2020-21 Regular season- The tax team

[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]

[CENTER][/CENTER]

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]

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/02/10/triple-team/[/url]

[QUOTE]That’s the thing that makes this team feel a little different: they really do play for one another, and it’s in large part due to Mitchell’s attitude as the team’s best offensive player.



[/QUOTE]

the best leads in points, attempts and usage. Nothing else
[QUOTE]I’ve been thinking about the differences between this Jazz team and last year’s, and I think I’ve identified a big one:



[/QUOTE]

D

[QUOTE]• Sheer guessing on calls. Replay wasn’t kind to the referees tonight — it failed to show fouls on numerous drives to the rim where the referees thought there was contact but instead the defensive player got all ball. Likewise, there were a bunch of times where a player ended up on the floor and the referees just kind of assumed that there was a foul on the defensive player.



[/QUOTE]

I hate that. If you didn't see it and just assume it don't call it

[QUOTE]• Fouls called after a make or miss. There’s no need to look at the result of a layup when deciding to blow the whistle. If there was a foul, call one. If not, keep playing.



[/QUOTE]

yeah that's bullshit too

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/2/9/22272942/instant-analysis-jazz-improve-to-franchise-best-20-5-start-with-win-over-celtics[/url]

[QUOTE]Less than nine minutes into the game, Jaylen Brown had already racked up 11 points and the Celtics were leading, and there was a clear vibe from the Jazz that had the mood in the arena light. I don’t know exactly how to explain it other than saying the Jazz looked confident and completely unfazed by what was happening. They were carrying themselves like they knew they were going to win. Honestly, even when the Jazz’s lead was back to single digits in the fourth quarter the Jazz had a swagger about them. It never felt like they were worried.

[/QUOTE]

I'm not either but not sure I ever was post '88

[QUOTE]Part of the reason they never looked too worried was because each time the Celtics cut things just a little too close for comfort, Donovan Mitchell made absolutely exquisite plays, pushing in transition, making great passes, chasing down rebounds and hitting absolute daggers.

[/QUOTE]

God imagine if this stud had some help!

[QUOTE]There’s been a string of games where Bojan Bogdanovic has looked like he was back to normal. He came out against the Celtics and dunked the ball twice in the first half, made great reads and was scoring by attacking when the Celtics were keeping a guy close to him on the perimeter. I’m calling it — Bogey is back.

[/QUOTE]

not sure how exciting that is unless they look to trade him than yeah!

[QUOTE]I truly hope that Derrick Favors’ face is OK after getting raked by Tristan Thompson early on in the game. He came back and was able to play through, but he looked really shaken up and even had to sub out and go back to the locker room for a while.

[/QUOTE]

I thought he got subbed out because he couldn't stop Boston?

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/10/22275792/first-place-utah-jazz-remind-boston-celtics-whos-boss-122-108-game-recap-donovan-mitchell[/url]

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.


[/QUOTE]

Wow it wasn't just about Mitchell!

[QUOTE]MVP could have easily gone solely to Donovan Mitchell. He was dominant for large stretches tonight and finished with 36 points and 9 assists. At times, Mitchell looks so poised with grace and agility on the floor that he makes what he does look easy. His length and explosion, improved shooting, and overall effectiveness as a floor general have elevated him into super stardom in my opinion.


[/QUOTE]

If he could do it consistently and play D sure. He hasn't

[QUOTE]The Jazz have never had a team with so much balance, where every player buys into their role. Credit must be given to both Justin Zanik, for putting the roster together, and to Quin Snyder for making all of the pieces work. The Jazz roster is incredibly, almost perfectly, constructed to fit Snyder’s system.


[/QUOTE]

Why did it take 6 years to do it is the question? Rudy led them to the 6th best record in 15 and two years later he put up 17 a game with a team similarly constructed as this one and they go in a different direction?

[QUOTE]I realize many thought the Jazz overpaid Clarkson and Favors. But, I think the Jazz knew exactly what they wanted and they went out and got it.


[/QUOTE]

Clarkson looks worth it now. Favors never will be

[QUOTE]As for Favors, his highlights, or even his stats for that matter, are not as sexy as Jorrdan Clarkson’s. But, on the other hand, does anyone remember what the Gobert bench minutes were like last season? Tony Bradley? Ed Davis? Even Jeff Green got some play at center early in the season. Favors is maybe the best center off the bench in the entire league. This makes a huge difference for the Jazz, ensuring that there is a high quality big in the game for 48 minutes every night.

[/QUOTE]

Bradley did fine and was young, cheap and improving. Have bigger needs.

[QUOTE] if I understood him correctly, he seemed to be saying that he had Mitchell as the fifth best guard in the league. That’s actually pretty high — higher than many/most Jazz fans may even put him.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/rschneider23"]rschneider23[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/10/22275792/first-place-utah-jazz-remind-boston-celtics-whos-boss-122-108-game-recap-donovan-mitchell#536381074"]Feb 10, 2021 | 1:19 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

but he's an idiot

[QUOTE]I would definitely throw out a ton of Jazz skewed hot takes over the years that would not hold up well including how Dante Exum had all-nba potential, how good of a deal Ed Davis was for $5M a year, how the core four were going to light the world on fire, etc.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/J-Note"]J-Note[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/2/10/22275792/first-place-utah-jazz-remind-boston-celtics-whos-boss-122-108-game-recap-donovan-mitchell#536382970"]Feb 10, 2021 | 6:17 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

you and the Wizard



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:cheers:[url]https://fansided.com/2021/02/09/duke-basketball-mike-krzyzewski-successor-quin-snyder/[/url]

there is hope!

Justin Kubatko: The @Utah Jazz have won 16 of their last 17 games, 14 of them by double figures. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The only team in NBA history to record more double-digit wins over a 17-game single-season span is the 1970-71 Bucks (15).[/URL] pic.twitter.com/Dy5PB75bu2
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/jkubatko"]Twitter jkubatko[/URL]