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

Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the league sent a memo to teams to begin preparation to play in arenas without fans and only with essential personnel present. This was the latest, most drastic step. They have already sent instructions about which quotidian precautions to take, and players have tried to follow suit and follow along. Each, though, has their thoughts on how cautious they should be. [URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]Emmanuel Mudiay, a Jazz guard, has stopped shaking hands. Mike Conley walked through Utah’s locker in New York City Wednesday elbow bumping a teammate. Elfrid Payton is trying to fist pound more and wash his hands frequently[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]Mike Vorkunov @ The Athletic[/URL]

The NBA is a touchy sport. Teammates share elaborate handshakes. Players dap and fist bump and sometimes trade jerseys. They give fans autographs using their markers. Hugs are a constant. It’s not unusual for players to enter and leave the court through a tunnel draped by fans with their arms extended, all looking for some kind of physical and personal contact. [URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]“I always hated doing that just because people are nasty, man. You know what I mean?” the Jazz’s Ed Davis said, stretching out his hands. “You don’t know who washes their hands, the type of nasty s— people doing.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]Mike Vorkunov @ The Athletic[/URL]


[URL="https://*********.com/storyline/coronavirus/"]Davis is informed but not overly worried. [/URL][URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]“I think it’s just more everybody is in panic mode,” he said. “The flu is way worse than this new virus. It is what it is. It’s not really going to get serious until somebody in the NBA catches it. That’s when it’s going to be a problem.[/URL] That’s when it’s going to alert m———– or if it started doing what they’re doing overseas with no fans at the games and stuff like that. I guess in things like this it doesn’t really get serious until it hits home or something like that. So it is what it is. I can’t live my life stressing over a virus. It’s going to be what it’s going to be.”
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/1660734/2020/03/07/how-nba-players-are-changing-their-lives-as-coronavirus-spreads-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2sWUqEToU7zRSakRgcpPnBxysJo4Ksu4hOtfsw_w82FHs6VYOsScPPSuY"]Mike Vorkunov @ The Athletic[/URL]

Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert: “(OG Anunoby) tried to elbow me in the face. And the guy who’s getting paid to protect the players didn’t do his job. We both got ejected when I didn’t do anything back, which I don’t understand. Next time I’ll do justice myself so (they) can eject me for a reason.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

Eric Walden: Joe [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Ingles, upon hearing some sniffles: “Are you blowing your nose? If you’ve got this, I’m out of here. If someone coughs, I’m out of here, just so you know.”[/URL] And on the points-off-turnovers issues: “We missed a lot of shots we have made for a lot of the year.” pic.twitter.com/olhdGADxx7

[QUOTE]-Some terrible mental defensive lapses on the perimeter in this game. At the end of the first, I think, we weren’t paying attention to the two-for-one and gave up a three, which happened again in the second quarter. When you figure in a Kyle Lowry bomb at the end of the shot clock in the fourth, those nine points are the game. Guys need to pay attention to clock and situation. Every team shoots those threes with any airspace.
-There was a real hesitation to attack the length and athleticism of the Raptors. Multiple times in transition we didn’t even attempt the shot, like when Conley got the steal and had Siakam behind him, or when Jordan Clarkson attacked a weak Susie closeout from a four-foul Siakam and then botched the layup with Pascal semi-closing space behind him, or when Bogie went for some weak sauce, two-footed layup for no reason and wanted the refs to bail him out with a foul on a two-on-one fast break. Plus, you figure some bad luck with finishing in the paint from several Jazz players and we left at least 12-14 points at the rim tonight.
[/QUOTE]Even worse was them going back to the floaters that killed them to start the year

[QUOTE]-Great defensive and offensive games from Joe and Royce. These two are the key to us winning a playoff series because of their defense.
-A lot of missed open threes that could have swung this game.
-Donovan was straight MIA for this one. He seemed to be feasting when ASB ended and the rest of the team was still in the Caribbean or Mexico. Now he’s deferring, not being aggressive, and putting up some stinkers. When he’s not really attacking the rim hard, he’s taking away some of our Rudy advantage. Teams don’t want to come help off of Rudy because it leaves the rim open to offensive rebounds and they don’t want to send the secondary wave of help from the corners either. When he’s deferring, he’s helping out the defense.
-Bogie and Clarkson with some MIA games as well.
Overall, this was a great game defensively from the Jazz. I’m not worried about the offense. Had we been aggressive in some spots, I think we win this game. You sky-falling people need to check yourself. A week ago it was the defense you were worried about. It’s picked up significantly and looks to be really encouraging, actually. The offense put up a stinker which is an outlier for this team, and Toronto is really good.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Karl%20Stalone%2032"]Karl Stalone 32[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525280677"]Mar 10, 2020 | 3:24 AM[/URL]
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Yep if they play D like that they are a tough out

[QUOTE]Why I was frustrated when twice Q just didn’t roll with the bench longer in both halves when they were playing well. Let’s use our depth at altitude against a team on a b2b.
I’m not an advocate of load management as practiced by Kawhi but when there are clear examples where it can be done in game just based on production and energy Q should take advantage. He doesn’t have to worry about chemistry or egos, etc as players clearly know their roles.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/SKMike"]SKMike[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525280951"]Mar 10, 2020 | 4:19 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

the common theme seems to Quin for some reason. I thought he was one of the best? :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE][B]No secret that I'm not a Rudy fan[/B]


I think that Rudy is not a great piece for the Jazz.
If the Jazz want to be better, they need a better foundational guy.
As it is the Jazz try to force the team to play around him, he’s not skilled enough in ALL areas to do that.
So the Jazz will keep doing the same thing in the same ways, and get confused when they get the same mediocre results

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/AdMan59"]AdMan59[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525281344"]Mar 10, 2020 | 5:14 AM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

what piece are they getting? He's the only reason they aren't one of the worst teams in the league! :roll:

[QUOTE]The Jazz would be better without Rudy, addition by subtraction.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/AdMan59"]AdMan59[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525282161"]Mar 10, 2020 | 6:17 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

all the evidence points to them being horrible without for 5 plus years
[QUOTE]Also Quinn Snyder needs to take some blame here. If Mitchell is not playing defense and not playing well overall, its okay to sit him at the end. Sloan would have. We have a lot of weapons and a lot of shooters and sometimes if someone if playing like this, just sit him down. IT builds a lot more "team respect and unity". The thing I loved about Sloan (and my coach in Israel – Rami Hadar) was that if your were not playing defense, you were sitting quickly. The other thing I dont like about Mitchell is at the beginning of games it looks like he is just half assing it or trying to save energy. Man these possessions are important. Start hard, Start intense, or else come off the bench.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Erin%20Green"]Erin Green[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525279787"]Mar 10, 2020 | 12:11 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

but get rid of Rudy and let Mitchell carry them! :lol

[QUOTE]The defense was really good tonight against the five-out lineup. What really hurt the Jazz defensively was Rudy being pulled away from the rim all night long. I don’t understand why we run some zone with Tony Bradley against some no-name five who probably can’t shoot from three, but we don’t do it with Gobert against a legit stretch five so we can keep him close to the paint. For real, I’m baffled.
[/QUOTE]

nothing baffling just Quin

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap[/URL]

[QUOTE][URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/285728/tony-bradley"]Tony Bradley[/URL] has really come into his own the past few games. His timing and defensive reads have been improving dramatically. And yet he still gets one of the worst whistles I’ve ever seen. Apparently someone had to pick up that slack with [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/246134/dante-exum"]Dante Exum[/URL] now in Cleveland. Utah getting positive bench minutes has been a huge difference maker. I think Quin finally found a bench rotation that works. If only the starters wouldn’t come back and let the lead slip away.
[/QUOTE][INDENT][/INDENT]




Bojan shouldn't have been in the game at the end. He had a bad night and brings little if he's not scoring. They have too many other options for him to be playing on an off night.

[QUOTE]There are only 2 players in the entire NBA that have at least as high a USG% as [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/298013/donovan-mitchell"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL] and at least as low an AST%: [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/296707/dion-waiters"]Dion Waiters[/URL] and Joel Embiid. Donovan Mitchell is a special offensive talent. He can take over games and score in bunches. I love when he gets in that mode because he’s unstoppable. But I’d also love him to realize that sometimes the best shot is the one that your teammate took because your drive into the lane got them open. Facilitate the ball a little more rather than taking really difficult floaters and contested runners. This team is lethal from 3. Use that.


[/QUOTE]

Put the ball in Conley or Ingles hands and it won't be a problem :rant

[QUOTE]I think the Jazz have 7-8 really good players, lack size and athleticism.
The team as a whole lack mental toughness and focus.
Also their style/identity doesn’t mach their talent level.
Your also correct that the Jazz don’t have a top 10 player. Neither do the Raptors but they have the other things needed to contend.
Jazz are and will be mediocre as they keep doing the same things, in the same ways.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/AdMan59"]AdMan59[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/3/9/21172716/utah-jazz-lose-to-toronto-raptors-march-9-2020-game-recap#525281279"]Mar 10, 2020 | 5:07 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Might be as athletic of a Jazz team as they've ever had. They have a top player. Get him the ball! Snyder will keep doing the same things. He isn't going anywhere either! :cry:

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay are questionable for tonight’s Jazz game against OKC due to illness[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

Maybe Rudy has been sick lately? This could give Tony a chance to show he can be the man like many seem to think now :roll:

Conley struggled out of the gate. He shot 28.6% from three in October. He shot 37.4% from the floor in November. He missed floaters, a bread-and-butter shot. He wasn’t efficient in pick-and-rolls. His assist-to-turnover ratio stunk. His defense wasn’t very good. In early December, he strained a hamstring. Without him, the Jazz improved. [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]Conley doesn’t hide from questions about his problems. He’ll just tell you he doesn’t have all the answers. Sitting at his locker in Boston last week, Conley admitted the early adjustments were rough. He played 12 seasons in Memphis. He played mostly one style. Like everyone else, he heard how he was supposed to be the player to push Utah further into the postseason. Like everyone else, he believed it[/URL].
– via [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]Sports Illustrated[/URL]


“When I came into this thing, I was like, ‘man, we’ve got a lot talent.’” Conley told SI.com. “I got a lot of players here. I don’t know if I’m going to do the same things I’m going to be able to do. We have five, six guys that can start, three or four of them that can average 20 points a game. I don’t even know when I’m going to have the ball. [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]In Memphis I always had the ball. So it’s just a change of my role and, and I’m okay with that but it was hard. The public could look at it and say, ‘Oh, he’s not doing the same things he’s normally doing. He can’t do it anymore.’ But it’s like, man, I’m just trying to play the role I can play for this team that best helps us win with the talent that we have.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]Sports Illustrated[/URL]



[URL="https://*********.com/rumors/#"]Is Conley’s recent upswing sustainable? “I guess I would ask the question differently,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “Is there something that would make someone think that it’s not sustainable? [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]Because I think this is who he is … early on, there were so many things that were new to him and then as he’s beginning to kind of get comfortable, he gets hurt … him finding a rhythm with Donovan [Mitchell] and then with Joe [Ingles] and then with Bojan [Bogdanovic]. Rudy [Gobert] is probably as different a player that he’s played with as anybody. There was just a confluence of things.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/11/mike-conley-utah-jazz-resurgence-western-conference"]Sports Illustrated[/URL]
[/URL]

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/3/14/21178853/why-didnt-anyone-from-the-utah-jazz-stand-up-for-rudy-gobert-coronavirus-covid-19[/URL]

Thanks for everything Rudy. Sure beats tanking! :bowdown:

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/16/utah-jazz-tony-bradley-ed-davis-opportunities/[/URL]

May have been Morgan not Davis and Rudy wanted to play before they found out what he had

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/18/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-appreciation/[/URL]

[QUOTE]If you drop him on any team in the league, even [I]the New York freakin Knicks[/I], I guarantee you that team can make the playoffs. That’s the kind of overall impact Rudy brings to an NBA team, and that’s something we should never take for granted as Jazz fans.


[/QUOTE]

We've already seen that they are one of the worst teams in the league without him

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/20/utah-jazz-history-top-5-players-whose-numbers-arent-retired/[/URL]

Deron and Rudy

According to NBA sources, [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/why-damyean-dotsons-future-with-knicks-is-uncertain/"]three prominent organizations — the Jazz, Bucks and Warriors — are expected to show some interest in Dotson,[/URL] who made $1.6 million this season as a “3-and-D’’ prototype. “He’s got a great work ethic, leadership qualities and toughness,’’ former Knicks coach David Fizdale told The Post this week. “He’s extremely coachable and dedicated teammate. Totally committed to the culture with a consistently good attitude regardless of his minutes.’’
– via [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/why-damyean-dotsons-future-with-knicks-is-uncertain/"]Marc Berman @ New York Post[/URL]

“He plays with a high motor,’’ another NBA talent evaluator said. [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/why-damyean-dotsons-future-with-knicks-is-uncertain/"]“He lacks athleticism but he’s improved as a 3-point shooter since his rookie year. He probably has more shot-creating ability than he’s shown.’’[/URL]
– via [URL="https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/why-damyean-dotsons-future-with-knicks-is-uncertain/"]Marc Berman @ New York Post[/URL]

[URL]https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/26/utah-jazz-tony-bradley-playoffs/[/URL]

[QUOTE]Do I dare dream that he could handle the physicality of [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howardw01.html"]Dwight Howard[/URL] and [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeeja01.html"]JaVale Mcgee[/URL] in a playoff setting? Howard definitely has the edge with athleticism, and McGee has the height and weight advantage.


[/QUOTE]

who cares about height. Bradley's length is over 7'5 and he's not an idiot like McGee

[QUOTE]All of this is assuming that the Jazz would have made it past the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. In that case, TB would have had to match-up against either Nerlens Noel (underrated in my opinion) or Jeff Green (small ball 5 for Houston), his former teammate.


[/QUOTE]
or they go small with Morgan who's looked good when he's played