2020-21 Regular season- The tax team

[url]https://sircharlesincharge.com/2021/01/24/nba-10-big-questions-first-month-season/6/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Who do we believe in more – the Phoenix Suns or Utah Jazz?[/h]

[/QUOTE]

Really? It's hard to go from shit to good overnight.

[QUOTE]It’s tough to say, though, I’d lean to being a bigger believer in Chris Paul and Devin Booker. The duo has been great for the Suns this season and has changed the trajectory of their ceiling. Phoenix should be a playoff team and I can’t wait to see what Booker looks like in a playoff atmosphere.


[/QUOTE]

what has Booker done to believe in him? Don't tell me the bubble!

Still, it was a bit jarring in this specific instance to hear what he had to say about the Jazz, if only because it’s been probably since the last century that we’ve heard Utah and the proceeding words linked in the same sentence. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2341594/2021/01/25/utah-jazz-championship-contenders-steve-kerr-thinks-so/?source=rss"]“Utah is a veteran team,” Kerr said. “They are trying to win a championship right now, and I think they are capable of doing so. You know, they are where we were three or four years ago.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2341594/2021/01/25/utah-jazz-championship-contenders-steve-kerr-thinks-so/?source=rss"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]

[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The NBA and NBPA are discussing scenarios to still hold an All-Star game in March. One site under discussion is Atlanta, home of Turner Sports. That idea includes providing support for HBCU’s and COVID-19 relief.[/URL] Story soon on site.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/wojespn"]Twitter wojespn[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

maybe Cley will finally get in! :cheers:

[QUOTE]Ben Anderson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]There’s a lot of talk about Mike Conley’s +/- over the last eight games, in which he leads the league at +19.4. Lost in that is that Rudy Gobert is second in the NBA at 17.9[/URL]. Those two together this year have been incredibly tough on opponents.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

weak stat but not surprising. I'm sure the guys lucky enough to play with those two have good ones as well

[url]https://kslsports.com/451834/mike-conley-is-one-of-the-nbas-best-players/[/url]

[QUOTE]Those experts were right, it just took longer than expected for the prophecy to be fulfilled.


[/QUOTE]

and just think that they didn't want to give up Exum for him! :facepalm

[QUOTE]In total, five Jazz players, including Bojan Bogdanovic, Donovan Mitchell, and Royce O’Neale rank among the league’s top 10 in plus-minus during the team’s eight-game win streak.


[/QUOTE]

as I said was probably the case and why it's a lame stat. On the court with Conley and Gobert and you get the rewards!

[QUOTE]With backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell performing at an All-NBA level, and Rudy Gobert doing typical Rudy Gobert things, Conley’s rise in play has the Jazz playing as well as any team in the NBA.


[/QUOTE]

Mitchell isn't playing at an all NBA level. Conley and all NBA center Gobert are

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/1/25/22247596/way-too-early-case-for-jordan-clarkson-to-win-sixth-man-of-the-year-utah-jazz-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]“He’s really just becoming more and more efficient, and the other thing is he’s really committed to defending,” Snyder said. “He’s got a lot of pride on defense, and as good as he is offensively at creating his shot, I think he’s got an awareness of the players around him and he’s been a willing passer.”


[/QUOTE]

willing compared to the bubble anyway

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/1/25/22248623/shaq-might-not-like-the-utah-jazz-but-plenty-of-national-media-do[/url]

[QUOTE]Sports Illustrated has the Jazz at No. 5 behind the Lakers, Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Michael Shapiro wrote that, “Utah will never be acknowledged as a true challenger to either Los Angeles team in the Western Conference, but is that necessarily fair?” Beside the offense, Shapiro also observed that the Jazz are also in the top 10 in the NBA in defensive rating and that in addition to Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley are playing well.


[/QUOTE]

i addition to Mitchell? :roll:

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-aight-for-eight/[/url]

[QUOTE]Back in reality, Mitchell’s per-minute figures for rebounds and assists coming into this season are actually right on pace with other modern superstar guards at a similar point in their career, our Zarin Ficklin discovered (see right). So once again, the fellas just plain got caught not knowing the facts behind their shoot-from-the-hip analysis. But even if they somehow accidentally stumbled into something that was statistically accurate, counting stats without context are a stupid way to craft an over-arching analysis about any player. For one thing, Mitchell plays in a system where multiple ball handlers generate the offense, and he plays next to an elite rebounding big. Different things are asked of him than were asked of, say, Dwyane Wade, because of the ecosystem he plays in and the other variables around him. Shaq and Chuck know that, because they’re not idiots. They’re simply too lazy to maintain enough knowledge about the Jazz to put any of that context around Mitchell’s career.


[/QUOTE]

he plays next to an elite rebounding big without the help of a PF. They need him to rebound.

[QUOTE]Look, I don’t know what “superstar” means to anybody else. That’s a subjective term. I know that Mitchell is an All-Star, a top-25 talent. I know that he is 24 years old and keeps getting better. I know that he’s gregarious and engaging and the face of a franchise. I know that he has accomplished a bunch of really unique things that seem to indicate he’s on a path to being special. Usually when you share records with names like MJ, Kareem and LeBron, you’re at least on a pretty interesting arc:


[/QUOTE]

the analytics don't support him being top 25 or an all-star. He scores on high usage, low efficiency with little D

[QUOTE]Joined Michael Jordan as the only modern players to average 36+ in a playoff series in his age-23 season or younger.
Most points in a single playoff game since 1986 (Jordan).
Most points in a playoff series (254) since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (260) in 1977.
[/QUOTE]

in a loss in a bubble

[QUOTE]If that’s what the guys meant, then that’s fair. To Kenny’s credit, his initial point was that Mitchell is seeemingly at a fork in the road: ready to either veer toward that level of megastar impact or instead level off as a very good player who will make All-Star teams and highlight reels but not necessarily hang banners. That’s why we watch: to find out which guys’ hunger will take them that final distance. We don’t know yet if Mitchell will top out as a top-25 guy, as an All-NBA talent, as an MVP candidate, or as one of his generation’s best. It’s a fascinating question that will be answered over time.


[/QUOTE]
we've just had articles about him being all NBA and MVP! :roll:

[QUOTE][B]Friday 1/29, Jazz vs. Mavericks:[/B] Defensively, Dallas is a bit of a paradox. They’re decent at preventing close shots, but subpar at affecting the ones their opponents do get (68% opponent FG% at the rim, third worst). Inversely, they’re not great at limiting 3-point looks, but their opponents shoot the third-lowest percentage from outside. Add that up and they still have the ninth best eFG% defense, but since they foul a ton, they have a fairly average defense overall. They’re beatable, but these games literally could come down to who makes free throws.


[/QUOTE]

if it comes down to FT's Jazz are in trouble

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/1/25/22248917/got-3s-jazz-do-utah-golden-state-warriors-mike-conley-donovan-mitchell-nba[/url]

[QUOTE][h=4]Plus we have two all nba caliber defenders[/h]
In gobert and O’Neal
And the best backup center in the nba
And the 6MOY
and a minivan

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/ThomasSmithjaz1"]ThomasSmithjaz1[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/1/25/22248917/got-3s-jazz-do-utah-golden-state-warriors-mike-conley-donovan-mitchell-nba#535815415"]Jan 25, 2021 | 8:32 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

and no PF

[QUOTE]We all know the old saying "live by the 3, die by the 3!" Hopefully we are more like the GSW and continue to shoot a high % in the playoffs and not like the Rockets who would "crash to Earth" in later rounds of the playoffs. If the Jazz continue to shoot 40% at the volume they are taking, this could be a special year.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/JMBDog"]JMBDog[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/1/25/22248917/got-3s-jazz-do-utah-golden-state-warriors-mike-conley-donovan-mitchell-nba#535819351"]Jan 25, 2021 | 10:55 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

defense

After lengthy stays in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, [URL="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/01/26/mavs-richardson-finney-smith-and-powell-have-cleared-covid-19-protocols-and-could-play-against-utah/"]Mavericks Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Dwight Powell are listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game at Utah and will travel with the team Tuesday to Salt Lake City.[/URL] Maxi Kleber remains in the protocol and will not travel to Utah.
– via [URL="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/01/26/mavs-richardson-finney-smith-and-powell-have-cleared-covid-19-protocols-and-could-play-against-utah/"]Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News[/URL]



Although the three returning Mavericks are all listed as questionable, coach Rick Carlisle said after Tuesday’s practice that he expects that all will get court time on Wednesday and then have their minutes ramped up in ensuing games. [URL="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/01/26/mavs-richardson-finney-smith-and-powell-have-cleared-covid-19-protocols-and-could-play-against-utah/"]“It’s been a long road for these guys,” Carlisle said. “They’ve been through a big process. We’ve just got to get them back into it. There’s going to be a gradual aspect to it. They’re not going to be in game shape overnight, but it’s great having them back on the floor. It’s great having them back in practice. It’s three of our best defenders and most unselfish guys. Having them back in the fold is a big plus.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/01/26/mavs-richardson-finney-smith-and-powell-have-cleared-covid-19-protocols-and-could-play-against-utah/"]Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News[/URL]

Eric Walden: Quin Snyder, on the Knicks’ defensive strength: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Their size, first of all, starting with the rim protection. … And then their size across the rest of the frontcourt and their backcourt. When you do drive the ball and you get in the lane, they make it hard for you.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]




[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2017/01/i_56_de_37_tom-thibodeau.png?w=190[/IMG]Eric Walden: Thibodeau, on Utah’s winning streak: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Defensively, I think that’s been their staple. Offensively … they’re playing very, very unselfishly; they’re making the extra pass, they’re getting great rhythm shots, and they’re shooting a lot more 3s and they’re making a lot more 3s.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]




Eric Walden: Tom Thibodeau, on this year’s Jazz: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“They’ve added good pieces that fit them well, and they’ve adjusted — they’ve put a premium on the shooting, you can see they changed the composition of their roster, and the way they’re playing is a lot different than they were 3 years ago.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/451908/jazz-vs-knicks-game-night/[/url]

[QUOTE]While the team officially announced the roster earlier today, they did not indicate how the Jazz plan to use two-way players Jarrell Brantley or Trent Forrest. The Jazz also have the option to send both rookies Elijah Hughes and Udoka Azubuike to Orlando should they see fit.


[/QUOTE]

the 3 rookies should go for sure.

[url]https://kslsports.com/451879/utah-legislature-votes-to-recognize-donovan-mitchell-after-shaq-controversy/[/url]

why nothing for Rudy when Shaq went at him?

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/1/26/22249399/utah-jazz-jordan-clarkson-nba-6th-man-of-the-year-favorite[/url]

Clarkson used to put up a lot of mid and long range twos. He (unrightfully) earned the reputation of a chucker. But honestly, go look at the teams that he has played for throughout his career. They’ve been awful. In fact, I’ll make it easy on you. Here are his teams’ records through the years: 21-61, 17-65, 26-56, 35-47/50-32 (trade mid-season), 19-63, 19-46.
Unrightfully? What else would you call him?

[url]https://twitter.com/slcstars/status/1354198116031897606/photo/1[/url]