"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Sizzle]

Making 17-25 year-old LDS girls question if they should remain virgins is a "community contribution"?

Hahahaha. Nice.

[Sizzle]

Agreed. He's not worth 5 million per if he's only going to show up once every 3 years. And by show up, I mean do well at the one and only thing he can do on a basketball court.

Absolutely. Although last year his wrist was injured and I am willing to give him somewhat of a pass on that.

I like Korver. And I do like having good guys on the community on the team. But, like has been said, you could have Mother Teresa on your team but if she is getting paid $6 mil per she damned well better be able to make a basket at a rate to justify it or she is gonna get booed. Last season Korver probably came closest to "earning" his money as a Jazzman, but was still overpaid. I want him back, but at about $3-4 mil per, not $6.

[Jacob]

Your forgetting the myriad of BYU fans who would rather lose with honor than win without it.

I think this myriad you speak of lives in the small space between your ears. Besides, it's mostly the Ute fans who go to the games and they'd rather lose boorishly than win with class.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Looks like Monroe will be the first player the Jazz work out. He'll be in Utah tomorrow.

Any decent work out list out there? Didn't DX used to keep one?

Any word on who Monroe might be working out with?

[Surfah]

Any decent work out list out there? Didn't DX used to keep one?

Any word on who Monroe might be working out with?

Monroe is working out with the Kings on Sunday by himself. I think he worked out for Detroit or may have one there. I know he had an interview there anyway.

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010...s-all-over-the

[MarkGrace]

Coat and tie? Sounds like the Jazz have found their guy.

# O'Connor saw Greg Monroe play four - - FOUR! - - times in person this season, which tells you how extensively Jazz scouted for lottery pick.

# Note to all draft prospects: Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor specifically mentioned Greg Monroe showing up in a coat and tie for today's workout. about 1 hour ago via web

# @AllThatAmar In other words, only players against whom a strong showing could potentially boost his draft stock. about 1 hour ago via web in reply to AllThatAmar

# @AllThatAmar Worked out individually. From what we gather, Monroe only would have worked out against likes of Favors or Cousins. about 1 hour ago via web in reply to AllThatAmar

# "...there’s no need to say anything about them, they’ve already established themselves." about 1 hour ago via web

# Monroe on possibility of ending up in Utah: "I did like what I see. The people in the organization..." about 1 hour ago via web

# The question is whether he'll still be around when Jazz pick No. 9. My guess is that his stock will rise as draft draws closer. about 2 hours ago via web

# Monroe seemed pretty polished and said there was nothing he'd rather be doing on 20th birthday than working out for NBA team. about 2 hours ago via web

# Both Jazz CEO Greg Miller and team president Randy Rigby were spotted at practice facility Friday with Greg Monroe in for workout.

Some stuff from Toronto:

# I missed Aldrich's scrum because I elected to grab Udoh for a solo interview, but watching it on raptors.com, he's a great interview. about 24 hours ago via TweetDeck

# Aldrich says shot "evolved" from overhead out of bounds pass in soccer. Also he "kind of slingshot it a bit" Couldn't say it better myself. about 24 hours ago via TweetDeck

# When worlds collide: Eric Maynor asking me how his boy Larry Sanders looked today. Love seeing NBA guys root for NCAA guys. It's family. 12:07 PM Jun 3rd via TweetDeck

# I was told the team liked what they saw from Ekpe Udoh. Not surprising, but as a fan of his game, I was happy to hear it. 11:55 AM Jun 3rd via TweetDeck

# Things I didn't expect to see today: Daniel Orton knocking down some corner 3-pointers. 11:51 AM Jun 3rd via TweetDeck

# Jim Kelly: Larry Sanders was best runner of the group and had people asking on the sidelines if he had ever played the three before. #VCU 11:47 AM Jun 3rd via TweetDeck

# Spoke w/ one of the Raps guys today who raved about Larry Sanders' wingspan. At combine he measured in at 6'10" with a 7' 5.75" wingspan.

[MarkGrace]

Big Men Take Centre Stage On Thursday...

Jay Satur -- raptors.com

June 3, 2010

The Raptors pre-draft workout on Thursday seemed like a microcosm of how many have described this year's class. A draft loaded with talented bigs, but there’s absolutely no sense of how to rank them after the first five or six picks.

Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, Larry Sanders of VCU, Kentucky's Daniel Orton and Cole Aldrich of Kansas were all in action at ACC and according to senior director of player personnel Jim Kelly, all could be in the mix for the Raptors with the 13th pick.

"We had four pretty good bigs. Four guys who I think are right in our range if there is such a thing as a range for the draft, “ said Kelly, who went on to say scoring inside was scarce during drills due to defence and strong physical play down low.

If you’re a Raptors fan, that’s got to be music to your ears.

Media had limited access to the actual workout (the norm all week), but did see some three-on-three play (including guards Eric Hayes of Maryland and Jeremy Wise of the NBADL). Here’s a quick recap for each of the four big men.

Ekpe Udoh (Forward, Baylor)

Udoh’s been on the workout trail a little longer than Thursday's other participants and by his own admission, he didn’t perform as well as he has for other teams.

But given his projected draft range and skill set, it’s hard not to imagine him as a viable option for Toronto at 13.

Udoh brings a defence-first mentality with strong shotblocking and rebounding abilities (undoubtedly appealing for the Raptors based on recent seasons) coupled with a developing offensive game. He also brings some maturity to the table -- a product of missing a year of eligibility after transferring from Michigan to Baylor after his sophomore season.

“It just really helped me to love the game more,” said the 23-year-old Udoh of his season off. “Me and coach Driscoll (former Baylor assistant coach Matt Driscoll) and his staff, we just really put the time in."

That experience hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Raptors.

“His body's matured a little bit more,” said Kelly. “A lot of times when you sit out a year and you know a little bit more about the game, you have a little better feeling of what you're supposed to be doing out there. “They had a very good run at Baylor this year and he was a big part of it there so, I think you put all that in and maturity as well and that's why I think he's raised his overall level.”

Udoh has been pegged as high as eighth and as low as 19 by independent draft sites, and has been slated to go to the Raptors at 13 in nba.com’s Consensus Mock Draft.

Cole Aldrich (Centre, Kansas)

Attending his first pre-draft workout, the junior from Kansas seemed to have plenty of energy in both the final few minutes of the workout and during the post-workout scrum.

Aldrich fits the mold of a classic, traditional centre and is probably the next best one on the board after DeMarcus Cousins in this draft. He could be long gone by the time the Raptors pick, but if he does drop to 13, the Minnesota native sees a fit.

“One thing which really helps me and the other (big) guys in the room is that you guys need a big. A good defensive big and a guy that can kind of hold the paint down,” said Aldrich. “I think I'm one of those guys that can help out.“

Perceptive observation by a guy who can definitely do a lot of the requisite dirty work down low. But while his personality and skill set are plenty appealing, his shooting motion is another story.

With a motion that seems to begin from between his shoulder blades, it’s definitely not textbook, but it’s all he’s even known.

"When I was really little -- I guess I was never really little -- I played soccer,” said the six-foot-11 Aldrich. “So that overhead pass out of bounds, I think that's kind of how it evolved so I'm not really sure.”

Aldrich said he intends to try and clean up the motion, but Kelly isn’t so sure there’s a need for correction.

“I think the results are the main thing that counts,” he said. “You probably worry a little bit about getting it blocked, but he seems to be living with it now and he has a very high basketball IQ as well so, I think he knows about his game, he knows about his shot, its limitations, its strengths and I think that weaves into how he plays the game."

Aldrich has found himself in the top 10 of most mock drafts, including nba.com, but the latest version from nbadraft.net has him falling to the Raptors at 13.

Daniel Orton (Forward-Centre, Kentucky)

After receiving limited minutes with Kentucky this season, 19-year-old Daniel Orton might not be a “safe” pick, but he’s shown enough flashes of talent for consideration in the top half of the first round.

“Very big body, pretty good outside shooter for his size,” said Kelly. “I don't know if he's quite played into his body size and strength yet, but he's very strong. I don't want to say he's 'further away', but you might not know what you have with him right now because... he didn't play all that many minutes. But I think he has a good base, he's got a great frame.”

Media on hand got a good glimpse of that range at the end of the workout, as Orton had little difficulty canning a few corner threes in a final catch and shoot drill.

But how long does Orton think it will take for him to become a regular contributor to an NBA team?

“I don't know. That's something I'm looking forward to, being in the gym 24/7,” he said. “Hopefully I can do all the right things and make a quick impact, an immediate impact... If not, great things come in time. Hopefully it's not a lot of time though.”

Much like Udoh, several draft sites have Orton heading to the Raptors with the 13th pick.

Larry Sanders (Forward, Virginia Commonwealth University)

Larry Sanders, who made his fourth workout stop in Toronto on Thursday, is considered to be a late first-round pick but .

The six-foot-eleven Sanders brings an excellent motor, athleticism, defence and speed, but questions surround his ability to operate in the paint at the NBA level given his current weight of around 222 pounds.

“It's something I've struggled with in the past but I'm getting to know my body now and working on it and I'm gaining weight and I’m loving it,” he said.

Kelly labeled Sanders as the fastest of Thursday's group and mentioned some sideline observers with the team wondered aloud if he could play the three spot. But he also felt Sanders could easily add 15-20 pounds to his frame.

Not a problem for Sanders, who said he weighed in at his heaviest at around 230 last year. He knows that getting above and beyond that point won’t come overnight.

“I wish I could just eat a cheeseburger and blow up, but it doesn't work that way,” he said.

Sanders is likely a reach for the Raptors at 13, but Kelly has been fairly open about the team’s willingness to acquire another pick if the right circumstances arise.

The Raptors brass will now take a break from hosting prospects and will send representatives to Treviso, Italy and New Jersey to evaluate prospects next week. Workouts are expected to resume at ACC mid-June.

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/draf...og_060310.html

[MarkGrace]

Splitter vs. Tomic game 4...

Splitter: 20 pts (9/11), 8 rebs, 3 assists, 2 blks in 30 mins.
Tomic: 19 pts (8/11), 14 rebs, 2 asists, 2 stls in 35 mins.

http://jornadavirtual.acb.com/htm/es...cas/est326.htm

Here's a link if you want to watch the game: http://acb360.orange.es/partidos/LACB/54/326

Kid is quick for 7'2" and is about 8x more skilled offensively than either Fess or Koof. Unfortunately he just doesn't have the same frame at this point. Hopefully he will by 25.

[smokymountainrain]

Splitter vs. Tomic game 4...

Splitter: 20 pts (9/11), 8 rebs, 3 assists, 2 blks in 30 mins.
Tomic: 19 pts (8/11), 14 rebs, 2 asists, 2 stls in 35 mins.

http://jornadavirtual.acb.com/htm/es...cas/est326.htm

Here's a link if you want to watch the game: http://acb360.orange.es/partidos/LACB/54/326

Kid is quick for 7'2" and is about 8x more skilled offensively than either Fess or Koof. Unfortunately he just doesn't have the same frame at this point. Hopefully he will by 25.

As much as the Jazz need shot-blocking that apparently Tomic doesn't provide, they need a legit low post scorer who will command consistent double teams. Tomic does appear to be a true low post scorer - perhaps in the mold of Gasol.

[Sizzle]

As much as the Jazz need shot-blocking that apparently Tomic doesn't provide, they need a legit low post scorer who will command consistent double teams. Tomic does appear to be a true low post scorer - perhaps in the mold of Gasol.

Was Gasol ever THAT skinny though?

I am afriad Tomic is the second coming of Gregor Fucka. A talented European big who didn't have te frame to bang in the NBA.

[smokymountainrain]

Was Gasol ever THAT skinny though?

I am afriad Tomic is the second coming of Gregor Fucka. A talented European big who didn't have te frame to bang in the NBA.

I remember Fucka a little bit, but did he ever produce at a young age like Tomic is producing right now? I mean, it appears Tomic might be the best post player in one of the best leagues in Europe.

[Sizzle]

I remember Fucka a little bit, but did he ever produce at a young age like Tomic is producing right now? I mean, it appears Tomic might be the best post player in one of the best leagues in Europe.

I thought Fucka was a big deal in Europe and considered one of their better bigs. I don't know that he produced as young as Tomic did, but if I am remembering right, he was a productive Fucka. I know he came over to play with the Pacers, but Fucka was too frail to score here against stronger American competition, so he headed back to Europe where he could be more successful.

Tomic is an interesting prospect, no doubt, especially with his history as a point. But if he is just another skinny Fucka, I'm not getting my hopes up.

[MarkGrace]

Was Gasol ever THAT skinny though?

I am afriad Tomic is the second coming of Gregor Fucka. A talented European big who didn't have te frame to bang in the NBA.

Dude, Gasol is still barely bigger than him.

Here's a picture from when Gasol was drafted, he was a total bean pole: http://www.slamonline.com/online/wp-...avid_stern.jpg

At 21 he came into the league 7' and 227 lbs. At 29 he's still just 250. Tomic is 23, 7'2" and I don't know how much he weighs (nothing looks current), but it can't be all that different from Gasol at a similar age. Gasol never beats anybody with strength, he does with length/quickness for his size -- Tomic is clearly trying to develop his game in a similar way.

Here's the other thing, I'm watching the game and he's posting up against Splitter and getting clean shots, and Splitter is an NBA quality frame/defender right now. He absolutely needs to improve his frame, but I see no reason why in another two years he won't be at least passable physically.

[MarkGrace]

I thought Fucka was a big deal in Europe and considered one of their better bigs. I don't know that he produced as young as Tomic did, but if I am remembering right, he was a productive Fucka. I know he came over to play with the Pacers, but Fucka was too frail to score here against stronger American competition, so he headed back to Europe where he could be more successful.

Tomic is an interesting prospect, no doubt, especially with his history as a point. But if he is just another skinny Fucka, I'm not getting my hopes up.

lol. Some good lines in there, Sizz!

[MarkGrace]

Sucks that we passed on Splitter for Almond, because he's a nice looking player. Good body and size, physical, plays nice D, has made some quality passes, and is a competent finisher around the hoop.

He'd be just what we need to add some size to the roster.