:cheers:
Printable View
:cheers:
[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-pbt-awards-defensive-player-200921178.html[/url]
:cheers:
Lloyd Pierce: [URL="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/coaching-and-not-coaching-in-a-pandemic-with-lloyd-pierce/id1078713316?i=1000520598227"]I’m still a coach. And so it’s an opportunity to learn a little bit more about Utah spacing on offense and how they’re generating the type of threes they’re generating and why they’re shooting the percentages that they’re shooting. I think Quinn (Snyder) does a tremendous job of getting the corners filled, their downhill attack, and this is in the half court, which makes it even more special.[/URL] The way they can space doesn’t matter who’s in the corner. Gobert, they don’t just have them as a traditional post running to the block. He’s playing through the elbow. He’s playing in the trail spot and he’s obviously going into some pick and roll, some ball screen… So to watch it a little closer to study it.
– via [URL="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/coaching-and-not-coaching-in-a-pandemic-with-lloyd-pierce/id1078713316?i=1000520598227"]Apple Podcasts[/URL]
“A lot of my talent was that I was OK and good at a lot of things but I wasn’t great at anything,” Ingles said. “It wasn’t like, this team needs to bring me over because I’m an elite 3-point shooter or an elite defender or a playmaker.” Whereas Ingles didn’t have one elite skill to bring to the NBA floor as an 18-year-old, Giddey is already arguably the best passer in the 2021 draft class, which should translate from day one in the NBA. Watching film with him over Zoom, he sees everything a step ahead. Although not always as flashy as a Ball or Auburn standout Sharife Cooper, [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31439966/2021-nba-draft-how-one-year-nbl-turned-australia-josh-giddey-potential-lottery-pick"]Giddey is unselfish with his hit-aheads. “It’s almost kind of like what people saw with LaMelo in the NBL like, kicking the ball ahead regardless of who it was,” Ingles said of Giddey. “If it was the right play to make, he was making it.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31439966/2021-nba-draft-how-one-year-nbl-turned-australia-josh-giddey-potential-lottery-pick"]Mike Schmitz @ ESPN[/URL]
[URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31439966/2021-nba-draft-how-one-year-nbl-turned-australia-josh-giddey-potential-lottery-pick"]“Joe was way more like Josh than what he might remember,” said Marty Clarke, the NBA’s Global Academy technical director and a former Saint Mary’s College assistant.[/URL] Clarke also served as the head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport and played a key role in the development of Ingles, Bogut, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes and Matthew Dellavedova. “Joe wasn’t a great shooter back then. Now, he’s a driller. It’s lights out. I think a lot of people get to a level and think they’re done. That’s where Joe is always working for the next thing, ‘What’s my next edge?’ And I think Josh will be exactly the same.”
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31439966/2021-nba-draft-how-one-year-nbl-turned-australia-josh-giddey-potential-lottery-pick"]Mike Schmitz @ ESPN[/URL]
[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/jingles-or-jc-sixth-man-debate-centers-on-utah-bench-duo/[/url]
ingles of stfu!
[url]https://kslsports.com/459588/block-king-myles-turner-not-rudy-gobert-wins-season-title/[/url]
fun while it lasted
[url]https://kslsports.com/459574/utah-jazz-and-the-history-of-the-top-seed/[/url]
[QUOTE]The team proved they could survive the close to the regular season without Mitchell but will need his elite scoring ability if they want to advance in the playoffs.
[/QUOTE]
should win in the first round unless it's the lakers regardless
[QUOTE]Those three players (assuming Mitchell returns) will provide the backbone for the Jazz postseason run, but what can they expect out of Bojan Bogdanovic.
[/QUOTE]
it's more what can they expect of coty. will he bench guys that suck or play ersan like he should. doubt it
[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/experts-name-2021-nba-regular-175956400.html[/url]
[QUOTE][I]Others considered:[/I] Utah's Joe Ingles, New York's Derrick Rose, Dallas' Jalen Brunson, Portland's Carmelo Anthony
[/QUOTE]
:facepalm
[QUOTE]Eppers: 76ers' guard Ben Simmons is the most versatile defensive player in the league, who made life miserable for everyone from score-first point guards to the best mid-range shooters.[/QUOTE]
:facepalm
[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50169007/play-in-tournament-rooting-guide-who-should-jazz-fans-be-cheering-for-this-week[/url]
[QUOTE]That doesn't mean the Jazz wouldn't have a chance. In fact, it would likely be a fascinating series. Would the Lakers' No. 1 defense be able to shut down Utah's elite offense? Could LA's porous 3-point offense (25th in the league) be able to keep up with the Jazz's sharpshooters? And there's one potential upside to the Lakers landing at eight: They might not be completely healthy by the first round, so it could be best to get them earlier than later — and a sign of that might be losing to Golden State in Wednesday's play-in game.
[/QUOTE]
their only chance would be to go big and with Snyder that would probably mean Favors not Ersan/Morgan/Brantley. You'd probably rather face the Lakers now than later though
[QUOTE]The Jazz, though, have a couple things working for them: Utah has outscored the Warriors by 52 points during Rudy Gobert's minutes this season (and he'll be playing much more in the postseason); and Utah's bench, featuring two Sixth Man of the Year candidates, is far superior than Golden State's mismatched group of reserves.
[/QUOTE]
Their bench is better because of Gobert/Conley and despite Clarkson
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/18/22428792/utah-jazz-injuries-donovan-mitchell-and-mike-conley-turned-into-jazz-assistant-coaches[/url]
[QUOTE]“Coach has been having me bring the ball up the floor sometimes and I’m kind of lost-minded sometimes on what to call and what plays to run and stuff,” Clarkson said. “Those guys are always there to help and tell me what they see, so it’s been a good experience.”
[/QUOTE]
you only know one play. Clarkson shoots
[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/defining-stats-from-a-historic-jazz-season/[/url]
[QUOTE]Had Donovan Mitchell remained healthy, he would have a strong case for All-NBA (and still has a chance of making it, even after missing 19 games). And who knows what heights the team would’ve reached with better health.
[/QUOTE]
might have did worse with more of their superstar actually
[QUOTE]Mitchell improved in nearly every statistical category. More than anything though, he’s become a bonafide pure scorer (which happens to be the most valuable skill in basketball). He finished the season averaging 26.4 points per game, good for 10th best in the league. Some context makes this number much more impressive: Mitchell only played 33.4 minutes per game. If you adjust his scoring to points per 100 possessions, Mitchell averaged 38.5 points. Only 11 players in NBA history have reached a higher scoring rate by their fourth season.
[/QUOTE]
gunner not scorer
[QUOTE]While these were Rudy’s defining stats, I also want to note his 6.2% Hall of Fame probability via [URL="http://basketball-reference.com/"]basketball-reference.com[/URL]. This number is likely to be much higher after he wins another DPOY and All-NBA team. And even more so now that defensive standout Ben Wallace will join the Hall.
[/QUOTE]
where will the statue go?
[QUOTE]Since Donovan Mitchell was injured, Bojan took upon to the primary scoring load, averaging 22.8 points per game since April 17. Bogdanovic started the season slow, possibly due to a nagging wrist injury or fewer touches. While his usage should drop down again when Mitchell and Conley are both back, Bogdanovic has proven himself the capable primary option when needed. And the Jazz may very well need that in the playoffs, when defensive schemes take Mitchell and Conley away. Last year Bogdanovic was sorely missed in the playoff series against Denver. This season we’ll get to see how teams try to take away three legit scorers.
[/QUOTE]
in game 7 maybe. Defense was their problem and he wasn't missed there for sure
[QUOTE]Combine this, and the fact that he plays the second most minutes on the team, while still maintaining a 39% accuracy from three, and O’Neale remains the ultimate glue guy in his second season as a full-time starter.
[/QUOTE]
one of their most important players for sure
[QUOTE][h=3]Jordan Clarkson: 94 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer[/h][/QUOTE]
who cares with some of the awful nights he had to get it
[QUOTE]In contrast to his backcourt mate, Clarkson’s efficiency waxed and waned throughout the season. But his role is more focused as a pure bucket-getter. Yes, Clarkson was sometimes overzealous in his shot hunting. And his accuracy numbers dropped after flirting with the 50/40/90 club at the beginning of the season. But Clarkson is also tasked with manufacturing offense — at times outside of what the opposing defense schemes for. And there’s something to be said for volume scoring off the bench. It’s hard to score 18.4 points per game in less than 27 minutes per game. Efficiency numbers don’t account for degree of difficulty or volume, and watching Clarkson play makes it clear that he’s a skilled scorer.
[/QUOTE]
he's a gunner
[QUOTE]How does Clarkson do it? With an improved shot selection. This season only 2% of his shots came from the long midrange, which at early points of his career had been as high as 27%. Now he shoots 55% of his shots from three, dramatically higher than 19% in his first season. If you ever listen to the Utah broadcast, you’ve heard at length about his streak of consecutive games with a made thre, now at 94 games. While the streak itself is not really important, it’s emblematic both of Clarkson’s role a scorer and transformation of his shot profile.
[/QUOTE]
55% of shots from 3 when you shoot 34% isn't good shot selection sorry
[QUOTE]Favors’ season can be tricky to evaluate. His minutes dropped from 24.4 per game in the previous season to just 15.3 (and this was no surprise to Favors or the Jazz). At times his athleticism has felt rickety. And he plays behind Rudy Gobert, so the contrast in impact is extra visible. Speaking of contrast, Favors is often evaluated through the lens of not being Tony Bradley. This may not be fair to either player, but the truth is that Utah hemorrhaged leads during backup center minutes last season, and Favors was brought in to steady the ship. We can debate whether 15 minutes of backup center are worth $30 million over 3 years, but those minutes highlight a few important things:
[/QUOTE]
horrible signing. Bradley at 3.5 million and the 10 mill to a stating PF was the way to go :cry:
[QUOTE]Favors’ style of play allow the Jazz to play a consistent style of play the entire game
[/QUOTE]
Bradley could play that style too. There's a lot of value in being able to give a team a different look. Not so sure I wouldn't rather Ersan was playing instead of Favors most of the time
[QUOTE]Favors’ willingness to sacrifice minutes sets the tone a team that emphasizes unselfishness
[/QUOTE]
I get the impression that he is almost done and happy to play less minutes while getting paid way too much to do so
[QUOTE]Favors is good enough to play against opposing starting centers. This allows Gobert to stagger against opposing bench units, to enormous success.
[/QUOTE]
debatable. Was night and day when Rudy was off the floor
[QUOTE]You can make the argument that six of the above nine players had a career year. The team itself certainly had a year to remember. Anything can happen in the playoffs, particularly with so many contender level teams in the Western Conference. But no matter what happens, the Jazz provided an enormously entertaining season during a time when fans especially needed it.
[/QUOTE]
Mitchell, Conley, Gobert, Ingles, O'Neale and Niang
[QUOTE] Shams Charania: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The NBA will hold its annual Summer League in Las Vegas, Aug. 8-17, with all 30 teams playing five games and a championship game on Aug. 17[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania"]Twitter ShamsCharania[/URL]
[/QUOTE]
good news. Dok needs it
I’m really trying to help you understand the gapping hole of knowledge between you and the CDC.
Ben Anderson: Donovan Mitchell on his availability for Game 1. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“That’s the goal, there aren’t any setbacks, God forbid, knock on wood, but that’s the goal.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]
Ben Anderson: Donovan Mitchell on his first practice: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Practice was good, I got out there and competed. You can tell it’s the first time […] in four or five weeks.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]
Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Donovan, on how his ankle feels after practice: “It’s definitely sore when you haven’t played in five weeks. But thankfully there’s no pain.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/19/22425377/utah-jazz-league-leading-season-no-1-rudy-gobert-constant-dpoy-playoffs-nba\[/url]
[QUOTE]But, despite an unrelenting schedule and the wear and tear of a regular season compounded by the increased number of back-to-back sets, Gobert — arguably the most important player on this Jazz team — remained a dependable constant.
[/QUOTE]
I know it sucks but there is no argument
[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/does-gobert-deserve-mvp-buzz-for-fueling-no-1-jazz/[/url]
[QUOTE]This season, Rudy Gobert finished the season as the league leader in +/- with a total of +728. That is far and away the best +/- in the NBA this season. While fellow Jazzmen Conley (+548), Royce O’Neale (+473) and Ingles (+452) finishing 2nd-4th on this list is evidence of how great the Jazz starting lineup was this season (Bogdanovic finished 7th at +419) Gobert’s place as a +/- leader can be readily distinguished from Prince’s as the difference between Gobert and Conley on the list is greater than the difference between Prince’s league leading +/- and Rip Hamilton’s 5th place +/- in 2006.
[/QUOTE]
Where's Mitchell?
[QUOTE]So, if he’s not like Prince then there’s a good case he belongs in one of the other two categories we’ve seen in the last quarter century: Rudy Gobert is either an MVP caliber player or he is teammates with one. Mike Conley has had a long enough career that I think he’s safe enough to eliminate as an MVP-caliber player, especially when considering that he missed 21 games this season. That leaves the Jazz’s third All-Star, Donovan Mitchell as the only other candidate for an MVP-caliber teammate. But much like Conley, Mitchell missed a significant chunk of the season at 19 games and his total +/- was the lowest among the Jazz starting five at +287. I hope that Mitchell reaches his full potential and becomes an MVP-caliber player, I just don’t think there’s a strong argument that he’s there yet.
[/QUOTE]
Their best player?
[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/5/20/22445648/what-to-expect-from-the-utah-jazz-playoffs-2021-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert[/url]
[QUOTE]Now that we know a little bit more about their upcoming first round matchup, what can we expect from the Jazz in this year’s playoff? Right now, a big question surrounding game one on Sunday is Donovan Mitchell’s status. He’s been out for over a month now with that ankle sprain sustained against the [URL="https://www.indycornrows.com"]Pacers[/URL] back on April 16. The Jazz struggled without him, but won enough games to secure the one seed. The vibe going around is that the Jazz are being cautious and want to make sure he’s 100%, as they should. It seems like from some things other players have said, that Donovan Mitchell will be ready for game one. Part of me wonders if the Jazz are waiting to see who their opponent is before they decide if they need to unleash Spida-Man Mitchell or not. Maybe he sits game one, and as long as they don’t need him, he keeps nursing that ankle. Either way, at some point hopefully next week Donovan Mitchell is back on the floor in the NBA Playoffs. The world needs more of these 50+ point playoff games from Mr. Mitchell.
[/QUOTE]
13-6 is struggling?
[QUOTE]Bojan hitting his stride going into the playoffs might lowkey be the most important thing for this team’s title hopes. Having another scorer that can give you big buckets when you need them is a critical thing to have in the playoffs. Bojan’s shown that he can be superman in clutch moments, and for the Jazz to make a title run, they will need Bojan’s scoring, especially his three-point shooting.
[/QUOTE]
what they need is a coach that will bench guys when they are hurting the team
[QUOTE][h=4]Imagine, replace Ingles with Draymond this team would be a killer![/h]
Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Ray7"]Ray7[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/5/20/22445648/what-to-expect-from-the-utah-jazz-playoffs-2021-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert#540365495"]May 20, 2021 | 12:38 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]
:facepalm
[URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/rudy-gobert-leads-france-olympic-211739355.html"]Rudy Gobert was one of five NBA players named to France’s Olympic men’s basketball roster on Thursday.[/URL] Gobert, the Utah Jazz center, is joined by fellow NBAers Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Frank Ntilikina.
– via [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/rudy-gobert-leads-france-olympic-211739355.html"]Yahoo! Sports[/URL]
After the victory against the USA in 2019, do you think you have a chance of beating them at the Olympics? [URL="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/rudy-gobert-i-ll-get-on-the-plane-to-tokyo-with-the-nba-trophy-in-my-hand"]Rudy Gobert: I’m afraid of nobody and my team is afraid of nobody. I never feared anyone, and it won’t change today.[/URL] The harder the challenge is, the more motivated I am. And I think it’s the same for my teammates. We hope they have the best team possible, but we know that other teams are strong also. It will be up to us to play our best basketball. As simple as that.
– via [URL="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/rudy-gobert-i-ll-get-on-the-plane-to-tokyo-with-the-nba-trophy-in-my-hand"]Tokyo 2020 @ Olympics.com[/URL]
Imagine you had to choose between winning an NBA ring and the Olympic gold medal. What would you choose? [URL="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/rudy-gobert-i-ll-get-on-the-plane-to-tokyo-with-the-nba-trophy-in-my-hand"]Rudy Gobert: I honestly can’t answer that question. Both would be unique, and I hope to be able to win both during my career. With everything we have gone through with the Utah Jazz,[/URL] from winning only 25 matches in the first year through to today, when we [won] the Western Conference… we went through a lot. The same goes for the national team. Look at where we started. Obviously, Tony [Parker], Boris [Diaw], Nico [Batum] and others managed to build a real team and gain a lot of respect in the world of basketball. So, winning an Olympic medal would not only be our accomplishment, but also theirs. It would continue their legacy, what they built before we arrived in the national team. Both titles are priceless, and those are the things that you never forget.
– via [URL="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/rudy-gobert-i-ll-get-on-the-plane-to-tokyo-with-the-nba-trophy-in-my-hand"]Tokyo 2020 @ Olympics.com[/URL]
Well, everything except the getting played off the floor during the playoffs part. Anyone who has actually taken the time to watch the Utah Jazz in a playoff series knows that isn’t remotely true. Sorry, critics. Gobert won’t give you that one. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]“That’s definitely a false narrative,” Gobert told The Athletic in an interview on May 20[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]
But the other stuff? Gobert knows that criticism exists. And he knows all of the points, rebounds, blocked shots, DPOY’s or All-Star selections won’t shut down the noise. The remedy? Winning at a high level. And Gobert performing at a high level once the postseason starts for the Jazz on Sunday night. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]“In a way, they (the critics) are not wrong,” Gobert said. “It’s up to me to prove myself and to help my team be in a position to win a championship. I don’t see that as pressure.[/URL] I have high expectations of myself. Our team before the season set a goal to win a championship. If you are hard on yourself, it’s hard to see that as pressure. I’m actually pretty excited for the challenge.”
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]
Gobert knows this and knows that he has to be prepared to adjust to a number of looks. And he knows that there won’t be any excuse for failure. “Teams have been trying to do things to me like this the entire season,” Gobert said. “I’m way more comfortable guarding any kind of lineup compared to say four years ago. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]Teams have been trying to minimize my impact in all different ways. So, I just have to be ready for anything, and I have to be confident in what I can do.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2602980/2021/05/21/one-on-one-with-utah-jazz-center-rudy-gobert-on-his-critics-and-more-in-a-way-they-are-not-wrong/?source=rss"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]
[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/5/21/22428709/utah-jazz-insiders-newsletter-memphis-grizzlies-golden-state-warriors-fans-this-week[/url]
[QUOTE]The Jazz would absolutely have a chance to beat the Warriors in a seven-game series, but life would certainly be easier against the Grizzlies.
[/QUOTE]
COTY should be fired if it goes more than 5
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/20/22425374/utah-jazz-playoff-preview-jordan-clarkson-make-or-miss-league-playoffs-nba[/url]
[QUOTE]If you were to scroll through social media during a game in which the Jazz guard is having an off night, it wouldn’t take long to find myriad posts complaining about the way that Clarkson plays, posts calling for Jazz coach Quin Snyder to take Clarkson out of the game, posts saying Snyder is a bad coach for the amount of time that Clarkson has the ball in his hands.
[/QUOTE]
they both suck
[QUOTE]Clarkson’s fiery and unrelenting approach to scoring demands attention from the defense, and the more he attacks, the more attention the opposition has to pay him. Teams have double-teamed, blitzed, top-locked and chased Clarkson around the court in an effort to show him down, and when they have to put so much energy into neutralizing one of the Jazz’s reserve players, it starts to open up the floor for everyone else.
[/QUOTE]
playoffs are different. If I'm the other team he's left wide open from 3
[QUOTE]“Guys like him, they can win you games, they can win you a series,” Mike Conley said. “With his ability to heat up so quickly, it can just change the flow of a game if things seem to not be going the right way or you’re having a tough time scoring a ball or an off night. He tends to find ways to get going and not everybody has a guy like that.”
[/QUOTE]
more likely to lose you a game
[QUOTE]“I keep my head down, keep grinding, keep taking the shots that are there, keep trying to make plays,” Clarkson said. “When shots fall, it feels good, but I’m always confident. I’m always going to take those shots and keep it rolling.”
[/QUOTE]
it's the shots that aren't there that's the problem which is most of them with you
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/20/22433101/rudy-gobert-defensive-player-of-the-year-candidates-dpoy-nba-ben-simmons-draymond-green-utah-jazz[/url]
the numbers tell me Simmons shouldn't even be in the race
[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50171289/there-have-been-plenty-of-doubts-about-the-jazz-this-season--are-they-legitimate[/url]
[QUOTE]However, against teams that switch the 1-5 pick-and-roll — or run "black" in NBA terms — Utah's offense can get bogged down. That's led to playoff losses in the past under coach Quin Snyder. Oh, and remember last Monday's defeat to the Golden State Warriors (the same Warriors Utah might just play in the first round)? That's what Draymond Green and Kevon Looney were able to do to stifle Utah's attack.
[/QUOTE]
twice they had Rubio and Favors spotting up in the cornmer. Denver didn't stop Utah until game 7. They lost to one of the best teams ever the other time with Hill out and Gobert and Favors playing hurt :facepalm
[QUOTE]But Utah went just 1-6 when Mitchell attempted more than 25 field goals this season — showing that still isn't the best option to counter it.
[/QUOTE]
it should only be an option when they can't do it by moving the ball. Sadly Clarkson and Mitcehll don't play that way
[QUOTE][h=2][B]The doubt: Utah doesn't have a top-tier star[/B][/h][/QUOTE]
Gobert and Conley has been this year too. All the focus will be on Mitchell though of course!
[QUOTE]But while there should be no doubting Mitchell's playoff prowess — as a rookie, he led the Jazz to a first-round series upset win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and last season, he had two 50-point games in the first round loss to the Denver Nuggets — the fact is, the Jazz have only made it past the first round once with Mitchell leading the way.
[/QUOTE]
he led?
[QUOTE]The origin for this comes from one gif-inducing play against Steph Curry from 2017 and the 2018 second-round series against Houston when Chris Paul got Gobert to switch on him and then hit about a million midrange shots.
[/QUOTE]
yet crappy offense is why they lost to Houston
[url]https://kslsports.com/459825/jazz-to-host-grizzlies-in-opening-round-of-playoffs/[/url]
[QUOTE]The Jazz haven’t won a playoff series in either of the last two seasons, having been eliminated in the first round each of the last two years. The team owned a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in last season’s playoff opener but dropped the final three games of the series in a stunning upset.
[/QUOTE]
Denver was favored
[QUOTE]Mitchell again carried the Jazz in game two of the series, scoring 35 points for the second consecutive night while Kyle Anderson led the Grizzlies with just 16 points. Memphis shot just 40 percent from the floor and 27 percent from three in the [URL="https://kslsports.com/456369/jazz-sweep-grizzlies-for-fifth-straight-win/"]126-110[/URL] loss.
[/QUOTE]
carried! :facepalm
[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/nba-playoffs/2021/5/21/22446896/playoff-donovan-mitchell-superstar[/url]
[QUOTE]That 2017-18 regular season was fun. The Jazz had lost a star player and seemed destined fall down the Western Conference standings. But this team was scrappy. Led by the Defensive Player of the Decade, Rudy Gobert, and the new star on the block, Donovan Mitchell, Utah fought their way into the playoffs. This team was playing with found money. They weren’t supposed to be back into the middle of the playoff race so soon. So when the playoffs started, all eyes were one Donovan Mitchell. How would the star rookie perform?
[/QUOTE]
debatable if he's a star now. Certainly wasn't then
[QUOTE]Game one. Utah Jazz vs. [URL="https://www.denverstiffs.com"]Denver Nuggets[/URL]. Donovan Mitchell put up [URL="https://youtu.be/i4EsVY66iIU"]57 points[/URL], nine rebounds, and seven assists. Utah wasn’t able to pull out the win in overtime, but it was clear, this was a new Donovan Mitchell. He went on to play one of the most prolific individual series in NBA Playoff history. 36 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game. 52/51/95 shooting splits. Multiple 50+ point games. Highlight reel dunks. Game sealing shots. This was a historic series. This was what superstars looked like.
[/QUOTE]
what about his D?
[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/21/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-breakthrough/[/url]
[QUOTE]It’s apparent that Snyder has given him the ultimate green light. After all, Clarkson is also averaging a career-high in 3-point attempts with 8.8 per game, marking the [URL="https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/player-stat/three-point-field-goals-attempted"]sixth-highest 3-point attempts[/URL] per game across the entire league.
[/QUOTE]
for the worst shooter. Ridiculous
[QUOTE]In the games without Mitchell, who is arguably the Utah Jazz’s most important offensive player, Clarkson elevated his play in nearly every major statistical category, averaging 22.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game in [URL="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/jordan-clarkson-without-donovan-mitchell-mike-conley-this-season"]the 19 games[/URL] that Mitchell was unavailable.
[/QUOTE]
no argument. They just tried to survive through his horrible games
[url]https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/262682/Mitch-Kupchak-Hornets-Looking-To-Add-Center-Or-Several-Centers[/url]
you want Favors?
Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Quin Snyder, on Donovan Mitchell’s progress in his recovery: “You don’t go from 0 to 100 right away, there’s an acclimation process. But he’s right where he needs to be in his approach.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]
Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Quin Snyder, on facing the Grizzlies: “Morant’s as dynamic a player as there is in this league. They compete, they play hard.[/URL] …They’re a formidable opponent.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]
Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Quin Snyder, on the regular-season matchups vs. Memphis: “Such a unique situation, playing them 3 times in a short period of time. You can throw those games out, just like the rest of the regular season.[/URL] … They’re a different team than they were at that point.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]
Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley, on what he’s seen from the Grizzlies recently: “They’ve shored up their rotation a bit, had some guys step up.[/URL] And they’ve done a tremendous job of closing out close games, like we saw in the play-in tournament.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]
[URL="https://*********.com/team/utah-jazz/"]z[/URL]
Drew Hill: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley said he was at dinner with his wife and he was watching the game on his phone last night. “Knowing the Grizzlies, that city, and the way they carry themselves, you knew they were going to fight until the end.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/DrewHill_DM"]Twitter DrewHill_DM[/URL]
[url]https://kslsports.com/459867/healthy-utah-jazz-host-surging-memphis-grizzlies-in-game-one/[/url]
[QUOTE]While Jazz coach Quin Snyder was non-commital on how many minutes Mitchell would play, he praised the guard’s preparation for the postseason.
[/QUOTE]
be more concerned if Conley is still on a minutes restriction. They don't Mitchell to beat them. They probably need Mike though
[QUOTE]Second-year star Ja Morant was the key factor in the leap. The guard’s shooting percentage from three climbed to 37 percent per game over the final 24 games of the year after shooting just 24 percent from deep over the first 37 games of the season.
[/QUOTE]
that could be big
[QUOTE]Morant meanwhile was successful offensively against the Jazz, despite coming up empty in the win column. The star guard averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three.
[/QUOTE]
slow him down and make him work for it and you should win
[url]https://kslsports.com/459849/three-under-the-radar-questions-between-the-jazz-and-grizzlies/[/url]
[QUOTE]The backup center was a major point of contention last year in the playoffs for the Jazz as any non-Rudy Gobert minutes were a roller coaster ride against the Denver Nuggets. The Jazz tried both Tony Bradley and Juwan Morgan to varying success but decided in the offseason they needed to invest in a more proven option.
[/QUOTE]
and as we've seen they had a lot of other problems than to blame everything of a couple young guys. Favors hasn't been great
[QUOTE]When free agency opened, the Jazz signed Derrick Favors to a three-year, $30 million deal specifically for his ability to relieve Gobert in high-leverage games. However, the results were mixed.
[/QUOTE]
nice way of putting it. Not so sure I wouldn't rather have Ersan/Morgan/Brantley taking at least some of those minutes depending of matchups
[QUOTE]Favors was the only Jazz player who didn’t end the season with a triple-digit plus-minus, coming in at just +37 over 68 games played, the next closest was Donovan Mitchell who was +287 in just 53 games.
[/QUOTE]
He was always overrated even when he was still good. No PF and you replace a cheap, young improving center with a declining and expensive one. :cry:
[QUOTE]The most obvious reason Favors didn’t have a better season was that he played the fewest minutes with Gobert who was the league-leader in plus-minus by a significant margin. While every other Jazz player fed off of Gobert’s enormous impact, Favors was left to clean up the minutes when he was off the floor.
[/QUOTE]
certainly a big part of it but the reason they got him was because they weren't supposed to lose much when he was on the floor which was never the case
[QUOTE]In the Grizzlies’ win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Jackson Jr. and Tillman played 38 combined minutes and accounted for 21 points in an overtime game.
[/QUOTE]
that is certainly something to watch. They are playing much bigger. Ideally Ersan/Morgan/Brantley would be playing but they won't. COTY might go with Favors at the 4 instead though! :facepalm
[QUOTE]Memphis and the Jazz have similar substitution patterns with their starting centers, as both Gobert and Jonas Valanciunas start games, sub out early in the first quarter, return late in the first, then repeat the process in the second quarter, and second half.
[/QUOTE]
I'd expect Gobert to play longer stints especially with Mitchell and maybe Conley on minutes restrictions
[QUOTE]Despite Valanciunas having a spectacular under-the-radar year, Gobert was +47 in three games against the Grizzlies this season. But, when Favors was on the floor, the Jazz were -14.
[/QUOTE]
typical for the year and it only cost them 10 million and a valuable roster spot!
[QUOTE]While Brooks was a rock in the shoe of the Jazz, Grayson Allen might be the most disliked player across the entire NBA. The former Jazzman entered the league with a reputation as a dirty player having had several high-profile tripping incidents while at Duke.
[/QUOTE]
one of COTY's faves
[QUOTE]It will be easy to leave the series saying Valanciunas outplayed Gobert, even if the Jazz eliminate Mephis in five games.
[/QUOTE]
the trolls do regardless. Anyone with a clue and watches the games should know otherwise
[QUOTE]After his breakout 35 point performance against the Warriors, the NBA will be hungry to show off their bright young star (especially with Zion Williams missing the playoffs). And truthfully, Morant is worthy of the praise, he’s in the midst of his coming out party much like Donovan Mitchell had against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018.
[/QUOTE]
unlike Mitchell he's carried a team that should be tanking the past couple years
[QUOTE]At this point in his career, Gobert seems to understand the narrative, can fans grow to accept that their superstar center will always be underappreciated?
[/QUOTE]
underappreciated by his own team, fan base and local media so obviously it won't change
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/22/22434149/the-utah-jazz-werent-ready-for-a-deep-playoff-run-last-season-but-this-time-around-they-are-nba[/url]
[QUOTE]The Jazz were going to be without Bojan Bogdanovic through the entirety of the postseason and Mike Conley unexpectedly had to leave Orlando to fly back home to Ohio for the birth of his third child.
[/QUOTE]
excuses. If COTY plays some of his rookies who actually defend they win
[QUOTE]The continuity and continued chemistry building from last season to this season has been invaluable for the Jazz. It’s not hyperbolic to say that fielding mostly the same team and perfecting what the Jazz were working toward last season, has been the biggest benefit the Jazz have had. And that includes bringing back Derrick Favors, who not only already had chemistry with most of the Jazz roster, but is also a huge upgrade over Bradley at the backup center spot.
[/QUOTE]
He hasn't been a huge upgrade though. Quit blaming their problems on Bradley
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/22/22447620/donovan-mitchell-play-game-1-mike-conley-memphis-utah-jazz-jaren-jackson-jr-grizzlies-playoffs-nba[/url]
[QUOTE]“That adds a different look,” Snyder said of Jackson. “They can go big with he and (Jonas) Valanciunas together, he can play the five, he stretches the floor. So, there’s some things that from the personnel standpoint, when we played them early in the year that are different.”
[/QUOTE]
him and Tillman and Morant's improved 3's appear to be the things to watch. Too bad COTY won't play Ersan/Morgan/Brantley to match up with them
[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/22/22447727/utah-jazz-vs-memphis-grizzlies-matchup-breakdown-round-1-nba-playoffs-analysis-prediction-key-player[/url]
[QUOTE]If Mitchell is a little bit slow to get back into rhythm, it might be wise for him to play as more of a creator than a scorer.
[/QUOTE]
would be wise regardless
[QUOTE]The Grizzlies will need to have big performances from center Jonas Valanciunas in order to have a fighting chance against the Jazz. So, not only will Gobert’s league-leading defense be important in the individual matchup with Valanciunas, but he’ll need to be on a swivel, making sure that players like Brooks and Morant don’t punish the Jazz at the rim.
[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't be worried about Gobert. Mitchell, Bojan, Clarkson and COTY as always will be the ones to watch
[QUOTE]The Grizzlies might have one of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Brooks, but the Jazz consistently have four players on the floor at all times that can be a threat from 3-point range. The Jazz finished the regular season making more 3s than any other team and so long as the Jazz are moving the ball and creating space, they can be deadly from long range.
[/QUOTE]
will Mitchell and Clarkson move the ball or will COTY bench them if they don't is the question
[QUOTE]The Jazz just match up better against the Grizzlies than the Grizzlies do and they can switch with better results than the Grizzlies can. Valanciunas has been outstanding this season, but Gobert is better. Brooks is a great defender, but the Grizzlies won’t have too many answers for Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Clarkson and Ingles. Jackson and Kyle Anderson are a couple of options, but they likely won’t be able to win their matchups. Jackson might have a size advantage over O’Neale and Bogdanovic, but will he be able to keep up with them?
[/QUOTE]
Bojan and Clarkson answer for themselves. Let Clarkson shoot 3's all day and make them and Mitchell and Favors defend at the other end
[QUOTE]When the Jazz aren’t shooting well they’ll have to prove that they can score in other ways. Bogdanovic showed more and more as the season progressed that he’s able to score in multiple ways, and the Jazz will need that from him. If the shots aren’t falling and the Jazz don’t change things up a bit, they could find themselves in trouble.
[/QUOTE]
play D and they'll be fine. Bojan certainly isn't the answer
[QUOTE]These are all connected and intertwined. Simply put, the Grizzlies are one of the best, if not the best transition team in the league. They force the most turnovers, grab the most steals, lead the league in fast-break points, are third in the NBA in points off turnovers and fourth in the league in defensive rebounding. They like to get out and run and have plenty of players who are faster and more athletic in the open court than those they’re going against. The Jazz will need to execute with precision to keep their turnovers down and maybe choose to get back rather than try for offensive rebounds against the Grizzlies.
[/QUOTE]
definitely some things that could be issues with the Jazz
[QUOTE]The Grizzlies have seven players that average double-digit points, but they’ll be relying on Morant to be their leading scorer. At 19.1 points per game, Morant will have to really step up and if he isn’t able to, the Grizzlies will be asking a lot from their supporting cast. And, with O’Neale on Morant, the Grizzlies’ young leader will have as hard of a time as anyone on the floor.
[/QUOTE]
going to need some other guys stepping up
[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/5/23/22428867/utah-jazz-vs-memphis-grizzlies-first-round-game-one[/url]
[QUOTE]It didn’t matter if it was Brooks, Desmond Bane, Justise Winslow, or anyone else, Donovan Mitchell cooked them all. If the Jazz get this version of Donovan Mitchell, it may be a quick series.
[/QUOTE]
should be a quick series regardless
[QUOTE]After watching the Play-In Tournament and the first few games of the Playoffs, one thing has stood out to me above the rest. The referees are letting these games get physical.
[/QUOTE]
which doesn't really favor the Jazz. Be nice if Ersan played. He doesn't mind mixing it up
[QUOTE]Memphis thrives on physicality. Jonas Valanciunas will be bodying Rudy Gobert up all game. Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, and the rest of the guards will be swiping at every dribble. The Jazz will be fouled a lot, and they may not get all the calls they want. How will they respond? If Gobert is getting hacked and not getting calls, the Jazz will need him to ignore it and move on. If he hangs back arguing with the officials, things will be ugly for Utah. The Jazz will need to not let the physicality take them out of their game. They will need to just continue to execute regardless of the officiating.
[/QUOTE]
again Gobert is not the worry. You know Bojan will be crying and not getting back
[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/5/22/22449547/utah-jazz-playoff-preview-5-questions-about-the-memphis-grizzlies-nba-playoffs-2021-donovan-mitchell[/url]
[QUOTE]This is a bit of a cop out, but everyone not named Ja Morant. Valanciunas is criminally underrated and is arguably having his best season as a two-way player of his career. Kyle Anderson has played so well he’s in the mix to be considered a finalist for Grizzlies MVP. Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman Sr. are “rookies” who both played massive roles in the play-in wins over the Spurs and Warriors. Even Grayson Allen has gone from fringe NBA player to fringe NBA starter on a playoff team in two seasons. That doesn’t even mention last season’s bench mob trio of Tyus Jones, Brandon Clarke, and De’Anthony Melton - who all have at some point fallen out of the Memphis rotation. It takes balance. But these Grizzlies have some serious weapons beyond just the stars.
[/QUOTE]
Allen was first round pick. Nota exactly a fringe player
[QUOTE]He’s been rusty, with flashes of brilliance. He’s the X Factor in this series. The Grizzlies have terrific depth, but so does Utah - and at this stage of things they’re just physically better. The one guy beyond Ja that is physically capable of taking advantage of his matchups is Jaren. He can force Gobert outside the paint if he’s at the 5. He can attack Bojan Bogdanovic or Royce O’Neal off the dribble on the perimeter. He’s a mismatch nightmare. But he still fouls too much despite his defensive versatility, and his lack of facilitating skill he put the starters in a tough spot at times. If he can get it together and look more like himself from before the injury? Memphis can win this series. But that seems/feels unlikely given how his return has gone so far
[/QUOTE]
him and Tillman and Morant's improved 3 look like the things to watch
[QUOTE][h=1][B]5. What’s it like having the rookies Utah should have drafted in Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman?[/B][/h][/QUOTE]
unless they went to Duke they would be sitting next Brantley and company. They needed a center. Udoka sounds like the right guy. We'll see
[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/21/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-breakthrough/[/url]
[QUOTE]Since being traded to the Utah Jazz from the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2019, the trajectory of [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html"]Jordan Clarkson’s career[/URL] has changed dramatically. While the 6-foot-4 playmaker has been a reliable scorer for every team he’s played on, he’s become one of the most important players on [URL="https://thejnotes.com/"]a Utah team[/URL] that has locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
[/QUOTE]
he's only important because COPTY let's him gun them out of games
[QUOTE]It’s apparent that Snyder has given him the ultimate green light. After all, Clarkson is also averaging a career-high in 3-point attempts with 8.8 per game, marking the [URL="https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/player-stat/three-point-field-goals-attempted"]sixth-highest 3-point attempts[/URL] per game across the entire league.
[/QUOTE]
on a horrible %
[QUOTE]His durability throughout the course of this unusual season has also led to Clarkson having the highest usage rate of his entire career at 29.7 percent. That is the second-highest on the team this season, trailing only Mitchell.
[/QUOTE]
him and Mitchell's usage will be their downfall
[url]https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/21/nba-final-awards-ballot-hardware/2/[/url]
[QUOTE]His teammate, Joe Ingles, also makes a strong case for the award. The raw counting stats are not as impressive but the efficiency is on another level. For players logging at least 25 minutes per game, he is fourth in the league in effective field goal percentage (65.2), behind only teammate Rudy Gobert (67.5), Joe Harris (65.4) and Mitchell Robinson (65.3). On the other side of the country, Derrick Rose has made an impact on the New York Knicks like that of Clarkson. With him in the lineup, the Knicks have gone 24-11 and he is averaging 14.9 points and 4.2 assists on shooting splits of .487/.411/.883.
[/QUOTE]
should be Ingles but won't be
[QUOTE]In similarly impressive fashion, Monty Williams took the Phoenix Suns from a young team with a bright future to within a game of the best record in the league. It was clear the leap was coming in the bubble but riding the momentum (and the trade for Chris Paul) to these heights is still impressive. Quin Snyder is the other finalist as the Utah Jazz have been the best team in the regular season since early in the year and never slowed down. They are elite on both ends of the floor and he completely revamped their offense from a season ago.
[/QUOTE]
took more 3's. Conley and Niang improving defensively is the big difference though
[url]https://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/262685/Rudy-Gobert-And-The-Case-Against-Defense-In-The-MVP-Race[/url]
huge impact at both ends is all that should matter for the best player on the best team