"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[MarkGrace]

The Embiid rumors came straight from him:

Joel Embiid has emerged as one of the top freshmen in college basketball.

Embiid has only been playing basketball for a few years, but has remarkable instincts for the game.

Embiid has also been researching the college tenures of big men such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal. The common denominator with those three legendary bigs is that they each spent at least two seasons in college.

"I was curious because I want to be great, I want to be the best at my position one day," said Embiid. "I'm trying to learn everything and what other people did. All of the great big men went to college at least two or three years. I think it's a big factor. I don't know if it will always work, but I think it's the best choice."

"He's the best," Bill Self said. "He wants to know everything. He's so naïve, in a very innocent way. Like certain guys can be naïve to the ways of the world, but he's naïve about everything -- what to eat, everything."

Via Dana O'Neil/ESPN

There are always a couple of players that say they're going to stay and after consulting with agents, etc. end up declaring. But in Jabari's case I've always thought it would be completely unsurprising if he stayed at Duke another year. Kid never seemed in a hurry to get to the NBA.

[Blueintheface]

The Embiid rumors came straight from him:



There are always a couple of players that say they're going to stay and after consulting with agents, etc. end up declaring. But in Jabari's case I've always thought it would be completely unsurprising if he stayed at Duke another year. Kid never seemed in a hurry to get to the NBA.

I just wonder if Jabari improves in year 2 like Embiid would. Jabari's mechanics, his fluidity, and his work ethic are all top-notch. I'm not saying he couldn't improve in year 2, I'm sure he would, but he seems the least likely of the top guys to struggle right away in the NBA. The others might have better careers but I think the jump would be easier for him.

[MarkGrace]

I just wonder if Jabari improves in year 2 like Embiid would. Jabari's mechanics, his fluidity, and his work ethic are all top-notch. I'm not saying he couldn't improve in year 2, I'm sure he would, but he seems the least likely of the top guys to struggle right away in the NBA. The others might have better careers but I think the jump would be easier for him.

In terms of his game I'm not sure what he'd improve upon in year 2. I think the only thing people would like to see is if he can improve his body and maybe pick up some athleticism related to that. But he's already in play for the #1 pick so if he elects to stay I think it would just be more about the fact that he wants to stay and not much else.

Embiid is in a tough spot because he's only a couple months younger than Marcus Smart -- he's a freshmen playing at the age of most sophomores. The older you get the more you lose that "upside" label.

[wapiti]

A day spent at Duke University is a day wasted. Jabari should definitely go to the NBA.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

DX latest mock has Utah taking Jabari at #3, PJ Hairston at #24, and Mitch McGary with the 3rd pick of the 2nd round.

It has McDermott at 12, Zach Levine at 29

[smokymountainrain]

DX latest mock has Utah taking Jabari at #3, PJ Hairston at #24, and Mitch McGary with the 3rd pick of the 2nd round.

It has McDermott at 12, Zach Levine at 29

I actually like Hairston's game, but to take him over LaVine would be crazy.

[MarkGrace]

That went about like the last Minny game.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Marvin continues to just get shredded on defense at the 4. So, so bad. Might as well have Burks play PF, because he at least creates a mismatch on the other end. Marvin? Not so much.

[HBCoug]

Guys, tonight is the Jr Jazz player appearance night for my son's Jr Jazz league. They haven't told us who the mystery player will be yet, but once I know, you'll know!

[Blueintheface]

Kanter and Williams looked really, really good, especially defensively. So good in fact that I stopped watching after about 10 min. I didn't want to spoil it by watching anymore.

[MarkGrace]

Kanter and Williams looked really, really good, especially defensively. So good in fact that I stopped watching after about 10 min. I didn't want to spoil it by watching anymore.

Kanter has been atrocious on defense, and not just in games where he's getting destroyed by pekovic. I swear he looked competent last year.

[Blueintheface]

Kanter has been atrocious on defense, and not just in games where he's getting destroyed by pekovic. I swear he looked competent last year.

He did. He was hedging on SnR and would look to box out on rebounds. Now he stands erect and doesn't move at all. I'm not sure what happened.

[Jacob]

Kanter has been atrocious on defense, and not just in games where he's getting destroyed by pekovic. I swear he looked competent last year.

And the Jazz guys are saying that Kanter has been good defensively lately. Much improved. David Locke keeps insisting that the Jazz overall have been good defensively this month. But this chart contradicts that, and is a cool visual for all teams. And nobody appears to have been nearly as consistently at the bottom at the Jazz.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BeXFnrlCUAAdL--.png:large

[HBCoug]

Guys, tonight is the Jr Jazz player appearance night for my son's Jr Jazz league. They haven't told us who the mystery player will be yet, but once I know, you'll know!

It turns out the mystery player is Andris Biedrins! I guess he was available.

image.jpg

[Donuthole]

It turns out the mystery player is Andris Biedrins! I guess he was available.

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I can't see Biedrins without remembering NorCalCat's awesome post about him back when the Ws had just knocked off the Mavs in the first round.