Let's get it on!
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Let's get it on!
Oklahoma City won 60 games last season and finished as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook was injured in the first round of the playoffs, however, and the Thunder were beaten in five games by Memphis in the conference semifinals.
Westbrook underwent surgery last spring. He had a second surgery on Oct 1 and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of the new season.
Corbin still believes Oklahoma City "will be right there at the end" because "they are a still a good ballclub. ... With Westbrook out, Durant will increase his role as a ballhandler. The ball will be in his hands more."
[email]luhm@sltrib.com[/email]
[QUOTE]Thunder at Jazz
At EnergySolutions Arena
Tipoff
Posted on October 29, 2013
by David Locke
This week Kevin Durant sat down for a long form interview with Oklahoman writer Darnell Mayberry. In the interview he shared how his approach to the game has changed over the years.
The first paragraph below struck a cord when put in the context of where Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter stand in there careers.
But, first coming into the league, I was a little confused because it
[QUOTE]What the games against the Clippers and Lakers showed me is just how badly we needed to sign Jamaal Tinsley. We know he
I can't wait to see how Derrick Favors emerges
Wonder if he can earn that contract
I'm also excited for Favors, but I want Wiggins more than anything right now.
Decent starts for Favors (too many turnovers though) and Kanter. Big game from Burks as well, hopefully he can keep it up.
I assume Favors was dominating defensively because on paper it looks like Kanter, Burks, Harris and Jefferson should have been playing more.
[QUOTE]Strong effort from the Jazz tonight. The second half defense was terrific. They held the #2 team in the NBA offensively last year to just 84.6 pts per 100 possessions.[/QUOTE]
Not # 2 without Westbrook.
[QUOTE] The defensive rebounding was the key they grabbed 20 of 22 potential defensive rebounds in the 2nd half. Rotations were great and the Thunder looked to wear down.
The well-travelled Mike Harris battled Kevin Durant every step of the way tonight. Harris came in due to foul trouble and injuries and took advantage. He has a ton of experience and life experience that makes him unflustered in a big moment. He has played all over the globe and just tried to hang on in the NBA. Tonight he battled defensive and made some shots.
Alec Burks scored 19 points in the second half and I don
[QUOTE]Look for Thunder to go small for 8 to 12 minutes tonight with Durant at the 4. Will be a key stretch for the Jazz to match- up and deal with a spread floor. Who guards Durant in this line-up. Ideally, Marvin Williams but he is not available.[/QUOTE]
Ideally Mike Harris it looks like. I can see G playing some 4. He's put on some muscle.
[QUOTE]* Scott Brooks had interesting comments about how Hayward and Favors are now the focus of their discussion in shoot around.
The Jazz and Hayward have until 9:59 p.m. MT on Thursday to reach a deal to extend the 23-year-old swingman
[QUOTE]The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has exercised its fourth-year option for the 2014-15 season for guard/forward Jimmy Butler, and its third-year option for the 2014-15 season for guard Marquis Teague. By exercising the respective player options, both players will be under contract with the Bulls for the 2014-15 season. NBA.com [/QUOTE]
I'd guess the Jazz would be less interested in Teague now that he's not expiring.
[QUOTE]While Trey Burke
[QUOTE]I
[QUOTE]"Alec really carried us in the second half," said forward Richard Jefferson, who scored 10 points of his own. "We
[QUOTE]Jefferson, meanwhile, said he's been impressed by the demeanor of the team's young leaders.
"There is no exuberance. That is not the word I would [use to] describe Gordon, or Derrick or Enes," the 12-year veteran said. "They're very mild-mannered guys. They're very competitive. They're very aggressive. But they're not these kids bouncing off the walls. They're a different breed of guys. They're approaching this in a very professional manner, which is refreshing. They're approaching this like this is where they expected to be."[/QUOTE]
That comes from playing behind vets the past 2 and 3 years. That's why you don't just throw young guys into the fray. It's important to have vets around competing with them.
[QUOTE]Coach Ty Corbin showed maturity by calling timeouts at key moments during the game and trusting the players who were hot both offensively and defensively. Corbin still doesn
[QUOTE]Only 10 healthy Utah players suited up, with three potential rotation players sitting out due to injury.[/QUOTE]
Aren't all the players sitting out potential rotation players?
[QUOTE]Burke will sit out what could
Given all of this, there's plenty of reasons the Jazz should try to trade for Fredette. However, obtaining Fredette isn't a slam dunk by any means. He has his liabilities as well.
The biggest one being his defensive skills, or more accurately the lack thereof.
While Fredette has improved somewhat since joining the NBA, he isn't the best defender. You can't expect him to go toe-to-toe with great guards and hold his own. This is something that the Jazz can't simply look past as opposing offenses will attack Fredette the same way that they target him now at Sacramento.
The other big question is how much it would it cost to bring Fredette to Salt Lake City.
It doesn't seem like the Kings plan on using Fredette extensively this season as they have an overabundance of guards on their team, including Ben McLemore, Greivis Vasquez and Marcus Thornton.
That said, Sacramento isn't desperately trying to get rid of him either. The Jazz won't want to give up a first-round draft pick for Fredette as they seem to be focusing on picking up high-level young talent to rebuild their team. Would a second-round pick be enough to entice Sacramento to make a deal?
Maybe, but maybe not.
Sacramento still has until the rapidly approaching Oct. 31 deadline to decide whether to extend Fredette's contract under his year-four option valued at $3.3 million, according to the Sacramento Bee. That doesn't mean that the Kings can't still move Fredette after that, but it costs a team like Utah more to pick up Fredette than it would if he became an unrestricted free agent. Sacramento may extend Fredette's contract in hopes that he'll bring a more valuable player or draft pick in return.
So, the Jazz will be more likely to make a deal for Fredette if the Kings don't extend his contract.
All things considered, the Jazz should take a serious look at trading for Fredette. Despite his flaws, he will be an asset from the bench as well as a good economic investment for Utah if the price is right.
In other words, the pros would outweigh the cons.
[QUOTE]Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams piled up 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds as Philadelphia raced to a 22-point lead against the two-time defending champions in a stunning 114-110 victory in their season opener at the Wells Fargo Center. It was the most steals by any player in a career debut in NBA history. Carter-Williams also committed just one turnover. "Are you kidding me?
[QUOTE] Burks singlehandledly brought the Jazz back late in the game. Even better, he showed an ability to contribute off the ball, something that
[QUOTE] Favors will give Utah its best rim protector since Mark Eaton
[QUOTE]According to a second person with knowledge of the situation, the Kings have received trade interest from about six teams about Fredette and, surprisingly, the Utah Jazz are not known to be among that group. The Jazz could use another perimeter scorer, and Fredette's popularity in that region would come as an added bonus at a time when they're rebuilding around young talents Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors. USA Today Sports
Marc J. Spears: "This is a business decision for the King and they are doing what they believe is best for the organization," Jimmer Fredette said. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo
Marc J. Spears: Jimmer Fredette continued: "I will continue to work hard and be the best I can be moving forward in my career." Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo[/QUOTE]
Not surprising if you've been paying attention. They wouldn't have signed Tinsley if they were going to go after Jimmer. I think he makes a lot of sesne but maybe the Jazz don't like the price that the Kings want in exchange?
Jody Genessy: Trey Burke will be re-evaluated on Nov. 11 Twitter @DJJazzyJody
Marc Stein: Five hours to go before extension deadline hits, buzz around Jazz is that whole team absorbed by Gordon Hayward's ongoing extension talks
Twitter @ESPNSteinLine
[QUOTE]Marc Stein: Five hours to go before extension deadline hits, buzz around Jazz is that whole team absorbed by Gordon Hayward's ongoing extension talks
Twitter @ESPNSteinLine [/QUOTE]
They're dreaming!
[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: Extension talks between Utah and Gordon Hayward are over, league sources tell Yahoo. Hayward will be a restricted free agent on July 1. Twitter @WojYahooNBA [/QUOTE]
Better hope he doesn't get hurt.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Jazz and Gordon Hayward never came close on an extension, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. The gap remained several million dollars apart.
Twitter @WojYahooNBA
[QUOTE]"Ultimately, we just couldn't reach a deal that both sides felt good about,
[QUOTE]Burke traveled to Arizona to be with his team for Friday's first road game against the Suns, but he’ll just be an attentive observer again. The Jazz will also be without Marvin Williams (Achilles), Brandon Rush (knee), Jeremy Evans (rotator cuff) and Andris Biedrins, although all will travel.
“It was definitely a bummer that I wasn’t out there,” Burke added, “but I’m looking forward to being out there.”
It’s still unknown how long Burke will be sidelined, but he was allowed to speak to reporters Thursday for the first time since having surgery on his fractured right index finger 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Instead of talking about his first game as a rookie, Burke explained the progress of his finger rehab the day after the 2013-14 season tipped off without him.
“Right now, I’m just trying to continue to get this strength back,” Burke said. “I’m almost there. I’m almost at a full fist.”
Though it was initially announced that Burke would be re-evaluated three weeks after his surgery, the point guard’s check-up will come a week later on Nov. 11. [/QUOTE]
So he's already behind schedule.
[QUOTE]It will then be determined how long it will take before he can resume basketball activity and full workouts.
Burke continues to wear a special splint at night and during some conditioning (not allowed to run yet), but he’s allowed to take it off the rest of the time.
This is his first injury since the 21-year-old suffered a hairline fracture in his knee in middle school, forcing him to miss two months.
“It’s really tough, but injuries happen. That’s what happens in sports,” Burke said. “This is my first real injury of my career. Obviously I had to learn to deal with not being out there with my teammates. I’m staying positive. I’m doing a good job of trying to get back out there as quick as possible.”
In the meantime, Burke will continue to sit, watch and learn. He picks the brain of Jazz player development coach Johnnie Bryant. He watches film, especially to study “what we need to do on the offensive end.”
Burke is trying to make the most of his downtime.
“Just try to basically (make) it like I’m out there, learn from the sidelines since I can’t be out there,” he said. “I’m trying to do a good job of being more of a student right now.”
Speaking of a student, this No. 3 smiled when told by a reporter that a young elementary school kid dressed up as Burke in a makeshift Jazz jersey with the playmaker’s name on the back during a school costume parade.
“That’s amazing,” the real Burke said. “It’s always great to see young kids with dreams wearing your jersey. I was that little kid (one) day.”[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin can
[QUOTE]Starting point guard John Lucas III echoed his coach on the turnover topic.
[QUOTE]Harris has got to be celebrating clean(er) air, hamburgers, French fries and simply playing in the NBA.[/QUOTE]
I'd be missing Chinese food myself.
[QUOTE]Against the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, Harris dogged Kevin Durant as much as he could. Durant ran away with 42 points, but Durant earned those points and faced continual challenges on his shots. Harris used his six fouls effectively, adding 13 points and two steals.
Unfortunately, Durant went to the dang-I-got-one-up-on-the-defense line 24 times and hit 22 of those freebies, converting 91.7 percent of his free throws. Durant is too good to go to the line that many times. When NBA referees are charged with the duty of protecting superstars, and when a young team plays one such star hard, the star will go to the line and will go often.
Durant makes his free throws, however. This why hack-a-Shaq worked and why hack-a-Durant doesn
Jazz at Suns
O At USAirways Center (Phoenix)
Tipoff
Mike Harris sat with coach Ty Corbin in the Jazz
[QUOTE]The Jazz could use some help from Brandon Rush & Marvin Williams.
I
After failing to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension before Thursday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline, talented young forward Gordon Hayward will enter restricted free agency next summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Also, the Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe were unable to come to an agreement on a rookie contract extension, and the young point guard will join fellow 2010 draft class members Hayward and Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe as three of the most prominent players in July's restricted free agency period. Yahoo! Sports
Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey and Hayward's agent Mark Bartelstein had been seriously trading proposals for the past week, but couldn't come to terms on an extension, sources said. Yahoo! Sports
Marc Stein: Extension deadline officially passes w/no deal for Utah's Gordon Hayward. Sides were negotiating 4-year deal, sources say, but no agreement Twitter @ESPNSteinLine
Marc Stein: League sources sat Hayward was NOT seeking four-year max but parties couldn't close gap even after Jazz CEO Greg Miller spoke optimistically Twitter @ESPNSteinLine
Despite being in active negotiations up until the Thursday night deadline, Gordon Hayward and the Utah Jazz failed to close the gap on the framework of a contract extension and never discussed a five-year, maximum-level deal, league sources told RealGM. RealGM
The sides never came close on a deal, remaining several million dollars apart, league sources told Yahoo. Hayward had been seeking a deal in the four-year, $50-million plus range, sources said. Hayward will have significant interest on the market next summer and could command a deal in that range. Nevertheless, the Jazz can match an offer sheet and keep Hayward, which is the likely scenario. Yahoo! Sports
Bartelstein was quick to compliment the Jazz for their handling of the negotiations, and dispelled any notion that this is a sign that Hayward is looking to head elsewhere. "The main thing is that the Jazz put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into wanting to get something done, and we put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to get it done," Bartelstein said. "It was not due to a lack of trying. That's for sure. There was a lot of time and a lot of energy spent the last few months in working at it, but sometimes you just can't come up with something that both sides feel good about. That doesn't change at all
[QUOTE]Our four young kids played strong games. Hayward equaled his career high in rebounds and assists. Favors had a career high 17 rebounds. Kanter had a 20-10 with 10 offensive rebounds. Burks had a terrific rhythm to his game in the 2nd half. However, they don