2023-24 NBA Season

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50778604/in-blowout-loss-to-bulls-jazz-only-find-good-in-markkanens-highlight-assist[/url]

[QUOTE]"There are times where I do think that their intention is to drive the ball and draw the defense," Hardy said. "I think both of them have gotten a little bit in trouble by just getting probably one whole dribble too far into the paint. I think both of those players, when they watch film, when they work at practice, they end up being some of the guys that have the highest assist numbers on the team as well.

[/QUOTE]

The Bum is just as likely to throw it away as to get an assist. He's better off not passing. He can't shoot either. Why again is he in the league at all? :cry:

[url]https://kslsports.com/507226/utah-jazz-no-match-for-chicago-bulls/[/url]

[QUOTE]Clarkson’s long history of success has earned him more leeway than others when it comes to these types of slumps, but this is by far the worst he’s ever played in a Jazz uniform.

[/QUOTE]

I'd bet he's had worse stretches they just didn't come at the beginning of the season. The guy is awful and always has been. I really can't be the only one that sees this shit? :facepalm

[QUOTE]I’ll be watching closely to see if those two start Wednesday’s games in Indiana, or if Hardy has seen enough.

[/QUOTE]

I'm hoping that with the mid season tourney thing at Memphis that maybe Hardy will make a move but I doubt it. he loves The Bum for some reason

[url]https://kslsports.com/507207/blog-utah-jazz-fall-to-chicago-bulls/[/url]

[QUOTE][B]Kris Dunn[/B] is back in the rotation after sitting on Saturday in the loss to the [B]Minnesota Timberwolves[/B].

[/QUOTE]

again one of the best stretches of the game and didn't come back until garbage time. :facepalm

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/6/23948733/the-utah-jazz-have-a-turnover-problem[/url]

[QUOTE]But, Horton-Tucker (and Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson) sometimes gets caught either too deep in the paint by over dribbling, or by picking up his dribble too early, allowing the defense to close him off from his passing lanes.

[/QUOTE]

The Bum over dribbling? Really? :roll:

[QUOTE]Both of these plays resulted in turnovers. While these are just two examples and they don’t cover the entirety of the problem, the point is that there are instances when the Jazz are giving up the ball that they can fix.

[/QUOTE]

Benching The Bum would solve a lot of their issues or let Jason Terry take over the team

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/06/utah-jazz-need-play-much-better-defense-win-ballgames/[/url]

[QUOTE][B]Mix things up[/B] – Different lineups are needed to find combinations that work, especially on defense. To date, the Jazz have yet to run their best defenders in a regular lineup, perhaps since that lineup might struggle at the other end. Utilizing a group like Walker Kessler, John Collins, Ochai Agbaji, Keyonte George and Kris Dunn is one possibility.

[/QUOTE]

Agbaji, Dunn and no Bum? I'm in. Pretty sure Hardy isn't though :facepalm

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/06/3-utah-jazz-players-who-need-a-big-game-against-the-chicago-bulls/[/url]

[QUOTE]Kris Dunn hasn’t been getting the minutes he really deserves, but he’s also not been shooting the ball well. While he’s a defensive-minded player normally, he does still need to be competent from the floor. He’s necessary to the team, but he has to be more effective with the ball in his hands to see more realistic playing time.

[/QUOTE]

play him and he'll be fine

[QUOTE]As far as struggling players go, John Collins isn’t the guy you first think of, and for good reason; he’s been playing fine. Which is part of the problem, fine isn’t what the Utah Jazz signed up for. It was one thing to expect 15 points and nine rebounds when the team was supposed to be an offensive juggernaut but now the team is struggling to score points, and Collins needs to step up and help the team achieve that goal. More specifically, he’s got to get better on defense, as he’s been one of the worst starters the team has right now on that side of the court. And that’s saying something.

[/QUOTE]

probably their 2nd or 3rd best player so far. Him or Olynyk. He's not the problem

[INDENT][url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/06/the-utah-jazz-need-to-consider-making-moves-now-to-capitalize-on-lauri-markkanen/[/url]

[QUOTE]Lauri Markkanen is going to expedite the [URL="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]@utahjazz[/URL] rebuild because he's so good, you can't simply waste seasons by not surrounding him with high-level talent.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1720962938138411511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]November 5, 2023[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

you mean like the decade they wasted not building around Gobert or the 2 decades they piddled around with the statues?. There's always next year!!! :facepalm

[/INDENT]

Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Walker Kessler is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game due to a left elbow strain,[/URL] Keyonte George is listed as probable due to left foot soreness.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/507281/jazz-notes-is-a-big-change-on-horizon-for-utah/[/url]

[QUOTE]Clarkson should be able to turn it around and begin to hit shots. The biggest question mark for the Jazz is THT.

[/QUOTE]

it's really hard to take anyone serious that thinks this guy doesn't suck :facepalm

[url]https://kslsports.com/507274/walker-kessler-on-espn-top-25-under-25-list/[/url]

[QUOTE]“If he’s ever able to add a reliable 3-point shot, he could jump way up this list,” ESPN added. “Even if he doesn’t, Kessler is a worthy heir to Rudy Gobert as the anchor of Utah’s defense.”

[/QUOTE]

remains to be seen

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/7/23949509/the-utah-jazz-are-one-of-the-nba-worst-defensive-teams-and-there-are-two-key-reasons-why[/url]

[QUOTE]Hardy freely admits that he relied on Mike Conley a lot while Conley was in Utah through the first half of the season. It was easy to rely on a veteran player who was clearly going to be the communicating leader of the team and it made things easy on the players.

[/QUOTE]

it's confirmed. Hardy does indeed suck. Mike made him look good. Nice hire Danny! I think Dunn could give you some of what Mike did but Hardy doesn't like him

no mention of them playing 3 bigs in a league where most teams play 1 :facepalm

Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Walker Kessler is DOUBTFUL to play tonight vs. the Pacers[/URL] pic.twitter.com/gbS2ADbbYJ
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[QUOTE] Tony Jones: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Walker Kessler is doubtful tonight with a left elbow sprain. Some context. I’m hearing this is not expected to be a long term injury, but I’m also hearing this isn’t expected to be a one or even two game injury. The Jazz may have to go some games without their starting center[/URL]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba"]Twitter Tjonesonthenba[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

how does he go from probable to this? I assume Olynyk will start which might help them. Yurtseven!

[url]https://kslsports.com/507335/utah-jazz-fall-to-indiana-did-new-starting-lineup-help/[/url]

[QUOTE]It wasn’t a perfect night from Clarkson who still had six turnovers, far too many for a guard with his talent, but it was a step in the right direction for the veteran’s confidence.

[/QUOTE]

of what talent? He averages 4. Awful down the stretch while Lauri sat around just hoping to touch the ball. He has to go!

[QUOTE]“The Pacers ended up scoring 74 points in the paint,” Hardy said after the game. “The commitment to team defense has to improve.”

[/QUOTE]

good thing Kessler was out and helped their spacing! Where was Yurtseven?

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/8/23949517/utah-jazz-can-walker-kessler-and-john-collins-successfully-play-together[/url]

The fact that anyone thought this would work in today's game is the scary part. I thought Danny had a clue? Might be time to retire

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/08/will-hardy-should-absolutely-be-on-the-hot-seat-after-a-disastrous-start-for-the-utah-jazz/[/url]

definitely seems to be in over his head. Even he admits how much Conley meant last year. I think Dunn could give you some of that but he doesn't like Dunn. He does love The Bum though! :cry:

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/08/the-utah-jazz-need-to-move-on-from-jordan-clarkson/[/url]

yep

[url]https://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/roster[/url]

guess the final roster though there will be many changes I'm sire throughout the year as always

[url]https://kslsports.com/507320/utah-jazz-mailbag-will-hendricks-help-jazz-defense/[/url]

[QUOTE]Now, that doesn’t mean rookies can’t have an impact defensively. Last season Walker Kessler helped the Jazz as a rim protector, blocking more than two shots a game.

[/QUOTE]

and as we've seen he's not really that good. Can't guard in space and the scouting report is out

[QUOTE]But, with Keyonte George taking over the starting job in Indiana, the Jazz are probably happy to let him eat up most of the minutes at point guard as he develops into a pillar of the franchise.

[/QUOTE]

Ideally a vet would be behind him and Hardy doesn't like Dunn for some reason

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/8/23949517/utah-jazz-can-walker-kessler-and-john-collins-successfully-play-together[/url]

[QUOTE]So that brings us back to where the Jazz will find themselves in a few weeks, when Kessler is back on the court. The question that was hanging over the team before the season even started is one that still needs answering. Can the Jazz successfully play Kessler and Collins together? And if so, what does it look like?

[/QUOTE]

no and no one should have expected it. We saw last year three bigs wasn't the way to go unless you have Gobert and McDaniels. The bigger problem will remain The Bum though

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2023/11/9/23954950/utah-jazz-vs-memphis-grizzlies-preview-injury-report-game-info-what-to-watch[/url]

[QUOTE]I want to see if Keyonte George in his second start will be a little bit more aggressive. The 9 assists were awesome, the only 1 turnover was nice, and the 8 shots and only 3 threes weren’t my favorite. I’d like to see Keyonte be a little more aggressive in finding his shot. I watched Keyonte on Wednesday get separation multiple times and he wouldn’t shoot it, I hope he shoots a lot more on Friday night.

[/QUOTE]

having a guard that is getting it to the guy they should be getting it too in Lauri isn't a problem. The Bum, Talen and Sexton certainly aren't that guy. Dunn is but Hardy

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/09/jordan-clarkson-isnt-good-enough-to-start-let-alone-be-the-star-of-the-team/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Why does Will Hardy keep letting Jordan Clarkson shoot like he’s Steph Curry when he plays defense like, well, Jordan Clarkson?[/h][/QUOTE]

sadly his D has been the best thing he's offering. The dribbling, gunning, passing are another story all together

[QUOTE]If Clarkson was just a sixth-man, or even rotation guy off the bench, you take it, because those guys are only usually on the team because they excel at just one thing. But Clarkson isn’t just a bench guy getting minutes in a rotation; he’s supposedly the second-best player on the team.

[/QUOTE]

he sucks regardless

[QUOTE]Despite the fact that Markkanen has historically been a better shooter. If Markkanen is the face of this team, then he should get shots like he is. Giving Clarkson 26 shots is a problem. Especially since he took only three from behind the arc.

[/QUOTE]

again only 3 bricks from 3 is a positive for The Bum

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/09/the-utah-jazz-cant-afford-to-play-talen-horton-tucker-anymore/[/url]

He's young with upside unlike The Bum

[QUOTE]Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker are holding the Utah Jazz back. And while Clarkson has value as a bench scorer who can shoot the ball in bunches over a short amount of time, the fact is that Horton-Tucker is unplayable. The two men may have different styles, but they have similar personalities. They both take too many shots for how badly they’re scoring the ball, they’re both terrible passers who turn the ball over far too much and they’re both not good defenders who give up too many points.

[/QUOTE]

I believe Talen has been one of their better defenders and has a lot of potential at that end. His shooting is the big question

[QUOTE]Clarkson seemingly turns the ball over more often by careless with the ball. He’ll charge the paint, as he tends to do, and will stop looking to pass out, only for him to cough up the ball. Horton-Tucker will just throw it to the wrong team [URL="https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/08/will-hardy-should-absolutely-be-on-the-hot-seat-after-a-disastrous-start-for-the-utah-jazz/"]more often than not.[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

trying to pass is his biggest problem and also the over dribbling which ends up dribbling the ball off himself

[QUOTE]Neither man can run the offense, but at least Clarkson makes him a viable player to get just under 20 minutes a night, just as long as he’s coming off the bench, with the second unit, and giving him the most shots of the bench guys.

[/QUOTE]

rather have Sexton or Talen taking the shots off the bench. Sexton is just betterr and Talen has some potential in that role too

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/09/better-offense-lots-turnovers-utah-jazz/[/url]

[QUOTE]Kris Dunn had 7 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, and no turnovers in 12 minutes. He needs more time and opportunities.

[/QUOTE]

hard to imagine it changing. No matter how he plays Hardy obviously isn't a fan and why would he be when he's got The Bum instead!!! :cry:

[QUOTE] Tony Jones: Jordan Clarkson on the Jazz playing their first in season tournament game: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Treat it like a playoff game[/URL]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba"]Twitter Tjonesonthenba[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

uh oh

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/10/rebuild-or-not-the-utah-jazz-were-not-supposed-to-be-this-bad/[/url]

[QUOTE]Could they really not replace Conley in the offseason? Was Vanderbilt that important to the Jazz’s defense? If so, it begs to reason why they were shipped out of town in the first place. If they weren’t, we have to ask ourselves why this squad, minus a couple of good pieces, is somehow significantly worse than[URL="https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/09/ryan-smith-takes-dig-at-michael-jordan-with-utah-jazz-wi-fi-name/"] anyone imagined.[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

their D sucked last year. Conley is obviously the missing piece

[url]https://kslsports.com/507420/utah-jazz-snap-losing-streak-with-win-over-memphis-grizzlies/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Is The Jazz Backcourt Fixed?[/h][/QUOTE]

not as long as The Bum is around :facepalm

[QUOTE]Clarkson is the Jazz’s best backcourt scorer, and over the last two games, he’s scored 59 points, a one-point uptick over his four previous performances combined.

[/QUOTE]

he shoots the most. Sexton is a better scorer

[QUOTE]There’s still plenty of room for improvement in George’s career, but he’s making his teammates’ lives easier and has helped balance the guard rotation, no small feat considering the early season struggles.

[/QUOTE]

the fact that he was a scorer not a pure pg is the impressive part. Looks like he'll be one of the best playmakers in the league shortly

[QUOTE]It was eerily reminiscent of the Jazz Game Six collapse against the Los Angeles Clippers when Rudy Gobert wouldn’t leave the paint to defend Terance Man in the corners leading to seven made threes, and a career-high 39 points.

[/QUOTE]

you mean when he had two choices leave the paint and defend the 3 or let the Clippers have a lay up line at the rim because he had no help?

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/11/the-next-8-games-are-going-to-be-crucial-for-the-utah-jazz/[/url]

[QUOTE]Anything less than a 6-2 record during the next eight games should be seen as a disappointment. If the Jazz can finish this stretch of very winnable games at or around.500, then the season may not be as far out of reach yet as we had once feared.

[/QUOTE]

You're dreaming! Have you been watching this team? :roll:

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/11/gordon-hayward-utah-jazz-heading-reunion/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Rumors have Gordon Hayward on the trade block in Charlotte. Should the Utah Jazz explore bringing him back?[/h][/QUOTE]

I think it would be hilarious especially if it was for fan favorite The Bum! :cheers:

[QUOTE]The Jazz need to clear a logjam at the guard positions, which moving THT and Sexton would accomplish. This would open minutes for Keyonte George, Ochai Agbaji, Kris Dunn, and even Josh Christopher from the G-League alongside Clarkson for the time being. Hayward could also provide spot minutes at SG if needed.

[/QUOTE]

The Bum is the one that needs to go with Simone and either Talen or Sexton or possibly Collins.

Stars got owned. Hendricks sat 2nd half. Not sure what happened. He looks like a high IQ guy. Had a great block. Sensabuagh wasn't very efficient and turned it over a lot but got a bunch of points, assists and boards. Christopher started at the 1. Another inefficient gunner it would appear. No Juzang. Guess he's with the Jazz?

Towns in attendance

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/research-statistics-analytics/2023/11/12/23958499/keyonte-george-nba-stats-first-two-starts-utah-jazz-chris-paul-tyrese-haliburton-lamelo-ball[/url]

[QUOTE]Conley didn’t start until game 31, but in those first two starts, he averaged: 8.5 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds on 1.5 turnovers per game. He shot 43% from the field and 20% from three. Other starters were: Pao Gasol, Rudy Gay, Darko Milicic, and Mike Miller.

[/QUOTE]

I remember him being considered a bit of a bust early on in his career before he really put it together

[QUOTE]Just like Keyonte George, Deron Williams got the start on game 9 and it was a good one. Williams averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds with 5 turnovers per game.

[/QUOTE]

Didn't he get benched? Remember him playing behind McLeod and Palacio

[QUOTE]This is an exciting one because you can see that Haliburton also avoided turning the ball over. There’s little doubt that George will start scoring more, but it’s neat to see he’s stacking up pretty well.

[/QUOTE]

he's already looking like one of the best pure pgs like Haliburton which is the best part considering he was more of a gunner coming in

The assists to TO is impressive and he looks like he could be a plus defender eventually too. The scoring and shooting should come in time. Get rid of The Bum and either Sexton or Talen

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/12/this-john-collins-highlight-shows-what-the-utah-jazz-can-really-be/[/url]

[QUOTE]Especially if George continues to make huge passes like he’s been doing while avoiding turning over the ball. George tossing lobs to Collins and fellow forward Lauri Markkanen could be a big key weapon going forward, and one we hope to see a lot more of.

[/QUOTE]

ultimately isn't going to work with Kessler

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/12/3-young-players-getting-minutes-utah-jazz/[/url]

[QUOTE]Collin Sexton is a better player than Jordan Clarkson. By all metrics, by all measurements, by everything you want to observe or read into, he’s better. He’s a more reliable scorer (.588 true shooting for Sexton, .489 true shooting for Clarkson), he’s a better defender (-4.1 DPBM for Sexton, -4.4 DBPM for Clarkson), and he turns the ball over far less (2.0 for Sexton to 3.7 for Clarkson).

[/QUOTE]

tell me who isn't better than The Bum?

[QUOTE]Yes, he’s Sexton’s bad on defense, but so is Clarkson. And Sexton is cheaper, more efficient, and can still grow as a player. We know what Clarkson is, he’s hit his peak and it makes no sense to play him over Sexton. Especially when they play similar styles

[/QUOTE]

that's the biggest thing to me. Say what you will about Sexton or Talen or whoever they are young with upside. The Bum is over 30 and has always sucked

[QUOTE]He’s also doing it without turning the ball over, posting just 1.7 turnovers per game. So while he’s struggling to score, he’s still able to pass the ball without turning it over, and right now that’s what the Jazz need more than anything; a stable ball handler who can engage with the offense.

[/QUOTE]

he's not shooting a ton lot an old school pass first pg unlike The Bum who shoots a lot no matter what

[QUOTE]Now that he’s seemingly in the starting lineup going forward this may not be a big issue. Now, Will Hardy has shown to be a bit unpredictable with his lineups and rotations, but it seems obvious Agbaji is the way to go. But we’ll have to wait and see.

[/QUOTE]

Will he be starting once Kessler comes back? Probably not. He should certainly be playing and starting though

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/12/what-is-the-utah-jazzs-most-pressing-issue-this-season/[/url]

[QUOTE]Also, it should be noted that defense is a skill while turning over the ball is just poor play. One you can easily fix, the other you may need to get some help for. The Jazz may need to make some trades to seriously upgrade their defense. That may not be needed to just teach guys to not pass the ball to the wrong team.

[/QUOTE]

Start Agbaji and Dunn and bring Collins off the bench once Kessler is back. Get rid of The Bum and either Seton or Talen. Hendricks will probably be in the rotation by the end of the year. Some actual wings instead of 7 footers masquerading as wings would be nice too!

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2023/11/11/the-next-8-games-are-going-to-be-crucial-for-the-utah-jazz/[/url]

2-6 seems likely unless their is a coaching change

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/salt-city-seven-adjusting-sans-kessler-key-lineup-change-sunday-stuff-more/[/url]

[QUOTE][B]John Collins[/B]. Collins has played a lot of center throughout his career, but the reality about him is that he’s probably best as a defensive 5 and an offensive 4. Now, he’s going to have to function more like a full-time center. Opponents shoot 62% at the rim with him defending, which is lower than league average but nowhere near Kessler’s domain. Though it’s worth mentioning they shot 10-of-20 against Collins in the two games without Kessler, so maybe he’s showing he can hold the fort for a minute. He has four blocks in Memphis.

[/QUOTE]

backup center might have to be his role once Kessler is back if they can get him to accept it or he's going to have to be traded. Can't go back to 3 bigs starting at least until Hendricks is ready

[QUOTE]The combined efficiency differential of all non-Kessler lineups so far this year is -0.7, which is actually quite a bit better than the team mark of -8.2. Interestingly, all of the positive sans-Kessler lineups (min. 10 possessions) involve Olynyk.

[/QUOTE]

him and Collins have certainly been their best players outside Lauri. Not sure how him and Collins fit once Hendricks and Sensabaugh are in the mix

[QUOTE][B]Jordan Clarkson[/B]. The geometry of the floor is going to look a little different now for Clarkson, and that could be a good thing as Clarkson looks to reignite the flame. He’s shooting a career-low 39% (.489 true shooting), and while a lot of that is due to a 3-point shooting slump, he’s also having one of his worst seasons ever at the rim and in floater range. Maybe having fewer bodies present as he carves and wiggles his way through the paint will give him a chance to fine tune things. Besides, if the Jazz spend more time playing literal five-out basketball, that’s going to increase the importance of guys who can break down a defender 1-on-1, and on this roster that primarily means Clarkson and his bench analog, Collin Sexton.

[/QUOTE]

he's awful. Has to go!

[QUOTE]The Jazz probably won’t be asking anything wildly different of Lauri Markkanen on offense, although on defense he might have to spend more time in front of larger bodies. Ochai Agbaji and Keyonte George will get more minutes given the wing reshuffle that resulted from Kessler’s absence, but their development checklists still likely look roughly the same as before.

[/QUOTE]

Lauri needs to be at the 4 or 5 period! Agbaji should start probably at the 3 just because they don't have anyone else there right now. I'd probably start Dunn with George behind him but the kid is good!

[QUOTE]Remember how big a deal we made last year of Markkanen’s ability to assault the rim while also pouring in 200+ threes? Turns out he’s having an even better year this year in both departments: his 75% percentage inside three feet and his 44.6% 3-point percentage are both career bests by a wide margin.

[/QUOTE]

too bad he's standing around hoping The Bum will give up the ball

Stars with maybe the biggest blow out I've seen against the young Ignite at home.

Sensabaugh showing a lot but he's turning it over a lot. Only averaged 1 assist in college so being a playmaker is still new to him

Hendricks isn't as dynamicc of an offfensive player but seems more likely to be able to step in and play a role sooner with D and shooting. He's a high iq high energy guy

Potter is solid if he ever gets called upon by the Jazz. Not sure he has much of an NBA future though

Christopher was a lot better. He's athletic and I'd say still learning to be a 1? Too many turnovers but that's Hardy ball apparently!

Kinsey was impressive. Might be after Potter or Juzang's spot

Stars got blown out on the back to back. The rooks weren't too good on their first back to back understandably. Get the same team in a couple days

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50789455/how-the-jazz-held-an-opponent-under-100-points-for-the-first-time-in-the-will-hardy-era[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz started the season relying on a defense centered around Walker Kessler's ability to protect the rim; it didn't go great. Hardy saw plenty of times perimeter players would use Kessler as a crutch — a crutch that was limited with an injured elbow and poor timing.

[/QUOTE]

sounds strangely familiar? Too bad Kessler can't guard in space