"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[MarkGrace]

Memo didn't travel today because of a strained back. Dude is falling apart.

And is just read that ak's 27 points was his highest total since 05. Wow.

[LiveCoug]

Jazz looking impressive out of the gate.

[Sizzle]

The streak comes to an end!

And I've got a $1,000 for the first person who can explain how on god's green earth Roger continues to play 30 minutes a night.

How long have you been a Jazz fan that you would require an explanation? Do you even remember (and I mean really remember) a time when the Jazz were not coached by Sloan?

[old_gregg]

:clap:

Darren doesn't play and the Jazz losing streak comes to an end. Lol.

luke walton and a signed pair of kobe vi's and he's yours.

[MarkGrace]

Painful

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

AK showing again that when he's involved more on offense he is a completely different player.

[MarkGrace]

Brutal

[cougjunkie]

Brutal

I heard them say Utah started 15-5, and they are 13-15 since. Yikes.

[fusnik]

I heard them say Utah started 15-5, and they are 13-15 since. Yikes.

They suck. It's rough watching them.

Milsap is too small to be a focal point of an offense.

Jeff doesn't fit the offensive schemes.

Memo is done.

Can't trade AKs contract.

No wing play.

Sloans had his worst coaching performance.

[MarkGrace]

I heard them say Utah started 15-5, and they are 13-15 since. Yikes.

That 15-5 could have easily been .500, too. They haven't played very well all season.

[smokymountainrain]

81 points against GS? Gee, perhaps they need Darren after all.

[Jacob]

I was just introduced to the stats on basketballvalue.com

It attempts to show advanced +/- stats.

These stats look horrible for Raja Bell, and Al Jefferson if I am understanding them correctly:

Raja's adj. +/- is -12.7 and Al's is -12.2
Deron and Paul's # is really good, and AK is -3.

"Plus-Minus results adjusted to account for both the teammates and the opponents on the floor with a player over the course of the season."

But everyone knows that Raja does nothing on offense, so it must be his defense that justifies his playing time and starting role. Wrong!

His defensive rating is 7.85 to the bad.
This is actually true of all starters except for Milsap; Deron and Al being the worst defenders. most teams' 2nd unit has better defensive ratings than the starters probably due to their playing with high intensity and their playing against worse offensive players. But the Jazz starter's rating, independent of the on/off is really bad. And the rating is at its worst when Raja is on the floor, with the rest of the starters close behind (because they play so many minutes as a unit, probably).

Quick conclusion? There is zero justification for Raja starting and playing 30 + minutes per game.
Secondary conclusion: the Jazz starting unit stinks at D, but Millsap deserves to remain in starting lineup no matter what.

My suggestion: Start Deron, Fess, Millsap, AK, and CJ. Bring Al in early for Fess. Let Ronnie Price get some of Raja's minutes, but not too many.

There is no good solution given the current roster.

[Jacob]

Watson and AK really pushing the ball. I think Watson passes more on the break than DWill which encourages AK and other to really run. Plus he pushes it much more often.

[MarkGrace]

Earl's fouls are killing us. Price just can't run the offense.

[LiveCoug]

Big al calling for the ball up one, 7 secs on the shot clock. He didn't get nasty in the paint. He shoots a 20 footer. Good hell man.