2022-23 regular season. The Tank begins...

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/12/13/23508616/with-lauri-markkanen-back-utah-jazz-dominate-zion-williamson-new-orleans-pelicans[/url]

[QUOTE]Probably the best story for the Jazz was Nickeil Alexander-Walker. NAW was brilliant tonight in his time on the floor. Going 7/10 from the field and 4/6 from three, NAW scored 19 points with 6 assists and 3 rebounds. It might also be time to get excited a little bit. In the three games before this, two of them starts, NAW averaged 16.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. That’s while shooting 58% from the field and 55% from three. He obviously won’t keep up those numbers, but NAW is looking more and more comfortable. When the Jazz got him in the Ingles trade, their hope was that they could develop him into the potential many saw when he first came into the league. It looks like that may be happening. If it does, this Utah Jazz team has yet another weapon going forward. When he plays like this, it’s hard to even remember that Collin Sexton didn’t play. What a luxury for Coach Hardy!

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not much of a luxury as long as Clarkson continues to start and suck

[QUOTE] [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/emerging-spurs-big-man-jakob-poeltl-could-be-a-key-player-in-this-seasons-trade-market-005938316.html"]Atlanta has continued its pursuit of Jae Crowder,[/URL] and a new three-team concept with Utah and Phoenix circled around league executives this week. The Hawks certainly view the Jazz as a potential landing spot for John Collins.

– via [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/emerging-spurs-big-man-jakob-poeltl-could-be-a-key-player-in-this-seasons-trade-market-005938316.html"]Jake Fischer @ Yahoo! Sports[/URL]


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I start that?

[url]http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2zkg475x[/url]

[url]https://kslsports.com/496610/kessler-signs-endorsement-deal-with-adidas/[/url]

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/12/14/23510500/more-trade-rumors-the-utah-jazz-to-john-collins-atlanta-hawks-jarred-vanderbilt[/url]

[INDENT][QUOTE][INDENT]Atlanta has continued its pursuit of Jae Crowder, and a new three-team concept with Utah and Phoenix circled around league executives this week. The Hawks certainly view the Jazz as a potential landing spot for John Collins. But while Utah has signaled a willingness to discuss Jarred Vanderbilt — of known interest to the Suns — and Landry Shamet has often been included in deal frameworks that would send Crowder to Atlanta, this structure appears to be an expired idea that never gained significant traction due to draft pick compensation and other shortcomings.
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pretty sure Clarkson was linked to the Suns in the off season too. Vanderbilt isn't surprising. You would still have Collins/Lauri/Kessler starting I imagine with Olynyk/Simone/Udoka off the bench[/INDENT]

[URL]http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2oyu6hua[/URL]

same idea as before. Hawks could cut Bolmaro and Udoka. They have no options past this year. Pick up Shamet's contract to off set some of what the Jazz take on with Collins. More depth. Stay under tax. Saric in the mix for 6th front court guy with Simone. Still deep. Front court and starting line up gets better. Guard line too. Addition by subtraction. Stay under tax. Phoenix takes on Gay to get Vanderbilt and Clarkson. Save some tax

[url]https://hoopshabit.com/2022/12/14/timberwolves-buyers-remorse-rudy-gobert/[/url]

[QUOTE]This was not the case with Gobert. Although recognized as one of the league’s best defenders, if not the best, Rudy is nowhere near a top-10 player in the NBA. Aside from his defensive acumen, Gobert is a very limited offensive player, he is mostly a rim runner who is unable to punish mismatches in the post.

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and yet he's been one of the most impactful offensive players in the league. Not many have had the impact at both ends the past 8 years as he has

[QUOTE]Even though he is a great rim protector in a drop coverage scheme, due to his lack of scheme versatility, his defense has also been exposed in the postseason when teams decide to go five out. This is why many pundits were quick to criticize the trade, especially at such a hefty price. Meanwhile, some were optimistic about the trade, stating that Gobert was the perfect fix for what ailed the Wolves last season, which was rim protection and defensive rebounding.

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5 out wasn't the problem. The problem was the team around him. This is easily the most talented team he's had around him

[QUOTE]According to [URL="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?slug=advanced&Season=2021-22&TeamID=1610612750"]NBA.com stats[/URL], the Wolves’ starting lineup for the 2021-2022 season was one of the best in the league with a [URL="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?slug=advanced&TeamID=1610612750"]12.8 net rating[/URL]. Meanwhile, this year’s starting lineup has only a +4 net rating. Currently, the Wolves are .500 and ranked 12th in the Western Conference.

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the bench has to play better or the coach has to come up with better substitution patterns

[QUOTE]Needless to say, they are falling very short of expectations. To add insult to injury, they will be without Towns for at least one more month, which could cause them to drop even more in the standings.

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no reason they can't be better without Towns. I saw Rudy carry much worse teams to wins

Adrian Wojnarowski: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]After missing nine straight games, Charlotte Hornets F Gordon Hayward (left shoulder) is hopeful to return to the lineup vs. Atlanta on Friday, sources tell ESPN. He’s expected to make a final decision after shootaround[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/wojespn"]Twitter wojespn[/URL]

Dane Moore: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert has been added to the Wolves injury report with a left ankle sprain, and listed as questionable for Friday in OKC[/URL] D’Angelo Russell, who missed Wednesday’s game with a left knee bruise, also listed as questionable Jordan McLaughlin, left calf strain, is listed as out
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/DaneMooreNBA"]Twitter DaneMooreNBA[/URL]

Ky Carlin: Danuel House Jr. is listed as probable for tomorrow with a left foot laceration Furkan Korkmaz is probable with a non-COVID illness De’Anthony Melton is not listed on the injury report after missing a game with back tightness #Sixers
– via Twitter Ky_Carlin

Andy Larsen: Update from the Jazz on Collin Sexton: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Sexton (right hamstring strain) was reevaluated yesterday, which included a follow up MRI. He is progressing as expected, will continue to increase on court work and is day to day.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2022/12/16/23511126/mike-conley-utah-jazz-beat-new-orleans-pelicans[/url]

[QUOTE]“Definitely, Mike is probably our most important player,” Rudy Gay said of his teammate. “He keeps us in games, as you can see.

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not much doubt. Difference between good and lottery

[QUOTE]Even in the most chaotic of moments, Conley calms things when other players might buckle or might not know what the smart thing to do is. Like for example on the below play when Clarkson dribbles the ball off his own foot and the play is broken


Clarkson has to dive to save the ball, but as soon as he gets it into Conley’s hands, Conley calmly penetrates to draw in the defense and makes a perfect scoop pass out to Markkanen for a huge 3.

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imagine not having those stupid plays

[QUOTE]I’m not saying that Alexander-Walker should be playing over Sexton, I’m just genuinely curious about what will happen, and also curious about how that’s going to impact Alexander-Walker, so I asked him if he thinks about what will happen.

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better than Clarkson as is Beasley. The answer is an easy one. Do your job Ainge

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/12/15/23512279/utah-jazz-get-second-straight-win-over-new-orleans-pelicans-in-overtime-thriller[/url]

[QUOTE]Clarkson was brilliant in this one. From the start, he was the driving force of the Jazz offense, hitting shots everywhere on the court. Clarkson ended the game with 39 points while going 15/26 from the field and 7/14 from three. He also dropped 6 absolute dimes as he carved up the Pelicans' defense. Clarkson is consistently finding ways to help the Jazz win, and with each game, he seems to be finding more and more consistency. Because he’s leveled up as a playmaker, there’s no simple way to guard him. Even last year, teams could load up on Clarkson knowing he’d likely shoot the ball and they could get a bad shot from him. Not anymore.

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consistent? He was on a 4-29 stretch from 3. He's the streakiest player their is

Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]After nearly 10 months of rehabilitation on a torn left ACL, Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Ingles is targeting his return vs. New Orleans on Monday. Once Ingles successfully completes a final 5-on-5 workout Saturday, that’ll be the last hurdle in his comeback[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/wojespn"]Twitter wojespn[/URL]

Adrian Wojnarowksi: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward plans to play vs. Atlanta tonight, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Hayward has missed nine straight games — and 17 of the past 20. Significant boost for the depleted Hornets[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/wojespn"]Twitter wojespn[/URL]