post draft off season part II-bring on the roster moves!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/09/25/nba...oal-utah-jazz/

That means, for give-or-take 26 NBA teams, the Larry O’Brien trophy is the target heading into the 2021-22 season. In all likelihood, the Utah Jazz have better odds of reaching that target than 23-or-so of those teams, but the point stands: only one team per season wins the NBA championship.

26 teams don't think they are playing for a championship. Many tanking. Some hoping for the playoffs. A few with championship hopes

Indeed, the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers should be the only groups standing between the Utah Jazz and a trip to the NBA’s ultimate showdown.

Suns period. Blazers a dark horse

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference appears uncharacteristically stacked. The Brooklyn Nets stand to redefine super-team, the Milwaukee Bucks will be hoping to repeat their NBA championship performance, the Miami Heat’s addition of Kyle Lowry stands to disrupt an otherwise-clear hierarchy.

believe it when I see it

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https://thejnotes.com/2021/09/24/uta...am-involved/2/

Some Jazz fans may balk at this trade on the basis of the preexistence of Jordan Clarkson. Superficially, that’s fair. Clarkson is a 7-year NBA vet in the thick of his prime. Surely, the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year is more equipped to pilot the second unit than a soon-to-be sophomore.

Clarkson isn't equipped to do anything but take a lot of horrible shots while his teammates watch helplessly

Nobody here is denying that, but the Utah Jazz should be in the market for a fourth guard to complete their rotation. Quickly showed enough in his rookie campaign to qualify as a significant upgrade over Quin Snyder’s current options in Jared Butler, Trent Forrest, Miye Oni or MaCio Teague.

is he? Butler is considered a lottery talent. Forrest was really good when he got a chance as well

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves may not net a single asset in this exchange that rivals the one they’re giving up in Towns, but it does fast track the rebuild they’ll be required to undertake should their franchise player request a trade. RJ Barrett made significant strides between his rookie and sophomore campaign, increasing his points per game from 14.3 to 17.6 and his three-point accuracy from 32.0 to 40.1%.

rather have Barrett than Towns

There is a risk factor involved in this deal for the Utah Jazz: we think Rozier is better than Clarkson, but it isn’t glaringly obvious either. According to points per 36 minutes, the Jazz would be better off staying put, as Clarkson’s impressive 24.8 per game outweighs Rozier’s 21.3. However, context is significant in this case: Clarkson’s number is inflated by his role. He piloted second units where he was nearly singularly expected to generate baskets.

any trade that gets rid of Clarkson and Hughes is a winner in my book. Can we throw in COTY too?

As for the Utah Jazz, they’re parting with little to gain a little more in this exchange, and their involvement is mostly a consequence of salary matching necessity. Still, their return is solid here. While we’ve recently taken issue with the notion that the Jazz are “one wing short”, the addition of Juan Toscano-Anderson ought to minimize those concerns. He’s a sound, multi-positional defender who also just shot 40.7% from three-point range.

wouldn't call Oni little but at least Hughes would be gone

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2021/09/24/3-t...azz-win-title/

3 things that need to happen for the Utah Jazz to win an NBA title

new coach, new 6th man and Mitchell actually lives up to the hype and plays D and passes the ball to his wide open teammates

If there’s anything that last season showed Utah Jazz fans, it’s that the team is going to have to be more versatile. While the narrative that Rudy Gobert was “played off the court” versus the Clippers has been overblown, there is some truth to it. Gobert averaged 12.5 points and 11.7 rebounds in the six games against the Clippers. While these are solid stats, All-NBA level players are typically expected to produce at a higher rate.

Gobert wasn't the problem

Going into the 2021-22 season, we know Gobert will do everything he can to improve. We can already tell by the results from his summer training that he will be in top shape. However, there is only so much that he can do. When the Jazz face teams like the Warriors and Clippers that like to run “small ball” lineups, it would be ideal for Utah to be able to counter with a small ball lineup of its own.

be ideal to get Gobert the ball and for his teammates to help him on D. We saw the results for France

This simply wasn’t possible last season.

it was with a different coach

The Jazz didn’t have players with the size or skill set to be able to display much versatility. But now with the additions of Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall, that looks a lot more plausible. For Utah to reach and then win the NBA Finals, these two players will have to show just how versatile of a skill set they each possess. They’ll need to be efficient playing from the wing as well as holding down the middle when need be.

they did. COTY chose not to even try them despite Ersan being one of their best players when he did play

Mitchell’s last two trips to the postseason have been particularly special as he averaged 36.3 and 32.3 points, respectively. For the Utah Jazz to win the NBA Finals this season, he must stay on this historic pace. He’s already established himself as one of the game’s best young players. But for Utah to reach the next level, he’ll have to prove he is the best shooting guard in the league.

could start by being the best guard or one of the top two players on his own team

As long as Mitchell is healthy and performing at this level, the Jazz will be contenders. And if everything else can come together, they’ll be champions.

if Gobert gets hurt they are a lottery team. You realize this right?

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Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert says the NBA can come knocking on his door any time it wants … telling TMZ Sports he ain’t scared of the league’s “random” drug tests!! Of course, it’s become quite the trend in the Association — you post a jacked pic on Instagram, you get “randomly” hit up for a test.
– via TMZ Staff @ TMZ.com

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Ben Anderson: Donovan Mitchell on the idea of potentially resting games at times during the season. “I’m all for ways for us to stay healthy.” Said he might not have felt that way before last season. @KSLSports | #TakeNote

– via Twitter BensHoops

so that mean you'll listen to the team or your posse?

Tony Jones: Donovan Mitchell: I think there’s another level I can get to as a player. Be more efficient, be better defensively, be a vocal leader on the floor

– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

pass the ball!

Ben Anderson: Donovan Mitchell on Mike Conley coming back. “I kind of knew Mike was going to re-sign.” Said they had talked on the plane and felt like the team needed to run it back. #Takenote | @kslsports

– via Twitter BensHoops

[Xiao Yao You]

Sarah Todd: Donovan Mitchell said his rehab took a while but he’s 100% and ready to go. Ankle is good.
– via Twitter NBASarah





Tony Jones: Donovan Mitchell: we’ve addressed a few things. Bringing in Eric, Rudy Gay, Hassan Whiteside, for us we think we are better. But we have to go out and do it
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Donovan Mitchell: this is a big year for us. We aren’t going to sneak up on everyone. For us we have to do what we do, but come out with a fire and hunger and with an edge
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Joe Ingles: after last year, falling short, it was disappointing obviously. We think we are deeper this year. The regular season is great, but you don’t get anything from winning the regular season
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba




Tony Jones: Joe Ingles: after last year, we have a little bit to prove
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba