2020-21 Regular season- The tax team

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast[/URL]

[QUOTE][B]Can the Utah Jazz win an NBA title?[/B]

[/QUOTE]

yep if the coach could do what he needs to do and he can't as we saw last year against the Nuggets

[QUOTE][I]The NBA isn’t focusing on the Jazz, are they right to ignore them?[/I]


[/QUOTE]

ignore no? Dismiss sure

[QUOTE]Then we talk about the state of the Utah Jazz. Just how good are they? Are they getting disrespected by the NBA not focusing on them, or is that disrespect warranted. What are the players that will make a difference for the Jazz? Is Bojan Bogdanovic the key to everything? Does seeding matter? If the Jazz get the 1 seed and face the Lakers in the second round, is that what you want?


[/QUOTE]

Bojan is certainly a key. If Snyder sticks with him instead of going to better defensive players who actually play big than it will be hard to win. They don't want the Lakers for this very reason

[QUOTE]We then discuss the playoffs. What do that Jazz need to do in the next month to prepare for the playoffs and what do we need to see from them to see them become a real contender? Who is the Jazz’s biggest road block in the Western Conference?


[/QUOTE]

COTY, Mitchell, Bojan, Clarkson and Favors are their biggest roadblocks

[QUOTE]Last season, AD was one of only two players in the league who ranked top-5 in both OWS and DWS (Rudy Gobert was the other). And LeBron is still a legit MVP candidate even with the injuries, which is absolutely remarkable considering he’s in his 45th season.
I wouldn’t put them top-5 this regular season, but they both easily were last season and it isn’t crazy to think that they will both be top-5 in the playoffs.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Kira%20Argonova"]Kira Argonova[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast#539274536"]Apr 24, 2021 | 8:14 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

and Gobert isn't even the best player on his team! :lol

[QUOTE]He played on some atrocious teams in NO, and he has thrived in LA.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/cardsinindy2010"]cardsinindy2010[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast#539277798"]Apr 24, 2021 | 10:34 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

and if he was as great as he's supposed to be they would have been better anyway

[QUOTE]I think if your goal Is simply to get to the WCF or Finals over everything else, you want to play whichever LA team is more banged up. If Lebron isn’t healthy then Lakers. If Clippers ibaka and their PG are still injured then I’ll take the clippers. Otherwise to be it doesn’t matter and I think I want them to beat both LA teams to get to the finals. Might as well prove them all wrong. I think the Jazz can do it. They just need Bogey and Clarkson playing well and Oneale to make 1-2 3’s per game on average. Clippers to me are now easier to guard with Rondo instead of Lou for the Jazz. And Lakers weakness on D is the 3 point shot if they have one. So there is a chance we g get hot and beat them too and they don’t have a lot of depth. Their center spot is either AD which makes matchups easier and gives them less versatility OR Drummond which is a win for Gobert

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/brianH85"]brianH85[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast#539274343"]Apr 24, 2021 | 8:05 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

don't want the Lakers if Lebron and Davis are healthy

[QUOTE] I don’t want to have anything to do with Steph Curry.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/JMBDog"]JMBDog[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast#539275049"]Apr 24, 2021 | 8:37 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

first round shouldn't be close regardless

[QUOTE]Quin has done so many things to get this team to the TOP of the NBA. He’ll finish 3rd behind Thibodeau and Monty Williams from what I can tell. What ******* garbage once again from the NBA hive mind. I’m pissed.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Dye"]Alex Dye[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/23/22400687/can-the-utah-jazz-win-an-nba-title-slc-punks-slc-dunk-podcast#539276098"]Apr 24, 2021 | 9:23 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

done so much to hold them back from their true potential

[QUOTE]Boomers star [URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]Joe Ingles has confirmed he will compete at the Tokyo Olympics no matter how far his Utah Jazz side progresses in the NBA playoffs.[/URL] In a major boost for the Boomers, Ingles declared he will be a certain starter for Australia even if the Jazz reach Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which would finish a day before the Olympic Opening Ceremony on July 22.
– via [URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]Matt Logue @ Daily Telegraph
[/URL]




[URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]“There is no chance that I’m missing the Olympics,” Ingles told Shane Heal’s Basketball Show, with the full interview to be released this Tuesday via dailytelegraph.com.au. “I’d have a few beers on the plane heading over there (to Tokyo), and then obviously I’d get right into Boomers mode.[/URL] It is what it is. When you get into that lockeroom and you see your Boomers jersey hanging up, there is no better feeling. So, I could go off no sleep and seven games in a row and I’d find the energy to throw it on and play.”
– via [URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]Matt Logue @ Daily Telegraph[/URL]




[URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]“I think this year (with COVID) we’ve got to adjust and be adaptable to different situations and I think it is going to be the same with the Olympics,” he said. “I’m assuming it will almost be like a bubble scenario like we just had in the NBA,[/URL] where we will get tested, but we’ll just have to adjust. So, if that is what it is, me getting on a plane then and as soon as I do, I’ll get locked into that mode and get ready.”
– via [URL="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/tokyo-2021-boomers-star-joe-ingles-commits-to-olympics-despite-potential-clash-with-nba-season/news-story/df6521e8040be767aa9d07ea9db51cde"]Matt Logue @ Daily Telegraph[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

doubt you'll have to worry about a finals game 7

A few weeks ago, [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Finch stressed to his players that he wanted them to “play through” Karl-Anthony Towns, the team’s starting center and another former No. 1 overall pick. Edwards took the message to heart.[/URL] “He kind of went through this period where he wasn’t aggressive at all because he was just trying to get the ball to KAT all the time,” Finch said, referring to Towns by his nickname.
– via [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Scott Cacciola @ New York Times[/URL]



After Finch got the job, he talked to Edwards about eliminating some of the low-percentage shots cluttering his games — the midrange pull-ups and the 3-pointers that he was launching off the dribble. [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Finch wanted him to get to the rim, seek contact and attempt more catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, because he was already making a solid percentage of those. “We wanted him to be more efficient,” Finch said. “So much about being a good shooter is getting rid of the bad shots.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Scott Cacciola @ New York Times[/URL]



There was an interaction with an Irish reporter that went viral after his accent drew admiration from Edwards — “I want to learn how to talk like that,” he said — and, more recently, the rookie’s introduction to Alex Rodriguez, who is nearing a deal to become one of the Timberwolves’ new owners. “I don’t know who that is,” Edwards said in a call with reporters this month. [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Edwards has since familiarized himself with Rodriguez’s body of work (he used to play baseball), and they even had an exchange on social media. “He was like: ‘What’s up, Anthony? I’m Alex,’” Edwards said. “And I was like, ‘What’s good?’”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/sports/basketball/anthony-edwards-timberwolves.html"]Scott Cacciola @ New York Times[/URL]



Dane Moore: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jaylen Nowell has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game[/URL] in Utah. Nowell has missed the last four games with a lingering tibia issue.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/DaneMooreNBA"]Twitter DaneMooreNBA[/URL]

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/24/22401076/utah-jazz-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-can-the-jazz-overcome-the-pesky-wolves[/url]

[QUOTE]The Wolves are a tough matchup for the Jazz because of Karl Anthony Towns. The all-NBA and two time all star is tough for Gobert to guard because he can take his game outside and knock down three just about as well as any center in the league. He is also a good passer, even though his assist numbers aren’t off the charts. As great as Gobert is, it is hard to defend someone that is a threat from anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. The Wolves also pose a problem for the Jazz with difficult to defend guards such as DeAngelo Russell and Malik Beasley, although Beasley will miss this game with a hamstring injury. The Wolves come into this game on the tail end of a frustrating season having lost 4 of their last 6 games and a loss in their last game against Sacramento after leading by double digits in the 4th quarter, “[it’s]..very deflating” said Wolves guard Naz Reid after the loss. We’ll see if the Wolves can find another gutsy performance in Salt Lake City tonight.

[/QUOTE]

Towns has to defend too :roll:

That game showed where we'll struggle, even if we do have Mitchell in the playoffs. Ball screens may work, but you can't keep doing it to generate scores when the opposition switches to cut that off.

Conley said they should have been more aggressive in driving to the basket once they started that, but basically we're relying on Mitchell and Clarkson going hot for at least 4 games in every playoff series at this point while being able to stop the opposition the other way, which we showed against the Nuggets last year we couldn't do.

[QUOTE=El Kabong;14301353]That game showed where we'll struggle, even if we do have Mitchell in the playoffs. Ball screens may work, but you can't keep doing it to generate scores when the opposition switches to cut that off.

Conley said they should have been more aggressive in driving to the basket once they started that, but basically we're relying on Mitchell and Clarkson going hot for at least 4 games in every playoff series at this point while being able to stop the opposition the other way, which we showed against the Nuggets last year we couldn't do.[/QUOTE]

Clarkson isn't the answer to anything. They scored plenty against Denver except in game 7. Defense was the problem

[url]https://kslsports.com/458226/timberwolves-sweep-jazz-in-utah-with-strong-defensive-effort/[/url]

[QUOTE]With 13 games left to play in the regular season and a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs, the Jazz coming up short against the second-worst team in the NBA is undeniably a concern.


[/QUOTE]

Snyder not doing anything is the concern.

[QUOTE]Additionally, when the Jazz have struggled this season, it’s often been a result of opposing teams beating them on the offensive glass and forcing them into turnovers as they did far too often against Minnesota.


[/QUOTE]

too bad there isn't a PF on the team they could throw in there :facepalm

[QUOTE]While Towns steps out to the three-point line to draw Gobert away from the rim, Edwards and Russell were able to repeatedly able to attack the Jazz perimeter defenders getting all the way to the rim for easy lay-ins. Whoever their first-round opponent ends up being, the Jazz are likely going to find a better defensive matchup than they do with Minnesota.


[/QUOTE]

are they? Other teams will try to get Rudy away from the rim if they are smart.

[QUOTE]Second, and most importantly, the Jazz should likely have [URL="https://kslsports.com/458189/donovan-mitchell-will-miss-at-least-another-week-with-ankle-injury/"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL] back in the lineup come playoff time. The guard missed his fourth consecutive game for the Jazz and his absence was glaring.


[/QUOTE]

oh joy!

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/4/24/22392121/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-blow-17-point-lead-lose-minnesota-timberwolves-bojan-bogdanovic-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]Nearly everything that the Jazz did well, they did in the first quarter when they scored 40 points. Royce O’Neale opened the game with a steal and a 3-pointer, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson were all moving, cutting, driving, shooting and it all looked great. Then the Jazz kind of stopped.

[/QUOTE]

the defense was good 2 of the 3 remaining quarters

[QUOTE]Niang was one of the few Jazz players that seemed like he had good shot selection and wasn’t hesitant when he got the ball. While a small high note, it’s probably not the one you want to see here and he only took six shots.

[/QUOTE]

so why doesn't the coach play him more and sit Clarkson?

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell’s floral sideline apparel was probably the highlight of this game. That’s not great.

[/QUOTE]

oh yeah that was great :facepalm

[QUOTE]Minnesota was running so much on the baseline and didn’t seem to get any kind of resistance from the Jazz. Credit to the Wolves for going with a ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach. Zero credit to the Jazz for not fixing what was broken.

[/QUOTE]

that's on COTY

[QUOTE]For the second time this season, official Bill Kennedy suffered an injury during a Jazz game at Vivint. Obviously hope that Kennedy is ok, especially considering that it’s his second injury here in Salt Lake City. Also, the lack of a third official makes the game harder to call for the two officials left on the court. Not great from any angle.

[/QUOTE]

that's what I thought

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/24/22401827/utah-jazz-lose-a-bad-one-against-the-minnesota-timberwolves[/url]

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell is the epicenter of this offense. He’s the thing that stirs this pot and without him at the end of games it’s clear that the Jazz don’t quite know what to do. Utah needs to fix the effort issue with rebounding and turnovers (although with Bogdanovic at the 4 I don’t know how much better their rebounding can get) but there is some solace in knowing that when their best player gets back, they’ll have things locked in again like it should be.


[/QUOTE]

they're in trouble. Maybe they should let Ingles and Conley play with the ball when Mitchell comes back so they do know what to do. Bojan isn't the 4. Ersan, Morgan and Bratley were available though!

[QUOTE]It’s hard to give out an MVP in a bad loss like this one, so this is more of a silver lining but Bojan Bogdanovic took 13 3-pointers. That’s a big deal because he’s been very hesitant this season to shoo the 3. If Bogdanovic can shoot like this when Mitchell comes back, the Jazz offense has incredible potential for the playoffs (with whatever seed the Jazz end up with.)



[/QUOTE]

they're D will be in trouble though

[QUOTE]At #27 the Jazz selected Azubuike, a powerful and long defensive center, who most draft prognosticators projected to be selected in the late 30s/early 40s of the draft—in part due to his upper-classman status.
It appeared like the Jazz could have selected McDaniels, a player who plays a position of need for the Jazz, and then selected Azubuike in the second round of the draft—especially since the Jazz traded back in the first round of the draft and could have used that trade to get a higher 2nd round pick to get Azubuike.
McDaniels has been playing like a lottery pick for Minnesota while Azubuike has been injured most of the season for the Jazz with a high ankle sprain—including a week or so ago when the Jazz had to start Ersan Ilyasova at center and had a bad loss to the Lakers solely due to a lack of size (with both Rudy and Derrick out with injuries), and no player to counter the size of Andre Drummond.
Hopefully the 2020 draft for the Jazz—with the Jazz selecting Azubuike one pick before McDanieks—won’t turn out like the 2015 draft in which the Jazz selected Trey Lyles (a big lottery bust) one pick before Devin Booker (who has developed into an all-star).

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Fesenko%20for%20President"]Fesenko for President[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/24/22401827/utah-jazz-lose-a-bad-one-against-the-minnesota-timberwolves#539313593"]Apr 25, 2021 | 8:29 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Center was what they needed. Already had Morgan and Brantley. McDaniels wouldn't be playing either. Lyles made sense as well

[QUOTE]I really wish that when we paid $10m a year for a backup center, Nerlens Noel or somebody with a less calcified body got a phone call. Love me some Favs, but dude has looked a little washed for stretches of the year. Makes me sad.
-I really thought the loss of Bill Kennedy hurt us. The game became way more physical and mostly from the Timberwolves. We just don’t have a physical player on the team other than maybe Donovan, whose only able to be that way with the ball. They pushed us off our spots, dudes got hesitant, and it became a slogfest.
-The turnovers are the biggest issue this team has heading into the playoffs.
Ugly.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Karl%20Stalone%2032"]Karl Stalone 32[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/24/22401827/utah-jazz-lose-a-bad-one-against-the-minnesota-timberwolves#539309937"]Apr 25, 2021 | 3:42 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

I really wish they would have spent the 10 million on a starting 4. Mitchell is hardly physical. O'Neale is it as far as guys Snyder will play anyway. Clarkson, Bojan, Mitchell and Snyder are their biggest problems

[QUOTE]I am partly chalking this one up as a scheduling loss. We left town last Friday evening, played 3 games and would have got home late Wednesday.
Leave again tomorrow, play 3 games, get home late Friday night after Phoenix and play Saturday against Toronto. That game could be ugly too.
My theory is the guys returning home for those 2 days probably jam-packed full with wife and kid activities was more of a distraction than being helpful. But the guys being vets I also think they will come out on Monday with a much more focused effort and we win easily.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/SKMike"]SKMike[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/4/24/22401827/utah-jazz-lose-a-bad-one-against-the-minnesota-timberwolves#539310620"]Apr 25, 2021 | 5:08 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

had 2 full days off!

JD Shaw: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The Jazz could clinch a playoff spot if the Blazers lose to the Grizzlies today[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JShawNBA"]Twitter JShawNBA[/URL]

[QUOTE]Josh Robbins: Acting head coach Tyrone Corbin said [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Wendell Carter Jr. will start tonight but will have a minutes restriction after missing one game due to a sore ankle[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins"]Twitter JoshuaBRobbins[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

you go Ty

Ben Anderson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The @Utah Jazz have clinched a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season under Quin Snyder[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]

Overall, Gobert is playing the best basketball of his career, and that also hasn’t been particularly close. And it shows up in the impact. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2541627/2021/04/26/the-mvp-cases-for-and-against-donovan-mitchell-and-rudy-gobert/?source=rss"]With Gobert on the floor, the Jazz are almost 16 points per 100 possessions better than the collective opposition.[/URL] Without him on the floor, they are two points worse than the opposition. Defensively, he’s turned in signature performances that have been astounding. When the Jazz needed to rally from a 17 point deficit to the Indiana Pacers, Gobert’s defense in that second half was so good that the Pacers collectively couldn’t generate good shots. When Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond dominated the Jazz recently with a 27-point effort in a game Gobert didn’t play, Gobert came back into the lineup a few nights later and held Drummond to eight points.
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2541627/2021/04/26/the-mvp-cases-for-and-against-donovan-mitchell-and-rudy-gobert/?source=rss"]Tony Jones, Seth Partnow, Tony Jones and Seth Partnow @ The Athletic[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/458187/clarkson-ingles-sixth-man/[/url]

Where's JC in WARP? :facepalm

[QUOTE]“I think those two guys complement each other really well in that sense that,” Snyder said. “JC has been able to see some of the playmaking stuff that Joe does and Joe has been able to see Jordan’s aggressiveness. And hopefully, they both encourage each other to play defense.”

[/QUOTE]

Joe's definitely been more aggressive. Not seeing the rest COTY

[url]https://kslsports.com/458263/mike-conley-produced-two-distant-strangers-wins-oscar/[/url]

congrats