2020-21 Regular season- The tax team

[url]https://kslsports.com/449304/jazz-face-tough-test-to-open-season-against-portland-trail-blazers/[/url]

[QUOTE]Both small market franchises pack considerable star power entering the season. The Jazz are led by stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, while the Portland welcomes superstar guard and former Weber State product Damian Lillard back to the roster.


[/QUOTE]

highly questionable if Mitchell is as good as non all star McCollum. Mitchell is a better free throw shooter and gets there more. Mitchell turns it over more. The same or McCollum is better everywhere else

[QUOTE]Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Jazz should have their full roster available to them on opening night. Guard Joe Ingles was given a false positive test for COVID-19 over the weekend but was back with the team after clearing protocol on Tuesday.


[/QUOTE]

good new I guess

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020[/url]

[QUOTE]What!? A rotation player!? That’s it! This guy has improved his scoring every single year in the league and averaged over 20 points per game last season. And made it seem ridiculously easy at times. A 5 year market value of 17.2 million. LOL. We are paying him more than that this next season alone. And it feels like very fair value. I’m just baffled by this and really struggling here. I expect big things from our favorite Croation, 538’s model be danged!


[/QUOTE]

He does little besides shoot and score. As I've said he's the guy I'd look to move for a starting 4

[QUOTE]His list of 10 most comparable players is just laughable. Like, I don’t even know some of the names here and I’d consider myself a fairly informed NBA fan and history buff. O. Woolridge, Fred Roberts? Get outta here. Bojan is going to crush this rating...


[/QUOTE]

Fred was good and 3rd string in Utah. Says a lot

[QUOTE]Royce’s 2nd closest player comparison? None other than Bryon Russell from 1999. Let’s hope that projects a similar ending to Utah’s season back then (minus the push off of course!).


[/QUOTE]

He's better than Russell too bad he's out of position

[QUOTE]Some big time names come up on his comparison list. Gilbert Arenas (personal favorite of mine), Kobe Bryant, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, among others. Will Donovan be able to make the jump from star with a little s to Superstar in this league? That might be the biggest hurdle for the Jazz to join the true contenders.


[/QUOTE]

a bunch of overrated gunners

[QUOTE]Similar question to Mitchell: Are we getting bubble Mike for good now? Let’s hope so. Bubble Mike looked more like Memphis Mike. And that’s a big deal. I mean just look at his model:

[/QUOTE]

I'd expect the Conley they got most of the year besides a few bad games. He's not going to get the touches he got in the bubble with Bojan back unfortunately

[QUOTE]And now the Jazz have bolstered their bench by bringing Derrick Favors back. Plus having Jordan Clarkson all season long. Not to mention the development of Miye Oni and Juwan Morgan. And the late free agency addition of Shaquille Harrison.


[/QUOTE]

Favors in the corner and Clarkson from everywhere all the time aren't exactly good things

[QUOTE]I’m genuinely surprised it has Rudy so high and Donovan (relatively) so low. Someone who knows this stuff better than me: What are the main things this model is pulling from?
Like, PER overrates stat-compilers and under-rates D. I know that over-simplifies PER… But it’s also not wrong. Is there an over-simplified one-sentence on RAPTOR’s strengths/weaknesses?

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/l3uddyh011y"]l3uddyh011y[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534699202"]Dec 22, 2020 | 8:03 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Mitchell only ranks high in one thing. Usage. Rudy is one of the best players in the league at both ends. Pretty simple

[QUOTE]To say Bogey should only be paid 3 million a year is funny. He is one of the most complete offensive players in the game.
He can shoot, drive, create, post, and is a decent passer. He also doesn’t need much space to get his shot off. He isn’t a great rebounder or defender which is probably why his stats are so low.
If the starting unit can maintain its status as a top 5 unit, then I think the Jazz have a contender level team during the regular season.
Harrison and Favors are potential fixes for both weaknesses last year: depth and defense on the bench.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/brianH85"]brianH85[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534700269"]Dec 22, 2020 | 8:41 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

but he's not. He can shoot and score. That's pretty much it! The potential fixes hurt the O though

[QUOTE]538’s model has never liked Bojan, probably because the only thing he’s above average at is shooting and he’s well below average on many defensive stats. But I think his elite shooting is especially valuable in UTA’s system. I’m also curious if UTA’s defense being designed around Gobert deflates the defensive metrics of other players and inflates Gobert’s (e.g., when perimeter players funnel ball handlers to Gobert, it looks like they’re getting beat while giving Gobert more opportunities to stymie an opponent).

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Palmetto%20Bug"]Palmetto Bug[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534700853"]Dec 22, 2020 | 8:59 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

yet for some reason the offense didn't miss a beat without him in the bubble

[QUOTE]I am interested in what Snyder does with the starting 5. If we get 5-10 games into the season and Ingles still hasn’t found his groove, I would love to see Snyder try a starting 5 of
Conley, Mitchell, Ingles, Bogey, and Gobert.
Ingles did so much better with the starting unit and he has really had issues through 3 games with fouling and shooting.
Hard to say what the sub rotation would be, but I think Ingles is the biggest question mark on the team right now.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/brianH85"]brianH85[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534701183"]Dec 22, 2020 | 9:08 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

O'Neale has to start. Only one that plays both ends besides Rudy and the only one that plays big, Bojan and Ingles don't. Ingles needs to figure it out or he needs to be traded

[QUOTE]I do think Ingles is probably the most redundant player on the team and thus potentially the player most likely to be traded (especially considering his salary and the team’s salary situation). It will be sad if he is traded which is why I’m mentally preparing now.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Palmetto%20Bug"]Palmetto Bug[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534707760"]Dec 22, 2020 | 12:29 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

he'll probably get another extension before they trade him. That's the way the Jazz do things. They don't like change even when it's necessary

[QUOTE][h=4]ingles is at an age where he could drop off quickly[/h]
the jazz need him to shoot the ball, and to shoot it every night when he is open.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/utahcoyote"]utahcoyote[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/22/22194810/538s-nba-player-projections-for-the-utah-jazz-2020#534702011"]Dec 22, 2020 | 9:35 AM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

dropped off the last two years. Doubt that changes

Ben Anderson: Mike Conley on what he told Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert after they signed max contract extensions with the @UtahJazz. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Prepare for a lot of criticism. Prepare for all that because it comes with the big payday but same time it’s the best responsibility you could ever have.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]



[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2019/11/i_8b_26_99_joe-ingles.png?w=190[/IMG]Ben Anderson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Joe Ingles said he got a false positive COVID-19 test. That’s why he missed time with the @UtahJazz[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]

[h=3][URL="https://*********.com/rumor/rudy-gobert-i-want-to-win-with-donovan-mitchell/"]Rudy Gobert: I want to win with Donovan Mitchell[/URL][/h][IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2019/11/i_15_0d_bb_rudy-gobert.png?w=190[/IMG]Rudy Gobert: I’m excited to continue this journey, I want to say climb the ladder, and to do it with Donovan [Mitchell]. [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]All the things that happened between me and Donovan, within our team and also in the world, I think it really helped us to understand each other better. And now I’m really sure that – and I’m speaking with my heart – we know we can win together, and I want to win with Donovan[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Marc J. Spears @ The Undefeated[/URL]



Rudy Gobert: I could have never imagined this. My mom, my sister, my brother and my niece were all in town, as was my agent, Bouna Ndiaye. We had dinner as a family at my home to celebrate. We opened a very good bottle of wine. We just really enjoyed this moment and took time to just reflect, and also at the same time, project about the future. [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]There was a lot of emotions, especially to be able to share this moment with my family[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Marc J. Spears @ The Undefeated[/URL]




Rudy Gobert: I wanted to be selected in the young professional basketball academy in France, and I got rejected when I was 16. I wasn’t even part of the (under-16) French national team. Then when I got drafted 27th, and my first year I wasn’t playing, I went to the G League. Just all the struggles. [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Looking back, I think that’s what made me, and that’s what defines me. And this is just the story of my life. I always had to work harder than everyone and keep my head down[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Marc J. Spears @ The Undefeated[/URL]




Rudy Gobert: [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]There’s never been pressure regarding the money. I always put pressure on myself to be the best I can be every single time I step on the court. And that’s really what drives me is to be able to look back at the end of my career, and not look at how much money I made, but look at the journey and what I was able to accomplish, and the lives I was able to impact in a good way.[/URL] That’s all that matters to me, and that’s what drives me to be the best I can be every single day. Obviously, it’s a great achievement. But it just motivates me to take it to the next level even more, work even harder, and also to prove to all the people that always have something to say that it’s only the beginning.
– via [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Marc J. Spears @ The Undefeated[/URL]



Rudy Gobert: [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]I think at the end of the day, when something looks impossible, you’re always going to have people that remind you of that. The day you accomplish it, everyone can only respect you for that. That is the way I see it, and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to stay here. It’s because I think that winning with Utah will carry more weight than joining someone else, and it would make the story even more unique[/URL]. I want to have an impact not just on the court, but have a huge impact on people’s lives. I started doing Rudy’s Kids Foundation three years ago in order to be able to impact and change a lot of kids’ lives, and I believe that we’ve been able to impact thousands and thousands of lives. But now I really want to keep increasing all the projects, all the help that we do. And hopefully when that day comes when I’m not there anymore, I will have put a big positive change into the world.
– via [URL="https://theundefeated.com/features/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-on-big-payday-i-could-have-never-imagined-this/"]Marc J. Spears @ The Undefeated[/URL]

[QUOTE]Chris Fedor: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]#Cavs have officially ruled out Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Kevin Love and Kevin Porter Jr. for tomorrow’s opener.[/URL] Look for J.B. Bickerstaff to start and then stagger Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, with Sexton serving as the de facto backup point guard.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor"]Twitter ChrisFedor[/URL]



[/QUOTE]
Exum hurt. surprising! :lol

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50072066/patrick-kinahan-the-time-is-here-for-jazz-to-make-strong-playoff-push[/url]

[QUOTE]SALT LAKE CITY — Tired of consistently finishing in the middle of the Western Conference, accompanied by an early playoff exit, the Utah Jazz begin the truncated 72-game season this week seeking dramatic improvement.





[/QUOTE]

So tired of it they bring back the same team and even bring back an old problem! :facepalm

[QUOTE]This is where the Jazz come in, with a legitimate chance to finish second in the Western Conference and go into the playoffs with homecourt advantage for the first time the 2007-08 season. Competition will be stiff, with several teams also vying for the No. 2 seed.


[/QUOTE]

legitimate? No PF other than Favors in the corner?

[QUOTE]And Mitchell picks up where he left off in the playoff loss to the Nuggets. With Bogdanovic out injured, Mitchell averaged 36 points and shot a blistering 53% from the field and 51% on 3-pointers over the seven-game series.


[/QUOTE]

good luck and btw they lost

[QUOTE]Favors gives the Jazz a legitimate backup center, which they were sorely lacking last season. If head coach Quin Snyder chooses to have either Gobert or Favors on the court for the entire 48 minutes, the Jazz will have strong rim protection that few teams can match.


[/QUOTE]

hard to say the guy leading the league in offensive rebound % wasn't legitimate. They had other issues and Favors didn't solve them just added to them

[QUOTE]All the continuity should allow the Jazz to find early success, which usually hasn't happened in the Snyder regime. Advancing to at least the second round is an achievable goal.


[/QUOTE]

They've been there before. That could just come down to matchups which they tanked for last year and still lost

[url]https://kslsports.com/449355/nba-western-conference-cheat-sheet-preview/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz checked off their top offseason goals by extending the contracts of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell while bringing Jordan Clarkson back on a four-year contract.


[/QUOTE]

the fact that a legitimate starting 4 wasn't on the check list tells you all you need to know about this franchise

[QUOTE]The return of Derrick Favors should stabilize last year’s shaky second unit, and the Jazz should once again have one of the most talented rosters in the Wes if they can stay healthy.


[/QUOTE]

and take down the first unit in the corner

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/22/22193242/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-contract-extension-nba-donovan-mitchell-ryan-smith[/url]

[QUOTE]Despite being eligible for the full supermax amount and being an amazing player, it would have been hard to justify $228 million for Gobert. But a regular four-year, $195 million max, the amount the Jazz could have paid him had they waited until after Dec. 21, wouldn’t have reflected the accolades Gobert has earned or the impact he has on winning for the Jazz.

[/QUOTE]

it wouldn't have been hard to justify especially after what Mitchell got. Gobert actually earned every bit of it

[QUOTE]The Jazz wouldn’t have had the cap space to add someone of Gobert’s caliber if they were to have let him go in free agency, and it would have been unlikely that Gobert could have found a situation so tailored to his style of play. So the compromise was made.


[/QUOTE]

Rudy is one of the best at defense, rebounding, rim running and picks. What team couldn't use that?

[QUOTE]After the 2021-22 season the Jazz will have even more room to work as Ingles’ contract expires and the salary cap likely increases but Gobert and Mitchell will continue to count for roughly $70 million of the cap every year.


[/QUOTE]

Ingles is due an extension anyday!

[QUOTE]The good news is that [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/18/22188852/utah-jazz-owner-ryan-smith-leaning-on-experience-to-make-his-imprint-on-the-nba"]new owner Ryan Smith does not seem fazed by being a luxury tax[/URL]-paying team and gave the Jazz front office the green light on deals for Gobert and Mitchell as well as all their other moves.


[/QUOTE]

not necessarily good. Paying tax this year for the team they have sucks

[url]https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-want-come-out-ready-go-they-prepare-season-opener-portland[/url]

[QUOTE]“We need to come out ready to go,” Mitchell said recently, “because losing in the first round ain’t it no more.”


[/QUOTE]

We should mean you since you're the one that decides to start playing a few months in

[QUOTE][URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/30583049/the-philadelphia-76ers-chance-fresh-start"]“I agree that Anthony Davis had a better season than me,” Embiid says. “[Nikola] Jokic? That’s debatable. But Rudy Gobert? No offense, but he [averaged] 15 [points] and 13 [rebounds] and I had my 23 and 12, and that’s kind of a big difference.[/URL] I think my numbers were better. But people didn’t want to vote for me because our team didn’t do well. “That’s OK, because I will use it to motivate me so there is no chance that anyone can make that mistake again.”
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/30583049/the-philadelphia-76ers-chance-fresh-start"]Jackie MacMullan @ ESPN[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Davis doesn't want to play center so he shouldn't even be considered. More to the game than points and boards Joel

Sean Highkin: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rodney Hood will be on a minutes limit tonight. I asked Stotts if he was willing to tell us the number for said minutes limit, he said no[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/highkin"]Twitter highkin[/URL]




Sean Highkin: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Terry Stotts on the news of OKC-Houston game being postponed: “I think everyone kind of knew this would happen at some point. It makes everybody aware of how real this is. We had a sense of security in the bubble.” The Rockets are supposed to play here on Saturday, as of now[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/highkin"]Twitter highkin[/URL]



Jamie Hudson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Coach Stotts says Anfernee Simons (hamstring) will not play tonight vs. Jazz[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JamieHudsonNBCS"]Twitter JamieHudsonNBCS[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/449476/jazz-at-trail-blazers-game-night/[/url]

[QUOTE]Both Elijah Hughes and Udoka Azubuike have extended college experience compared most rookies, while Miye Oni looked significantly improved entering his second season.


[/QUOTE]

let's not assume they are depth please. Morgan?

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/threading-the-needle-the-jazzs-2020-21-jersey-lineup/[/url]

yellow and green is awful. At least the gradient is gone

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/23/22162870/dame-dolla-and-spida-mitchell-go-head-to-head-jazz-blazers-nba-damian-lillard-donovan-mitchell[/url]

[QUOTE]Let me attempt to evoke some memories from 2010. The Jazz went 8-0 in the preseason after moving on from Carlos Boozer, trading for Al Jefferson, signing Raja Bell, and drafting everyone’s favorite young stud, Gordon Hayward. There was a lot of optimism surrounding this team, especially with the Deron Williams-Al Jefferson pairing. The season began with a [URL="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=301027007&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/23/22162870/dame-dolla-and-spida-mitchell-go-head-to-head-jazz-blazers-nba-damian-lillard-donovan-mitchell&xcust=___sb__e_21926911__r_slcdunk.com__t_w__d_D"]blowout loss to Melo and the Nuggets[/URL]. Things didn’t get any better from there. [URL="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/jazz-owner-says-sloan-quit-after-argument-with-deron-williams/"]Jerry Sloan quit[/URL] after beefing with star point guard, Deron Williams. [URL="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6150419&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/23/22162870/dame-dolla-and-spida-mitchell-go-head-to-head-jazz-blazers-nba-damian-lillard-donovan-mitchell&xcust=___sb__e_21926911__r_slcdunk.com__t_w__d_D"]DWill was traded[/URL] shortly after, and the Jazz finished the season 39-43 missing the postseason entirely.


[/QUOTE]

Optimism over one of their worst trades ever? :facepalm

[QUOTE]If the Jazz can force Lillard into long 2’s, contested 3’s, and make the Blazers rely on someone else to pick up the scoring tab, they should be in good shape. On the other hand, the Blazers are definitely not short on players who can score in bunches: CJ, Melo, Hood, and even Nurkic. However, if the Jazz play with integrity and intensity on D, they should be able to slow them down enough to pick up the W.


[/QUOTE]

What about last year makes you think they can defend enough to beat a good team?

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/23/22177834/utah-jazz-bench-jordan-clarkson-derrick-favors-joe-ingles[/url]

[QUOTE]Utah’s bench got a lot of attention last year from local media and fans. Understandable given that many of the team’s biggest problems could be traced to the second unit.


[/QUOTE]

the 2nd unit certainly would have been better if they'd had a legit starting 4

[QUOTE]Favors brought the most excitement among the offseason moves. Understandable as his signing is something of a return of the prodigal son so to speak. Feel-good stories aside, Favors is poised to give Utah some of the best bench center minutes in the league. It will be a great breath of fresh air after the failed Ed Davis and Tony Bradley experiments.


[/QUOTE]

Leading the league in offensive rebounding % is a failure!

[QUOTE]The pure bench unit looks good on paper, but obviously NBA teams don’t do full line changes to transition to the bench. Even still, each of these bench guys can seamlessly slide in among the starters without altering the function of the lineup. Clarkson can sub in for Mitchell as a scoring punch, Harrison can come in for O’Neale and play the role of primary wing defender, Niang can replace Bogdanovic’s shooting (though not his overall scoring to be fair), Favors can replace Gobert’s rebounding/rim protecting and Ingles can replace the point play from Conley.


[/QUOTE]

who's the primary 4 defender if Royce is on a wing? Niang's game is more like Ingles. If Favors could replace Rudy they wouldn't have paid Rudy! Ingles is no Conley. Keep dreaming though!


[QUOTE]The one hole noteworthy hole in the bench unit is at power forward. Niang became quite the controversial name among Jazz fans last year and that talk hasn’t truly stopped. We’ve seen how Niang does in key, volume minutes during the playoffs and it wasn’t pretty. If he stays in a lower role as he did for much of last season.


[/QUOTE]

starting pf is a bigger problem though the horrendous spacing with Favors at the 4 is of great concern


[QUOTE]A more competent rebounder and defender might be a more apt option, even though it would mean sacrificing the 40 percent shooting Niang brings to the table. Morganand two-way forward Jarrell Brantley are Utah’s only other options on the roster at power forward, but neither appear to be good enough right now to supplant Niang’s spot in the rotation.


[/QUOTE]

Morgan should start

[QUOTE]As it stands, the bench shouldn’t be a problem. But it is 2020 so this could wind up being a cold take in two days.



[/QUOTE]

it wasn't going to be a problem last year either. They were so deep!

[QUOTE]The Lakers and Bucks are the tops now, and they’re big.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Calvin%20Chappell"]Calvin Chappell[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/23/22177834/utah-jazz-bench-jordan-clarkson-derrick-favors-joe-ingles#534736791"]Dec 23, 2020 | 10:49 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

yep and Favors is their only answer

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/23/22195776/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-blow-out-portland-trail-blazers-in-season-opener[/url]

[QUOTE]3-point shooting had been an emphasis throughout the preseason and we were all anticipating the Jazz to let them fly early and often but I’m not quite sure that the Blazers were ready for the onslaught from beyond the arc. The Jazz shot 50 3s and made 19 of them. It’s not the greatest percentage but the threat was enough.

[/QUOTE]

38 % as a team is great

[QUOTE]The Jazz looked a little off for the first few minutes and it was the second unit that broke the game open which leads me to double down on something I thought during training camp and the preseason. The Jazz’s bench is going to not only be able to maintain leads and stave off damage caused by the opposition, but they’ll be able to win games for the Jazz this season. That’s a huge difference from where they’ve been before.

[/QUOTE]

but they are always so deep!

Jazz looked good but we didn't see Favors at the 4. If Collins had played we would have and it's not a good look

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/23/22198494/utah-jazz-dominate-the-portland-trail-blazers-in-nba-season-opener-donovan-mitchell-damian-lillard[/url]

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell was fantastic on the offensive end with his scoring and playmaking but Rudy Gobert was probably the most dominant player. Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds on 80% shooting. Those are big numbers for the former defensive player of the year, but was also impressive was his ability to move the ball within the offense. Multiple times in the pick and roll Gobert would move the ball to open shooters and the ball would rotate to an open three.


[/QUOTE]

Probably? A lot of guys ahead of Mitchell too

[url]https://kslsports.com/449516/hot-shooting-allows-gobert-mitchell-to-blowout-blazers/[/url]

[QUOTE]First of all, they lack size in the backcourt. Damian Lillard is only 6’2, McCollum is only 6’3 and neither player moves their feet particularly well on the perimeter.


[/QUOTE]

why is the even smaller Jazz backcourt not having the same problem :facepalm

[url]https://kslsports.com/449517/jazz-rookie-udoka-azubuike-dunks-on-blazers-enes-kanter-for-first-nba-bucket/[/url]
[QUOTE]When the final buzzer sounded, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell appeared to grab the game ball for Azubuike.


[/QUOTE]

He gave it to him and grabbed another I assume for Hughes

[url]https://kslsports.com/449507/gobert-posterizes-nurkic-off-nifty-pass-from-mitchell/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz paid the two All-Stars a combined $396 million during the offseason, and right now it looks like they’re worth every penny.

[/QUOTE]

:lol

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/12/24/triple-team-jazz-limit/[/url]

[QUOTE]You don’t normally think of big men like Gobert having versatility. The big, lanky guy without many ball skills doesn’t usually see the word “versatile” next to his name; instead, that’s the switching, shooting, playmaking bigs.



[/QUOTE]

One of the best if not the best at rebounding, rim running, defense and screening. If that's not versatile not sure what it

[QUOTE]• John Stockton didn’t take his 50th three until the end of his third season, he didn’t make his 50th three until the end of his fifth season.



[/QUOTE]

wasn't starting either

[QUOTE]• Jazz broadcaster Ron Boone didn’t ever make more than fifty threes in a season; broadcaster Thurl Bailey took only 35 in his whole career. Matt Harpring came later as the 3-point shot was becoming more and more important — he didn’t make a combined 50 threes in his last six seasons of his career (46), while he made 1,557 2-point shots.



[/QUOTE]

Was only good from 3 his first year here

[QUOTE]• The following famous Jazzmen never made 50 threes in their Jazz careers: Shandon Anderson, Carlos Arroyo, Raul Lopez, Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, Rickey Green, DeShaun Stevenson.



[/QUOTE]

Millsap should have :cry:

[QUOTE]Adam Johnson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Per league sources, these teams are expected to participate in the G League bubble:[/URL] Agua Caliente Austin Canton Delaware Erie/Capital City Fort Wayne Greensboro Ignite Iowa Lakeland Long Island Memphis Raptors 905 Salt Lake Santa Cruz Westchester
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/realcommonname"]Twitter realcommonname[/URL]



Fred Katz: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Things are trending toward the Wizards using the Pelicans’ G League team, the Erie Bayhawks, as their G League affiliate in the bubble,[/URL] according to sources. The two organizations would each chip in some of the cost of going to the bubble.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/FredKatz"]Twitter FredKatz[/URL]



Fred Katz: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Look for up to five players to potentially be in the G League bubble for the Wizards: The three exhibit 10 guys they had in training camp (Yoeli Childs, Caleb Homesley & Marlon Taylor), Jordan Bell and maybe two-wayer Cassius Winston,[/URL] depending on what they choose to do w/ him
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/FredKatz"]Twitter FredKatz[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

Stars for the title they didn't get to play for last year!

[QUOTE][URL="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jalen-green-nba-g-league-ignite-bubble/"]The NBA is putting the finishing touches on plans for an NBA G League Bubble this upcoming February, and according to a report from Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Bubble will include 17 affiliate teams from across the NBA as well as the G League Ignite squad,[/URL] led by top NBA Draft prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Daishen Nix.
– via [URL="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jalen-green-nba-g-league-ignite-bubble/"]Brendon Kleen @ Uproxx[/URL]



[URL="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jalen-green-nba-g-league-ignite-bubble/"]In order to give NBA teams that option once again in 2021, the league will allow G League franchises to designate one “NBA Vet Selection”[/URL] who has five or more years of NBA experience to play in the Bubble with their team, Givony reported.
– via [URL="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jalen-green-nba-g-league-ignite-bubble/"]Brendon Kleen @ Uproxx[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

Yogi or someone else?

[url]https://kslsports.com/449248/jazz-christmas-wish-list/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]Utah Jazz Christmas Wish List[/h]

[/QUOTE]

starting PF

[QUOTE][h=3]Health[/h]

[/QUOTE]

but they are so deep!

[QUOTE]As a result, the Jazz enter the season in the bottom half of most preseason Western Conference playoff projections.


[/QUOTE]

more of a result in the holes in the roster

[QUOTE]When healthy, the Jazz clearly have one of the deepest, most dangerous rosters in the NBA. With the addition of Derrick Favors and Shaquille Harrison in the offseason, they should be better prepared for injuries in both the frontcourt and the backcourt.


[/QUOTE]

clearly? If it was clear they'd be picked higher

[QUOTE]Though health may be atop the Jazz wish list, the small gift that might be the most consequential would be the surprise development of one of their young players.


[/QUOTE]

a bigger gift would be Snyder actually playing them

[QUOTE]The obvious choice is Elijah Hughes who had a strong showing during the preseason as a multifaceted scorer. But don’t count out either two-way guard Trent Forrest or second second-year guard Miye Oni as darkhorse high-level rotation players in the team’s future.


[/QUOTE]
Why would Hughes be the obvious choices over Morgan, Brantley and Oni who have actually proven something already?

[QUOTE]The Jazz were the best three-point shooting team during the 2019-20 season, knocking down an impressive 38 percent of their attempts last season. The team would love to again find themselves atop the league, with perhaps even more improvement as health and chemistry could create even more good looks for the Jazz shooters.


[/QUOTE]

except when Favors is at the 4 and the spacing disappears

[QUOTE]If the Jazz can continue to hoist that many deep balls and convert around 40 percent, they’ll once again find themselves as one of the best offenses in the NBA, with a puncher’s chance to advance against any team in the playoffs.

[/QUOTE]

but who cares if they don't play D

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/24/22195817/utah-jazz-portland-trail-blazers-quin-snyder-donovan-mitchell-jordan-clarkson[/url]

[QUOTE]This season is sure to present different obstacles.


[/QUOTE]

You mean like a team going big? The fact that Collins was out and Portland plays as small or smaller than the Jazz didn;t hurt

[QUOTE]There are many more empty arenas and weird situations awaiting the Jazz over the next few months. There are more than likely going to be players in and out of the lineup for myriad reasons and sometimes the Jazz are going to have games where they’re just a little off. But, if nothing else the Jazz know what they are capable of.


[/QUOTE]

They know what they are capable of against a shorthanded Portland team sure

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/21612319/what-should-we-expect-from-bojan-bogdanovic-this-season-utah-jazz-shooting-more-slc-dunk-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]All the way back in May, [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/296477/bojan-bogdanovic"]Bojan Bogdanović[/URL] went through a [URL="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.nba.com/news/bojan-bogdanovic-out-rest-season&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/21612319/what-should-we-expect-from-bojan-bogdanovic-this-season-utah-jazz-shooting-more-slc-dunk-nba&xcust=___sb__e_21376360__r_slcdunk.com__t_w__d_D"]season ending wrist surgery[/URL] to repair a ruptured scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. This was the result of an injury he suffered in 2019 that he chose to play through until he began to experience too much discomfort. Between the pause of the 2019-20 season and the crazy NBA bubble in Florida, it is easy to forget the kind of effect that [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/296477/bojan-bogdanovic"]Bogdanović[/URL] has had on this team. As a reminder, [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/296477/bojan-bogdanovic"]Bojan[/URL] had a [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html"]stellar first season[/URL] with the [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/utah-jazz"]Jazz[/URL], posting a stat line of 20.2 points, 4.1 boards, and 2.1 assists on 44.7/41.1/90.3 percent shooting splits. To put it simply, that’s flat out awesome. As the 31 year old sharpshooter from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, recovers from his wrist injury and enters his 7th season in the NBA, what should we look for? It’s no secret that he’s is going to be key in the Jazz’s success this season, so here are three things we should expect Bojan Bogdanovic to bring back to the Jazz this year:

[/QUOTE]

4 boards and 2 assists isn't awesome sorry

[QUOTE]Something that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet for Bojan Bogdanović is the spacing he creates on offense. Opposing defenses [I]have[/I] to stick to Bojan when he is behind the 3 point line or they give someone who shot [URL="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-forward-bojan-bogdanovic-looking-shoot-even-more-3-pointers-season&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/21612319/what-should-we-expect-from-bojan-bogdanovic-this-season-utah-jazz-shooting-more-slc-dunk-nba&xcust=___sb__e_21376360__r_slcdunk.com__t_w__d_D"]50%[/URL] from downtown on wide-open looks an easy bucket. What this means is that every time Bogdanović is on the court, he takes away a help defender from the defense. This makes the lives of players such as [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/285727/donovan-mitchell"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL], [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/297107/rudy-gobert"]Rudy Gobert[/URL], and [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/297999/joe-ingles"]Joe Ingles [/URL]infinitely easier. Every time Don drives down the lane, he doesn’t have to worry about a weak side defender dropping in and contesting his layup. Every time Rudy dives to the basket after a pick and roll, he doesn’t have to worry about a wing defender sliding in and taking a charge. Every time Joe comes off of a screen, he doesn’t have to worry about a help defender clogging up his spacing and stopping him from making a play. Simply having Bogdanović’s elite three point shooting on the court makes defenses sweat and opens the doors for other players on the Jazz to get easy buckets.


[/QUOTE]

yet he wasn't really missed in the bubble

[QUOTE]But out of all of those, the player that will benefit from his return the most is Rudy Gobert. Last season, Bojan and Rudy averaged [URL="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.nba.com/stats/player/202711/&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/21612319/what-should-we-expect-from-bojan-bogdanovic-this-season-utah-jazz-shooting-more-slc-dunk-nba&xcust=___sb__e_21376360__r_slcdunk.com__t_w__d_D"]31.3 minutes [I]per game[/I][/URL] together. That means that they spent almost every single minute on the court at the same time. This is important because when the two of them are playing together, help defenses have to decide to either give up a Rudy dunk or Bojan three every time they get beat. Neither is a great option for them. During the bubble, we saw Rudy sometimes struggle to get an open shot under the basket and that is in part due to the fact that defenses no longer had to make that difficult choice with Bojan out. Expect to see Rudy’s life get lot easier again this season.

[/QUOTE]

scored a career high in the playoffs :facepalm

[QUOTE][h=4]Last year Quin made sure Bogey almost never saw the floor without Rudy next to him.[/h]
I expect we’ll see the same this year.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Calvin%20Chappell"]Calvin Chappell[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/21612319/what-should-we-expect-from-bojan-bogdanovic-this-season-utah-jazz-shooting-more-slc-dunk-nba#534775893"]Dec 24, 2020 | 11:19 AM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Won't as much this year. Bojan played with Favors. Tried to hit Favs in the pick and roll poorly of course

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/22198871/utah-jazz-basketball-is-back-win-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-derrick-favors[/url]

[QUOTE]I know one game is never an indicator of how a full season will go, but last night showed how solid the Jazz might be this year. Watching them, they just really don’t have any weaknesses. They move the ball, they hit threes, they defend, and they have multiple guys that can score 20+ points on any given night. I don’t mean to get to excited here but JAZZ NBA CHAMPS 2021, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.


[/QUOTE]

It's one game! Way too early to say they defend and have no weaknesses. Portland not a great defensive team and without Collins couldn't go big on the Jazz. Jazz could have went big on them but than you have Favors at the 4! Versatility will still be a problem for sure.

[QUOTE]As one who has been critical of Rudy’s rebounding, He looked much better.
He fought for rebounds when others were around which was great to see.
Can’t remember if it was Rudy or Derrick, loved the one that was contested on the offensive side and pinned to the backboard, gathered it and stuck it back in. Good to see the fight for the boards!

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/AdMan59"]AdMan59[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/24/22198871/utah-jazz-basketball-is-back-win-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-derrick-favors#534778032"]Dec 24, 2020 | 1:03 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

One of the best rebounders in the league. Get on Bojan and his 4 a game if you want though!

Ryan McDonald: Someone may have mentioned this already, but the [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jazz’s 50 3-point attempts last night were indeed the most by any team in the NBA in their first game[/URL] (Houston and OKC are the last two teams that haven’t played). Rudy’s 17 boards were also tops in the league
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ryanwmcdonald"]Twitter ryanwmcdonald[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/449252/jazz-face-timberwolves-in-home-opener/[/url]

[QUOTE]Rubio started for the Timberwolves, bringing guard DeAngelo Rusell off the bench for the Minnesota squad. The Spanish guard had just three points and three assists in his return, but led the team in plus-minus at +17.


[/QUOTE]

:roll:

[QUOTE]The key matchup will be between All-Star centers Gobert and Towns. The two max contract players have competed for spots on the league’s All-NBA team over the past several seasons with Gobert earning the third-team nod last year.


[/QUOTE]

Which is a joke! Win first Towns. Until then it's all Gobert

Minnesota starts small but has some size off the bench so we may see Favors at the 4. Shouldn't matter at home against this team

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/25/22197630/utah-jazz-emphasis-on-shooting-3s-does-not-diminish-rudy-gobert-role-in-offense[/url]

[QUOTE]“Whether it’s Rudy running, rolling in pick-and-roll or guys driving the ball, pressure on the rim is what opens up opens up the 3-point line and opens up jump shots,” head coach Quin Snyder said.


[/QUOTE]

and vice versa. Put Favors at the 4 or Ricky on the perimeter and we know what happens

[QUOTE]The Jazz are rich with weapons that put pressure on the rim. Not only is Gobert one of most effective lob threats in the league and an adept pick-and-roll player, but so is Derrick Favors. Additionally the Jazz can post up Bojan Bogdanovic or have any one of the many ball-handlers work in the paint.


[/QUOTE]

Lillard thwarted his great post up game

[url]https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/24/the-utah-jazz-couldnt-win-rudy-goberts-extension/[/url]

[QUOTE]Gobert is now the highest-paid center of all time. That’s a lofty standard only a handful of current players can live up to. He isn’t one of them, which means it’s not going to get the Jazz any closer to a title. All Utah can now hope for is the chance to make the blockbuster move that does.


[/QUOTE]


Don't need it. Need Mitchell to earn his deal and fix the flaws around them especially at the starting 4

“Basketball is all I know,” Pryor, who averaged 7.5 points last season last season for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, says over the phone. “I’m a professional basketball player,” But not for the past nine months. [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]It’s not that he’s given up on his NBA dream, or that he’s grown tired of the G League’s long bus rides and poor pay. The issue is that, right now, jobs for players like Pryor don’t exist[/URL]. “A lot of players are getting squeezed,” one veteran agent says.
– via [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]SLAM[/URL]



Going overseas would typically be an appealing option, but the virus has made doing so more difficult. Some international teams, agents say, weren’t interested in dealing with the quarantine periods that come with signing Americans, or the added expenses of finding them homes. Meanwhile, [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]some players are hesitant to leave loved ones and others didn’t want to worry about adjusting to a new country amidst a raging pandemic. “Our options are limited,” says Phil Booth, a guard who played last season for the Washington Wizards’ G League team[/URL].
– via [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]SLAM[/URL]



It’s one of the many reasons Pryor says he’s lucky. [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]Another is that his wife has a steady government job—meaning he doesn’t have to look for side gigs, like the teammate who recently began working at Chick-fil-A[/URL].
– via [URL="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/what-its-like-to-be-a-g-league-player-during-covid/"]SLAM[/URL]

[QUOTE]Chris Fedor: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]#Cavs J.B. Bickerstaff said Kevin Love and Dante Exum will have some kind of minutes restriction, but he didn’t detail exactly what it would be. It’s their first game since the preseason and the first of a back-to-back[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor"]Twitter ChrisFedor[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

What's new?

[url]https://kslsports.com/449582/jazz-vs-timberwolves-game-night/[/url]

[QUOTE]Snyder could turn to the two big lineup featuring both Favors and Gobert if he sees Town’s floor spacing leaving too big of a void in the paint defensively. Favors remains a quicker perimeter defender, while Gobert can stay near the basket.


[/QUOTE]

Favors isn't quicker anywhere. No spacing

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener[/url]

[QUOTE]After a dazzling 120-100 win in Portland to open the season, the [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/"]Utah Jazz[/URL] (1-0) are looking to keep the momentum up back at home. The home opener will certainly feel different than it normally would have, given the minimal fan attendance. The Jazz will have to motivate themselves, rather than relying on the energy from the Utah crowd.


[/QUOTE]

Besides Denver they still should have the biggest advantage in the league because of the altitude

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns are very used to matching up against each other. This will mark the 18th matchup between the two. While both Towns and Gobert are top tier centers in the NBA, they play very different styles of basketball. Watching these two battle on the court is always a treat. Rudy takes matchups with star centers very seriously. After a dominant game one against Jusuf Nurkic and the Trailblazers, Rudy will certainly be looking to outplay another talented big.

[/QUOTE]

the biggest thing to watch for is if Favors plays the 4. It looked awful in pre season

[QUOTE][h=4]I hope our 1,500 fans cheer loud when Favors checks in[/h]

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Calvin%20Chappell"]Calvin Chappell[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534807739"]Dec 26, 2020 | 12:33 PM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

as long as it's at the 5

[QUOTE][h=4]Hope we cheer loud when Rubio checks in[/h]
17-18 was fun…

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/uncle-ingles"]uncle-ingles[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534809259"]Dec 26, 2020 | 1:40 PM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

:facepalm

[QUOTE] the Jazz look like they have maybe the balanced and synergistic rotation in the league and they have so much experience together that they look like they’re in mid-season form (though it can of course get even better as they play together more).
That said they do have a lot of firepower on this Wolves squad and KAT camping on the 3pt line causes some trouble for Rudy and our defense. I’m excited!!

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Dye"]Alex Dye[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534807873"]Dec 26, 2020 | 12:37 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

still have little versatility other than Favors at the 4. Lot to prove yet

[QUOTE]KAT does not belong on this list, no sir. The team/organization around him has held him back from winning, not anything else.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Dye"]Alex Dye[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534810954"]Dec 26, 2020 | 3:19 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Like the Jazz tried to hold Rudy back and they still won games?

[QUOTE] At some point, that’s also on the best player on the team.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Karl%20Stalone%2032"]Karl Stalone 32[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534812418"]Dec 26, 2020 | 4:47 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

it always is

[QUOTE]everything I’ve ever known about this game tells me that if for example Jokic and Towns were on the opposite teams their whole career, Towns [I]would be in the MVP conversation every year and Jokic like, probably would have never even broken out at all in the environment the Wolves have had. Jokic is a better passer obviously, but Towns is no slouch there, and better in pretty much every single other area. And has actual defensive potential still when he doesn’t have 4 sieves on the court with him.[/I]
[I]I guess now I was ready for a debate [IMG]https://fonts.voxmedia.com/emoji/unicode/1f61b.png[/IMG][/I]

[I]Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Dye"]Alex Dye[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534814712"]Dec 26, 2020 | 6:16 PM[/URL][/I]
[/QUOTE]

Nah. Jokic like Rudy makes those around him better. Towns puts up stats

[QUOTE][h=4]The return of Rubio is always fun[/h]
So we can see the Conley Rubio comparison

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/SKMike"]SKMike[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534809228"]Dec 26, 2020 | 1:38 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

What comparison? The best pg in Utah since Hill vs a backup that can't shoot, finish, defend...

[QUOTE]I don’t think anyone has forgotten it; it’s the reason we only have shooters outside of our centers

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/J-Note"]J-Note[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534812388"]Dec 26, 2020 | 4:45 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Don't think it's that simple. Why did they get Rubio in the first place after what we saw with Favors benched? Why did they go back to Favors? They are clueless

[QUOTE]He was consistently good at everything else.
And he was hated.
Another player who will be paid $34.5m this season had an even worse first half last season before recovering. He is mediocre at best at everything else, and he is almost universally loved.
Strange.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Kira%20Argonova"]Kira Argonova[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22175348/the-utah-jazz-host-the-minnesota-timberwolves-in-home-opener#534812644"]Dec 26, 2020 | 5:00 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Couldn't make an open shot rather from 3 or a lay up, couldn't stay in front of his man, threw some of the wildest passes ever... Not much he was good at. He's in the right role now. Conley is better at everything!

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50073804/we-started-a-bit-too-slow-poor-start-and-late-5-second-call-dooms-jazz-in-home-opening-loss-to-minnesota[/url]

[QUOTE]But that possession never came. Jordan Clarkson slipped, the Wolves were quick on switches and Bojan Bogdanovic couldn't get the ball in before a five-second violation was called.


[/QUOTE]

and COTY didn't have his usual inbound passer in for some reason! Bojan can shoot. That is it WTF?

[QUOTE]Utah shot just 38.3% from the field and just under 30% from 3-point range. Saturday wasn't necessarily a glimpse at what the Jazz look like when the threes aren't falling, but more so of what they look like when they can't get them up. Utah attempted just 34 in the game (one of which was a meaningless full-court heave at the final buzzer by Mitchell) — 17 less than the number they attempted in their first game.


[/QUOTE]

more about D, turnovers and coaching. I thought they were deep? Why not try someone else when the guys in there aren't getting it done?

[QUOTE]The Jazz may have sealed their fate by committing a five-second violation late, but they lost the game in the first 24 minutes.


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especially the 2nd quarter

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/12/26/triple-team-jazz-force/[/url]

[QUOTE]Bogdanovic’s forays to the rim were probably the worst example of this. When he dribbled towards the basket, it was like he was contractually obligated to throw the ball up to the rim, despite defensive pressure. Here, he rejects the screen, drives left, and the defender is really attached the whole time. Karl-Anthony Towns easily comes over and blocks it.



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Surprising? The guy is limited. He can shoot and score. Pass? Not so much

[QUOTE]But Donovan Mitchell is fast and vertically athletic, and he was throwing up some coal at the rim too. This is a terrible shot — no balance, far from the rim, falling away, one handed, it just has very very little chance of falling.



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inefficient is his middle name

[QUOTE]I understand: Mitchell wanted to make a play. But by trying to be the hero, he left his man open for the easy drive.



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defense isn't his bag either

[QUOTE]The Jazz can’t survive Mitchell’s unwise forays in the paint or doubles on the ball. They can’t survive Gobert’s offensive goofiness. They can’t survive slow, selfish Bogdanovic drives. If the Jazz are going to be a competitive force, they’ll have to rely on one another to a greater degree than they did Wednesday.




[/QUOTE]

Yet they scored plenty to win. Dm turnovers and coaching were too big to overcome though

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/26/22193560/utah-jazz-drop-home-opener-to-minnesota-timberwolves[/url]

[QUOTE]Anthony Edwards is the real deal. I wouldn’t be the only person who had some skepticism about Edwards through the draft process and what his fit would be like with the Timberwolves, but he’s the kind of player who could seemingly fit in anywhere. He’s a bully and strong and has great footwork and nice touch.

[/QUOTE]

NBA body

[QUOTE]Bojan Bogdanovic was just 3-of-16 from the field and took just five 3s. It wasn’t so much how many shots he took, but rather his shot selection. Even when he got the ball right at the basket, he missed a layup in the final minutes of the game. Bogdanovic is never someone that the Jazz are going to rely on for defensive pressure, but the Timberwolves made him look horrible on that end.

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he is horrible at that end

[QUOTE]The Jazz are one of the few NBA teams that are allowing a limited number of fans into the arena to start the season and despite no less than seven announcements throughout the game by the PA announcer that masks should be worn over the mouth and nose at all times unless they are actively eating, there were many that did not follow those rules. There were Vivint Arena employees that would tell people to put their mask on correctly when they had it just over their mouth or not on at all, but it was impossible for them to police every person in the building. It was incredibly distracting and made things uneasy seeing so many people in one place and knowing that COVID-19 numbers are still not under control in Utah.

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which is why you can't let fans in. People are stupid and it's why it won't go away

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/26/22164227/2020-21-season-expectations-for-each-player-on-the-utah-jazz-roster-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz believe that they are fielding a better team than they did last season and as such should be able to make a deeper run in the postseason and be one of the contending teams in the Western Conference.


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and we saw the same issues tonight as last year. Maybe it wasn't all Bradley's fault?

[QUOTE]In the NBA bubble, Mitchell exploded on the offensive end. But that was partially out of necessity. The Jazz were stretched thin and were missing their second-leading scorer. Now that Mitchell is in the last season before he starts making superstar money, it’s an expectation for him to dazzle as a playmaker and as a defender while also being the leader of this team.

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He's not the leader

[QUOTE]He has the right kind of teammates and a system in place that will allow him to excel in working both on and off the ball and making quicker, more effective reads so there’s no excuse for it not to work. Mitchell himself has said that he wants to improve on defense, which is why he believes he was drafted in the first place. He has a real chance to become one of the best two-way players of his generation and that’s exactly what the Jazz expect from him.

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don't see him ever being a two way player. A great offensive player would be great for starters

[QUOTE]There are expectations for Bogdanovic that differ from last season. There have been hints that he could be used in a post-up role a little more this year, but Bogdanovic is malleable and a quick learner who never looks out of step for long. The Jazz expect Bogdanovic to hit shots, which should be no problem for him even after wrist surgery that kept him out of the playoffs. The biggest thing this season for the Crotian sharpshooter is going to be being honest about his body. He’s just only recently playing basketball for the first time since his surgery and if there is any sort of intense soreness or if he needs to be easy with things, it’s largely going to be up to him to speak up.


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looked horrible in the post

[QUOTE]The Jazz need Ingles to learn to thrive off the bench. He had trouble with that last season and it didn’t help that injuries had him in and out of the starting lineup and stability of the bench was questionable. This season he’ll have Derrick Favors back on the court, which should give him a level of comfort and infuse the bench with a reliable action. There is some fear that he is at the tail end of his career and could be slowing down. Even so, the Jazz expect him to still defend at a high level and he has to find a way to get past his tendency to pass up open shots.

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no fear it's reality. He'd declined the past two years

[QUOTE]In his second stint with the Jazz, the expectation is that Favors can deliver exactly what he did when he was here last time but in a reserve role. His rebounding and defensive determination in the paint are paramount to the success of the bench, and it’s clear that he hasn’t lost any of his chemistry with Ingles in the pick and roll, which is exactly what the Jazz were hoping for. He doesn’t have to put up huge numbers; he just has to help the second unit maintain leads and be better than Tony Bradley or Ed Davis, so it’s not that high of a bar.


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Bradley lead the league in offensive rebound % so the bar couldn't be much higher. He needs to be better than ? at the 4 as well

[QUOTE]It’s possible that Harrison’s playing time will be a little up and down. It’s not totally clear how much the Jazz plan on using him, and it’s very possible that his biggest role will come in the postseason. As a defensive specialist, Harrison might be utilized by Snyder if there are particularly crafty wings that are giving the Jazz fits. Even when he was in and out of the lineup or playing irregular minutes with the Chicago Bulls, Harrison still maintained his reputation as a lockdown defender so there’s no concern that he’ll be ready when called upon.

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could have used him in the last game

[QUOTE]Oni got quite a few reps in the Orlando bubble during the seeding games that led to the playoffs and received praise from Snyder and teammates up and down the roster. It looks like he is going to get a little more playing time this season so he has to step up. The Jazz are going to need players with Oni’s profile who they can keep on the roster for cheap once Mitchell and Gobert’s extensions kick in so it’s imperative that Oni continues on the trajectory of incremental progress. If by the end of this season it doesn’t look like he can be a reliable part of the deep rotation, the Jazz will look elsewhere.


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him too

[QUOTE]During the playoffs, the Jazz were stretched pretty thin with an already short rotation, leading to Morgan playing pretty meaningful minutes in four of their seven games against the Denver Nuggets. He also played in 21 regular season games last year, albeit mostly in garbage time. With all of that in mind it stands to reason that Morgan will have his fair share of chances this season. In those minutes he needs to continue the progress he’s shown on his interior defense and hit those corner 3s. I’d think that the Jazz would also like to see him work on his body a little bit more. Getting stronger and leaner will only make him better.

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Most of his time was meaningful last year and he was solid

[QUOTE]There’s a very good chance that during the season there will be times that Gobert or Favors are unavailable to play, due to injury, COVID-19 protocols or just rest. The coaching staff could look for Azubuike to step in as a substitute in those situations and have some real playing time. For a rookie center, one of the most important things is learning control. Whether it’s in limiting fouls, turnovers or missed rotations, the more that Azubuike can show that he is learning and improving the better.


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behind Morgan still. Should be behind BRantley as well

[QUOTE]Control will also be a top priority for Hughes, though it will come in different ways. Rookie guards often have a tendency to play too fast and a little recklessly. Hughes might not get the same amount of opportunity for game reps as Azubuike, but when he does get onto the court, it would be nice to see him play selflessly, slow down a little and show that he isn’t just trying to get his.


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Selfless? you see him play? Thinks he's the next Clarkson

[QUOTE]Brantley showed a ton of promise in his limited time last season. Much like Oni, when Brantley gets the opportunity to play it’s imperative that he is focused and relentless on the defensive end. That’s really what is going to catch the eye of the coaching staff. If he’s able to show enough, and the Jazz don’t fill their final roster spot with someone from the outside, they could choose to convert Brantley’s deal from a two-way to a regular NBA contract before they head into the playoffs.


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should have already just for being all gleague

[QUOTE]The good thing about being the newest player on a two-way deal is that there are little to no expectations. All Forrest has to do is be a good teammate, work hard and try to stay ready. He had some really nice moments in the preseason so even though he’s likely to get the least amount of playing time, he could get a chance if the Jazz are in a pinch.


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needs to work on his shot if he hopes to stick

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22201171/utahs-jazz-home-opener-is-spoiled-with-a-loss-to-the-minnesota-timberwolves-nba-dark-mode-basketball[/url]

[QUOTE]Quin should make better adjustments in-game.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/CJ%20Livinghousen"]CJ Livinghousen[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22201171/utahs-jazz-home-opener-is-spoiled-with-a-loss-to-the-minnesota-timberwolves-nba-dark-mode-basketball#534826490"]Dec 26, 2020 | 11:59 PM[/URL]
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He's smarter than us. I'm sure there's a great reason why Bojan was inbounding the ball


[QUOTE]Bogie bricked two layups. Like, he didn’t even try to shoot either like a layup; he shot both like jumpshots and bricked them. He can’t play 34 minutes, shoot 3/16, and the Jazz expect to win much, because he doesn’t do much else (although, seven rebounds and one assist are both probably career highs).
-Donovan has got to be more aggressive in the first half. I’m sick of waiting for the second half for him to show up. Even in the fourth quarter, he had three missed shots at the rim that all turned into Gobert dunks; these are good for the team. He bends the defense so well. But when he shoots five shots in the first half (I’m guessing) and 18 in the second, it’s over-picking his spots.
-Any time the Jazz look indecisive and out of rhythm on offense, that’s Jordan Clarkson time. QS shouldn’t wait; just bring Jordan in. He’s not going to turn the ball over, likely because he doesn’t pass the ball and that’s okay, and he’s going to confidently get up shots. Dude took 17 shots in 23 minutes and had 23 points on 8/17 shooting, including six free throws. Gimme more of that when the team has coughed the ball up five times in first six minutes please. He gives the Jazz a different look offensively and likely throws a wrench in the defense.
-Minny’s bench: Culver goes 3/3 from three, Anthony Edwards goes 2/3, Naz Reid goes 2/4, Rubio goes 1/3. Total: 8/13 Jazz starting five: 6/23. Ballgame.
The good:
-Jazz defense in the second half was awesome. Just sayin’. It didn’t feel that way maybe, because we gave up 68 in the first. 48-point second half and a lot of it was a struggle.
-QS came out in a 1-3-1 zone with Gobert in the middle several times. I really liked it.
That’s about it. Stupid game to lose and we did it in ugly fashion. It’s always worse too when your best-ish player goes, [I]Oh, shit. There’s only like four minutes left. I should try really hard now to make something happen. Wish Donovan wouldn’t wait for that. Wish Bogie made some layups. Wish the team didn’t insist on turning the ball over in laughably absurd ways at times. Glad KAT and Reid aren’t seriously hurt and that we only let Towns take five threes.[/I]

[I]Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Karl%20Stalone%2032"]Karl Stalone 32[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/26/22201171/utahs-jazz-home-opener-is-spoiled-with-a-loss-to-the-minnesota-timberwolves-nba-dark-mode-basketball#534827572"]Dec 27, 2020 | 3:28 AM[/URL][/I]
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yep why Bojan should be traded for a starting 4 if possible. Yes this was a game where Clarkson can do his thing. When others have it going he needs to pass. You know he won't stick with the zone though. He's smarter than you.