jared Weiss @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/)




Sources close to Ainge had suggested he always wanted a Jerry West-esque role so he would have time for golf and his grandkids. (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/) Ainge’s son Tanner, a former congressional candidate in Utah who serves on the governor’s economic development board, has five children with his wife, Heidi. He is still tightly connected to his alma mater, BYU, so being close to both Salt Lake City and Provo gave him the best of both worlds. The Jazz noted in their press release that Ainge and his wife, Michelle, recently relocated to Utah.
– via Tony Jones, Jared Weiss, Tony Jones and Jared Weiss @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/)







According to sources, Smith pushed Ainge significantly to take the job. It was Ainge’s initial intent to sit out the season, but after seven months, he felt energized enough to make the leap. (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/) Ainge has always been insanely competitive, so when he retired, not many thought he would be done for good, and Smith wanted to hire him back in August.
– via Tony Jones, Jared Weiss, Tony Jones and Jared Weiss @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3018462/2021/12/15/why-utah-jazz-were-right-fit-for-former-celtics-boss-danny-ainge-to-take-over-as-ceo/)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/16/utah-jazz-make-trade-season/


Do the Utah Jazz need to make a trade to contend this season?

Need to get rid of Clarkson and ideally Hughes while getting a starting 4 or at least someone that can take most of the minutes Gay doesn't

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/16/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-mvp-level/


Now, suppose Donovan Mitchell continues putting up numbers like those from his past eight appearances as the Jazz continue their winning ways. In that case, he’d likely enter the top five in several categories and cement his name in the MVP conversation.



imagine the 2nd best player on his team winning MVP :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Mike Conley is back to resting on back to backs. He’ll sit out tonight (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)

[Xiao Yao You]

The Nuggets are actively looking for a wing to help replace Dozier and Porter, two league sources told The Denver Post. (https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/17/nuggets-trade-wing-nba-mailbag/) As of right now, they don’t have any traditional wings on the roster. Will Barton played the three last year, but he’s more a shooting guard. Aaron Gordon is a power forward moonlighting as a three in a bigger starting lineup. On the bench, there’s no one you could reasonably deem a “wing.”

– via Mike Singer @ Denver Post (https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/17/nuggets-trade-wing-nba-mailbag/)




Clarkson?

[Xiao Yao You]

StatMuse: KAT is one of the best offensive bigs the NBA has ever seen. His 7 seasons: 18/11 on 54/34% 25/12 on 54/37% 21/12 on 55/42% 24/12 on 52/40% 27/11 on 51/41% 25/11 on 49/39% 24/9 on 51/42% He has 4 seasons averaging 20 on 50/40% — every other center in history has no more than 1 (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter statmuse (https://twitter.com/statmuse)



and his winning %?

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: The Rockets are waiving forward Danuel House, (https://*********.com/social/) allowing him to find a new team in the final year of his deal. Rockets are assigning his minutes to younger players and won’t hold him on roster to wait on a finding a deadline trade.

– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)





David Hardisty: Danuel House Jr. was making less than $4M this season on an expiring contract. The Rockets waiving him clearly signals there was no trade market for him at all (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter clutchfans (https://twitter.com/clutchfans)



he's been mentioned as a possibility for the Jazz in a trade

[Xiao Yao You]

Rylan Stiles: NBA GL Ignite adds CJ Miles. (https://*********.com/social/) pic.twitter.com/EfbQJulrhr
– via Twitter Rylan_Stiles (https://twitter.com/Rylan_Stiles)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/17/buying-selling-trade-idea-utah-jazz/

well duh! Clarkson is still the guy you need to look to move with Hughes ideally

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50314595/the-sky-isnt-falling-after-jazz-fall-to-wizards-but-some-things-need-to-be-addressed


If the Jazz were going to win Saturday it was going to be due to how Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson performed in isolation plays. Mitchell had 32 points on 12-of-25 shooting, Clarkson had 12 points and was 4 of 14 from the field — that wasn't good enough.



win or lose ugly basketball


"Mike does everything for all the other guys on the court," Gobert said. "He tries to make all the guys better all the time, so it's always a little harder when he's not out there. It's also great because as we saw last year in the playoffs, he may not always be there."



and if he's not they are in trouble as we've seen


"There just has to be more precision and more attention to detail in those situations," Snyder said. "You still may not get a great shot, but you want to get a shot that is better than the ones that we've got."



draw up a better play for a change COTY

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/475153/jazz-home-struggles-continue-in-loss-to-wizards/


The Jazz bench play has been up and down this season, but with veterans like Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, you’d hope there would be more stability to survive Jordan Clarkson’s somewhat regular 4-14 shooting nights.



you'd think you'd get rid of Clarkson or find a coach that doesn't allow him to play 1 on 5 and lead the team in 3 attempts despite being a horrible shooter

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/475161/jazz-drop-second-consecutive-home-game-in-loss-to-wizards/


The guard has had a lot of strong first quarters recently to help the Jazz offense get going, then allowing his teammates to pick up the slack later in the game. Mitchell had 13 first quarter points.



too bad the best player in franchise history is so inconsistent

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/18/22832976/instant-analysis-jazz-lose-2nd-straight-close-game-this-time-to-wizards


It kind of always felt like it was going to have to be Mitchell who was going to put the team on his back to win this one and he made the effort to do that, finishing with 32 points, five assists and three rebounds. But Bradley Beal had just as flashy of a night with what seemed like an easy 37 points to lead his team to victory.



and yet as usual it was Gobert doing his best to give them a chance to win

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/18/22844575/utah-jazz-struggle-in-crunch-time-again-in-loss-against-the-washington-wizards-nba-recap


-Whiteside doing the Whiteside dance I knew and loved before he came to the Jazz. Just whiny, no-motor basketball. He is the Dennis Schroeder of NBA bigs. 10 minutes basically goose-eggs across the board except for fouls and some offensive rebounds which resulted in nada.

yep. Should be the best player out there but isn't much like Jeff Green


-Would love to see Eric Paschall in the Forrest minutes. He plays with Joe and Clarkson and Gay. There's enough basketball knowhow for ball-handling there, I think. It may also create a lot of defensive havoc because it would basically be three dudes of 6'8-9" with Gobert and Jordan. Offensively, I think EP's ability to track down boards and bully his way to the rim, would ultimately be better than TF.

yeah I think Paschall should be the next guy. Doesn't solve the Clarkson problem


It was so painfully obvious watching this game last night that with the defensive scheme the Wizards employed, Donovan was forced to create an enormous amount of the offense. Offensively, this was a weird night. Jordan missed a whole bunch of good looks from three, the Jazz were uncharacteristically awful from the free-throw line, and there was no Conley to help with creating offense and knocking down open threes.

Clarkson missing 3's is weird? :facepalm


Quin still has no confidence in his 10th thru 15th guys. What a perfect game to throw out Eric for some energy minutes. To maybe start Butler and give him 20 minutes. To maybe start Forrest and give him 20 minutes. To maybe play Oni 20 minutes and see if he really deserves a roster spot. To maybe give Hughes 20 minutes to see if he really has improved. Even try Pitts.

Hughes sucks. Zanik or COTY the next to go? Deepest team in the league! :lol


Agree to it. But Quin wouldn't change. Thus, the need to explore for a trade with one of the core or Ingles.




or get a new coach. They changed the front office because COTY wasn't happy with his bench


We embarrassed them at home just a week ago. Especially our centers with Rudy and Hassan combining for 38 points and 25 boards. They just played a lot harder tonight and made adjustments to not get killed by our bigs again. We didn't respond well missing 11 FTs and JC and Ocho going 2/15 from 3.



adjustments! Imagine having a coach that would do that


In this one, they negated dunks and corner threes by switching everything, and JC was off. They were able to get multiple defensive stops and disallowed our bigs to get easy buckets for the most part, which creates pushes in transition and fuels their offense, especially on long-rebound, missed threes. This creates confidence and then they just have to hope that DM can't beat them. Ballgame.

Clarkson is always off so how do you tell?

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: The Toronto Raptors plan to sign forward Juwan Morgan of NBA G League Maine via hardship, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Morgan is the third call up out of the Boston Celtics’ affiliate in the last day.
– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Boston Celtics are signing G/F C.J. Miles to a hardship exemption, sources tell ESPN. (https://*********.com/social/) Miles, a 15-year veteran, played for the Wizards in the 2019-2020 season.
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)

[Xiao Yao You]

Emiliano Carchia: Kosta Koufos is expected to join Reyer Venezia in January, (https://*********.com/social/) I am told. The contract should be signed very soon by the two sides
– via Twitter Carchia (https://twitter.com/Carchia)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265120/Hiring-Danny-Ainge-Signals-Influence-Of-Ryan-Smith-In-Utahs-Basketball-Decisions


"I don't think there's any question about that," replied Tim Bontemps. "The fact that it's Ryan Smith's show is the reason Danny Ainge is in Utah. Going back to even before last season ended, there was talk about this maybe happening in some form."



time to dump Clarkson and COTY Ryan

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265129/NBA-Net-Rating-Week-9-Jazz-Overtake-Warriors-For-No-1

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: The Minnesota Timberwolves are signing G/F Rayjon Tucker of NBA G League Wisconsin on a 10-day hardship deal, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.
– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)

[Xiao Yao You]

Marc J. Spears: The @hoophall announced eligible candidates for the Class of 2022, including Manu Ginobili, Tom Chambers and Lindsey Whalen, (https://*********.com/social/) as well Chauncey Billups, Swin Cash, Ken Anderson, Muggsy Bogues, Mark Eaton, Michael Finley, Richard Hamilton, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson and Shawn Marion

– via Twitter MarcJSpears (https://twitter.com/MarcJSpears)



Eaton :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Chicago Bulls are planning to sign veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova on a 10-day hardship exemption, (https://*********.com/social/) pending a physical and protocols, sources tell @Ramona Shelburne and me.

– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




great pickup. Too bad COTY didn't like him

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/21/22847304/2021-utah-jazz-nba-too-rosy-a-picture


The growing buzz about Clarkson not being the right fit is absolutely legitimate, given how his inefficiency is pushing the boundaries of unprecedented for NBA Championship teams (below).



What buzz? He never did fit. He just seemed like an upgrade from Exum. Now I don't even think that as much as Exum sucks!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/21/one-gift-every-utah-jazz-player/


Trent Forrest, Miye Oni, Jared Butler, Elijah Hughes, Malik Fitts, Udoka Azubuike: An opportunity

Hughes has gotten his in the Gleague and he's sucked. Oni will probably be getting his soon with another team


Bojan Bogdanovic: Better defense



good luck with that


Rudy Gobert has earned the respect of the entire NBA as a vital member of the Utah Jazz. It’s time they give him the respect he deserves.



Really? He's not respected locally. It's all about Mitchell


Jordan Clarkson: Shooting efficiency



he sucks. Hopefully Ainge can get rid of him


This is where we remind you that Ingles is 34. Time has really snuck up on his career, as he didn’t enter the league until the ripe old age of 27. Nonetheless, here we are. It’s not realistic to expect Ingles to do anything but decline from now on. (https://www.sportscasting.com/the-exact-age-that-nba-players-are-in-their-prime/)



coming off his best year


Donovan Mitchell: Consistency



D and passing

[Xiao Yao You]

Michael Scotto on Collin Sexton’s future: It seemed like in talking with others around the league outside the organization, they always felt Cleveland would have to break up Darius Garland and Collin Sexton because they can’t keep paying all these guys with luxury tax implications. Some executives view Collin Sexton as a high-end sixth man type of player, maybe in a Jordan Clarkson role as a combo guard that can score off the bench (https://*********.com/lists/collin-sexton-kevin-love-ricky-rubio-nba-rumors/).

– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/collin-sexton-kevin-love-ricky-rubio-nba-rumors/)



you want to trade?

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Sacramento Kings are planning to sign free agent guard Emmanuel Mudiay to a 10-day deal, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell ESPN. Mudiay had been playing in Europe this season. He’s expected to be available on Wednesday vs. the Clippers.
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/21/22846506/the-utah-jazz-arent-looking-at-wins-and-losses-in-black-and-white-terms-this-season-nba

Get rid of the coach and Clarkson and you'd get better

[Xiao Yao You]

Michael Scotto on Ricky Rubio: Coming into the year, some around the league wondered if Ricky Rubio would be a short-term veteran mentor, and then maybe the Cavaliers would flip him at the trade deadline. But the Cavaliers value him according to the people in the organization I speak to certainly this season with what he can bring (https://*********.com/lists/collin-sexton-kevin-love-ricky-rubio-nba-rumors/).
– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/collin-sexton-kevin-love-ricky-rubio-nba-rumors/)

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim Bontemps: Joe Johnson says he was hanging out with daughter yesterday when he got the news that he was coming to Boston. (https://*********.com/social/) Got on a flight a couple of hours later, and now he’s back.

– via Twitter TimBontemps (https://twitter.com/TimBontemps)





Jared Weiss: Joe Johnson to @Jay King on if he thought he’d given up on making it back to the NBA: “I wouldn’t say give up, but I wouldn’t say high hopes. (https://*********.com/social/) My son is 14, so he keeps me in the gym and we work and work and work.”
– via Twitter JaredWeissNBA (https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA)



He was done after the Clippers series. Left it all on the floor there

[Xiao Yao You]

Jay King: Ime Udoka said the Celtics believe Joe Johnson can still play, but also value the experience he can bring (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter ByJayKing (https://twitter.com/ByJayKing)




Jay King: Ime Udoka said Jayson Tatum smiled when he heard Joe Johnson was signing with the Celtics (https://*********.com/social/) and said that was one of his favorite players.
– via Twitter ByJayKing (https://twitter.com/ByJayKing)

[Xiao Yao You]

Boston Celtics: We have signed seven-time NBA All-Star and 17-year veteran Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract (http://twitter.com/celtics/status/1473776696952250380).
– via Twitter celtics (https://twitter.com/celtics)

[Xiao Yao You]

“It almost feels like we’re getting back to two years ago when it first started, just with the amount of players that are in the protocol at the moment,” forward Joe Ingles said (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/24/omicron-wreaks-havoc/) after Thursday morning’s shootaround.
– via Salt Lake Tribune (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/24/omicron-wreaks-havoc/)

[Xiao Yao You]

A 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sahara modded into a truck with six massive wheels, Big Shirley is a passion project for the Jazz’s new backup center. Whiteside bought the car in 2019 when he first joined the Portland Trail Blazers and finally finished work on the behemoth just a couple of months ago. It has 9,000 miles on it now. “I’m like a big Jeep enthusiast,” Whiteside says. “I’ve got two more Jeeps, but they’re not like this.” (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/23/hassan-whitesides-truck/)
– via Salt Lake Tribune (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/23/hassan-whitesides-truck/)




It was created by, in Whiteside’s words, “a mixture of a bunch of crazy people that did a great job.” Whiteside said four car modding shops worked on different aspects of the project, among them SoFloJeeps and Apocalypse Manufacturing in Florida. America’s Most Wanted put a Hellcat engine into the 6×6. In the end, Whiteside estimated that the crews spent 1,800 hours of labor working on his creation (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/23/hassan-whitesides-truck/).
– via Salt Lake Tribune (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/23/hassan-whitesides-truck/)







Hassan Whiteside: I actually paid for Big Shirley from Crypto profit my profile pic actually worth more ….Wow I love this #NFT and #CRYPTO Space (https://*********.com/social/) ??????

NEW STORY: Hassan Whiteside is turning heads wherever he goes around town with a custom $330K six-wheel Jeep/truck mashup.
Meet Big Shirley.
Why is she called Big Shirley? You’ll have to read the story:https://t.co/21MsznAd2n
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) December 23, 2021 (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/1474016402705039360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)


– via Twitter andyblarsen (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50317584/that-was-a-dope-finish-jazz-react-to-jordan-clarksons-startling-dunk


Ingles annoyed someone who's played in just 12 games before Thursday and had never seen significant playing time seemed strange — if not a little on brand. It was a sideshow, pure and simple; but it shouldn't be the most memorable part of a game.



he had with Portland. I like him. Jazz should try to get him. Maybe they'd take Hughes


Thankfully, Jordan Clarkson saved us all.



:facepalm


Heck, even Clarkson seemed surprised at what he had just done. He ended up in the corner surrounded by teammates and got lucky when Minnesota coach Chris Finch called timeout. There was no way he was getting back down the court to play defense.



like he ever does


It was a startling play and a spectacular dunk. Funny enough, though, it came on an off-shooting night. He was just 2 of 9 from the field Thursday but provided positives elsewhere. Clarkson continued his string of solid playmaking by finishing with seven assists.



if only that was an off night and not typical


"There's a number of times that both he and Donovan made kind of a hockey assist," Snyder said. "And obviously, the fact that they both got seven assists says a lot about who they are — that you can score and then when the defense starts playing you a certain way tonight (they adjust)."



it says he's been so bad he's even passing occasionally

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50317542/its-everywhere-jazz-prepare-for-inevitable-after-taking-care-of-covid-ridden-wolves


That's especially true when that defense went through long portions of the game — mostly with Jordan Clarkson and Hassan Whiteside — looking downright uninterested. There are obvious reasons for that. It's human nature for a dip to occur when you're up against the likes of Nathan Knight and Jake Layman opposed to Towns and Edwards. And there was never a time the Wolves looked capable of stopping Utah.



obvious reasons would be it's Clarkson and Whiteside

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/23/22846469/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-talent-overwhelms-shorthanded-timberwolves-nba


“He was incredibly efficient. It just shows you that he’s talented. When he comes in the game, he provides us such a lift with his ability to score, and oftentimes he can go on a run on his own. But in games like tonight, when they’re aggressive in the pick-and-roll the way they were for him to get off the ball ... says a lot.” —Jazz head coach Quin Snyder

2-9 is efficient? new coach please! :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Ingles is a name to watch up to the trade deadline; in spitballing sessions, a lot of rival executives have wondered what the Jazz might be able to get in exchange for Ingles and a first-round pick. (https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/32930435/lowe-10-things-melo-hilarious-yells-baffling-celtics-glorious-return-warriors) Ingles is on an expiring contract, and has lost maybe an eighth of a step.

– via Zach Lowe @ ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/32930435/lowe-10-things-melo-hilarious-yells-baffling-celtics-glorious-return-warriors)




Clarkson is the guy to go if you can find a taker. Throw in Hughes ideally and whatever other assets if you have to. Need a starting 4 ideally or someone else that can give you 20 or so minutes so Royce can play mostly on the wing again

[Xiao Yao You]

Marc Stein: Luka Dončić will remain in the league’s health and safety protocols and is not traveling with Dallas today for its Christmas Day game in Salt Lake City against the Jazz, (https://*********.com/social/) league sources say. More NBA from me: marcstein.substack.com
– via Twitter TheSteinLine (https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/24/22851997/utah-jazz-insiders-jazz-ready-to-put-on-a-christmas-day-show


Seven years ago, in Quin Snyder’s first season as head coach of the Utah Jazz (2014-15), the team went into Christmas Day with a 9-20 record. The Jazz were not on the Dec. 25 playing schedule, they weren’t bound for the playoffs and were struggling to find an identity. Now, the Jazz are one of the must-see games of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate, and head into that game with a record that’s the complete opposite at 22-9.



that was the month Gobert emerged and turned the franchise's fortunes around :cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/whos-been-naughty-or-nice-ahead-of-utahs-christmas-day-game/


Each offseason, Mitchell has talked about improving his defense. We’re seeing fruits of that this season. His steal rate is up. His deflections are up. He’s defending three point shots better. While his numbers have tapered a bit recently, the body of work this season is encouraging.



been nice just to see some effort at that end finally

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/24/22852666/the-key-to-jordan-clarkson-having-an-impact-for-the-utah-jazz-nba-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-2021


But with that said, I want to make one final note: Jordan Clarkson’s primary form of impact (for better or for worse) will always be through putting the ball in the basket. If he’s not scoring the ball effectively, he’s by and large an ineffective player. I don’t believe that betting on Clarkson making an impact through his defense will ever be a great idea. So, if he’s not scoring the ball, what exactly is he doing? Currently, his inability to reach league averages in shooting efficiency thirty games in the season is terrifying. Even last night, a game where displayed his ability as a playmaker, he ended with a minus-2 in the box score. Simply put, while Utah’s success doesn’t totally rest on Clarkson’s play, he needs to turn his season around before the playoffs if a title run is in the plans.



trade him please!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/26/22853972/utah-jazz-pull-out-tough-win-against-depleted-dallas-mavericks-on-christmas


A lot of credit needs to go to the Mavericks who were missing their best player as well as other key rotation guys. Right before the game started, Kristaps Porzingis was given the go-ahead to start in this one and he was a huge asset for the Mavericks. He looked like his old Knicks (https://www.postingandtoasting.com) self out there hitting mid-rangers and taking advantage of mismatches on the offensive end. He finished the game with 27 points and went 11/13 from the free-throw line. Utah had Royce O’Neale guarding him for multiple stretches of the game and he struggled to contain Porzingis. It’s hard to knock O’Neale for that as Porzingis is like 7’2”. Some Jazz fans would ask why O’Neale was on him and the answer is, do you think he’d do better guarding the rolling center, Dwight Powell? It was clearly a tough matchup defensively for Utah. The adjustment that helped was Rudy Gay at the 4. Gay had the size to at least be more physically dominant with Porzingis and it slowed him down. That’s the type of versatility the Jazz likely hoped for when they signed Gay. It gives Quin Snyder options when he needs them.



now if they only had another guy like Gay so Royce could play on the wing where he belongs


For Utah, they came out and played one of the worst first quarters they’ve played in a long time. At one point they were down 16. Yes, this Mavericks roster was just put together and there isn’t a clear game plan on how to guard and attack them, but that’s when talent and precision should shine through and it was just not there. It’s clear the Jazz have some serious defensive flaws and it may not be an effort thing. In fact, I’m pretty sure at this point it’s a roster flaw. You can’t teach players to be younger. Utah’s offense also struggled for major parts of this game. Some of that can be attributed to a desperate Mavericks team and some of that is a Jazz team that hits rough stretches that give other teams chances to go on runs. It makes sense that this Jazz team that scores so well in the advanced stats still finds itself in games like this. Yes, they’ll go on major scoring stretches but when they struggle, their perimeter defense fails them every night and it’s what gives other teams opportunities to get back in games. Utah has to find a player that can improve the athleticism of this team as well as the perimeter defense. Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge have their work cut out for them.



while getting a starting 4 and getting rid of Clarkson and Hughes


Having said all that, the Jazz won the game! It was a fantastic crowd and it was a close game that I’m sure ESPN appreciated. Donovan Mitchell played fantastically. Tonight he scored 33 points on 42% from the field with just 1/7 from three. His three hasn’t been falling of late but his incredible shooting from 2-pt range continued. He also had 3 assists and 3 steals. Richard Jefferson talked about him not being All-NBA last year as a travesty and it’s absolutely true. The NBA continues to allow lazy analysis from national people to affect those spots on the All-NBA roster and it wouldn't matter too much if it didn’t relate completely to Mitchell’s ability to get a supermax extension. You can bet that Mitchell knows this and it’s part of the reason why his play has gone up another level this year. The other reason is he’s just really damn good.



He missed the end of the year. He didn't play D. He isn't consistent. Didn't deserve it. Didn't deserve his all star berths either when you don't show up until January


I would just be super cautious trading him for a "better defender" type. He is so versatile going from PG to PF. Great locker room presence. Accepts any role. Still an amazing shooter. I don't want to see us win a championship without him.

PF :roll:


That said I could see him having a lesser role come playoff time. I hope we acquire another proven NBA rotational player to add depth unless Butler can prove himself. Which doesn't look like will happen. There should be a ton of guys available at the trade deadline or buyout market.

too early to write Butler off. We've seen Jazz rookies get it by the end of the year


I think it’s got to be Clarkson. In the playoffs, we’ll need that perimeter defense more than (inconsistent) bench production. Trading Ingles makes sense, but would curse us - seems like he’s the heart of the team. Bogie is consistent, balanced.

yep. Get better by simple subtraction. If they get anything in turn besides a roster spot great.


This game shows why O'neal is the weakest link on the starters, unless u can trade Bogey to a better SF.

:roll:


Seeing him play well with energy is awesome. He has a bounce to his game that is unique on the team. I do worry that he might have some bad games at the wrong time and shoot us out of a series though. His 38% and 30% from 3 shooting is by far the lowest on our team. Hopefully he can up those and be more consistent as the year goes on.



good luck with that


"Fantasy" championship maybe the key part of your comment. Those guys come from consistently losing franchises. Nance would be the weakest starter in the lineup. Someone has to be. They might put us over the top but I wouldn't chance it.




but he'd be an actual 4!

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: FYI: the Jazz broadcast crew didn’t travel with the team on this road trip, citing coronavirus concerns. (https://*********.com/social/) Team says they’ll broadcast from home “for the next several road trips.”
– via Twitter andyblarsen (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/27/22821191/top-10-utah-jazz-stories-in-2021-quin-snyder-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-jordan-clarkson-mark-eaton


Mitchell came back too soon from his injury and was hampered through that series against L.A. And although he reached impressive heights through the postseason (https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/16/22530306/utah-jazz-guard-donovan-mitchell-playing-through-injury-nba-playoffs-clippers), it was clear that he was hurting.



way to listen to the doctors! :facepalm


In the end, Jazz fans would be left wondering what might have been (https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/22/22543568/utah-jazz-never-got-chance-to-give-it-their-best-shot-in-the-playoffs) if their All-Star backcourt (https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/18/22428792/utah-jazz-injuries-donovan-mitchell-and-mike-conley-turned-into-jazz-assistant-coaches) had been healthy for the playoffs.



still would have had bad D by Mitchell and COTY refusing to make any moves

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/27/22856130/utah-jazz-look-to-beat-the-san-andotnospurs-without-donovan-mitchell


Like every game this season, the goal is to avoid injury and rest the starters as much as possible. Utah has done a pretty good job of keeping minutes low for their starters but it would be nice to get a big lead and allow some of their end of the bench players can get some run. At some point I would like to see Jared Butler get some minutes, for example. One, because it would mean the Jazz have a nice lead. And two, I would like to see Jared Butler play and develop.



that's what the Stars are for. I want to see him play because he's not Clarkson!


Knowing Quin Snyder, it’s probably a lock that Joe Ingles will start in this game. But with his level of defense lately, it might be time to start thinking of other options. Can the Jazz play someone like Eric Paschall to start and have a more defensive focused lineup? That type of move would bring more size and mobility on the defensive end. At some point Snyder is going to have to think about his lineups and what the overall goal is. Is it just to overwhelm teams with offensive output? Or is it for a more well-rounded team that actually considers defense to be important? Over the coarse of the year, we’ll see.



don't get your hopes up about COTY making changes

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/christmas-day-ends-utah-opening-one-more-present


"He's locked in, and I think he has the ability when he's in the lane to score or draw people and make plays," head coach Quin Snyder said of Clarkson. "We're not going to judge him on whether the ball goes in or not. … He's trying to take good shots, involve people, and play defense. I'll take that any day of the week."



sadly we know you will

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50318811/some-luck-defense-and-versatility-leads-jazz-to-win-over-spurs


The good news for the Jazz: Most of their best 3-point shooters can attack in other ways. Mike Conley, Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson have been superb this season finding space in the paint. If that's the shot the Spurs were willing to give up, the Jazz were happy to take them.



yeah Clarkson has been superb!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/475627/clarkson-forrest-help-carry-jazz-past-spurs/


Clarkson Continues Excellent Play

continues?


In total, Clarkson’s 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 32 minutes allowed the Jazz to survive in San Antonio without their best player.



best? :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/475659/jazz-center-rudy-gobert-moves-into-top-50-on-nbas-all-time-blocks-list/

:bowdown:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/27/22855492/instant-analysis-playing-without-donovan-mitchell-utah-jazz-win-with-defense-against-spurs-nba


The Jazz knew that they were going to need a collective effort to make up for the fact that Donovan Mitchell was not going to be in the game. Mike Conley said as much Monday morning and pointed out that there is always a little more responsibility placed on their shoulders when a player of Mitchell’s caliber is not on the floor. So to see the way that the Jazz moved the ball and tried out a bunch of different looks against the Spurs was a great sign. The Jazz still managed to have six players score in double figures even without Mitchell on the floor, led by 23 points from Jordan Clarkson off the bench.



ball always moves better without him. Watch out if they get rid of Clarkson too


The plucky Spurs made a late push against the Jazz’s deep bench lineup to try to come back, but it was not really a comeback that had the Jazz in real peril. That said, Quin Snyder had to bring back in his starters to close the game because his bench unit was giving up the lead. That means less rest for a group that is playing shorthanded on the road which means that the deep bench guys need to step it up. That shouldn’t happen.



deepest team in the league!

[Xiao Yao You]

While Utah hasn't been nearly as dominant at home this season, already with six losses, they've been warriors on the road. They're currently 11-3 on the season away from the snowy mountains, including road victories over Milwaukee, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Philadelphia — all teams currently in the top-6 of the Eastern Conference standings.



more like the rest of coty's reign

[Xiao Yao You]

Michael Scotto: Joe Ingles’ name has come up since the draft in trade talks, (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/) according to rival executives I’ve spoken to. It’s unclear who’s initiating that, but his name has been brought up.

– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/)




Tony Jones: I think the Jazz are going to be really aggressive in terms of making calls and scanning the trade market (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/) to see if there’s anything available versus looking at their roster and seeing if there’s an upgrade.
– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/)







Tony Jones on the relationship between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert: I think they have a good professional relationship. Obviously, they’re never going to be best friends. That’s okay. You don’t have to be best friends with your co-worker. I think what’s important is that both of those guys know how important they are to each other. (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/) I don’t think you can name me a star duo that is as important to each other and the careers of each other than they are.
– via Michael Scotto @ ********* (https://*********.com/lists/podcast-danny-ainges-impact-on-jazz-trade-talks-joe-ingles-future/)




anyone want Clarkson should be the question

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/28/22856904/the-next-step-for-utah-jazz-guard-trent-forrest-is-learning-to-trust-himself-as-scorer


The next evolution for Forrest, as he continues on as the Jazz’s de facto “your number could be called at any time” player, is becoming more confident in himself as a scorer. It’s not that Forrest is afraid or doesn’t think that he’s able, it’s that he’s surrounded by so many other players that are built to score and he wants to do what’s best for the team. And he’s right to think that sometimes the best thing is to swing the ball to Bojan Bogdanovic for an open 3-pointer, or to hit Rudy Gobert or Hassan Whiteside on a lob, or pass it to Jordan Clarkson and let him do what he does best. But sometimes the right thing for Forrest to do is to take the rock all the way to the rim.



unless he can hit an open shot it won't matter much


Forrest has become the go-to man to fill in the gaps when either Mitchell or Conley are not playing. This season, opportunities have been limited, with Forrest mostly playing in garbage time or on one side of a back-to-back set when Conley sits out to rest. But it was only a matter of time before one thing or another would lead to Forrest having to step up again, and that thing happened when Mitchell tweaked his back against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day (https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/26/22847093/donovan-mitchell-to-miss-two-game-road-trip-with-back-strain-utah-jazz).



he plays almost every game


Snyder is pleased with how Forrest is coming along defensively and is impressed with his natural instincts as well as how he’s developed in such a short time and with limited playing opportunities. It’s no secret that Forrest needs to work on his jump shot and develop some range, but in his role with the Jazz, because he is surrounded by capable shooters, it might be more important for him to refine his interior game.



don't need another Ricky

[El Kabong]

Big game for Gay against the Blazers, really kept everything moving in that 2nd quarter.

[Xiao Yao You]

Big game for Gay against the Blazers, really kept everything moving in that 2nd quarter.

good to see. He'd been looking old

[Xiao Yao You]

Jon Krawczynski: Anthony Edwards is ready to roll tomorrow vs. Utah: “I probably won’t sleep tonight. It’s probably going to feel like I got drafted again. It’s going to be fun.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter JonKrawczynski (https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50319840/are-the-jazz-a-better-team-away-from-salt-lake-city-


So what gives?



except for last year they've been better on the road under Snyder than at home

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/30/22860036/utah-jazz-road-wins-nba-record-away-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell


If you’ve been Jazz fan for a while, and watched them over the years, you know how uncommon it is for the Jazz to really thrive on the road. I’m old enough to remember the D-Will/Boozer team that was literally a completely different squad on the road vs at home. In 2007 they went 37-4 at home, and 17-24 on the road. Even in past years when the Jazz have had great teams, they were never elite road teams like they are this season. The best season the Jazz have ever had on the road was in 1994-95 when they finished 27-14 on the road. As it stands right now, the Jazz are on pace for a 33-8 road record, which would put them just one game behind the 2015-16 Warriors for the best road record of all-time. Pretty crazy to think.



if you've followed them under COTY you'd know they've been a good road team and not a dominant home team except last year

[Xiao Yao You]

Mike Singer: Nuggets are signing Rayjon Tucker to a 10-day hardship exception, (https://*********.com/social/) league source tells @denverpost.
– via Twitter msinger (https://twitter.com/msinger)

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Donovan Mitchell says his back is feeling better after the last couple of games off, (https://*********.com/social/) and he’ll play tonight with no restrictions.
– via Twitter andyblarsen (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen)

[Xiao Yao You]

Mark Medina: Minnesota Timberwolves say that Anthony Edwards will be available for tonight’s game (https://*********.com/social/) vs the Utah Jazz
– via Twitter MarkG_Medina (https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina)

[Xiao Yao You]

Anthony Slater: Draymond Green isn’t expected to return for the Warriors tomorrow in Utah against the Jazz, but Steve Kerr said there’s hope of possible return when Warriors get back home. (https://*********.com/social/) Still hasn’t cleared protocols.
– via Twitter anthonyVslater (https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/31/22860749/why-the-utah-jazz-should-give-jared-butler-minutes-nba-2021-22-quin-snyder-donovan-mitchell-draft


In all fairness, it isn’t without reason. In the minutes Butler has played, his performances haven’t dropped any jaws. Against NBA level rotation players, Butler seemed out of place on defense and couldn’t get a bucket to drop on offense; he was a little shell-shocked. This, eventually, led to his assignment to the Salt Lake City Stars. There, in thirty minutes a night, Butler has averaged 21.4 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. While he hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, the five games he’s played for the Stars have been valuable; he’s experienced real playing time against fringe-NBA players. The competition in the G-League isn’t soft by any measure and I think sending him there was the right idea. Still, in taking a look at the last few games where Donovan Mitchell has sat out due to injury and Trent Forrest has received extended minutes, I think it’s time to give Butler some playing time in the big league.



make him earn it. They lost a couple games earlier in the year by giving him minutes instead of Forrest or Oni


Over the last two games, Forrest played 37 minutes. He totaled 4 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and a Plus-Minus of minus-2. He averaged a game score of 1.4, shot 33% from the field, and wasn’t able to space the floor. In looking at his season as a whole, Forrest has averaged a Box Plus/Minus of -3.0, a Defensive Box Plus/Minus of 0.7, and nearly as many turnovers (13) as assists (20). The purpose for showing these statistics isn’t to knock Forrest as an NBA player; I actually believe that he could play real minutes in this league, given the right opportunity. Instead, it’s to show that the “win now” argument for why Butler shouldn’t play doesn’t hold water. Both from a system and individual perspective, it makes sense for the Jazz to play Butler. He better fits Quin Snyder’s offensive scheme, can handle the ball just as well as Forrest, and will certainly take something away from each stint he plays in the NBA.



Butler played good D when he played. Offensively he's not ready. Forrest looks a lot better


Given that Butler has only played five games for Stars, I don’t see why, on nights where one of Utah’s guards are resting or out, Butler shouldn’t have the opportunity to both see and feel NBA level play. I’m afraid that, in the G-League, Butler will develop as a primary ball handler with high usage and high shooting volume. The Jazz need Butler to turn into a secondary ball handler who spaces the floor and can create for himself when needed. While Trent Forrest is a serviceable backup guard in the NBA, the minutes he plays don’t typically have a significant impact, positive or negative, on the outcome of a game. Since those minutes are low-risk and low-impact, they’d be better served if given to Jared Butler. Although he’ll surly experience growing pains, Butler is one of the only young players on Utah’s roster with real promise and I believe that he should be given the opportunity to learn, even in a season where the end goal is a Larry O’Brian Trophy.



rather have a guy not hurting you than hurting you


On the other hand, Butler makes a hash of things whenever he is on the court. He is ball-dominant and is often forcing up poor shots after dribbling the clock down. In the last game against San Antonio, both teams acknowledged the game was over by putting in the deep bench. But after a run that dropped the lead to single digits, in part to a TO and air ball in three possessions by Butler, the Jazz had to come back with starters to wrap up the game. Unlike Forrest, Butler CAN lose games for the Jazz.

yep and he already has. Make guys earn their way


It's super frustrating at times but Q going to Q. Either he knows these guys are bums or he should try to get them some minutes. But it seems in an actual game he just can't do it. I would really like to see Hughes get some minutes. He looked like he had really improved.



he has improved. Too bad he still sucks


He definitely hasn't shown a Grayson Allen or even a Dante Exum level of potential.

he's better than Exum any day. Grayson didn't show anything until about January if I remember. He shouldn't have been playing either. If Butler went to Duke he'd be playing for sure

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/31/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-time-blocks-leader/

not even close :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/31/22857412/instant-analysis-donovan-mitchell-scored-a-season-high-39-in-utah-jazz-win-over-timberwolves


The Timberwolves were missing a few players in the health and safety protocol but the Jazz were also shorthanded without Mike Conley (resting first night of a back-to-back) and Joe Ingles (lower back strain). That being said, Mitchell returned after taking the last two games off with a lower back injury and wasted absolutely no time. From early in the game he looked comfortable, healthy and clearly had his legs under him. A few days rest did Mitchell well and it was him who sparked a 22-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the Wolves away. Mitchell finished with a season-high 39 points, six rebounds and five assists. Mitchell was a little disappointed that he didn’t get 40 points when he checked out of the game, but after going 9-of-10 from the free throw line, he blamed himself for not reaching it.

the other team doesn't score I'd say someone else is sparking the run


The Jazz’s rebounding was really valuable against Minnesota. They outrebounded the Wolves 61-47 and a huge shoutout is deserved for Bojan Bogdanovic who had 12 rebounds to go with his 24 points for his second career double-double.

figured it had to be one of his best nights on the boards ever

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/12/31/22862203/rudy-gobert-and-the-utah-jazz-easily-dismiss-patrick-beverley-anthony-edwards-and-the-lowly-wolves


Bojan Bogdanovic had a strong shooting night for the Jazz. He was 6/14 from the field for 42% and 3/6 from 3. He also had a really nice rebounding night with 12 rebounds. The thing that always seems to pop up with Bogdanovic is the turnovers. For the game, Bogdanovic had 5 turnovers with 2 assists. A 2/5 turnover ratio is really tough and makes you wonder why he’s ever put into a single isolation situation.



COTY


There were some interesting wrinkles to this game that deserve some attention. With Mike Conley and Joe Ingles out, Quin Snyder decided to start Trent Forrest. It’s clear that Snyder has an unwavering belief that Forrest is the best option at that third guard spot. Forrest is a solid defender, a good ball handler and he’s a forceful athlete. He also can’t shoot the ball and it allows the opposing team to sag off on defense. It also makes Jazz players second guess whether to pass him the ball. Multiple times Jazz players looked him off for other shots and it was part of the reason the Jazz offense struggled with him on the floor. For the game, he was a team-low -15. Because both Conley and Ingles were out, Snyder begrudgingly had to play Jared Butler and had him in the patented “sit in the corner and don’t get in the way” role. Butler did the best with what he was given and was 1/1 from 3 and 1/2 from the field with a steal. A nice showing for the rookie getting his first real minutes since early in the year. Quin’s rigidness to make adjustments to the lineup might be tested in the future, but for now, it’s clear Forrest has that #3 guard spot locked up. But as time goes on, and if the trade deadline gets interesting, we’ll see if that changes. Danny Ainge may be the one that makes that decision.



See ya Clarkson and Hughes! :cheers:


The Jazz coaching staff is getting a lot of credit for the current success, but I would suggest that it's the players, not the coaching. Maybe a different coach would draw even more from this team. Maybe. Cheers.

coty certainly has done nothing without Gobert


i am not sure if this team need a point guard, too many ball handlers in my opinion. the greater need is a bigger body than royce a 3 and D but bigger, royce won't last the whole season and playoffs being a power forward with his height and body

a starting 4 has been needed the past 3 years or at least someone that can give you 20 minutes there so Royce can play mostly where he belongs on the wing


Portland's problems aren't a Dame/CJ problem, although height can matter. It's that, in your analogy, CJ isn't nearly as good as Mitchell or Conley and the bigger problem is that they've pretty much nibbled on all the wrong edges to put their team together to be good: Hood, 'Melo, Whiteside, Nurkic, Covington, Kanter, Derrick Jones Jr., Rondae Hollis Jefferson, Ariza, Bazemore, Zach Collins, Hezonja, Aminu, Harkless, Evan Turner, Alan Crabbe, etc.

McCollom has similar numbers as Mitchell. His problem is he hasn't had Rudy


I really think Q should start limiting his minutes a bit and stop using him to fill Conleys or Mitchells minutes. At this point in his career he's better off playing a consistent 16-20 min/game primarily as SF and not as a guard.

good luck with that

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Hassan Whiteside is OUT tonight (concussion protocols). (https://*********.com/social/) Eric Paschall remains OUT for personal reasons.
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

Mark Haynes: Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder on Draymond Green: “I think If you want to put someone in the MVP conversation, he’s someone to me… (https://*********.com/social/) Maybe the numbers don’t match up to some of the numbers that some other guys put up…He just does it his way.”
– via Twitter markhaynesnba (https://twitter.com/markhaynesnba)

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Hassan Whiteside and Eric Paschall are both listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game (https://*********.com/social/) vs. NOP.
– via Twitter andyblarsen (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen)

[Xiao Yao You]

StatMuse: Most games with 30+ points and 0 assists off the bench by an active player: 4 — Terrence Ross (including tonight) (https://*********.com/social/) 2 — Jordan Clarkson 2 — Montrezl Harrell Professional scorer. pic.twitter.com/pWcz5hHvy9

– via Twitter statmuse (https://twitter.com/statmuse)



it's called a gunner

[Xiao Yao You]

Teams with championship aspirations are routinely calling Detroit about Jerami Grant’s services, (https://theathletic.com/3047385/2022/01/03/pistons-trade-deadline-primer-part-1-who-is-most-likely-to-be-traded-to-who-for-what/?source=nbatw) sources tell The Athletic. And while the Pistons are happy with what Grant provides both on and off the court to the organization, the franchise is currently in the business of capitalizing on its small asset pool, of which Grant takes up the most real estate.

– via James L. Edwards III @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3047385/2022/01/03/pistons-trade-deadline-primer-part-1-who-is-most-likely-to-be-traded-to-who-for-what/?source=nbatw)




what would the Jazz do with a 4?

[Xiao Yao You]

Marc Stein: The Pelicans say Jonas Valanciunas has been upgraded to available for tonight’s game against Utah (https://*********.com/social/) after clearing the league’s health and safety protocols.
– via Twitter TheSteinLine (https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine)

[Xiao Yao You]

“I agree with [Snyder], and that is someone who sees the game for what it is,” said Green, who repeatedly expressed his respect for the Jazz coach. (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32987465/golden-state-warriors-draymond-green-appreciative-mvp-comments-utah-jazz-coach-quin-snyder) “Like his comments said, [Green] don’t go out and get the numbers; he just kind of does it in all ways. I don’t think it can be explained any better. “I’m not going to go out and make an MVP case by stacking my numbers up against Steph Curry or Kevin Durant or Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. It’s not going to be that. But I think the way I impact the game, the things I do on the floor, the things that I do to impact winning, I think there is something to be said for that.”
– via Ohm Youngmisuk @ ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32987465/golden-state-warriors-draymond-green-appreciative-mvp-comments-utah-jazz-coach-quin-snyder)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476113/jazz-move-to-13-3-on-road-with-win-over-pelicans/


“We just have to understand it’s going to be hard for Mike Conley to get a rebound with Valanciunas, it’s gonna be hard for Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell to get a rebound against Valanciunas,” Snyder said. “But if Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell and Bojan fight Valanciunas we’ve got a chance to get a rebound.”



you expect your 2nd tallest stater to fight for boards? :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/3/22865109/new-orleans-pelicans-rookie-herb-jones-draws-praise-from-donovan-mitchell-and-mike-conley


Through 33 NBA games, Jones is averaging 14.3 points, 6.5 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per 100 possessions. Jones was a rookie that I had my eye on as the draft was approaching, and one I thought might have worked well for the Jazz (https://www.deseret.com/2021/7/28/22596008/utah-jazz-have-1-pick-in-this-years-2021-nba-draft-no-30-overall-what-will-they-do-with-it). He ended up dropping to the second round, with the Pelicans selecting him 35th overall.



could have had him too. Just what they need. Wouldn't be playing though for the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/3/22865108/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-beat-pelicans-on-shoulders-of-fourth-quarter-flurry-from-donovan-mitchell


As we’ve seen in multiple games now, the Jazz playing without a traditional center is seemingly more troublesome than many thought it would be when the Jazz picked up Rudy Gay in the offseason. Gay offers a level of versatility offensively that the Jazz haven’t seen, but the Jazz’s small-ball defense hasn’t really been up to par.



the Jazz have generally sucked without Gobert. Why would anyone think that would suddenly change?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/1/3/22866270/utah-jazz-overcome-pelicans-in-new-orleans-donovan-mitchell


So, we’re in a position where we’re relying on Hassan Whiteside to play. Whiteside has been a very, very nice story this year. But the bulk of his career would tell you that he is not exactly the most reliable player.



too bad Udoka is hurt just to see how he'd fare not that COTY would play him


Clearly, the Jazz need an infusion of talent in the perimeter/wing defender role. But at what expense? If you’re the Jazz GM, how are you fixing this roster?



starting 4, dump Clarkson, Hughes and COTY


Clarkson is a good shooter, and a good dribbler, but not a very good passer. He is also on a pretty moveable salary.



he's not a good shooter


Which one of those subtractions from the offense would disrupt it the least? And who are you targeting in return? Remember, bringing back a starter-caliber talent will likely require either Jared Butler or Udoka Azubuike and a first-round pick.



hard to expect a star. A 4 that could give you 20 minutes so O'Neale could play mostly on the wing would be nice. Getting rid of Clarkson and Hughes would be nice. A coach that will make adjustments would be nice. Would hate to see Butler go. No one wants Udoka



My conclusion is we don't need a big trade but we do need some depth at the C position. We got Oni, Hughes, Pitts (and Dok I guess who is injured) who aren't going to play anyway so we should trade one for a C who could at least give us serviceable minutes defensively if Hassan is unavailable.



No real idea who but a guy like Robin Lopez in Orlando will probably be available at the trade deadline. Alex Len maybe. Theis might be great. Dieng. Birch. Hernangomez from NO, Basically a big body who breathes might be better than Ocho at this point.

have an open roster spot. Really two with Oni's non guarantee. Don't necessarily need a trade. Someone that could give you 20 minutes or so at the 4 and maybe play some center? Always liked Lopez


Here is the way I see it as pointed out by a previous Dunker (sorry can't remember). If you want a starter back who starts, you have to trade Bogey or be willing to move Oneale to the bench.

Clarkson goes. Bojan to the bench


To me, if Clarkson can slowly owrk his 3 point shooting closer to 34-35% that is eFG of around 53% which is good enough. His lob threat passing has been really good the last few games. Ingles has good playmaking against teams that play a traditional big, but tends to disappear against switching defenses. To me that means what Ingles brings to the table on offense is reduced the most when in the playoffs. So right now I lean towards an Ingles trade (his shooting will come back). I would aim for an athletic lengthy player.



Ingles needs a smaller role. New coach


Well it's not like Ingles is going to be playing much longer anyway. If he was averaging 12 points a game like last season it would be a lot harder to trade him, but he's only averaging 7.6 ppg this season (& his defense has fallen way off).




had his best year. He doesn't suck unlike Clarkson

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/04/2-studs-1-utah-jazz-pelicans/2/


Really, that’s how this Jazz machine is supposed to operate. Donovan Mitchell is the engine, (https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/03/donovan-mitchell-run-offense-utah-jazz/) and last night, he was purring. This was an important contest for Mitchell, as he’d struggled in the team’s previous meeting against the Warriors. Last night, he put any concerns about those struggles being related to his recent lower back injury squarely to rest.



if only he was the engine


Ingles did have 6 assists. His passing is key to his overall value, and so that has to be mentioned. Nonetheless, 2 points on 1/4 shooting from the field (including a goose egg on three attempts from deep) doesn’t quite cut it.



I'll take the 6 assists

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: The Utah Jazz are finalizing trading Miye Oni to the Oklahoma City Thunder, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell me and @Tony Jones.

– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)





Adrian Wojnarowski: Oklahoma City is acquiring Utah’s Miye Oni and a 2028 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Thunder will waive Oni and open up a roster spot (https://*********.com/social/) ahead of the February trade deadline. Utah saves money and opens a roster spot too.
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




no surprise. Hopefully he doesn't end up helping a Jazz opponent down the line. I imagine under the current climate he will find a new home quickly. Not sure why they had to give up a pick? He's non guaranteed

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: A first for the Utah Jazz this season: Joe Ingles has entered the league’s Covid protocols, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell ESPN.

– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




really shorthanded now with this and the trade

[Xiao Yao You]

JD Shaw: The Thunder have officially acquired guard Miye Oni and a 2028 second-round pick from the Jazz in exchange for cash. (https://*********.com/social/) Gabriel Deck was waived to create room.

– via Twitter JShawNBA (https://twitter.com/JShawNBA)



the cash makes up for the pick? Don't really get this. Could have just cut him. Non guaranteed

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50322234/jazz-trade-away-miye-oni-to-save-some-money-and-get-flexibility-


The Thunder aren't sending anyone back in the deal — Utah got "cash considerations" in return — which will give the Jazz two open roster spots. Those could be beneficial for deals leading up to the trade deadline as well as the buyout market. Utah can also choose to convert Trent Forrest's two-way deal into a regular deal, if it so chooses. Forrest has played a small rotation spot this season.



you'd think if he's not traded that they will have to do this at some point. Wait until the trade deadline and buyouts if possible


If Utah had waived Oni outright, its tax bill would have been $30.3 million. With the trade, the tax penalty gets reduced to $27.9 million. By trading Oni, the Jazz won't pay anything in taxes for his contract. Utah saved $2.4 million by making the deal. The Thunder essentially agreed to take the cap hit for Utah for a future second rounder.



now it makes sense


NBA rules dictate a team can only have two roster spots open for a maximum of two weeks. So another addition has to come befor ethen. That could be converting Forrest's deal, signing a player to a 10-day contract or a full contract, or by making a trade. Regardless, Utah will need to make a move, and make one quick.



10 days start soon

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50322284/joe-ingles-first-jazz-player-to-enter-covid-protocols-this-season


Ingles will join Udoka Azubuike (ankle) on the inactive list, giving the Jazz just 13 players potentially available for Wednesday's game against Denver. If Hassan Whiteside (concussion) and Eric Paschall (personal reasons) can't suit up, the Jazz will need to add someone to the roster.


Teams that have fewer than 13 players available must sign a hardship player, according to league rules.



looks like a move is coming. No one on the Stars is that exciting

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476144/jazz-trade-miye-oni-to-oklahoma-city-thunder/


Oni has spent three seasons in Utah (https://kslsports.com/467630/42-the-jazz-future-with-miye-oni/) but had fallen out of the rotation for the Jazz behind one of the deepest backcourts in the NBA.



he was never in the rotation and Forrest isn't deep


Oni’s best performance in the NBA came in the Orlando bubble as a rookie when the guard scored 14 points against the San Antonio Spurs to go along with seven rebounds in 30 minutes on the floor.



and then COTY refused to play him or anyone else as Murray torched them

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476138/on-this-day-jazz-forward-adrian-dantleys-28-free-throws-made-ties-nba-record/

not the best player in franchise history! :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/04/3-trades-utah-jazz-consider/3/


Torrey Craig typifies the 3-and-D role, albeit not in 2021-22. His -0.1 DBPM is uninspiring, and his 27.5% accuracy on 2.1 three-point attempts per game is something worse. We’re willing to chalk his underwhelming performance up to his situation. We’re also willing to bet that last season’s marks of 36.8% three-point accuracy and a 0.4 DBPM are more reflective of his actual abilities.



no thanks


Nonetheless, the Jazz wouldn’t be acquiring Gordon for his defense.



you do it because Clarkson sucks


As for the Rockets, they’d likely look to reroute Clarkson to a contender in the offseason. They’d have little use for his services. However, as a rebuilding club, they’re in a perfect position to take a flier on Azubuike. That’s the draw for them in this deal.



ideally Hughes is the one to go


We can see the comments on this article before you make them. “Why are you so desperate to trade Clarkson? You must be a Bulls fan”.



because he sucks


Plus, Kyle Anderson is criminally underrated. His numbers are down across the board from 2020-21, because his minutes are down. The Grizzlies appear to be heading in another direction. A look at his per 36 minutes is more instructive: Anderson is averaging 13 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists on that measure.


He does a little bit of everything, and should fit snugly into Quin Snyder’s attack. He’s hitting 35.3% of his 3.3 three-point attempts per game this year. That’s not an elite mark, but it’s an improvement on Clarkson’s. It’s also a solid percentage for a player who figures to spend most of his minutes at the 4. More relevantly, his 1.0 DBPM is reflective of a well-rounded, fundamentally sound defensive wing.



please and thank you

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/4/22865024/the-miye-oni-trade-could-forecast-more-than-just-luxury-tax-savings-for-the-utah-jazz-ryan-smith


The Jazz aren’t likely to get the kind of wing defender they need or want without trading away another player like Joe Ingles, Jordan Clarkson or Bojan Bogdanovic, and in order to part ways with one of those players the deal would have to really make sense for the Jazz.



not hard to imagine upgrading the Forrest minutes without a trade. Getting rid of Clarkson also improves the team ideally with Hughes who is a wasted roster spot

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/understanding-the-oni-trade-roster-options-moving-forward/


Weirdly, though, any of those three would count as a two-year vet for tax purposes. That means $2.3M and change of tax on any January 18 signee, which effectively negates the tax benefit of shipping Oni to OKC. But the point here is that the Jazz are required to use that roster spot anyway, and one would think they’d rather pay $2.3 million in tax for a player they might use as opposed to $2.5 milllion for a player who was bolted down on Snyder’s bench.



even if it's a prospect that has more upside than Oni. Oni is a good energy guy to have at the end of the bench but they ought to be able find another guy like that minumum. It's too bad that Hughes and Clarkson remain instead of him though


It’s highly likely that an established rotation player will find himself hitting the waiver wire sometime after the trade deadline, but the Jazz haven’t exactly been at the front of the line for buyout market signings. They kept a roster spot open last season so they could woo a veteran during buyout season, and instead their big in-season signing was Ersan Ilyasova, who played just 17 games for them.



with Covid nothing is likely. Ersan was great. Too bad about COTY


And again, it would be hard to blame them for rewarding Forrest with a standard NBA deal. The two-way guard has earned that 10th man role right on the edge of the rotation, and in any other year the Jazz would soon be forced to convert him if they wanted to keep using him. The NBA suspended the 50-game limit this year, so there’s no need to convert him, other than just goodwill. Frankly it’s probably smarter to turn over some other stones first, but Forrest earning his way to the regular roster would be a nice story, if not as impactful as the right veteran saying, “Hey, let me come help you win.”



he should have never been on a two way again to begin with but if they have a roster space after buyouts I'd certainly give it to him and sign a different two way guy

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: The Utah Jazz plan to sign free agent forward Danuel House to a 10-day contract, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)



could be a good pick up if he can hit the 3 ball again and pick things up quickly

[Xiao Yao You]

KC Johnson: Ersan Ilyasova is no longer with Bulls after his 10-day stint featured a protocols stay, (https://*********.com/social/) per Bulls PR.

– via Twitter KCJHoop (https://twitter.com/KCJHoop)



He could actually take a lot of the minutes at the 4 for the Jazz if not for COTY :rant

[Xiao Yao You]

Through Barca, he can explore the opportunity to get back in game rhythm while also leaving a window open for a potential return to the NBA since the deal will be up before NBA playoff rosters are finalized. Exum has no reason to deny it. “Yeah, I think that’s the plan,” he firmly responds. “Looking at the injuries Barcelona had and my goal to go back to the NBA, it made sense for me to sign here. I’ve got three months, and hopefully, I can keep growing by getting better defensively and finding a place offensively.” (https://basketnews.com/news-163006-dante-exum-the-plan-is-to-go-back-to-the-nba-after-my-three-months-in-barcelona.html)

– via Giorgos Kyriakidis @ BasketNews (https://basketnews.com/news-163006-dante-exum-the-plan-is-to-go-back-to-the-nba-after-my-three-months-in-barcelona.html)




you don't suck anymore? Your not hurt?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50322724/jazz-reportedly-set-to-sign-danuel-house-jr-to-hardship-contract

forgot about that. Jazz would have never signed this guy a few years ago

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50323183/udoka-azubuike-reflects-on-surprising-and-nerve-inducing-start-in-jazz-win

1 board is pretty weak but I didn't really expect to see him this year so it's good he's back in time for the Gleague to start up again in a couple of days

[Xiao Yao You]

Andy Larsen: Danuel House contract is official, Jazz announce (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter andyblarsen (https://twitter.com/andyblarsen)



thought it already was

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50323700/jazz-add-another-center-as-rudy-gobert-enters-leagues-covid-19-protocols


With Pelle and House on the team, the Jazz will have some wiggle room when it comes to having the league-mandatory eight available players. The Jazz now have eight players — Trent Forrest, Eric Paschall, Jared Butler, Elijah Hughes, Udoka Azubuike, Malik Fitts, House and Pelle — not listed on the injury report.



shit show! :cheers:

[Xiao Yao You]

League sources say that the Jazz did entertain the prospect of trading Ingles in the offseason, (https://marcstein.substack.com/p/trade-season-has-arrived?justPublished=true) before Ainge joined them, but ultimately decided it couldn’t stomach the culture hit of sending him away. Ainge, as we all know by now, is far less sentimental than most. He’s capable of trading pretty much anyone.

– via Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com (https://marcstein.substack.com/p/trade-season-has-arrived?justPublished=true)




hopeful Clarkson will be gone and maybe Hughes too! :rolleyes:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/december-rewind-award-smallball-exec/


My opinion is that the Jazz are better served upgrading their point of attack defense at the backup guard position. The tricky thing is that involves trading one of the two players who both: a) finished in the top-2 for Sixth Man of the Year, b) are incredibly popular with the fanbase, and c) are core to the team culture. Could the Jazz really trade Joe Ingles or Clarkson? With new basketball executive Danny Ainge at the helm, that suddenly becomes much more possible.



what's tricky about it? Clarkson sucks. Got to think Ainge if anyone realizes it

[Xiao Yao You]

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2022/01/07/nba-trade-rumors-deadline-move-lakers/4/


Even though players like Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Joe Ingles are valuable pieces to Utah’s offense, they struggle mightily on defense. Routinely they let opponents drive right by them and fail to play help defense. The Utah front office should look into acquiring a wing with more defensive capabilities. Jerami Grant, Thaddeus Young, Pascal Siakam, Eric Gordon, or Terrance Ross – all rumored to be on the trading block – would be upgrades over their current situation.



addition by subtraction. Clarkson sucks

[El Kabong]

Not a surprise they lost to the Raptors given who was out, but an illuminating game none the less. Paschal looked solid on offence, Hughes was hitting his 3's and Butler looked in control with the ball in his hands and was getting to the rim without any issues. Still needs to work on his finishing and shooting, but good signs. Udoka had a few good plays, but still needs a lot of work and the lack of another legit big at the 4 hurt on the glass a bit tonight.

[Xiao Yao You]

Not a surprise they lost to the Raptors given who was out, but an illuminating game none the less. Paschal looked solid on offence, Hughes was hitting his 3's and Butler looked in control with the ball in his hands and was getting to the rim without any issues. Still needs to work on his finishing and shooting, but good signs. Udoka had a few good plays, but still needs a lot of work and the lack of another legit big at the 4 hurt on the glass a bit tonight.

Butler will be good if he can stay healthy. Just a matter of time. I think he could help them by the end of the year like past rookies under COTY. Hughes had one big game with Stars but is usually underwhelming. I'd be looking to move him with Clarkson. See Paschall as more of an energy guy off the end of the bench but would have no problem with him replacing Clarkson in the rotation. I think Fitts has potential as a 3 and D. Udoka certainly has the physical tools. Needs time and health. Forrest needs a shot. House looks like he's a keeper and another potential Clarkson replacement

[Xiao Yao You]

Tim MacMahon: I think that it’s a little bit different situation in Salt Lake City with Donovan Mitchell just because there is I’m gonna say at least speculation around a league that market size might matter to him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVxYDvF-8YY).
– via YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVxYDvF-8YY)




Rumblings about New York’s inevitable pursuits of All-Stars, and particular All-Stars who are represented by CAA, were always louder than talk of any Knicks short-term upgrade. Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker enter free agency in 2024. Utah and New Orleans officials know all too well of New York’s looming presence surrounding the futures of Donovan Mitchell and Zion Williamson (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952139-will-this-knicks-regime-finally-get-aggressive-at-trade-deadline).
– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952139-will-this-knicks-regime-finally-get-aggressive-at-trade-deadline)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50324451/a-new-kid-and-new-season-highs-paschall-jazz-bench-relish-opportunity-against-raptors


"Due to a lot of different circumstances, he hasn't had an opportunity in a game of this nature," Snyder said. "And it was good to see him kind of rise to that occasion against a really physical, quick, athletic defensive team."



well he sucks, didn't go to Duke and you wouldn't have played him

[Xiao Yao You]

Josh Lewenberg: VanVleet is the 7th player over the last 25 seasons to go on a personal 15-0 run, (https://*********.com/social/) per @ESPNStatsInfo. The last to do it: his former teammate Kawhi Leonard in 2020.
– via Twitter JLew1050 (https://twitter.com/JLew1050)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50324416/pleased-and-proud-with-8-rotation-players-out-jazz-cant-keep-pace-with-raptors


It was a chance to see what players could do in an expanded role. So was anything revealed that might change things in the rotation when the full team gets back together?



coty :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476391/jazz-youngsters-show-promise-in-loss-to-raptors/


Hughes had the best game of any Jazz player, and not just because of his scoring. Most players when given the opportunity can get baskets in the NBA, but it was Hughes’s quick release, rebounding, and playmaking that could make him a rotation player in the NBA.



it could but hard to imagine


As long as O’Neale is on the Jazz it might be difficult to find minutes on the floor, but this game was a strong testament to his development in the team’s system and a player who might have a future with the team.



Hughes at PF? :roll:


Having played three years at Baylor for a high-level program alongside several other pros, Butler’s decision-making is behind where it should be and didn’t inspire a ton of confidence if he had to get significant minutes at some point this season.



where should it be? He's a 20 year old 2nd rounder who's played little with the Jazz or Stars


With the Jazz playing a basic zone defense for most of the game it’s difficult to get a grasp on how his defense looked in the team’s scheme, but Quin Snyder can always use more shooters and the veteran should be able to fill that role.



Always nice to see COTY try something different. Too bad he won't do it when he's not desperate


It was only one game, but House Jr. showed exactly what the Jazz need from a deep bench veteran.



what they need from a rotation player but like Ersan last year I doubt he'll play


In a game like this so with few experienced players, Forrest needed to abandon his pass first, second, and third mentality and look to help his team by scoring. He was unwilling to do it and it hurt the offense.



can't shoot


Over the last two games, the second-year center has a combined seven points and four rebounds in 30 minutes. That’s difficult to do at nearly seven feet tall with elite size and leaping ability.




only 3 less boards than Whiteside

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/7/22870929/analysis-missing-8-players-jazz-lose-but-put-up-strong-fight-against-raptors


This was by far Whiteside’s worst game in a Jazz uniform. He looked disinterested on the defensive end early on and things didn’t get better. He looked like he was just going through the motions. There’s not really a great excuse for this. The Jazz would not have played Whiteside if he was still feeling the effects of his recent concussion. If he was recovered but still not feeling great he would have had to fight hard to play in this game and why would he fight to play in a game where he wasn’t going to try. If he was feeling fine and just not playing well, that’s just an indictment of his attitude. The Jazz would have had a lot more of a chance to win this game if he would have put in more effort.



that's Whiteside. That's why he's on a minimum deal

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gay, Bojan Bogdanovic and Donovan Mitchell will all play tonight (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)




James Boyd: Malcolm Brogdon is OUT tonight due to a sore right Achilles. Chris Duarte and Jeremy Lamb are available, (https://*********.com/social/) per Rick Carlisle. #Pacers
– via Twitter RomeovilleKid (https://twitter.com/RomeovilleKid)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476453/career-highs-lead-pacers-over-gobert-less-jazz/


The Jazz defense is designed to funnel players to the middle of the floor and into Gobert whose incredible length makes it extremely difficult to score in the paint.



it's more than length. Whiteside and Udoka are almost as long as was Favors


While the Jazz brought in Hassan Whiteside to mirror Gobert’s length when he’s off the floor, his lack of mobility and up and down effort don’t allow him to have the same impact as the three-time defensive player of the year.



and now it's not just length


MacMahon then explained the great lengths the Jazz have gone to keep their superstar guard happy.



yeah and it cost them in the playoffs

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/8/22872735/instant-analysis-without-rudy-gobert-jazzs-defense-struggles-mightily-in-loss-to-pacers


Center Pelle, with the Jazz on a 10-day hardship deal, gave so much effort on Saturday that it would have felt wrong not to mention it. He had some trouble finishing at the rim, but I think that feels natural for some nerves to be at play there. On the defensive end though he was tough and even when he wasn’t perfect and made mistakes, he didn’t give up.



I liked him enough that I could see packaging Whiteside with Clarkson and Hughes for the starting 4 they need!


Domantas Sabonis had a career-high 42 points on Saturday. Good for him, and he’s a great player who is often underrated in my opinion. But from the Jazz’s perspective, you can’t let a guy have a career night on you just because you’re missing someone. Yeah, Gobert is a Hall of Fame-level defender, but the Jazz should be able to put up a little more resistance, which brings me to the worst part of the evening.

they should but never have. I know you haven't been on the beat long but this is the same old story. Crappy team without Gobert despite the so called greatness of Mitchell, COTY, etc


The Hassan Whiteside minutes on Saturday were really, really bad. That’s consecutive games of being disappointed in what Whiteside has brought to the table as he’s started in place of Gobert. I have a few thoughts on this. First, I know that no one, including Whiteside, is ever going to look great when compared with Gobert, who is just so impactful that it’s impossible to match his abilities. I’m not expecting Whiteside to be Gobert. With that in mind, here’s what I think is going on: I think that when Gobert is playing, it’s a lot easier for Whiteside to really try and care. It’s easy because he has the example ahead of him of what he needs to do from one matchup to the next, because he only has to do it in smaller stints and against usually lesser talent as the reserve center, because if he doesn’t put up a big effort when Gobert plays, then he’ll look really bad by comparison. When Gobert is not ahead of him, the opposite is true across the board. We were all warned that this is the Whiteside that could be waiting for the Jazz, and here it is. Whiteside let down Mitchell, Conley and everyone else who was giving a lot of effort. He let guys walk right past him, didn’t fight for position or rebounds and only looked as if he cared when he was dunking the ball. He ended up making Pelle look like the better center. If he strings together too many of these games, I wouldn’t blame the Jazz for looking elsewhere.



as I've said all year even when he played well he gave little effort. He should be the best player on the floor and isn't like Jeff Green

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: The Utah Jazz plan to sign forward James Ennis to a 10-day contract, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . Ennis has spent time with the Nets and Clippers on 10-days this season.

– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)




another good pickup. Get rid of Clarkson, Hughes and Whiteside!

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Jazz plan to sign guard Denzel Valentine, pending his pass of Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN. Valentine played 22 games with the Cavaliers this season (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




Adrian Wojnarowski: The Utah Jazz are no longer planning to sign James Ennis on a 10-day contract and continue to scour the marketplace for a free agent wing player, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell ESPN.
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)




getting some interesting names. Hopefully someone replaces Clarkson!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50325029/with-covid-19-spreading-through-team-jazz-reportedly-sign-denzel-valentine


On Sunday, Rudy Gay and Elijah Hughes both entered the league's health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19, joining Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles as Jazz players currently in the protocols. Ingles has been in the protocols since Tuesday; Gobert, meanwhile, tested positive on Thursday. The virus has fully hit the Jazz with three assistant coaches — Alex Jensen, Vince Legarza, and Sergi Oliva — also testing positive.



3 rotation players. Time for best player in franchise history to prove himself

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/1/9/22875809/utah-jazz-sign-denzel-valentine


The Jazz obviously then pivoted to another target and signed Denzel Valentine. What’s interesting is this isn’t a 10-day contract.



maybe he would only sign if it was guaranteed for the year? House and Pelle both looked good and they obviously liked Ennis as well so I'm not sure I like them committing to anyone though I think he could be a good fit


The terms of the deal haven’t been released but it will likely be for the remainder of the season. It’s not very likely that Valentine will get many minutes. Although he might in the next few days as the Jazz have a growing number of players in covid protocols.



I'd say Forrest's minutes are up for grabs and Clarkson's should be


Other sources say it's just a 10-day contract, nothing to worry about.



figured






Well, his 6'10" wingspan is decent length




yep

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/10/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-injury/


Regardless, he’s currently suffering from a shoulder injury (https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/jazzs-rudy-gobert-enters-health-and-safety-protocols/) that may keep him out of the rotation for the foreseeable future.



not sure the shoulder would have kept him out


A lower back strain kept Gobert out of 13 contests in the 2019-20 season.



he missed 4 games that year. Trump virus took the rest :facepalm


During the 2017-18 season, Gobert suffered the most significant injury of his career to date. A knee contusion cost the 3x Defensive Player of the Year 26 games during that season.



He tweeked knees 4 times. 3 kept him out about a month. The other was in the playoffs or else he probably would have missed a month but only missed a game. Wasn't himself though

If you're going to do an article like this at least get it right. :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/09/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-take/


Hassan Whiteside is one of the best backup bigs in the NBA, (https://thejnotes.com/2021/11/20/utah-jazz-regrading-hassan-whiteside/) but he appeared ill-equipped to handle Sabonis last night. The star big man had his way with the Jazz, scoring with an array of head fakes on the low block, and frequently in the pick-and-roll.



is he though?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2022/01/10/nba-trade-rumors-jazz-joe-ingles-deadline/

Clarkson, Hughes and Whiteside

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50325757/jazz-surrender-22-point-lead-in-shocking-loss-to-detroit


It shouldn't have mattered that the Utah Jazz were without Rudy Gobert, Rudy Gay and Joe Ingles. It shouldn't have mattered that it was the last game of a COVID-stricken five-game road trip. The Jazz were up by 22 points on one of the worst teams in the league — and they lost.



the problem is that the Jazz have always been one of the worst teams in the league minus Gobert


Mitchell then paused and with a new frustrated tone, finished: "We got to guard, man. We got to just guard the ball. They really aint much else to it."



we or you?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476624/jazz-defense-exposed-in-collapse-to-pistons/


O’Neale is a talented defender, but the Jazz are asking far too much of the undrafted forward if they want to be a championship contender.



you forgot the part about asking him to be their starting 4 :facepalm


While that remarkable stretch of health for Gobert has made the Jazz one of the best team’s during the regular season over the last three years, it may have hindered the ability of the team to truly diagnose the defensive flaws that exist on the team’s roster.



it shouldn't have. They've always sucked without him on the floor


“In the Indiana game, when you see a guy like Keifer Sykes picking up full court, you see players that are really enthusiastic and appreciate the opportunity,” Snyder said.



and despite that you've refused to play guys at the end of your bench under any circumstances unless forced to

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/10/22876434/video-breakdown-utah-jazz-second-half-defense-against-detroit-pistons-wasnt-just-bad-it-was-baffling


It’s not like the Jazz don’t have the ability to defend — they held the Pistons to 48 points in the first half. But then, on the opening possession of the second half, this happens. Donovan Mitchell is directing traffic, or warning about a drive by Cunningham, but he’s so concerned with what’s going on over on that side that he leaves his own man open in the corner and is too late on the close out.



they held a bad team to 48. Doesn't mean they have the ability to defend


In this last video, Whiteside gives so very little effort that I’m not even sure what to think. Whiteside’s lack of effort in finishing out the play leads to a super easy second-chance 3 for Cory Joseph.



that's Whitesdie. Even when everyone was gaga over him earlier in the year I saw little effort

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/10/22876433/instant-analysis-detroit-pistons-rookie-cade-cunningham-shines-as-utah-jazz-lose-third-straight


One of the things that Donovan Mitchell has added to his game that is really useful and he’s been able to utilize quite a bit this season is a really high arc on his shot. He doesn’t use it all the time and he doesn’t have to — he already had a really nice arc before now. But it seems like the new rule changes this season have forced him to adapt to the defense a little bit differently. Rather than jump into the defense to draw a foul, he rainbows up a shot that is actually really accurate.



maybe he got that from Darrell Griffith?


The Jazz closed out their five-game road trip with three straight losses, the team’s longest losing streak of the season. In their loss to the Raptors, there’s not a lot that anyone is going to point to because the Jazz were without eight of their top nine guys, but against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and the Pistons on Monday, the Jazz’s defense was bad. They offered little to no resistance against the Pistons and got beat repeatedly. The Jazz’s perimeter defense looks like it really has some issues that can’t be overlooked anymore.

could they be overlooked before?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/mitchell-no-2-all-time-jazz-made-three-pointers


Often talking about how his game has evolved over the past five years, Mitchell never viewed himself solely as a '3-and-D' type of player. While he acknowledges he made his mark his rookie season on the defensive end, his offensive evolution is what's made the difference in him going from good to great, leading to multiple all-star appearances.



he played d as a rookie? :lol

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Rudy Gobert and Rudy Gay are both out tomorrow night in health and safety protocols (https://*********.com/social/). Jared Butler, Udoka Azubuike and Malik Fitts and Elijah Hughes are also out Joe Ingles is questionable
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba (https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba)

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Utah Jazz are signing G/F Zylan Cheatham to a 10-day hardship deal, (https://*********.com/social/) sources tell ESPN.
– via Twitter wojespn (https://twitter.com/wojespn)

[Xiao Yao You]

14 and 10 in gleague. Improved 3 shooting

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50326178/patrick-kinahan-will-market-envy-drive-mitchell-out-of-utah


Here's the basic choice: Become a franchise pillar in the manner of John Stockton and Karl Malone, two NBA legends, or follow the path that has become routine, if not boring, in the NBA.



he's already the best player in franchise history!


His stint with the Boston Celtics never quite panned out, in part due to a serious injury. He's now with the Charlotte Hornets, likely never coming close to what he was building with the Jazz.



no Rudy


Mitchell has a chance to belong in the conversation with Stockton and Malone, two first-ballot Hall of Fame players, as the greatest to ever play with the franchise. Outspoken on social issues, he also could carry a louder voice in Utah rather than getting drowned out as one of many in the big city.



let's see him get to level of Gobert first

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/12/22876366/why-the-coming-weeks-will-test-the-jazz-and-determine-teams-future


But the Jazz’s small-ball lineups haven’t panned out quite as they’d hoped and perimeter defense remains the Jazz’s most glaring imperfection. The Jazz already look poised to make a move, with two open roster spots, but how they perform in the weeks to come could push Jazz brass to move in a more serious way.



what idiot thought they would?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/12/utah-jazz-guard-donovan-mitchell-trade/2/


While fitting Simmons and Gobert together may be a challenge, Quin Snyder is a master technician. With the two surrounded by Utah’s plethora of floor spacers, they may come to an acceptable arrangement.



the master that has never won without Gobert?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/12/utah-jazz-cavaliers-odds-starters-jan-12/


The Jazz will be without arguably their most important player (https://thejnotes.com/2021/10/02/utah-jazz-ranking-important-players/) in Rudy Gobert, but every other starter will be available. Look for Quin Snyder to deploy his usual lineup of Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale and Hassan Whiteside.



no argument


Outside of Gobert (shoulder), the Jazz will be without Joe Ingles (conditioning), Jared Butler (protocols), Malik Fitts and Udoka Azubuike in this contest.



why do you keep saying shoulder when he's got covid?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://sports.yahoo.com/b-r-trade-proposal-sees-211327844.html


The deal in question? The Celtics get Joe Ingles (https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/5393/), Jared Butler (https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/6582/), the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2022 second-round pick, and a 2023 first-round draft pick swap option (pending Utah’s 2022 obligation to Memphis), while the Jazz receive Josh Richardson (https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/5500/) and Dennis Schroder.



no Clarkson or bust!

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Joe Ingles said he was initially a close contact of a family member who tested positive, and then he and his entire family got tested and all came up positive. (https://*********.com/social/) He said he was asymptomatic the entire time and felt fine.

– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)




shouldn't have conditioning issues than should he?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50327339/eric-paschall-is-making-a-case-for-more-playing-time


That doesn't exactly answer the question, but at the very least Paschall has given Snyder some things to think about.



yeah right


"I think the most important thing is that he's playing well," Snyder said. "He's played well both when he's been 'at the four' or tonight, more at the five."



he played best at the 3 and 5 with GS. Give him Clarkson and Forrest's minutes

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50327277/its-weird-with-no-centers-jazz-lose-4th-straight-game-in-loss-to-cavs



How long will those circumstances last? The Jazz get a fortunate-timed three days off, which should give guys some time to get back — maybe, then, the losing streak can come to an end.



unless one of those guys is Gobert it doesn't matter

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476770/undersized-jazz-no-match-for-cavaliers/


The question going forward is will Snyder be willing to take either Rudy Gobert or Hassan Whiteside off the floor in favor of a smaller lineup if he wasn’t forced to like he was against the Cavaliers?



what do you think? :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Jazz have waived two-way contract forward Malik Fitts (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)



He has potential as a 3 and D. I'm guessing if he was healthy he'd still be here

[Xiao Yao You]

I'd guess that new guy may get the two way

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Danuel House Jr and Norvel Pelle participated in practice today. So it seems they really did have a “non-covid illness” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)

[Xiao Yao You]

Ryan Miller: Rudy Gobert and Rudy Gay have both cleared COVID protocols (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter millerjryan (https://twitter.com/millerjryan)

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale will return to his alma mater Harker Heights High School tonight for a jersey retirement ceremony. (https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/royce-oneale-have-high-school-jersey-retired-alma-mater) The event will take place before their game against Temple High School, which tips off at 7 p.m. CT.
– via NBA.com (https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/royce-oneale-have-high-school-jersey-retired-alma-mater)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/14/3-big-men-utah-jazz/3/

I like Maker

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: The Utah Jazz are letting the 10 day contract for Danuel House expire tomorrow, (https://*********.com/social/) according to sources. The Jazz are high on House and believe he can help their team. Utah has to sign a 10 day by the 18th, and House is a candidate to be that signing

– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba (https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba)



looked good in the game he played

[Xiao Yao You]

The Utah Jazz have been one of the NBA’s best teams for a number of seasons. But they are yet to take that next step forward and join the league’s elite teams when it matters, in the postseason. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert sounded off on what he believes separates the Jazz from the league’s elite, like the Warriors and Suns. “When I watch some of these other teams like the Suns or the Warriors, those guys are a step ahead in terms of winning habits. (https://clutchpoints.com/jazz-news-rudy-gobert-calls-out-jazz-teammates-says-warriors-suns-are-a-step-ahead/) They take every game personally. Devin Booker is playing his ass off defensively… Guys like that, they buy in, and you can tell they take pride in playing defense and stopping their man, doing whatever they can defensively to stop the other team and be part of a winning culture. I think we’re not there yet, but I think we’re gonna get there.”
– via Kendall Capps @ Clutch Points (https://clutchpoints.com/jazz-news-rudy-gobert-calls-out-jazz-teammates-says-warriors-suns-are-a-step-ahead/)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50328760/rudy-gobert-says-recent-stretch-shows-warriors-suns-are-a-step-ahead-of-jazz


Why did he specially bring up Booker — a player who is regularly compared to Utah's own Donovan Mitchell? Read into that what you will. The overall point, however, doesn't take much to get: The Jazz have to develop better habits if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. Mitchell, himself, expressed similar sentiments following recent losses to the Pacers and Pistons.



it's true. Booker sets screens and tries to play D

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/476926/royce-oneale-gets-high-school-jersey-retired/

[Xiao Yao You]

Ben Anderson: I asked Donovan Mitchell about the ESPN report saying he may want to play in a bigger market, he cut me off: “Y’all like to talk a lot when we lose. I don’t understand. Y’all like to just keep all the negative stuff when we start losing, when we’re winning there’s nothing said.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter BensHoops (https://twitter.com/BensHoops)




Eric Walden: Asked about the Brian Windhorst report about him wanting to play in a bigger market, Donovan Mitchell cuts off the question, notes that in his mind, all the questions he gets when the team is losing are negative, and says it’s simple: “We’re trying to win a championship.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)







Eric Walden: Don, on Rudy seeming to call the team out publicly: “We all as a group hold each other accountable. (https://*********.com/social/) That’s his way, I guess. I’m not too concerned about it. His just happened this way. Cool.”
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)






Eric Walden: Jordan Clarkson, on why he liked the tweet about Rudy Gobert commenting on the defense: “It’s just defense. It’s all focus. It is what it is. That’s what we’re going to hold our hat on, that’s what we’ve been talking about all year. Just defense. … We know what we gotta do.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)






Eric Walden: Jordan Clarkson, when asked if he felt like Rudy was talking to the perimeter players: “I ain’t gonna talk about it no more. It ain’t like he pointed out a big man. We know what we gotta do.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)






Eric Walden: Quin Snyder on Rudy Gobert’s “winning habits” comment: “You can make the argument that none of this matters if we’re playing at our best at the right time. And that’s my focus. … Many times there’s slippage in your habits, and it’s important to recognize that.” (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

Jake Fischer on Dario Saric: His contract gets brought up time and again, it’s something that they’re trying to move, (https://open.spotify.com/episode/46OZLz6ZMVZBu7U6BhECNS) which makes sense.

– via Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/46OZLz6ZMVZBu7U6BhECNS)




he might fit

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50329072/donovan-mitchell-jordan-clarkson-respond-to-rudy-goberts-pointed-comments


To him, it hasn't been a surprise the Jazz have struggled without Gobert. The same way it wouldn't have been a surprise to see the team struggle without Mitchell or Mike Conley. Each season will have ups and downs — the Jazz are just in a low moment.



they haven't played well without Conley this year but yes it would be a surprise because as long as Gobert plays they win games

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/15/22885362/rudy-gobert-rudy-gay-clear-nba-health-and-safety-protocol-rejoin-jazz


While the Jazz are in the midst of their longest losing streak since February of 2020, they are also aware of the fact that they have lost these games while dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, and that it’s not wholly reflective of who they are as a team.



it's who they are and have been for a long time without Gobert

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/15/turmoil-utah-jazz-locker-room/


It was the second part of that quote that has incited speculation across the National Basketball Association. Is the implication that Donovan Mitchell is not playing his a** off?



well is he? He supposedly has to rest on D because offense is so taxing for him

[Xiao Yao You]

https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/15/nba-trades-donovan-mitchell/


76ers receive: Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles

Jazz receive: Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris



Simmons makes no sense. Harris sure!


Heat receive: Donovan Mitchell

Jazz receive: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, 2028 Second-Round Pick



That one I like better but Conley and Lowry don't make much sense


Knicks receive: Donovan Mitchell

Jazz receive: RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick



I like that one best but COTY didn't like Burks so replace him with something else


Giving up RJ Barrett would probably hurt since he’s so young and full of potential. That being said, Mitchell is already a proven All-Star and would be able to lead them to the playoffs for many years to come.



would he be an all star or lead anyone to the playoffs without Gobert?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265454/Mavericks-To-Waive-Willie-Cauley-Stein-Sign-Marquese-Chriss

Cauley Stein might be worth checking out if you want to replace the head case you have now for another

[Xiao Yao You]

Joe Mussatto: Derrick Favors on trade talk: “I think every year I’ve been in the league, my name’s been in trade rumors … I’m pretty much used to it. (https://*********.com/social/) I don’t really pay attention to it. I try to control what I can control. I try to, like coach says, keep my feet grounded where I’m at.”
– via Twitter joe_mussatto (https://twitter.com/joe_mussatto)

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Udoka Azubuike has cleared the health and safety protocol and is AVAILABLE for the Utah Jazz tonight (https://*********.com/social/).

– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)



doubt he plays ahead of Gay but maybe with Jokic?

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Noted Jazz killer Austin Rivers is not available tonight, due to a non-COVID illness (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

Keith Smith: NBA 10-Day hardship contracts that expired today: Jeff Dowtin – Milwaukee Bucks (https://*********.com/social/) Langston Galloway – Milwaukee Bucks Norvel Pelle – Utah Jazz D.J. Wilson – Toronto Raptors
– via Twitter KeithSmithNBA (https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA)

[Xiao Yao You]

The last couple of days has been full of petty sniping back and forth in press conferences: first, Gobert noted how the Jazz didn’t have the winning habits of the teams above them in the Western Conference, the Warriors and the Suns. Then, he noted how impressed he was with Devin Booker’s defense with the Suns over the last couple of years. If you don’t think that’s a shot at Mitchell’s defense, well, I have a bridge to sell you, you poor gullible sweetheart. But Mitchell (and Clarkson), who liked Gobert’s tweet, didn’t exactly come off any better. When they were asked about Gobert’s comments, they gave fairly passive-aggressive comments themselves. And honestly, the quotes from those two, while not benign in verbiage, undersold the annoyance that was apparent in their voices. (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/01/16/triple-team-both-rudy/) Oh, and of course, there’s the fact that Gobert, at heart, was basically right about their defense — one way to get Gobert to stop being honest about the team’s bad defense is to just play better defense.

– via Salt Lake Tribune (https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/01/16/triple-team-both-rudy/)




Eric Walden: Donovan noted that having 3 days off from games, and having the time to be able to sit down and watch film together, plus get in a few practices helped iron out a lot of the communication issues (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)



yeah film and practice ironed everything out. Had nothing to do with your best player being back on the floor! :roll:






“That’s the team that we know we can be,” Gobert said. “It’s exciting to see that we have another gear that we can tap into. But this is what we are going to have to bring every single night (https://theathletic.com/3074192/2022/01/17/jazz-seem-to-take-rudy-goberts-comments-to-heart-in-win-over-nuggets/). “It was important for us to come out tonight and play the right way. It’s a long season, and we know that everything is not always going to be perfect. We know that we are going to have some tough stretches. But if we can keep getting better, we feel like we are going to be in great shape come playoff time. It’s exciting to see what we are capable of doing. So we need to keep building great habits.”

– via Tony Jones @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3074192/2022/01/17/jazz-seem-to-take-rudy-goberts-comments-to-heart-in-win-over-nuggets/)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50329546/some-unique-circumstances-proved-to-be-the-balm-the-jazz-sorely-needed


"You go on the court and you do it in practice, so you're getting those reps and those familiarity," Mitchell said. "It's one thing to just show it on film and go out and try to do it, especially in a tough stretch where you have COVID. We don't have our bigs, we don't travel to Toronto, like there's so many ins and outs throughout the four-game streak.



a lot of excuses for the best player in Jazz history

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50329515/thats-the-team-that-we-can-be-goberts-return-leads-to-jazz-blowout-over-nuggets-


Up to that point, the game had followed a script: The Jazz won the minutes Gobert played; the Nuggets won the ones with Jokic. So the Jazz simply couldn't afford to let Gobert sit while Jokic was on the court.



same old story

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/17/22886705/bojan-bogdanovic-is-a-problem-for-the-denver-nuggets-utah-jazz


DENVER — Yes, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are players that deserve a lot of attention on a scouting report. Players like Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson also demand detailed planning. But Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone is quick to point out that there is another Utah Jazz player that has had the Nuggets’ number.



let Clarkson shoot. Pretty easy to plan for that

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/16/22886704/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-end-skid-with-win-over-denver-nuggets-despite-nikola-jokic-triple-double


Jokic is a really smart player in a lot of ways. He is one of the best passers in the game (not just one of the best passing bigs) and there are a million reasons why he is the reigning NBA MVP. But, one of the really small things that Jokic does well is something that is so fundamental in basketball that it’s drilled into young players as they are learning the game. If you catch the ball high in the paint, don’t come down with it. Anyone who has played organized basketball surely has heard coaches yell this time and time again. It’s no different in the NBA and yet some players just let go of some of those elementary lessons. Jokic is a master at catching the ball high in a deep post position and turning to immediately release for a shot. It gives him a great chance at a finish and also is a good way to draw a foul. I just appreciate basketball fundamentals.



players lack fundamentals now. There were at least two blocks in this game because Mitchell and Bojan don't shoot layups with their outside hand. That one always bugs me. We had layup lines to do that specifically. They still have layup lines before the games

[Xiao Yao You]

Now that the Hornets have begun to emerge as a competitive team in the East with young players like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, Hayward (the former Butler Bulldog) could be an expendable piece to land a needed upgrade at center. (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952513-latest-nba-trade-intel-lakers-realistic-targets-myles-turner-landing-spots) Turner would be ideal, provided he’s not seriously injured.

– via Eric Pincus @ Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952513-latest-nba-trade-intel-lakers-realistic-targets-myles-turner-landing-spots)




Whiteside, Clarkson, Hughes and whatever else to get it done

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/17/br-bold-prediction-utah-jazz-star/


He’s one of the best scorers (https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/13/utah-jazz-time-teams/) in Utah Jazz history. His name may already belong alongside Adrian Dantley’s. Only Karl Malone stands distinctly above Mitchell in franchise history when it comes to putting points on the board.

not close to Dantley or Pistol. 30 points a night and scoring titles while being the best player on their teams

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: The Utah Jazz are planning on signing Danuel House Jr. to a 10 day contract, (https://*********.com/social/) League Sources tell The Athletic….House was previously on a hardship 10 day that expired Saturday. The Jazz liked him enough to take a longer look at him.
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba (https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba)

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Walden: Rudy Gobert, on the Russell Westbrook dunk: “It was a nice dunk. I felt like I couldn’t jump because his arm was on my shoulder, but they’re not going to call that. (https://*********.com/social/) … I don’t think he said anything to me. He’s a guy who likes to talk to himself.”
– via Twitter tribjazz (https://twitter.com/tribjazz)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/477120/jazz-offense-stalls-in-ugly-loss-to-lakers/


Clarkson Has First Bad Game This Month

:roll: He sucks!


“That catch and shoot three sets up the rest of his game where he’s got a chance to make a read and get by somebody quickly,” Snyder said of Clarkson.



too bad he can't shoot

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2022/1/18/22890109/the-utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-problem


Clarkson began his tenure in Utah on fire. He had changed his shot selection, prioritizing threes over long twos and trying to get to the basket more, and it was working. Not only that, but he was hitting shots at an incredible rate. Adding together his first half-season in Utah and that great start to his second season, I was won over. I had been skeptical, but I believed he’d proven himself a changed player. I believed so strongly that he had become a genuinely efficient scorer that I wrote an article titled; Jodan Clarkson: Efficiency God (https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/1/19/22229654/utah-jazz-sixth-man-jordan-clarkson-efficiency-god).



too bad he misses shots at an even more incredible rate. Never thought he was a good fit. He just wasn't Exum. Dante would look good now :cry:


On top of that, when Clarkson has one of his good games, the Jazz are tough to beat. He can catch fire in a way that very few players can, and it’s incredible to watch. The issue is just that those good games are few and far between. If he can find a way to regain that shooting efficiency he started last season with, he’ll instantly help the team again. But I’ve learned my lesson with sample sizes. Outside of a small hot streak at the beginning of his Jazz career, Clarkson has always been inefficient. As long as that remains the case, he will continue to be a liability for the Utah Jazz.



someone else finally getting it. The bigger problem is COTY


I think he's the one we should look to move at the deadline. His stock is still somewhat high after winning 6moy. ( I hope) He's definitely worth more than Exum was, so we're still ahead anyway.


yep get rid of the trash



When we had Bradley, Niang, Oneale all playing off the bench, Clarkson's skills really helped. Well now I see him out there taking bad shots early in the clock with guys like Rudy, Dm, and Conley just watching. We'd be better off with anybody else taking the shot. Hopefully we could get someone who can play good D and/or run a pick and roll. Could we send out Clarkson and maybe Ingles for one great player? We've got depth. We need a player who can make a difference in the playoffs. If we send Ingles, we really would need a backup pg though.



yep everyone standing around watching him pound the ball and throw up bricks. Package him with Whiteside and Hughes


I was singing Clarkson's praises not too long ago for being more aggressive in rebounding and more unselfish handling the ball. It seems like he's regressed since then. Clarkson gives a real spark off the bench when he's shooting well, but when he's not, his minutes are a travesty. For all I've wanted to see progress in his overall game, it just isn't there consistently. He's a shooter first and always, and when he's not shooting well, it seriously hurts the team. I wouldn't mind seeing if we could trade him in a package that brings in a better defender.

a shooter that can't shoot!


Yeah, I think people always remember the good that he does, because it's fun and energetic, but they don't see all the missed rotations, lazy defense, and missed passes.




I don't like his game even when he's hitting shots. Ainge has to see it at least?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/18/utah-jazz-involved-ben-simmons-deal/2/

the best part is no more Clarkson!!!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/18/utah-jazz-major-shakeup/


Do the Utah Jazz need a major shakeup?

new coach and new 6th man for starters


Their collectively poor performance pointed to a larger issue. Both men are dynamic on-ball players, but neither is a reliable floor spacer. It makes it difficult, at times, for them to share the floor. (https://thejnotes.com/2021/11/24/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-problem/) When two of your best offensive players have difficulty sharing the floor, you may have a roster construction issue.



Clarkson is their worst player period


It’s time that we officially eat crow. The Jazz could probably use another defensive wing (https://thejnotes.com/2021/09/03/analyst-utah-jazz-one-wing-short/).



a starting 4


The Utah Jazz should flip Jordan Clarkson for a plus defensive wing. There’s no ambiguous way to say it. While they’ll miss Clarkson’s shot creation, leaning more heavily into Mitchell, Conley and Bogdanovic while diversifying their defense could solve the problems that led to this embarrassing defeat.



Clarkson for no one improves the team

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/18/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-not-enough-touches/


Meanwhile, especially during the fourth quarter — in which the Utah Jazz had put up only 12 points entering the final 30 seconds — Rudy Gobert frequently had about a six-inch height advantage over his defender. Nevertheless, all he could do was watch his teammates heave one brick after another.



someone is paying attention!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265483/Lakers-Blazers-Knicks-Jazz-Wizards-Celtics-Pacers-Wolves-Kings-Interested-In-Jerami-Grant

Get it done!

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y87srhtz

hate to give up Butler and Paschall but get it done!
(http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y87srhtz)