2020-21 Regular season- The tax team

[QUOTE]Mike Conley subbed out of the game during a timeout at the 6:58 mark of the third and later headed to the locker room. The Jazz announced during the fourth quarter that Conley would not return because of tightness in his right hamstring. There was no immediate update after the game as to the severity of Conley’s hamstring issue or his availability for Sunday’s game on the road against the Indiana Pacers. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/5/22268185/mike-conley-leaves-utah-jazz-win-over-charlotte-hornets-with-hamstring-injury-nba"]“We’ll have to wait to get an assessment on where he is from our health and performance staff,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said[/URL].
– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/5/22268185/mike-conley-leaves-utah-jazz-win-over-charlotte-hornets-with-hamstring-injury-nba"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]



Last season during Conley’s absence, the Jazz went on a 10-game win streak, and Conley has admitted time and time again that he struggled through most of the 2019-20 campaign. This season however, Conley has been playing some of the best basketball of his career and has been a difference-maker for the Jazz. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/5/22268185/mike-conley-leaves-utah-jazz-win-over-charlotte-hornets-with-hamstring-injury-nba"]“Mike just has a way of being out there and kind of calming stuff,” Donovan Mitchell said of his teammate after the game on Friday. “We definitely missed that presence on the offensive end, the offensive mind that he has.[/URL] That was definitely one thing we definitely missed coming down the stretch, just to kind of settle this down in certain instances.”
– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/5/22268185/mike-conley-leaves-utah-jazz-win-over-charlotte-hornets-with-hamstring-injury-nba"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

miss him even more defensively as we saw tonite

[URL]https://kslsports.com/452751/jazz-beat-charlotte-but-lose-conley-with-hamstring-injury/[/URL]

[QUOTE]While the majority of the credit belongs to Jazz shooters, eight of whom hit three-pointers, it’s also a testament to Dennis Lindsey, Quin Snyder, and Rudy Gobert.
In April of 2019, after the Jazz had been eliminated by the Rockets for the second straight season, Lindsey, the Jazz vice president of basketball operations said the Jazz would be looking for snipers at any position to put on the floor.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah let's give them credit 6 years later. We saw at the end of Hayward's last year putting shooters around Rudy was the way to go and they should have known earlier than that.. So thanks :facepalm

[QUOTE]Simply put, the Jazz offense is putting teams in a Catch-22 every night they suit up, and it’s why they’ve got the NBA’s best record.


[/QUOTE]

no the big reason is the improved D which sucked this game and might continue to without Conley. The offense was great last year

[QUOTE]At this point, the Jazz would be wise to give Conley all the time he needs to rehab from the injury, but his absence was apparent in the victory.


[/QUOTE]

be wise but could cost them a top 3 seed and they really need #1 to avoid LAL

[QUOTE]Conley isn’t the Jazz best player, that honor belongs to either Mitchell or Gobert, but right now he’s as valuable, if not more so than anyone else on the floor and it lends credence to his plus-minus stats leading the league.


[/QUOTE]

He has been though and Mitchell isn't in the running

[QUOTE]The good news for the Jazz is they have the best guard lineup in the NBA and played well last season during the 18 games without him. The team went 15-3 with Mitchell running the point guard position, and the Jazz have yet to lose when one of their guards, be it Mitchell or Joe Ingles has missed a game


[/QUOTE]

weak schedule during that time I believe. Tough coming up

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50102452/jazz-coach-quin-snyder-happy-to-see-gordon-hayward-playing-like-hayward-again[/url]

[QUOTE]"They're a phenomenal team — they move the ball well, get open shots, and they knock them down," Hayward said.


[/QUOTE]

like your last year. Amazing that it took them so long to get back to it again

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50101709/even-with-some-worry-over-a-potential-all-star-game-rudy-gobert-says-hed-love-to-be-part-of-it[/url]

[QUOTE]But with Utah currently having the best record in the league, Mitchell and Gobert both seem like locks to repeat as All-Stars this season. It also wouldn't be too surprising to see Conley, who has long been considered one of the better league guards in the NBA, get a strong push to make his first All-Star team.


[/QUOTE]

the fact that Mitchell is a lock tells you what a farce it is

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50102388/another-record-jazz-top-their-3-point-record-again-in-win-over-hornets[/url]

[QUOTE]Charlotte had a 12-point lead in the first quarter and even looked to frustrate the Utah Jazz with a smaller lineup and constant switching on pick-and-roll.

[/QUOTE]

might be the first team smaller than them

[QUOTE]One of those things: switch on picks. The Hornets started a smaller lineup in hopes to use their speed to guard along the perimeter in hopes of sticking with Utah's shooters. This type of defense has been the Jazz's Achilles' heel in the past.


[/QUOTE]

I'd say they did it because they figured they could get away with it because the Jazz play so small

[QUOTE]The Jazz didn't have any immediate information on the severity of the hamstring injury. The bad news: It was a hamstring issue that caused Conley to miss a significant portion of last season. The semi-good news: That was his left hamstring. The real good news: Utah's 3-point prowess can probably make up for some missed games.


[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure it being a different hamstring is necessarily good news

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/02/06/triple-team-jazz-set/[/url]

[QUOTE]Bojan Bogdanovic is also adept in the flip side of mismatches, using his bigger body to take advantage of smaller guards in the post.



[/QUOTE]

he's pretty awful in the post

[QUOTE]I keep wishing that I could share this revelation with Jazz coaches of the past. Jerry Sloan already had terrific offenses, but man, what if he had John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek, two of the great shooters of that era, take more threes?


[/QUOTE]

yeah right. Jerry would hat what they are doing

[QUOTE]A decade later, Kyle Korver had the highest percentage 3-point season of all time, making 53% of his threes that year. So naturally, the Jazz played him only 21 minutes per game in the playoffs that year. Then they let him go to the Chicago Bulls in the offseason. Why, Kevin O’Connor?! You had such a good thing.



[/QUOTE]

Because Jerry loved the guy way too much

[QUOTE]And Ty Corbin... in retrospect, he had some really quality shooters on those rosters. Mo Williams, Randy Foye, Marvin Williams, Gordon Hayward, Raja Bell, all absolutely have gravity on the floor from deep. So the Jazz took the 29th most threes in the league and just pounded the ball to Al Jefferson for goofy push shots over and over again in some of the most boring basketball the NBA has ever seen.



[/QUOTE]

that was more on O'Conner for bringing i a black hole when they already had Millsap

[QUOTE]Paul Millsap should be the most mad: he worked on the 3-point shot in practice over and over, had this coming out party where his [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2012/9/26/3412850/comeback-day-jazz-paul-millsaps-miracle-in-miami"]incredible 3-point shooting[/URL] won them the game in one of the most unlikely regular season comebacks in NBA history, and Corbin still had him keep the three under wraps for the rest of his Jazz career. Then as soon as he goes to Atlanta — where Quin Snyder was Millsap’s favored assistant — he immediately expands his game, takes six times more threes per game, and becomes an All-Star.



[/QUOTE]

I'm the most mad because they let their best player go to tank. Imagine him and Rudy together :banghead:

[QUOTE]Ah, what could have been. Still, at least the Jazz had the revelatory moment at some point. Right now, they’re a joy to watch.



[/QUOTE]

you forgot the big one. Rudy putting up over 17 a game with shooters around him. They let Hill go and traded for Ricky and put Hood and Favors back in the starting lineup :rant

[QUOTE]By the way, Conley absolutely should be an All-Star this year, given the outsized nature of his impact on the league’s leading team. Whether or not he will be one will be determined by this length of this injury, the voting of the Western Conference’s coaches, and perhaps the decision of NBA commissioner Adam Silver if there’s a Western Conference injury in the weeks leading up to the game.


[/QUOTE]

and less deserving teammates making it instead[h=2][/h]

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/5/22268184/instant-analysis-jazz-break-franchise-record-for-threes-made-in-win-over-charlotte-hornets-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]Conley leaving with an injury is concerning, not just because injuries are horrible but because of the way the Jazz have handled not having him on the floor. It seems to have been a trend this season that they don’t really react well when he’s taken out in an abnormal way, whether it’s foul trouble or injury, etc.

[/QUOTE]

but Mitchell is their best player!

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/5/22267580/utah-jazz-hold-off-the-charlotte-hornets-3rd-win-in-a-row-game-recap-lamelo-ball-donovan-mitchell[/url]

[QUOTE]This was a game, the back end of a back to back on the road, that the Jazz might have faltered last season. But this year, with their system that is dominating so many teams, the Jazz are becoming immune to things like a back to back. The personel on the floor are all playing at a very high level and shooting lights out. Tonight was not different.


[/QUOTE]

can't see them being immune to no Mike

[QUOTE]This Hornets team has the makings of something. Maybe they can make a trade somehow to get Bradley Beal? Maybe they can get a third piece in free agency to compliment Hayward and Ball? Either way they are going to be fun for the foreseeable future.


[/QUOTE]

they have money for a max player next year so they could make some noise

[QUOTE]This is now 5 monster games for Bogdanovic in a row. If he can keep this up it can help the Jazz overcome games where they’re missing Conley. Conley has been incredible this year, and so Bogdanovic alone doesn’t make up for it, but if he can shoot like this, it will cerrtainly help them stay at the top of the league record-wise.


[/QUOTE]


he can't relace Conley. Not sure the Jazz can replace what Bojan gives up at the other end

[QUOTE][h=4]Yup. Gotta pump the stars[/h]

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/SKMike"]SKMike[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/5/22267580/utah-jazz-hold-off-the-charlotte-hornets-3rd-win-in-a-row-game-recap-lamelo-ball-donovan-mitchell#536247940"]Feb 6, 2021 | 3:04 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Jazz fans know better than anyone and their best player Mitchell! :roll:

[QUOTE]We could’ve been 20-3 right now. I know, first world problems but with this tough stretch coming up it would’ve been nicer to have a cushion on the 1 seed.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/TheNextGM"]TheNextGM[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/5/22267580/utah-jazz-hold-off-the-charlotte-hornets-3rd-win-in-a-row-game-recap-lamelo-ball-donovan-mitchell#536247955"]Feb 6, 2021 | 3:07 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Could have been but aren't

[QUOTE]But the schedule from now on is just too tough – pacers, celtics, heat, bucks, sixers, clippers twice – and we have no Conley.
I don’t know how long hamstring issue takes but doesn’t it takes at least a weak?

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/CJ%20Livinghousen"]CJ Livinghousen[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/5/22267580/utah-jazz-hold-off-the-charlotte-hornets-3rd-win-in-a-row-game-recap-lamelo-ball-donovan-mitchell#536248113"]Feb 6, 2021 | 3:38 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

could get ugly in a hurry

[url]https://sircharlesincharge.com/2021/02/04/nba-trade-rumors-ideal-fits-pj-tucker-heat/5/[/url]

[QUOTE]They could use some depth in the frontcourt, however, and adding P.J. Tucker would successfully accomplish that goal. Plus, he’d be an ideal fit next to Rudy Gobert in the starting lineup, if the Jazz would choose to acquire him, and could still provide the floor-spacing that the team needs for Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley to operate.


[/QUOTE]

He's not ideal but certainly would give more options defensively. Bojan needs to go though

J. Michael Falgoust: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Turner on matchup w/Gobert on Sun: “I wouldn’t necessarily (say) that I circle it. … We’re on a 2-game losing streak.[/URL] This is an important game tomorrow. If I’m looking at an individual accolade (like DPOY), I feel like I’m doing my team a disservice.” #PacersJazz
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ThisIsJMichael"]Twitter ThisIsJMichael[/URL]

Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley is out for tomorrow morning’s game vs. the Pacers due to hamstring tightness[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]



[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/01/i_82_66_b9_trent-forrest.png?w=190[/IMG]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Utah Jazz announce that two-way player Trent Forrest has been transferred from the SLC Stars to the Jazz.[/URL] Which creates questions about Mike Conley’s as-yet-unknown status.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/6/22269211/mike-conley-dealing-with-hamstring-tightness-will-not-play-for-utah-jazz-against-indiana-pacers[/url]

[QUOTE]Though there has been no indication from the Jazz that Conley will miss significant time, the Jazz have gone through the trouble of bringing Forrest back from Orlando in light of the Conley’s injury.


[/QUOTE]

no indication other than all the games he missed a year ago

[QUOTE]Since daily COVID-19 testing has been ongoing within the G League, Forrest will not have to quarantine for any extra time before joining the Jazz and will be available to play on Sunday when the Jazz are in Indiana.


[/QUOTE]

never knew he'd been called down. He's way down the line for actually playing anyway

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/7/22270825/utah-jazz-road-trip-continues-to-indiana-pacers-for-a-sunday-morning-battle-game-preview[/url]

[QUOTE]The weight of Conley’s absence will fall primarily on the shoulders of Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz will rely on him to be able to control the offense as a point guard. Joe Ingles will also take a lot of the ball handling duty. If those two have strong floor games, Utah should be able to compensate for the loss of Mike Conley, but that won’t be an easy thing to do. The way the team handles the absence of Conley will be very telling, and will likely determine the outcome of this game.


[/QUOTE]

I'd be more worried about D as we saw last game

[QUOTE]Plus, I’m curious if Quin will play Rudy and DFavs together against the Pacers.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/CJ%20Livinghousen"]CJ Livinghousen[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/7/22270825/utah-jazz-road-trip-continues-to-indiana-pacers-for-a-sunday-morning-battle-game-preview#536279539"]Feb 7, 2021 | 1:57 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

let's hope not. Morgan should relpace Conley in the rotation but I'm sure Oni will

David Locke: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jordan Clarkson has hit 20 of his last 41 on off the bounce three point shots[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/DLocke09"]Twitter DLocke09[/URL]



Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jordan Clarkson shooting 40% on pullup threes this year… has hit a 3 in 50 consecutive games… legitimately one of the best shooters in the NBA right now[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]

Eric Walden: Donovan Mitchell, on his triple-double watch: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“By the time I realized it, we were up 7. Brought to my attention in a timeout, and I said, ‘We can’t worry about that, we can’t lose this.’ I told Brogdon to shoot it at the end, but that was really the only time I was hunting it.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]FINAL: Jazz 103, Pacers 95. Really nice win for Utah, overcoming some heavy legs. They sweep the road trip, win 4th in a row, improve to 19-5 on the season. Donovan with 27p/11a/9r. Rudy with 16p/16r/3b[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



Andy Larsen: Donovan Mitchell had 27 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds in Conley’s absence, absolutely fantastic. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jazz, somehow, still haven’t had a regular season triple-double since Carlos Boozer against the Sonics in 2008 — my favorite random stat in the NBA[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/01/i_58_b4_33_rudy-gobert.png?w=190[/IMG]Didn't shoot well and had too many TO's[QUOTE]

Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Quin Snyder on the Jazz’s effort: “That’s when your defense has to carry you. We had some excellent individual performances — Royce on Brogdon, Rudy on Sabonis. … And our work on the boards was important tonight — those extra possessions were critical.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



J. Michael Falgoust: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Asked Bjorkgren about going at Gobert too much 1 v 1 slowing down the offense: “I like the way we were attacking him down there… I liked Domas putting his shoulder into him.”[/URL] #PacersJazz
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ThisIsJMichael"]Twitter ThisIsJMichael[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

I liked it too and Rudy obviously did!

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50102995/donovan-mitchells-passing-game-is-why-sundays-near-triple-double-isnt-likely-to-be-his-last[/url]

[QUOTE]Over the last four years, he's learned how to get in positions to use that special ability. That helped him to career-high-tying 11 assists on Sunday.


[/QUOTE]

how many to's?

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50102949/pushing-through-with-tired-legs-and-no-mike-conley-jazz-find-a-way-to-gut-out-a-win-in-indiana[/url]

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert put together arguably his best defensive performance of the season, helping hold All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to 7-of-19 shooting. When Sabonis fouled out late in the game, he angrily threw his towel down when he got to the bench. All the frustration had boiled over. The Jazz allowed 88 points per 100 possessions with Gobert, who had 16 points and 16 rebounds, on the floor.


[/QUOTE]

and yet the article has been all about Mitchell. This one was all Rudy sorry

[url]https://kslsports.com/452841/tired-jazz-survive-pacers-thanks-to-mitchells-herculean-effort/[/url]

So you people actually watch the games. Not a mention of Gobert who carried them at both ends. Not a mention of Mitchell's shooting or TO's either. Hercules! :facepalm

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/02/07/triple-team-donovan/[/url]

[QUOTE]They won with just an incredible defensive performance, holding the Pacers to a 96 offensive rating in the game. This won’t surprise you, but the key man was Rudy Gobert, who was just sensational once again today. As good as that 96 defensive rating looks as a team, when Gobert was in the game, it was just 87.



[/QUOTE]

someone watched

[QUOTE]But the Jazz have been just so good defensively in the half court, that their middling transition defense numbers are actually okay. That’s allowed them to keep the offense rolling with these extra second-chance opportunities, which certainly made a difference tonight.



[/QUOTE]

until they play someone where it's not

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/reader-qa-keeping-conley-tax-man-cometh-trade-ideas-more/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz can definitely re-sign Conley — if they’re willing to pay the luxury tax. The “Bird rights” they acquired with Conley in their 2019 trade allow them to sign him to any number up to his max salary, but even a contract starting at half that number would push them well into the tax for next season. So it’s just a question of what they’re comfortable offering, or whether Conley simply wants to play elsewhere. Given that he’s entering the later stage of his career, Utah probably wants to stay well below max salary on a new deal, but they also certainly recognize his [URL="https://saltcityhoops.com/conleys-evolution-from-memphis-mike-to-mountain-mike/"]tremendous impact on winning[/URL].


[/QUOTE]

the year he is having they might have to pay max

[QUOTE]Well first of all, the Jazz very much plan to retain him — or at least to try. It would also be hard to get equal on-court value in a trade given Conley’s age and expiring contract. With a legitimate shot to make some noise this season, I can’t see them downgrading from Conley at this pivotal moment in their window just out of fear for what [I]might[/I] happen in August. And if he does leave, it’s not like they get literally [I]nothing[/I] in return — if nothing else, his salary slot coming off would give them flexibility to think about how they’d like to use their exceptions. They could also try to work with his new team to create a large trade exception.


[/QUOTE]

Mitchell's new contract replaces Conley's if he leaves so they don't get anything that way

[QUOTE]So yeah, Zarin is right: at this point, the only way to dodge the tax without moving a rotation guy would be to dump two smaller salaries, then replace them with prorated minimum contracts after the deadline. Harrison hasn’t seen real rotation minutes yet (as the meme says, I am disappoint), but someone else would have to be moved as well. Georges Niang is too ensconsed in the rotation. Oni and Morgan have both looked promising when called upon. They probably don’t want to move their 2020 draft picks, Azubuike and Elijah Hughes, in a pure salary dump. So I’m not sure they’ll do it, unless there’s someone they [I]know[/I] they can get in the veteran buyout market. Quin Snyder doesn’t use his 11th through 14th men a lot anyway, which is why I initially thought they’d pull this maneuver. But they may just bite the bullet.


[/QUOTE]

Shaq seems the only one likely. I'm hoping they find a deal for Bojan and get a starting 4 and get under the tax and have more flexibility to sign Mike

[QUOTE]I don’t agree about Bogey’s effort, and again, I think you have to put a player’s actions in the context of what’s being asked of him within the offensive and defensive systems. I think the Jazz are, broadly speaking, pretty happy with Bogey. He’s not off the table completely, but you’re not likely to get a real star back in a Bogey trade. So would a more lateral kind of trade (think Harrison Barnes or Tim Hardaway Jr.) be worth the possible chemistry disruption? Maybe. Sometimes title teams get over the hump by taking that risk. I think the Jazz keep Bogey, though.


[/QUOTE]

Don't need a star. Need someone to play the 4 at both ends while maybe getting under the tax and getting more flexibility for this year and next. I'd be surprised if they did anything but they should

[QUOTE]He could be a little more consistent from outside for someone considered to be a shooting specialist, but I think the key for him to stay in an NBA rotation is staying in front of guys when he’s supposed to.[/QUOTE]

except for the beginning of the year when wasn't he consistent. I expect it to go down when he shoots

[QUOTE][B]Where do you think Beal ends up? Of his list of five teams, which one do you think is most likely to trade for him? @punk_003[/B]

[/QUOTE]

I'd give up Mitchell for him, Make them take Bojan

[QUOTE]Trade exceptions can’t be combined with a player, so this trade wouldn’t work. If they wanted Bjelly, they’d have to send out at least $4.06M. (There’s also a chance Bjelica could ask for a buyout since he’s expiring and since they rarely use him.)


[/QUOTE]

He could be a fit

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/7/22271484/utah-jazz-gut-out-tough-win-against-the-indiana-pacers-donovan-mitchell-game-recap[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Player of the Game[/h][h=2]Donovan Mitchell[/h][/QUOTE]

:roll:

[QUOTE]His percentages weren’t elite, but Mitchell’s play was. With Mike Conley out, Donovan Mitchell stepped up in a big way setting up his teammates. It’s a reminder that Donovan Mitchell is so much more than just a scorer. Shaq and Chuck on TNT are not as familiar with Mitchell’s game, much like every casual fan out there, but when you watch Mitchell in these situations where he has to step up to the occasion, he always has. That’s who he is.


[/QUOTE]

his percentages sucked

[QUOTE]it is even better when you have Gobert and Favors in the paint instead of Gobert and Bradley. or Gobert and someone else.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/jmnunes5"]jmnunes5[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/7/22271484/utah-jazz-gut-out-tough-win-against-the-indiana-pacers-donovan-mitchell-game-recap#536302040"]Feb 7, 2021 | 5:15 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Favors hasn't been a lot better though certainly not millions better

[QUOTE] I noticed that Oni played almost 9 minutes didn’t score or produce any stats other than a couple of rebounds but yet was second highest on the team in the +/-. Which leaves me to believe that this dude plays some killer defense while in the game.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/rubar4"]rubar4[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/7/22271484/utah-jazz-gut-out-tough-win-against-the-indiana-pacers-donovan-mitchell-game-recap#536306407"]Feb 7, 2021 | 9:12 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

tells me Morgan when available should play ahead of him and Shaq should get a shot

[url]https://sircharlesincharge.com/2021/02/07/nba-pretenders-contenders-lakers-nets-76ers/11/[/url]

[QUOTE]What has been the biggest change for this team, however, has been the play of Mike Conley. After somewhat of a disappointing first season in Utah, Conley has bounced back in a big way. He’s averaging 16 points and six assists (both up from last year), on 45 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range (also both up from last year). If his play is sustainable, it gives the Jazz a strong top 3 without even mentioning Bojan Bogdanovic or Jordan Clarkson, who have been great for the team this season as well.


[/QUOTE]

Bojan has easily been their worst player. Thanks for paying attention!

[QUOTE]The Clippers might have a cleaner path to landing Lowry. “I think Toronto would want to send him West,” one Eastern team official said, “but Masai is going to do a deal that brings back the best package.” The [URL="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2930345-kyle-lowry-and-the-toronto-raptors-need-a-divorce"]Clippers might be able to provide both. Los Angeles has made it widely known that Lou Williams is available, sources said, and there’s a cohort in that front office ready to move on from Patrick Beverley as well[/URL] —although the Clippers have been more in the market for a mid-tier guard than someone like Lowry, sources said. Adding someone of Lowry’s caliber, however, would boost L.A.’s best punch against the West’s other heavyweights.
– via [URL="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2930345-kyle-lowry-and-the-toronto-raptors-need-a-divorce"]Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

As much as they need a starting 4 I'd love Beverly. He'd fit right in

[QUOTE]This brings us to the Utah Jazz. They’ve seemingly perfected their mix around the unique rim-running skills of Rudy Gobert by flooding the floor with knockdown shooters. Of their top six perimeter players — a group who plays the lion’s share of the minutes and would figure to play virtually all of them in a playoff series — five are making better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. It would be six, but that slacker Jordan Clarkson is at 38.7 percent (see chart). As a team, the Jazz are shooting 40.3 percent from 3, and they shoot 3s a lot — a league-leading 42.8 bombs per 100 possessions. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2373090/2021/02/08/nba-utah-making-leap-knicks-derrick-rose-trade-houston-jae-sean-tate/?source=rss"]Don’t just look at the percentages in this chart, but the insane frequency. Clarkson has the second-highest 3-point frequency in the league; Mitchell and Conley rank in the top 25[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2373090/2021/02/08/nba-utah-making-leap-knicks-derrick-rose-trade-houston-jae-sean-tate/?source=rss"]John Hollinger @ The Athletic[/URL]



[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/01/i_58_b4_33_rudy-gobert.png?w=190[/IMG]The other subtle piece of Utah’s excellence is that it eliminates all the easy stuff. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2373090/2021/02/08/nba-utah-making-leap-knicks-derrick-rose-trade-houston-jae-sean-tate/?source=rss"]The Jazz don’t give up 3-point shots because Gobert is good enough in switches to take away a lot of mismatch situations[/URL] (and the accompanying help), and the other Jazz defenders know they can hug up on their man because Gobert is behind them. Meanwhile, Utah’s guys never foul, with the league’s lowest opponent free throw rate in non-garbage time. Add it all up, and Gobert is a stealth MVP candidate despite averaging just 13.3 points per game. Surely he is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2373090/2021/02/08/nba-utah-making-leap-knicks-derrick-rose-trade-houston-jae-sean-tate/?source=rss"]John Hollinger @ The Athletic[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

Wish Rudy could score and guard the perimeter though! :roll:

[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-black-history-month-call-out-utah-school-allow-students-opt-out-213247733.html[/url]

Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley remains OUT for the Jazz’s game against Boston tomorrow[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]

John Karalis: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Celtics list Jaylen Brown as “questionable” for tomorrow’s game[/URL] in Utah
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John"]Twitter RedsArmy_John[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/452912/jazz-return-home-to-host-celtics-on-national-tv/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Key Matchup[/h]Tuesday’s key matchup will pit Tatum against Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic. The Celtics forward is averaging a career-high 27 points per game this season and is shooting 46 percent from the floor and 39 percent from three since returning from COVID-19 protocol.
[/QUOTE]

Royce will be on Tatum. They'll tr to hide Bojan and Mitchell elsewhere

[url]https://kslsports.com/452877/how-the-jazz-have-won-15-of-their-last-16-games/[/url]

[QUOTE]Finally, the Jazz are 6-0 in games when a top eight rotation player is out of the game, including 4-0 without Ingles, 2-0 without Mitchell, and 1-0 without Conley, proving in addition to their versatility, they can win in the face of adversity.

[/QUOTE]

we'll see. I wouldn't want Conley to be gone long

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-guys-we-dont-talk-about-enough-lofty-aspirations-more/[/url]

[QUOTE]O’Neale making passes like that off the bounce is gravy for Utah’s offense, which already has an impossible number of ball handlers, shooters and good decision-makers to reckon with. Royce is playing a career-high 32 minutes per game, in part because he has the best ORtg — yes, offensive rating — of anyone on the team at 119.0.


[/QUOTE]

but mostly because he is irreplacable on D

[QUOTE]He converts 65.2% of his shots inside the arc, which ranks in the top two percent of NBA forwards. That includes 70% at the rim (higher than you thought, right?) and a pretty silly 64% from floater range, per Cleaning the Glass. He particularly likes heading down the right side into a layup or floater.


[/QUOTE]

he's capable of a lot more

[QUOTE]The Jazz are getting good stuff throughout their rotation. Miye Oni and Juwan Morgan have both looked promising at both ends when they’ve been called upon to supplement this 9-man core, too.


[/QUOTE]

Morgan looks like he should start. Oni should be with the Stars ideally

[QUOTE]Now the bad news: we don’t know how long Utah will be without Conley, and for the season they get outscored by 4.4 points per 100 possessions when Conley isn’t on the floor. He’s the only Jazz player whose rests lead to losing basketball (+0.8 when Gobert sits, and it goes up from there). Even during this torrid 15-1 stretch, they have essentially eked out an even NetRtg (-0.3) when Mike has sat. It will be interesting to see how they hold up in whatever games Mike misses — and if the absence will cost the veteran guard a shot at a [URL="https://saltcityhoops.com/an-honest-look-at-conleys-all-star-chances/"]well-deserved All-Star spot[/URL].


[/QUOTE]

I'm surprised O'Neale isn't with those two

[QUOTE][B]Jazz 103, Pacers 95: Rudy Gobert.[/B] Down a starter and playing on tired legs, the Jazz looked to their two All-Stars to get them out of Indiana with a win. Gobert and Mitchell were both superb. Mitchell nearly ended a 12+ year Jazz triple-double drought with his 27-8-11 night, and made big play after big play. Gobert was every bit as valuable: 16-and-16, blocked three shots, held Domantas Sabonis to 7-of-19 shooting, and was the [URL="https://twitter.com/danclayt0n/status/1358667701061775362"]central figure in a defensive scheme[/URL] that stifled the Pacers. I literally can’t decide who the actual MVP of the game was, but I know for dang sure I can’t shut Rudy out of Game Ball for the week after what he did defensively on that road trip. So he gets it. But if there was ever an argument to be made for splitting it, it would be this game. Both guys dominated.



[/QUOTE]

it was Rudy easily. He dominated both ends

[QUOTE]Denver and Phoenix are next in just about every predictive system or macro model I can get my hands on. The gap between them and everybody below underscores the importance of keeping a top-3 seed. Whoever is fourth is going to have three very good to elite teams in front of them on their playoff bracket.

[/QUOTE]

for the Jazz #1 is important because I don't think they can beat the Lakers but hopefully the Clippers can

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/2/8/22270315/is-it-time-to-give-up-on-donovan-mitchells-defense-utah-jazz[/url]

[QUOTE]Utah’s offense improved to 10th in 2019-20 and to 4th in 2020-21. Even with the new weapons, Donovan has continued his high usage: 95%tile in his 3rd season, 92%tile in his 4th season (this season). His hands are full on offense, but does the team need him to be?


[/QUOTE]

no. He needs to step up on D

[QUOTE]To be clear, Donovan Mitchell is a borderline top-20 NBA player DESPITE his poor defense. He is an incredible player who continues to make strides with his offense, particularly with his passing, efficiency, and 3P shot.

[/QUOTE]

no he isn't. Only advanced stat where he ranks is usage. He's one of the most hyped in the league not one of the best

[QUOTE]Hollingers Week that Was showered high praise on the Jazz. He said if this team as they stand isn’t a serious contender then he doesn’t know what is. He also praised Gobert as being the piece that makes all of our offense and defense run.
So glad we paid 205 for him if for no other reason to tick off casuals.
Can’t wait for Donovan’s 25/10/15 triple double against Boston tomorrow and his sure to be great post game interview with the TNT crew.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/aitken4bacon"]aitken4bacon[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/2/8/22270315/is-it-time-to-give-up-on-donovan-mitchells-defense-utah-jazz#536322799"]Feb 8, 2021 | 12:53 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Hollinger gets it

[QUOTE](BTW, Mitchell is still below league average this season in FG%, 2P%, eFG%, and TS%. And please, don’t reply with 200 comments insisting that .564 isn’t less than .568.)
I have written multiple times on this blog that Donovan Mitchell needs to stop talking about playing defense and start playing defense. Your article was perfect, and the timing was perfect as well, contrary to some dunker’s claims above.
And it is remarkable to me that people are arguing that Mitchell shouldn’t worry about defense because he needs to focus on offense. I’m calling BS! The two things are not mutually exclusive! Offense and defense happen at different times! It is very possible to play both, and play them both well. In fact, all of the best players (Giannis, Kawhi, LeBron, Durant, Gobert, etc.) do exactly that. That is what he needs to do if he wants to become a superstar, so it is remarkable that the same dunkers who insist Mitchell is already a superstar are also arguing that he doesn’t need to improve his defense.
He shouldn’t be getting worn out from playing both ends of the floor. He only averages 33 minutes per game. If he is getting tired, then he should invest in a treadmill.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Kira%20Argonova"]Kira Argonova[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/2/8/22270315/is-it-time-to-give-up-on-donovan-mitchells-defense-utah-jazz#536322889"]Feb 8, 2021 | 12:55 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Kira also gets it

[QUOTE]Magic Johnson: [URL="http://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/1359152652098109449"]The Tier One MVP candidates are LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, KD, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Kawhi Leonard[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson"]Twitter MagicJohnson[/URL]




Magic Johnson: [URL="http://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/1359152805823537154"]Tier Two MVP candidates are Jaylen Brown, Damian Lillard, AD, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Bradley Beal[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson"]Twitter MagicJohnson[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

no one from the top team! :roll:

[url]https://kslsports.com/452947/jazz-mitchell-must-fill-big-shoes-without-conley/[/url]
[QUOTE]
During the 2020 playoffs, Conley had to leave the Orlando bubble for the first two games of the postseason to attend the birth of his third child. In his absence, Mitchell averaged 43.5 points, 7.5 assists, and five rebounds as the Jazz split the opening two games of the series with the Denver Nuggets.


[/QUOTE]

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lost one of them

[QUOTE]When Conley missed 19 out of 20 games in the heart of last season for the Jazz, Mitchell averaged 24.9 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds and led the team to a 16-3 record.


[/QUOTE]

led? Lottery team without Rudy sorry

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/2/9/22274591/2021-utah-jazz-2015-atlanta-hawks-contendor[/url]

[QUOTE]The 2015 Hawks was also one of their best teams in franchise history. They put together a 60 win (!) season that included a 19-game winning streak. They were firing on all cylinders! Because of that success, they ended up with 4 All Star selections: Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and Kyle Korver. They finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference and looked prime for a deep playoff run. Now, technically they did make a deep playoff run. Getting to the Conference Finals is no small feat. But that’s where things came to a screeching halt due to a LeBron James. A 4-0 sweep and the dream season was suddenly over.


[/QUOTE]

and Millsap should have been playing with Rudy

[QUOTE]This Jazz team is also extremely balanced. What do you know, they also have 6 guys averaging double figures. It is a very well-balanced and deep roster with he top 8 guys being high caliber players. The case can be made, which Taylor previously did, that this Jazz team also deserves 3 or more All Stars. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are probably the favorites to repeat, but with the way Mike Conley has played he (finally) deserves an All Star nod as well. And don’t count out Jordan Clarkson, who has single-handedly transformed the Jazz bench and is the odds on favorite to win 6th Man of the Year.


[/QUOTE]

deserve two and Mitchell isn't one of them

[QUOTE]Looking down the roster I think you’d have mostly easy decisions as to which player you would take for your own team. The only super obvious choice from the Hawks here is Paul Millsap. Beyond that I’m not sure you’d really take any of the Hawks guys over any of the Jazz guys.


[/QUOTE]

I'd take Demarre who also should have been on the Jazz

John Karalis: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Brad Stevens says this Utah Jazz team is the closest thing to the ’14 Spurs that they’ve seen with the way the ball moves[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John"]Twitter RedsArmy_John[/URL]

[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-jazz-having-arguably-top-220002891.html[/url]

[QUOTE]Utah is more known for their defense because of big man Rudy Gobert. But performances like that encapsulate this season for the Jazz, whose fondness for three-pointers have actually given them one of the most potent offenses in league history.


[/QUOTE]

but the difference between last year when they had great offense is the D

[QUOTE]StatMuse: Donovan Mitchell before/after Shaq’s comments: Before: 24 PPG 4 RPG 5 APG 44/41/85% After: 24 PPG 5 RPG 5 APG 44/44/82% [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]You can’t take credit, @Shaquille O’Neal. Spida has always been elite.[/URL] pic.twitter.com/LMARAN6sys
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/statmuse"]Twitter statmuse[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

He's yet to be elite but with the max deal that is certainly the hope

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50104653/thank-you-shaq-nah-the-jazz-are-too-busy-thanking-donovan-mitchell-after-win-over-celtics[/url]

[QUOTE]O'Neal can take all the faux victory laps he wants, Mitchell will just keep leading the Jazz to wins. Utah matched its best start in franchise history by improving to 20-5, and have won 16 of its last 17 games.


[/QUOTE]

I wish Mitchell could get some help from his teammates so he wasn't always carrying them

[QUOTE]Mitchell is simply a bonafide star —and he's been that all season; Tuesday was just the latest chapter. He finished with 36 points and nine assists as he pushed the Jazz to their fifth straight win.


[/QUOTE]

:facepalm

[QUOTE]It's a progression from an All-Star to a superstar — even if some people haven't taken notice.


[/QUOTE]

I'd be happy if he was an actually star first

[url]https://kslsports.com/452996/jazz-stars-outshine-celtics-for-20th-win-of-the-season/[/url]

[QUOTE]Fox has yet to make an All-Star game but has a good shot of getting there this year. Adebayo is fabulous, but plays second fiddle to Jimmy Butler in Miami. That leaves Mitchell and Tatum fighting for the title of best player from the ’17 draft.


[/QUOTE]

:roll:

[QUOTE]The highlight of Mitchell’s career so far has been his two 50+ point outings against the Nuggets in last year’s playoff, but the way he’s performing right now as the best offensive player on the best team in the NBA is extremely impressive.


[/QUOTE]

leading shot taker doesn't make him the best

[QUOTE]This is a willingness to adapt that Snyder has that not every coach in the NBA, and it’s the reason why the Jazz have the league’s best record, and why Snyder is the seventh-longest tenured coach in the league.


[/QUOTE]

Adapting to the modern game instead of playing like it's 1980. What a genius! The reason they are the best is because of the roster and he has a job because the Jazz are more about loyalty than winning

[QUOTE]In seven seasons in Utah, Snyder has proven he can do both. He helped guide the Jazz through a painful rebuild, turned them into a dominant defensive team, then traded that off to become a top ten offense, before molding the Jazz into a top-five team on both ends of the floor this season.


[/QUOTE]

and yet the defense sucked without Rudy and the offense did without the right players around him

[QUOTE]While O’Neale is strong, he doesn’t have either Oni’s length or agility to cut off dribble penetration.


[/QUOTE]

1 inch difference in length

[QUOTE]Oni will keep getting minutes as long as Conley misses games with his hamstring injury, but when he returns, it might be wise to keep him in the rotation. The Jazz will inevitably end up needing a bigger, quicker defender for the league’s perimeter stars as the season progresses, and developing Oni more now will pay dividends before the year is over.
[CENTER][/CENTER]



[/QUOTE]

he's not ready. Ideally he'd be developing with the Stars. Morgan should play ahead of him and Shaq needs a look



[CENTER][/CENTER]