2019-20 season - Been waiting two decades for this one!

[QUOTE][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert, on he and Donovan as a new Stockton and Malone of sorts: “That’s the kind of legacy we hope to leave behind us when it’s all said and done.[/URL] And hopefully win championships. It’s just great to have those two guys paving the way for us.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"][FONT=inherit]Twitter[/FONT] tribjazz[/URL]
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As far as I'm concerned Rudy is the 3rd most important person in Jazz history already. Mitchell has a lot to prove yet[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert: “Utah is a great state — those guys embraced me and my family since I got here. … I’m excited to represent.”[/URL] And on his All-Star goals: “I just want to have a good time, hopefully inspire all the kids from France … and try to get a win. Might as well.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"][FONT=inherit]Twitter[/FONT] tribjazz[/URL]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][FONT=inherit][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Donovan Mitchell, on having a defensive player like Rudy Gobert in the All-Star Game: “I hope somebody tries to dunk on him, because it’s not gonna happen.[/URL] He’s gonna go out there and do his thing. … If someone tried it, he’ll be there.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"][FONT=inherit]Twitter[/FONT] tribjazz[/URL]
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[FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit][/FONT] [FONT=inherit][URL="https://*********.com/tag/all-star/"]All-Star[/URL], [URL="https://*********.com/player/donovan-mitchell/"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL], [URL="https://*********.com/player/rudy-gobert/"]Rudy Gobert[/URL], [URL="https://*********.com/team/utah-jazz/"]Utah Jazz[/URL][/FONT][/FONT]
[URL="https://*********.com/rumor/1319616/"][FONT=inherit][/FONT][/URL][/FONT]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][FONT=inherit][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Donovan Mitchell: “I’m not ‘Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz’ right now; I’m Donovan Mitchell, 13-year-old.’ I’m like, ‘That’s Kyle Lowry!’ you know?[/URL] … I’m really focused on the moment now … just happy to be here and enjoying the experience.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"][FONT=inherit]Twitter[/FONT] tribjazz[/URL]
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[QUOTE][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][FONT=inherit][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]Eaton never had Gobert’s athleticism. Gobert doesn’t have the girth and raw strength Eaton possessed. Eaton couldn’t move like Gobert and was more limited offensively. But the two shared characteristics. They are intensely competitive men. They took pride in their defense and their ability to pack the paint. In Gobert, Eaton saw a little brother and, finally, a guy to carry his torch. He was as proud as anyone when Gobert received his call to the All-Star Game. [URL="https://theathletic.com/1609871/2020/02/15/in-rudy-gobert-former-jazz-all-star-mark-eaton-finds-a-brother-and-someone-to-carry-on-his-legacy/"]“He texts me a lot, and we talk often,” Gobert told The Athletic in an extensive interview. “It’s great to have someone like him look after me and to have someone to talk to.[/URL] He’s been to the places that I want to get to, and I appreciate a lot of the advice that he has to offer.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://theathletic.com/1609871/2020/02/15/in-rudy-gobert-former-jazz-all-star-mark-eaton-finds-a-brother-and-someone-to-carry-on-his-legacy/"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]
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[FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit][/FONT] [FONT=inherit][URL="https://*********.com/tag/mark-eaton/"]Mark Eaton[/URL], [URL="https://*********.com/player/rudy-gobert/"]Rudy Gobert[/URL], [URL="https://*********.com/team/utah-jazz/"]Utah Jazz[/URL][/FONT][/FONT]
[URL="https://*********.com/rumor/1319588/"][FONT=inherit][/FONT][/URL][/FONT]
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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][FONT=inherit][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]In Gobert, Eaton sees a sleek version of himself, someone who represents a better version of himself. The two men have formed a bond over the years. They talk regularly, not so much about basketball but about life in general. They are, in many ways, a tie between generations that doesn’t happen often enough. [URL="https://theathletic.com/1609871/2020/02/15/in-rudy-gobert-former-jazz-all-star-mark-eaton-finds-a-brother-and-someone-to-carry-on-his-legacy/"]“I love it,” Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey told The Athletic. “Both of those guys, they have Jazz DNA.[/URL] Their relationship crosses generations, and I love that both of those guys had to work for everything they accomplished in the game. They fit our history, and we love the fact that they have a good relationship with each other.”[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://theathletic.com/1609871/2020/02/15/in-rudy-gobert-former-jazz-all-star-mark-eaton-finds-a-brother-and-someone-to-carry-on-his-legacy/"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]
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only difference is Eaton sucked

[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit]No matter when it was, Mitchell feels like he has something to prove. He expects a lot from himself. Because his own expectations are so high, he’s pushed himself to excel and has been rewarded with a very charmed young NBA life. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/14/21137801/donovan-mitchell-nba-all-star-weekend-utah-jazz-news-rising-stars-challenge"]“I’ve said before that I didn’t think I would be here but I’m at a point in my career where this has to be it,” Mitchell said of the success that he expects[/URL].[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/14/21137801/donovan-mitchell-nba-all-star-weekend-utah-jazz-news-rising-stars-challenge"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]
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"Conley is averaging 20.3/5.0/4.8 on 46.8/50.0/76.9 shooting after returning to the starting lineup."

I'd have to go check what Ingles numbers have been in the same span, but I'd bet they've dropped significantly. Going to the bench means he's with Clarkson instead of Conley, who controls the ball just as much.

I will say Clarkson's ability to finish at the rim has been a huge surprise for me however. Given his size you'd think he'd have more trouble. With how much Devonte Graham for the Hornets has improved this year it's an area he still struggles with massively. It'll be an interesting off-season to see how much both get offered. Graham can probably take advantage of the Hornets desperation a bit more, but I'm hoping we can keep Clarkson for the same sort of salary ($15 million per) on a 3-4 year deal.

[QUOTE=El Kabong;13931123]"Conley is averaging 20.3/5.0/4.8 on 46.8/50.0/76.9 shooting after returning to the starting lineup."

I'd have to go check what Ingles numbers have been in the same span, but I'd bet they've dropped significantly. Going to the bench means he's with Clarkson instead of Conley, who controls the ball just as much.

I will say Clarkson's ability to finish at the rim has been a huge surprise for me however. Given his size you'd think he'd have more trouble. With how much Devonte Graham for the Hornets has improved this year it's an area he still struggles with massively. It'll be an interesting off-season to see how much both get offered. Graham can probably take advantage of the Hornets desperation a bit more, but I'm hoping we can keep Clarkson for the same sort of salary ($15 million per) on a 3-4 year deal.[/QUOTE]

Clarkson was listed at 6'5 before the new measurements so he's got pretty good size. He's very athletic. Kind of like watching a rich man's Devin Harris or Al Jefferson when they played here though. You know they aren't giving it up!

O'Neale needs to start. He's their 2nd best defender. Probably best rebounder of their non centers. One of their best shooters and doesn't need the ball like Ingles.

A starting PF needs to be the 1st thing on their list in the off season.

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/15/21138159/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell-quin-snyder-saved-career-all-star[/URL]

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]“When Quin got there, I was almost in the G League,” Gobert said on Saturday. “He really believed in me, he gave me an opportunity, gave me a chance to become a big part of this team and this organization. ... We’ve been through it all with one another, and I’m just grateful to have Quin as my coach.”[/FONT][/COLOR]


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Come on Rudy! You should have spent your whole rookie year in the Gleague and it was brief. You put in the work. I thought you earned your rotation spot and than became the best player since Deron shortly after that

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]Drafted 27th overall in 2013, Gobert struggled under coach Tyrone Corbin to find playing time. At the end of the bench, Gobert rarely broke the rotation and had multiple stints with the then D-League Bakersfield Jam.[/FONT][/COLOR]


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He wasn't physically ready

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]He was racking up multiple DNPs, minutes were scattered, he was fifth at best on the Jazz’s center depth chart and was becoming all too familiar with the long bus rides and sleepless nights that come with D-League assignments.[/FONT][/COLOR]


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Millsap, The Black Hole, Favors and Kanter. Rudy should have played? :oldlol:

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]It was, of course, five years later that Gobert was left off the All-Star team and infamously became emotional when speaking to reporters the following day about being snubbed and receiving a tearful phone call from his mother.[/FONT][/COLOR]


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It was two years later when he was first snubbed

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]“When Gordon (Hayward) left, everyone thought we were going to be a lottery team. We didn’t think that way — we had different plans,” Gobert said. “Then you have that rookie that comes in and does what Donovan was doing and all of a sudden everyone gets excited again and we are where we are today.”[/FONT][/COLOR]
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Hayward wasn't their best player

[QUOTE][COLOR=#1A1A19][FONT=poynter-oldstyle-text]Mitchell’s journey to becoming an All-Star has not nearly been the roller coaster that it’s been for Gobert. He was a contender for Rookie of the Year honors, he’s never known what it’s like to miss the playoffs, and he’s an All-Star in just his third year.[/FONT][/COLOR]


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and unlike Rudy he hasn't earned it yet

[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Aleo][FONT=inherit][URL="https://*********.com/social/tweets/"]Joe Ingles: Excited to be flying to Chicago to watch my guys @Rudy Gobert & @Donovan Mitchell play tonight. 6 years with Rudy & 3 with Don, great teammates & they both deserve this![/URL] Glad I can be there to watch their dreams come true! *Only nice tweet going to them for a long time, save it.[/FONT]
[FONT=inherit]– [/FONT][FONT=inherit]via [/FONT][URL="https://twitter.com/Joeingles7"][FONT=inherit]Twitter[/FONT] Joeingles7[/URL]
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Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy was asked if he had something to prove: “I don’t think you can prove something in an All-Star Game. You prove something by winning championships.[/URL] … But I hope I made people proud and I inspired kids to one day tell themselves, ‘I can be whoever I want to be.’”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

Spencer Checketts: Last night on @NBAonTNT post game coverage: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Rudy Gobert is the most underrated player in the NBA.” – Charles Barkley[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/spencechecketts"]Twitter spencechecketts[/URL]

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/17/21141371/lessons-learned-from-the-nba-all-star-game-2023-slc-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell-utah-jazz[/URL]

[QUOTE]“You realize that you’re among the best guys in the league and you’re one of them,” he said.


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You're not sorry. Rudy showed he is though like there was ever a doubt

[URL]https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2876750-jazzs-donovan-mitchell-defends-rudy-gobert-thinks-critics-should-shut-up[/URL]

[QUOTE]Gobert has obvious limitations on offense. According to [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html#shooting::none"]Basketball Reference[/URL], 83.1 percent of his shot attempts have come within three feet of the basket. The Jazz still rank eighth in offensive rating (111.9), though, per [URL="https://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=OFF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular%20Season"]NBA.com[/URL].


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Because it's the most efficient shot in the game still :facepalm

[QUOTE]The two-time Defensive Player of the Year remains effective when defending away from the basket as well. He's holding opponents to 33.4 percent shooting beyond 15 feet and 34.5 percent on three-pointers, per [URL="https://stats.nba.com/player/203497/defense-dash/"]NBA.com[/URL].


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The French Hibbert! :roll:

Joe Ingles: A guy puts a phone right in my face and says ‘selfie, selfie’… I said at least say please. Then says ‘you want me to call you sir also’? [URL="https://*********.com/social/tweets/"]Seriously, come on man. I have no issue at all having photos with people but at least say please. Especially if I’m with my family[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Joeingles7"]Twitter Joeingles7[/URL]

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/02/19/utah-jazz-bad-playoff-opponents/[/URL]

[QUOTE][h=3]Houston Rockets[/h]

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Might as well tank if you're going to run from the Rockets. You changed the roster to match up with them finally and now the Jazz have size problems against other teams. Houston shouldn't be able to stop the Jazz offense. Defesively they should't be as hard without Capela's roll either

[QUOTE]“He’s had a great year, for sure, but not sure everyone fully trusts it yet,” a league source told The Athletic. “It’s been the most consistent he’s shown his whole career. I think, maybe, $5 (million) to $7 million per year (is what he’ll get).” Then there’s this evaluation … [URL="https://theathletic.com/1616534/2020/02/19/what-will-re-signing-christian-wood-cost-the-pistons/?source=dailyemail"]“I would expect him to get a mid-level value, something like $9.7 (million) annually,” an NBA agent said[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/1616534/2020/02/19/what-will-re-signing-christian-wood-cost-the-pistons/?source=dailyemail"]James L. Edwards III @ The Athletic[/URL]


Wood has impressed all year, as a bench man and even as a starter. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer after playing this season on a vet-minimum deal. [URL="https://theathletic.com/1616534/2020/02/19/what-will-re-signing-christian-wood-cost-the-pistons/?source=dailyemail"]At the trade deadline, the Rockets and Celtics, two championship-contending teams, made multiple offers to Detroit for Wood,[/URL] per a source. The 2020 free agency class is considered blah, so don’t be surprised if Wood garners interest from teams with available cap space.
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/1616534/2020/02/19/what-will-re-signing-christian-wood-cost-the-pistons/?source=dailyemail"]James L. Edwards III @ The Athletic[/URL]




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Jazz have the mid level supposedly. He should certainly be on their list. Kind of sad when they could have had him for nothing. I thought he was the best player in the Gleague by far a couple years ago

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/2/20/21145742/utah-jazz-post-all-star-break-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell[/URL]

[QUOTE]With Donovan Mitchell, I believe the story is a bit different. I think Donovan Mitchell has his best basketball yet to be played this season. It’s been a bit of an up-and-down year for Mitchell, although the ride as a overall unit has been pretty awesome, hence the All-Star appearance. He’s coming off kindof a weird stretch of games lately where he played some of the worst basketball of the season prior to the All-Star break. You could tell from watching him play that they just wanted to make it to the break, which is a pretty common thing among NBA players the week of the ASB. With that all behind him, I think Spida explodes in the remaining games for the Jazz this season.

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Doesn't sound like an all-star

[QUOTE]I said about two months ago that I truly believed Donovan Mitchell contained the keys to unlocking the true potential of the Utah Jazz, and I stand by that. If he can play the best basketball of his career in the next few months, the Jazz will contend for a championship. It seems strange to still be relying on a 23-year-old to lead you to glory, especially when you consider the fact that Rudy Gobert is playing on an MVP level and [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/296476/bojan-bogdanovic"]Bojan Bogdanovic[/URL] has been one of the best supporting role players in the NBA this season. But even with that, Donovan Mitchell will decide the fate of the Utah Jazz this season, and beyond.


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Bojan is arguably more of an all-star. He doesn't do much more than score but he's more consistent at what he does

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/02/20/utah-jazz-stating-obvious-jarrell-brantley-good-g-league/[/URL]

[QUOTE][h=2]Jarrell Brantley, a Two-Way player for the Utah Jazz, looks dominate as ever with the Salt Lake City Stars in the G-League. When does he get his NBA shot?[/h]

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When he hits the 3 and turns it over less? . If they played him at center his shooting wouldn't matter but does he deserve to play over Bradley or Morgan? He can only be with the Jazz for so many days which plays a part as well

[QUOTE]Unfortunately, the Jazz didn’t have a spot on the main roster for him, so they decided to give him a Two-Way contract. This contract allows players to spend up to 45 days with their NBA team while spending the rest in the time playing in the G-League on assignment.


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They did have a spot. They decided on Oni, Green, Davis etc. instead though

[QUOTE]He’s looking more and more like a legitimate NBA player after each game. In 28 games, Brantley owns averages of 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 52 percent from the floor and 31 percent from the three-point line.


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His 3 % has went up recently. Be tough not to play him if he becomes reliable with that

[QUOTE]We don’t know what his future is going to look like, but you can’t help but feel pumped for this young man. He’s balling right now and has caught the attention of many fans.


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Many fans? Those same fans that thought Bradley sucked because he'd only played quality minutes with the Jazz once before this year?

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/02/20/west-better-utah-jazz-remain-legit-contenders/[/URL]

[QUOTE]Adding another piece to the puzzle could have went a long way, but it also could have costed more than they are willing to part with. The Jazz made their big addition ([URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-"]Jordan Clarkson[/URL]) earlier this season, and the buyout market has looked underwhelming.


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Has more to do with no roster spots and the Jazz being the Jazz

[QUOTE][URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/covinro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-"]Robert Covington[/URL], [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/carrode01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-"]DeMarre Carroll[/URL] and [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenje02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-"]Jeff Green[/URL] all fit perfectly in Houston’s small-ball strategy. They will make the Rockets even tougher to play against. I still, however, believe that the Jazz are on par with them as well.


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tougher than Capela? That remains to be seen

[QUOTE]They still have some problems to address, such as rotations, consistency on the defensive end and taking care of the ball, but I’m satisfied with where this team is at. They’re going to be a dangerous team come playoff time.


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no mention of their lack of size outside their 2 centers. No starting PF.

[QUOTE]If this team ever reaches 100 percent health and plays to their 100 percent potential, they are one of the few teams that can realistically win a championship this season, in my opinion. Unfortunately, most of those teams reside in the Western Conference — go figure.


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They are 100% Healthy. :facepalm

[QUOTE]The Jazz have the best defensive player in the sport, shooters that they haven’t had in previous seasons, guards who can create for themselves and a brilliant coach to lead the way. They are built for a deep run.


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brilliant coach? :yaohappy:

[URL]https://hoopshabit.com/2020/02/19/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-best-player/[/URL]

[QUOTE][h=2]There’s no doubt that the future of the Utah Jazz rests largely on the shoulders of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. However, in spite of Mitchell’s high-octane style of play, one thing is certain — Rudy Gobert is the better basketball player.[/h]

[/QUOTE]

Which has been the case for over 5 years now

[QUOTE]What’s starting to severely widen the gap between the two, however, is that — as of this year, at least — Gobert’s become [URL="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andybailey/2019/12/17/is-rudy-gobert-a-great-offensive-player/#6a843303627f"]an offensive force[/URL] for the Utah Jazz, as well:


[/QUOTE]

Always was one

[QUOTE]More so than in seasons past, this year, #TakeNote Nation has grown increasingly loud with her claim that Rudy Gobert is [URL="https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/eow47o/currently_rudy_gobert_is_a_top_10_player_in_the/"]a top-10 talent in the NBA[/URL]. I’ve kept the Kool-Aid from my lips as long as possible, but the deeper the analytical dive I willingly take, the more enticing it becomes.


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statistically he's been better. Last year for sure

[URL="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/i-have-a-decision-to-make-bogut-weighs-up-future-after-back-injury-20200221-p5433r.html"]“Once things slow down, after the Olympics, I have a decision to make,” he said. “It’s just being smart and that’s why the decision about going back to the NBA will be part of it.[/URL] I want to be healthy for Tokyo.” Bogut made his return to the court after three games off with the Kings, resting his back ahead of the finals. The Kings, who led the table for the entire season, are the favourites to take out the league.
– via [URL="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/i-have-a-decision-to-make-bogut-weighs-up-future-after-back-injury-20200221-p5433r.html"]Sarah Keoghan @ Sydney Morning Herald[/URL]

Paul Garcia: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Keldon Johnson and Chimezie Metu will be active for tonight’s Spurs game[/URL] in Utah. That gives SA 13 players on the active roster tonight.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/PaulGarciaNBA"]Twitter PaulGarciaNBA[/URL]

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/2/21/21147587/utah-jazz-storylines-all-star-break-mike-conley-jarrell-brantley-nuggets-rockets-lakers-clippers[/URL]

[QUOTE]And he’s had mine for a while. From the first time I saw him in Summer League, I’ve been impressed. He’s just so talented. The refinement of skills will come with time, but he’s a bench player today in the NBA. The reason he may actually still be in the G-League right now is Utah may seem him as much more than a bench player in the NBA. Soon the G-League season will come to an end. He’ll be back with the Utah Jazz. Utah will have to make a decision at some point as to who they want to keep on their roster, but there will be no doubt that Brantley will be on it.


[/QUOTE]

There's plenty of doubt. He's got a lot to prove since he's played exactly 0 minutes of quality time with the Jazz. Morgan has at least showed something and even Rajon has

[QUOTE]In the G-League, playing as the Stars’ center, he’s averaging 19.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 33 minutes a game. He’s shooting 33% from three over the season, but that percentage has climbed up every month as he’s improved. He could be a late addition to games in the final stretch (not in the playoffs, though). He will be a big part of the Utah Jazz’s rotation next season. Start watching him in the G-League now, so you can say you remember when he was just starting out as a two-way player. He’s probably the most athletically gifted and talented player Utah has put through their G-League process. He has the potential to be Utah’s best development case study ever surpassing Joe Ingles.


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I like the guy but who's rotation spot is he taking? Maybe Bradley who is younger and bigger. Maybe Niang if he can improve his shot. Maybe Mudiay/Clarkson if they are gone. He's got the least upside of any of their 6 rookies because of his age actually

[QUOTE][h=4]From what I have seen, I think Brantley would be a better NBA player than Niang.[/h]
But clearly Quin doesn’t think so. He’s not afraid to use G Leagers in his lineup (Royce, Joe, etc). Maybe Quin just feels like Niangs 3 point shooting is more valuable than Brantley’s athleticism and playmaking.
But I’ll say this. I would be shocked if Brantley isn’t getting minutes next year.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/cchappell18"]cchappell18[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/2/21/21147587/utah-jazz-storylines-all-star-break-mike-conley-jarrell-brantley-nuggets-rockets-lakers-clippers#524497418"]Feb 21, 2020 | 2:33 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Niang was 1st team all G-league. The Jazz would be back to their old problems with spacing that they had before Niang and others were playing instead of guys that couldn't shoot

[URL]https://hoopshabit.com/2020/02/21/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-pressure/[/URL]

[QUOTE][h=2]Rudy Gobert might be the anchor of the Utah Jazz’s defense, but in a league known for its star players, Donovan Mitchell is the face of the franchise.[/h]

[/QUOTE]

Do I need to ever read any furthur? :lol

[QUOTE]Even more impressive, Mitchell’s first and second years in the league resulted in 48- and 50-win seasons for a Jazz team that failed to make the postseason in four of the five years before [URL="https://hoopshabit.com/2017/06/23/utah-jazz-2017-nba-draft-grades/"]his arrival in Utah[/URL].


[/QUOTE]

They missed because of tanking though. :facepalm

If it was Gobert that left and not Hayward they would be one of the worst teams in the league and tanking right now. Snyder and Lindsey wouldn't have jobs

Jonathan Feigen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Eric Gordon to return for Rockets vs. Jazz tonight.[/URL] Will come off the bench.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen"]Twitter Jonathan_Feigen[/URL]

[URL]https://saltcityhoops.com/home-blowout-features-turnovers-poor-shooting-ugly-jerseys/[/URL]

[QUOTE]It’s a harsh critique of Bradley—who has improved this season—because the Jazz clearly still need to find a solution for non-Gobert minutes. Against a relatively small opponent frontcourt, this could have been an opportunity to see Bogdanovic play some minutes as the largest Jazzman and/or give Juwan Morgan some experience. In the playoffs, non-Gobert minutes will be far fewer, but they will still substantively exist. And no, Trevor Booker, Ekpe Udoh, or Jarrell Brantley are not solving this issue.


[/QUOTE]

Udoh would certainly help defensively

[QUOTE]That said, as a self-proclaimed sports uniform aficionado and critic, I completely agree that these jerseys are the worst Utah has ever had (and there have been some other… interesting decisions). Yellow is a mere accent to the Jazz’s color scheme, and this specific hue of yellow was used solely to best complement the dominant navy color. On top of other design flaws—green should be completely extricated from the uniform if you’re even going to attempt this, for example—it also completely clashes with the Jazz’s home court that includes a colorless paint area and a brighter shade of hardwood.


[/QUOTE]

green is just an accent too and the gradiant ones aren't a part at all!

[URL]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/02/23/jazz-rockets-analysis-by/[/URL]

[QUOTE]I don’t know what I would do. I would definitely pull a Nuggets-from-2019 and tank if necessary in order to avoid the Rockets, though. Another 4-5 matchup against them seems like the hardest possible first-round option.

[INDENT=3][/INDENT]

[/QUOTE]

Might not need to tank the way they are playing. Only 2.5 out of 7th seed as it is

[QUOTE]Tonight, they played 14 possessions of zone. And it worked! On six of those possessions, the Rockets scored, on eight of them, they didn’t. That’s not too bad. Here’s what Snyder said, when asked about how it worked and whether he’d do it again:



[/QUOTE]
Desperation I guess if Snyder is actually trying something new than the same crap that isn't working

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/23/21147329/utah-jazz-mailbag-most-favorable-first-round-playoff-matchup-for-utah[/URL]

[QUOTE]I went back and looked through the Jazz post-trade deadline transactions over the last 20 years and the overwhelming sense is that they are not very active. Really the biggest move they’ve made (again, post-trade deadline) was picking up DeMarre Carroll in 2012.


[/QUOTE]

Don't think that was a buyout was it? Carroll was about out of the league when he started to impress here. That was before Snyder who supposedly is the sole reason that guys have developed here. Jazz should have never let him go to tank! :rant

[URL]https://hoopshabit.com/2020/02/22/utah-jazz-joe-ingles-thrive/[/URL]

[QUOTE][h=1]Joe Ingles needs to thrive as a starter for the Utah Jazz[/h]

[/QUOTE]
He needs to come off the bench. His minutes are being staggered to play with the bench anyway

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/02/23/utah-jazz-scouting-weaknesses/[/URL]

[QUOTE]If no NBA team has picked them up by now, not even a contending team like the Lakers or Clippers, then that probably means it is the end of the road for these guys in the NBA. Just look at what happened to [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsjo02.html"]Joe Johnson[/URL] in the past year.


[/QUOTE]

Noah hardly looked done a year ago. Faried looked good in his role with Houston as well. Kind of surprised they wouldn't go get him now instead of Demarre. Booker would still be a great end of the bench energy guy

[QUOTE]One thing that’s been a struggle all season long for the Jazz is committing too many turnovers.


[/QUOTE]

it's a problem under Snyder. Maybe a new coach is the answer?

No mention of them not having a NBA caliber starting PF? It's their biggest need obviously as it appeared obvious when they spent their mid level money on Davis instead of answering that. Should have spent the minimum salary on competition for Bradley who I thought deserved a shot

Having 6 rookies taking up roster space on a team that talks like they are playing for championships is unheard of as well.

An [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/02/24/knicks-damyean-dotson-hate-of-hometown-astros-has-gone-too-far/"]NBA source said about four teams reached out about Dotson at the trade deadline.[/URL] Orlando, Golden State, the Nets, Detroit and Utah have shown interest in Dotson in the past.
– via [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/02/24/knicks-damyean-dotson-hate-of-hometown-astros-has-gone-too-far/"]Marc Berman @ New York Post[/URL]

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/23/21146131/utah-jazz-news-phoenix-suns-news[/URL]

[QUOTE]Then there’s Ricky Rubio, whom many Utah fans lament losing in favor of Mike Conley this season.

[/QUOTE]

:roll:

[URL]https://saltcityhoops.com/another-disappointing-loss-raises-questions-about-jazzs-identity/[/URL]

[QUOTE]Last season, Jazz Nation would have been beyond ecstatic to have a 36-20 record at the 56-game mark. But this season, the collective feeling is disappointment. Partially, the expectations have probably been set at an unattainable level. And the disappointment should be tempered a little. The Jazz aren’t nearly as bad as they seem right now, but are also not nearly as good as fans believed them to be. Who are they really?


[/QUOTE]

A talented offensive team, a mediocre defensive team in need of a starting PF and more veteran depth and a new coach

[QUOTE]If you choose portions of nearly any game this season, you could say they have the potential of being a top 3 team in the league. The trouble is they can’t string together multiple quarters, let alone single quarters, of consistent high-octane play. There’s energy, intensity, focus, rhythm. And there’s really a lot of nuance to what makes this happen. Rotations and lineups are a factor. But maybe this has been mitigated somewhat through Quin’s adjustments throughout the season as well as the roster tweaks pulled off by the front office (yes, this means you Jordan Clarkson).


[/QUOTE]

haven't been a lot of adjustments. Keep the same guys doing the same thing. Why not? :facepalm

[URL]https://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-its-the-defense-did-utah-overcorrect-their-identity-playoff-race-more/[/URL]

[QUOTE]They added Emmanuel Mudiay, hardly a defensive stopper, at backup point guard. Mudiay has a big body and has gotten better defensively since joining the Jazz, but still winds up in opposing guards’ rear view mirrors way too often. They promoted Georges Niang and Tony Bradley up the depth chart, both minus defenders overall. The additions of non-paint protecting big men Jeff Green (later waived) and Ed Davis (out of the rotation) didn’t pan out.


[/QUOTE]

Mudiay isn't in the rotation and Niang barely is

[QUOTE]And yet, for all the Jazz’s troubles, they still reside just inside the top 10 for both offensive (9th) and defensive (10th) efficiency. The L.A. teams are the only other Western Conference teams in the top 10 in both, along with the Eastern elite of Milwaukee, Toronto and Boston. They also own the league’s eighth best Net Rating at +3.8.


[/QUOTE]

that shows you how little D is being played anymore because the Jazz are awful at that end

[QUOTE]It might be time for Utah’s fans to move on from the rancor around Hayward. The team has smartly retooled since he left, currently has a pair of charismatic All-Stars, and has used the flexibility of not having Hayward on their books to go after the likes of Conley and Bogdanovic. Of course, being a fan is an emotional experience, and some will still harbor some resentment over Hayward opting off of a rising team with a unique identity. There will be some boos. That’s fine. But sooner or later, the still-jilted few will realize the Jazz are in great shape without their former All-Star and the sharp feelings will fade.


[/QUOTE]

You're not too familiar with Jazz fans if you think they will stop booing Hayward or Kanter. I get to boo Ricky tonite at the game though!

[QUOTE]One thing’s for sure: you can’t write the modern history of the Utah Jazz without including the words Hayward and Rubio.


[/QUOTE]

sad but true. Ricky the latest in mind boggling Jazz moves over the decades

Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Donovan Mitchell: “We talk the talk, we gotta walk the walk. We do it in spurts, and that’s what’s frustrating.[/URL] We’re there, and then I don’t know what happens. … It’s all defense. It doesn’t matter how many points you score; we can’t guard anybody.” pic.twitter.com/RvRMXXpf51
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]


Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Joe Ingles, on if the Jazz have lost their identity: “Right now we’re not the exact same team who we’ve been for a lot of this year.[/URL] … I thought we started off reasonably well tonight and kinda slowly trickled down to where we didn’t want to be.” pic.twitter.com/72bYq8xYwO
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]


StatMuse: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The last 4 weeks have been rough for the Jazz. 4-8 record -58 point differential[/URL] 25th in defense Only the Pistons and Wolves have more losses in that span. pic.twitter.com/W9Yixb4Jiq
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/statmuse"]Twitter statmuse[/URL]

[URL]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/02/25/jazz-suns-analysis-by/[/URL]

[QUOTE][B]Juwan Morgan was the hardest one to find a mistake for, because he played five minutes and the Suns baskets during that stretch weren’t really his fault. On this one, you can argue that he should have stopped the cutter after Royce O’Neale closed out recklessly, I suppose.[/B][/QUOTE]

Maybe he should play more?


[QUOTE]There’s nothing else to say, now it’s just about going out there and doing it. Otherwise we’ll be home in May.


[/QUOTE]

make that April

[QUOTE]We won 25 games my first year, so I’ve been through worse than that. Every time you have a rough time, you get together and go past that. We had some rough times earlier this year, too, and I think it brought us closer together as a team. Like I said, we have to take some time to watch film, listen to the coaches, listen to each other and see what we can do better.



[/QUOTE]

they were tanking your first year though

[QUOTE]One of Quin Snyder’s key jobs is to motivate his players, and clearly that hasn’t been effective recently. So I suppose there’s criticism there. Tonight, he looked like a man that had tried everything, and couldn’t believe that nothing had worked. He seems like he’s shocked this is happening — but we are too.



[/QUOTE]

He's hardly tried everything. Does the same thing over and over

[QUOTE]And I think, if this continues, significant blame has to be assigned at the feet of Dennis Lindsey, Justin Zanik, and the front office. They gave up two first round picks, Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, and Grayson Allen for a player that hasn’t contributed much and realistically looks to be on the downside of his career. That’s a lot of chips given up for not much return.



[/QUOTE]

Conley is far from their biggest problem. Signing Ed Davis instead of a starting PF is. Having 6 rookies and little depth on a team that you say is playing for a title is. Conley at least made sense on paper



[QUOTE]Bojan Bogdanovic has worked out well, and Emmanuel Mudiay’s been fine, but Jeff Green and Ed Davis were horror-show fits from day one. Ideally, the front office should have been able to see that coming, that they were square pegs in round holes. In their defense: I didn’t see it coming, and neither did most Jazz fans. But part of that job is avoiding landmines, and they haven’t avoided these ones.



[/QUOTE]
You're talking about the guys that thought Rubio was a good idea! :roll:

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/24/21150275/utah-jazz-phoenix-suns-ricky-rubio-nba[/URL]

[QUOTE]“I know their game. I played with them for a long time, so I know their game — the same way they know mine,” Rubio said.


[/QUOTE]

and yet they were fouling you on 3 point shots! :rant

[URL]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/2/25/21152816/its-on-the-utah-jazz-players-to-right-the-ship-not-the-coaches[/URL]

[QUOTE]The Jazz have at least one thing going for them. Despite their poor performances and the results that have followed, they are in agreement that Quin Snyder and his staff are not at fault.


[/QUOTE]

sadly in Utah the coaches are never at fault. A big reason why they have no championships and likely never will

[QUOTE]Snyder is also the same coach that led the Utah Jazz to the league’s second best defense last season, the league’s best defense in 2017-18 and the third best defense the year before that.


[/QUOTE]

The same guy who's teams have been horrible at both ends without Rudy

The problem: The Jazz’s very foundation has cracked. “I feel like it’s not in our DNA yet to be dogs defensively as a team,” says Gobert, the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year. [URL="https://tv5.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28779007/a-roller-coaster-winter-left-jazz-searching-identity"]“It’s in the program’s DNA, but we don’t come out every night thinking, ‘I’m going to be physical; I’m going to make things hard for the other guy.’ We need that dog mentality.”[/URL] Statistically, the Jazz this season are a mediocre defensive team. They rank 13th in defensive rating, allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions. It’s the worst Utah has been on that end of the floor since 2013-14, when they won 25 games and Gobert was a raw rookie who spent most of the season in the G League.
– via [URL="https://tv5.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28779007/a-roller-coaster-winter-left-jazz-searching-identity"]ESPN.com[/URL]

[URL]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/02/27/jazz-celtics-analysis-by/[/URL]

[QUOTE][B]Pro: The Jazz only gave up 114 points instead of 131 points on Monday. That’s better![/B]


[/QUOTE]

Boston on a back to back though :(
[QUOTE]But where I think the difference is made is with the bench units. Ingles played poorly coming off the bench at the beginning of the season — and for good reason, he really needs an excellent pick-and-roll big to play with to be effective offensively. Plus, Conley’s strong points are his team leadership with the ball in his hands, like the role he played in Memphis. Having get the ball more in a 6th man role could get him back closer to his last-season peak.



[/QUOTE]

The bench sucked early in the year. Different bench now and Bradley is good in the pick n roll. Problem is Ingles didn't have the ball much.

[QUOTE]Either way, it’s a terrible look. First, I believe it’s just the wrong decision: Ingles should be starting instead of Conley, for the reasons I wrote above. I mean, look at Ingles’ line tonight: two points on 1-3 shooting, two assists, two fouls, and a game-low -17. It’s just one game, but it tends to support my line of thinking.



[/QUOTE]

No. Conley makes too much money. They have to make it work or he needs to be traded. Simple as that. Ingles needs to figure it out off the bench

[QUOTE]But secondly, making a change and then changing the change isn’t good for anyone involved, either. The players had hours to come to grips with one decision, and prepared in shootaround for that outcome. Then, the rug is pulled mid-afternoon, and they have to handle that? Even if starting lineups aren’t critical, the whiplash certainly isn’t helpful. From an organizational point of view, it sets the Jazz back some, making things look circus-like in what typically has been regarded as one of the NBA’s best-run franchises.



[/QUOTE]

it's always been a joke. The fact that they don't have a starting PF to make the choice between Ingles and ONeale to begin with is a perfect example.

[QUOTE]Then, catastrophe. O’Neale passes up the wide open shot to pass to Conley, who passes up a wide open shot to pass to O’Neale again, who passes up a wide open shot to pass to Ingles, who passes up a wide open shot to do nothing with it. Then, Conley misses the iso layup.



[/QUOTE]

ONeale's biggest problem. He had the best shot twice and gave it up. Needs to shoot when open