What would prime Utah Carlos Boozer's role/game look like in today's league?

[Im Still Ballin]

Incredibly good pick-and-roll player who is a great finisher and skilled mid-range shooter. Strong, physical rebounder. Underrated passer who made good high-low and interior passes within Jerry Sloan's flex offense. Defense is obviously not great. One of those guys who can look athletic on offense but not on defense.

Sabonis feels like the closest modern comparison in the league currently. Less of a passer but a more aggressive natural scorer. Still, I think if you put him in that Sabonis role in Sacramento, he'd get 5-6 assists. That's just my analysis of the passes he could make.

What do you think? To me, he either moves up to C like Sabonis or plays PF alongside a Myles Turner or Brook Lopez. But he could also exist in a bully-ball lineup on the right team kind of how like Zion and Adams worked in tandem. Just depends on the scheme of the team and the overall lineup/personnel.

I think some of you will exaggerate and suggest he would be a bench guy. I would disagree with that. But I'm eager to here your thoughts.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdXyfK2s3t4&ab_channel=memoismoney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sps2xG29GKU&ab_channel=memoismoney

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eev66wkAups&ab_channel=MaxaMillion711

[iamgine]

Not sure, I heard his defense was exceptionally bad. Way worse than current Sengun or Sabonis. With a lot less playmaking ability.

Realistically could be a high bench guy on many teams if that is true.

[Xiao Yao You]

Horrible D. Unless he extended his range out to 3 he's a backup at best. He'd definitely fit right in as far as load management. Always hurt

[Im Still Ballin]

Boozer averaged the following from 2004-05 to 2009-10:

- 19.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.5 topg
- 54.4% FG (112.8 FG+), 71.6% FT, and 57.8% TS (107% TS+)

Adjusted scoring for 2023-24:

- 21.4 ppg on 61.6% FG, 71.6% FT, and 62.3-64.0% TS (TS+ adjustment vs. FG+ adjustment)

Compared to Sabonis (2019-20 to 2023-24):

- 19.3 ppg on 57.5% FG, 72.3% FT, and 63.0% TS

Very comparable ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% numbers. Sabonis has higher AST% and TO%, which makes sense given his different role in comparison.

[Proctor]

The offensive comparison to Sabonis isn't bad. Same type of bully ball, less passing ability, but significantly greater ability to score in different ways.

A slightly worse Aldridge which is a really good player. Definitely not a bench guy

[Axe]

Interesting numbers. This guy also helped the jazz reach the conference finals in '07. Then another one in '11 too, with the bulls during that year.

[Xiao Yao You]

Interesting numbers. This guy also helped the jazz reach the conference finals in '07. Then another one in '11 too, with the bulls during that year.

GS beating the #1 seed got the Jazz to the conference finals

[Im Still Ballin]

The offensive comparison to Sabonis isn't bad. Same type of bully ball, less passing ability, but significantly greater ability to score in different ways.

A slightly worse Aldridge which is a really good player. Definitely not a bench guy

Intelligent analysis. Xiao can't see past his own biases.

[Axe]

GS beating the #1 seed got the Jazz to the conference finals
So? At least the mavs bt didn't blow a 3-1 lead in the first round. Go figure.

[Xiao Yao You]

Intelligent analysis. Xiao can't see past his own biases.

yeah actually watching the guy vs looking at stats :facepalm

[Im Still Ballin]

yeah actually watching the guy vs looking at stats :facepalm

Come on, man. COME ON! Show C-Booz the respect he deserves! Bench player? What!

[Xiao Yao You]

Come on, man. COME ON! Show C-Booz the respect he deserves! Bench player? What!

the 3rd best PF on the Jazz at the time :bowdown:

[Im Still Ballin]

the 3rd best PF on the Jazz at the time :bowdown:

If Millsap was better, why didn't he play more minutes than Boozer?

[Xiao Yao You]

If Millsap was better, why didn't he play more minutes than Boozer?

Jerry Sloan

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kirilan01/gamelog/2004

Boozer never had a season close to this one. Probably only The big 3 and Kirilenko ever did for the Jazz

While Boozer was out yet again Millsap put up Boozer type numbers while also playing the other end of the floor.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millspa01/gamelog/2009

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kirilan01/gamelog/2004

Boozer never had a season close to this one. Probably only The big 3 and Kirilenko ever did for the Jazz

While Boozer was out yet again Millsap put up Boozer type numbers while also playing the other end of the floor.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millspa01/gamelog/2009

21-16 record. Millsap was no doubt a very good PF but don't you think a coach like Jerry Sloan would've played him more than Boozer if he valued him as such? Give me your Jazz-expertise.

[Xiao Yao You]

21-16 record. Millsap was no doubt a very good PF but don't you think a coach like Jerry Sloan would've played him more than Boozer if he valued him as such? Give me your Jazz-expertise.

no I don't. If Sloan had a clue he would have continued along the path they were on with that AK season I posted when he ran a different offense than Motta's flex. He went back to the pick and roll and a poor man's Stockton to Malone. The Jazz never did realize what they had in Millsap or Gobert's story would look a lot different than it does. Sloan thought The Black Hole was better than Millsap as well. Their front office thought Favors and Kanter were going to be better. :cry:

[Im Still Ballin]

no I don't. If Sloan had a clue he would have continued along the path they were on with that AK season I posted when he ran a different offense than Motta's flex. He went back to the pick and roll and a poor man's Stockton to Malone. The Jazz never did realize what they had in Millsap or Gobert's story would look a lot different than it does. Sloan thought The Black Hole was better than Millsap as well. Their front office thought Favors and Kanter were going to be better. :cry:

Utah was like the second-best offense from 2006-07 to 2009-10, behind only Phoenix.

2006-07: +3.6 rORtg; 2007-08: +6.3 rORtg; 2008-09: +1.8 rORtg; 2009-10: +3.1 rORtg

2006-07 to 2009-10: +3.7 rORtg

Remove Boozer's injury-riddled 2008-09 and that number goes to +4.3 rORtg. Pretty good offense if you ask me, bro-cacho!

[Im Still Ballin]

Although Millsap was the obviously better defender, it looks like Sloan preferred Boozer's superior scoring, rebounding, passing, and shooting. Carlos was the superior player in those departments at that time, which played more into the strength of Utah's flex offense.

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah was like the second-best offense from 2006-07 to 2009-10, behind only Phoenix.

2006-07: +3.6 rORtg; 2007-08: +6.3 rORtg; 2008-09: +1.8 rORtg; 2009-10: +3.1 rORtg

2006-07 to 2009-10: +3.7 rORtg

Remove Boozer's injury-riddled 2008-09 and that number goes to +4.3 rORtg. Pretty good offense if you ask me, bro-cacho!

he was injury riddled 3 of his 6 seasons in Utah. No one said he couldn't score and rebound. I'll take Millsap and AK myself though

[Im Still Ballin]

he was injury riddled 3 of his 6 seasons in Utah. No one said he couldn't score and rebound. I'll take Millsap and AK myself though

Millsap and AK would've been a better option for a defensively-oriented team that shoots more threes. Not sure if Mlllsap could shoot threes then. But at that point, Boozer's rolling, shooting, post-up scoring, and high-low/interior passing made him a more natural fit in the flex.

Agree or disagree?

[Xiao Yao You]

Millsap and AK would've been a better option for a defensively-oriented team that shoots more threes. Not sure if Mlllsap could shoot threes then. But at that point, Boozer's rolling, shooting, post-up scoring, and high-low/interior passing made him a more natural fit in the flex.

Agree or disagree?

Millsap couldn't shoot 3's because Sloan wouldn't allow that. No Millsap was the better option from at least 2008 and Boozer was never as good of an option as AK was when they went away from the flex after Stockton and and Malone left. Millsap also a better option than The Black Hole or Favors or Kanter. The Hawks were certainly thankful that the Jazz were clueless to what they had