2021 post season #1 seed in NBA!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50177911...is-time-around

It's impossible to know if Utah would have been the best team in the league in the regular season or if it had fully committed to a new offensive identity if last season's embarrassment wouldn't have occurred. But, regardless, the Jazz view that collapse as the driving force to its entire season.

they were the best team because the D was much better not the offense

But the Jazz aren't the same team they were last season. For starters, Bojan Bogdanovic is back after missing last year's playoffs. He's averaging 18.8 points and shooting 42% from three. The Jazz also have Derrick Favors who has been a revelation backing up Gobert in the first four games of the series. Mike Conley is more comfortable, Jordan Clarkson more reliable, and the team has a whole different mindset.

A revelation! Clarkson is worse than ever!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/460615/utah-ja...-playoff-lead/

Had the Jazz had the ability to play any of their three closeout opportunities against Denver at home, the series may have had a different outcome.

plus 3 in Denver. Mitchell certainly wouldn't have had the series he duid. Murray probably wouldn't have either

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/460602/jazz-lo...nst-grizzlies/

The key matchup in game four will pit the Jazz role players against the Grizzlies’. Games 1-3 had been dominated by big statistical performances from Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Ja Morant, and Dillon Brooks.

O'Neale

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/460591/jazz-co...al-admiration/

“Coach Snyder’s defensive strategy should be required viewing for all coaches,” Lasso tweeted, “(no 🤞 needed).”

the strategy with or without Rudy?

Snyder led the Jazz to the NBA’s third-ranked defense this season, and the top record in the NBA.

What did the D rank without Gobert on the floor?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/2/224...byu-basketball

If he replaced the Wizard the future might have hope after all!

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https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/1/224...taylor-jenkins

With the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award winner — veteran sharpshooter Jordan Clarkson — and one of the other leading candidates also on their bench, the Utah Jazz are naturally going to get more scoring production from their non-starters than any team in the NBA.

a guy that misses more than he makes is a gunner not a sharpshooter

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/jazz-grizz...e-g5-wrinkles/

Conley goes under the screen and Gobert slides over to contain, but for some reason Clarkson still leaves a shooter to stunt. You probably don’t need three guys all focused on Morant when he’s this far from the basket, but that just illustrates how much fear he instills as a drive threat.

Clarkson sucks

Gobert guards essentially the same way on these four plays as he did in the trio above, but here it results in a floater barely drawing iron, a Morant turnover, and two plays where they get the ball out of his hands entirely. But for a sloppy closeout by Clarkson on the last one, these would be four empty Memphis possessions.

JC again. What exactly does he bring to the table?

But, with all due respect to Memphis, this isn’t the Denver series. The gap in macro team quality is wider, and the games aren’t happening in a neutral gym next to some Central Florida marsh. Plus, while Utah has yet to blow the Grizzlies out, they’ve been in control for virtually every minute since Mitchell returned to action. In the three games since Mitchell rejoined the lineup, Utah is 3-0 and has trailed for just 5.6% of the time. Utah has trailed for 38 total seconds after intermission in those games, or 0.9% of the total second-half action in those three. Credit Memphis for staying in all three games, but Utah has yet to really sweat one out, at least with their full roster.

been in control virtually every minute Gobert has been on the court would be a better way of putting it

There are no easy answers for Memphis, on either end. They’ve switched, they’ve iced, they’ve dropped, they’ve hedged, and Utah has just had answers for everything. Conley has been a surgeon in this series, and Mitchell is inching back toward his usual minutes and role. O’Neale, Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles have all been red hot as endpoints of the offense, and the Jazz have too many avenues of creation for Memphis to zero in on any one ball handler.

can';t stop Conley/Gobert pick and roll but COTY and Mitchell can

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/6/2/224...layoffs-better

Enter Donovan Mitchell.

enter Gobert not in rare foul trouble

Now, if you only checked the box score for Mitchell you might scoff at his numbers. He’s scoring 28 ppg while shooting 39% from the field and 33% from three. Sure, those aren’t the most impressive numbers but what jumps off the page is that Mitchell is getting to the line. He’s averaging 9.3 free throw attempts per game and shooting 89% at the line. That ability to get to the line is the next step in Mitchell’s superstar evolution and we’re watching it happen right before our eyes. That’s not just a sign that Mitchell’s skill level is getting even better, it’s also a sign that he’s driving relentlessly to the rim. The Grizzlies have no one on the floor that can stay in front of him. So when Mitchell is on the floor he’s constantly penetrating the defense and it forces the Grizzlies into rotations. And that means the Jazz are finding advantages. For the series Mitchell is averaging 4.3 assists per game, 2nd to Mike Conley at 10.3. But that ball is moving when Mitchell drives. Per NBA.com Mitchell is second on the team behind Mike Conley with 8 potential assists per game. Conley is at 16.5! It’s easy to see how that penetration from Mitchell creates better shots for Conley and his teammates. Basically, if you want to slow the Jazz down in the half court, you have to figure out how to stop Mitchell from driving and the Grizzlies have no one that can do it.

Let Conley spot up for 3 and your chances increase greatly

And that’s the real effect that Mitchell has. On nights where he shoots efficiently, the Jazz are almost unbeatable. But even on nights where he doesn’t shoot well it opens everything up for everyone else. Less minutes are being used by players on the end of the bench. Less minutes are being used by players being asked to play above their skill set. Each member of the Jazz is asked to carry the appropriate amount of weight to get the win. And if the Jazz do this, it makes them capable of beating anyone because they have the weapons to take advantage of every mistake the defense makes.

sadly he doesn't usually shoot efficiently but let's rave about him some more anyway!

That being said its important that Donavan tried to engage in the offense as much as he can. Pick his spots when he makes moves or tries to take over. Hes getting better about that. But for the Jazz to reach their peak potential Donavan has to be efficient. If he can score efficiently and turn it over less while still getting to the line like he has been that is your superstar right there.


Hopefully the defense comes along too and that’s just a symptom of fatigue and needing more time to get right. Its incredible hes playing at the level he is given how much time hes missed. That’s not normal. Just wait and see what he will do next series or if we are fortunate in the conf finals or nba finals. Hes only gonna get better and better.

Posted by JazzHands2017 on Jun 2, 2021 | 9:58 AM

don't see him getting better at D or engaging the offense more

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/02/uta...ert-finishing/

With Bojan Bogdanovic out due to a wrist injury at this point last postseason, it was amazing the Jazz even obtained a 3-1 lead. Now, they’re the heavily favored team. Per the ESPN.com Basketball Power Index, not only do they have over a 72 percent chance to win Game 5, but they also have a league-best 27.4 percent chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

amazing against a team that played little D

Donovan Mitchell and other players will get their dues on offense. However, there will be less pressure on them if Rudy Gobert channels his inner Mark Eaton, plays with tenacity, and creates extra opportunities for the team by way of his shot-blocking specialty.

he doesn't need to block shots. What he does goes way beyond that

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/01/uta...se-nba-finals/

So there you have it: a unit that is already firing on all cylinders with the chance of enjoying a most opportune time to fine-tune individual pieces.

They are hardly firing on all cylinders. They will have to be a lot better

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...Role-With-Jazz

Abbott adds that new Utah owner Ryan Smith is "best friends" with Ainge. Smith and Ainge are both from Eugene, Oregon and they both attended BYU.

impress me Ryan!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...ach-In-Waiting

damn I was hoping for COTY!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/analys...n-The-MVP-Race

If you watch any national television sports talk show or game broadcast, you would think the Jazz were a one-man show. All-Star Donovan Mitchell is often referred to as Utah’s best player despite the team playing better with Gobert on the floor. Since Mitchell leads the team in scoring, only his performance can be used in the national conversation to explain why Utah has played well. It’s reductive, but scoring is generally how the national discourse around the league flows. It’s easier to explain why a player is good or valuable through offense rather than defense.

Bojan thinks he's their best player too and most fans

Players that rely on defense primarily will always have a harder time showcasing their value. Statistics always paint a better picture for stars with the ball in their hands. For the rare star like Gobert that impacts the game without touching the ball on offense sometimes, it will always be an uphill battle and quite possibly why he's frequently pleading for more respect.

one of the most impactful offensive players too though

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/460661/could-d...help-the-jazz/

First, it must be recognized that the Jazz have proven to have one of the better front offices in the NBA behind Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey and General Manager Justin Zanik.

the same guys that super maxed Mitchell and signed Bojan,Clarkson and Favors to huge deals or the other great front office?

Additionally, neither member of the Jazz brain trust are in the twilight of their careers. Lindsey, 52, and Zanik, 46, should have significantly more shelf life in the NBA than Ainge who turned 62 in March.

Lindsey has been rumored for Houston so there is hope

Ultimately, if Ainge were to join the Jazz it would have to come as the result of the team’s front office and ownership deciding they wanted additional help, and Ainge deciding he isn’t ready to settle into retirement.

can't have enough GM's. They have at least 5 now I believe

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/6/2/224...layoffs-game-5

The chemistry is also better. Even though it was clear that the rift in the team between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell was gone in the bubble, there were still looming contracts for Gobert and Mitchell on the horizon. Now, with both players paid and under contract, everything has fallen into place. Mitchell appears to have taken another leap and should be a perennial all-star and eventual all-nba player. Gobert will win his 3rd DPOY, will be all-nba yet again and is playing the best basketball of his career. The Jazz are complete.

complete