"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Jacob]

How awful is Devin Harris. Seriously, the suckiest suck who ever sucked.

I feel bad about getting into a heated argument with my Dad over Christmas. I took the position that Harris was not a terrible PG and Derric Fisher was. I may have to apologize. At least I am still right about Fisher.

[MarkGrace]

18th in pace and mostly motion sets = trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I was watching some clips of Harris the other night. He does his damage in transition and in the halfcourt needs ball screens to set up dives to the hoop.

I'm not disagreeing that he's been totally sucky, but I think he could be better than what he's shown in another situation.

[Jacob]

18th in pace and mostly motion sets = trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I was watching some clips of Harris the other night. He does his damage in transition and in the halfcourt needs ball screens to set up dives to the hoop.

I'm not disagreeing that he's been totally sucky, but I think he could be better than what he's shown in another situation.

That's probably right. Moving him might be nice, and if the Jazz can't get much back could maybe take back less salary. That would put them among the lowest cap figures in the off-season, and could give the highest bid for Deron Williams . But I can't think of a team that would be a good fit for Harris at his salary.

As I was watching the game last night I was trying to figure out how the jazz transition into a great team in 3 years as Favors and Kanter develop. I really think those 2 are going to be a great combo. I also have hopes for Hayward and Burks, but no confidence that they will be much above average NBA players. So, the Jazz 4 best players right now, IMO are all post players. Their future selves need a PG and wings. There is a good chance of picking up a decent guard or wing in this year's draft with high picks, though Chad Ford's big board lists almost everybody as a PF. OTOH, the free agent crop looks terrible.

So I would still like to see at least one trade this year for a guard or a wing. Some teams have got to be interested in Millsap and Jefferson.

I'm trying not to believe in this team, this year. But I'm starting to think that once Howard replaces Bell in the starting lineup, the Jazz are in the playoff hunt (which I don't really want to see). It looks to me like Howard still has some game left and the Jazz would have been better off giving him a 2 year deal. A team option would have been nice.

[MarkGrace]

As I was watching the game last night I was trying to figure out how the jazz transition into a great team in 3 years as Favors and Kanter develop. I really think those 2 are going to be a great combo. I also have hopes for Hayward and Burks, but no confidence that they will be much above average NBA players. So, the Jazz 4 best players right now, IMO are all post players. Their future selves need a PG and wings. There is a good chance of picking up a decent guard or wing in this year's draft with high picks, though Chad Ford's big board lists almost everybody as a PF. OTOH, the free agent crop looks terrible.

Hayward is a funny case. I think he has the talent and skill to be pretty good, but I'm not sure he has the attacking mentality. He's shown it as times, but other times he defers a lot, and I think that's just a part of who he is. There was an interview with Earl the other day about this very question, and Earl said he is very talented but also one of the most unselfish palyers he's every played with. Said he's always looking to pass, not shoot, but in the end he'd rather play with a guy like that. And Hayward was saying this in the paper today:

Hayward's career-high assist night reminded the former point guard of the NBA guy he tried to pattern his game after back in the day — Phoenix's former MVP."Creating for my teammates and getting the other people open shots is what I love more than anything," said Hayward, who followed up his season-best 18-point outing with five points but had a bunch of savvy passes. "When I got drafted, I remember saying Steve Nash was the dude I modeled my game after. I love just getting other people the ball. They were knocking down shots so it made it easy."

I think that is a mentality that in the end will be good for this team. If you assume that your future hinges on Favors and Kanter, and then you have Burks who is making me understand why Jamal Crawford is his favorite player, then I think you need a guy like Hayward who wants to play this role. If he can continue to play this way and just work on increasing his scoring efficiency with the limited amount of shots he does take (like Horny), I think he becomes an important part of what this team can be.

[MartyFunkhouser]

How awful is Devin Harris. Seriously, the suckiest suck who ever sucked.

What has happened to Devin Harris. There really was a time when he was a good player, but he is awful now.

[Jacob]

Hayward is a funny case. I think he has the talent and skill to be pretty good, but I'm not sure he has the attacking mentality. He's shown it as times, but other times he defers a lot, and I think that's just a part of who he is. There was an interview with Earl the other day about this very question, and Earl said he is very talented but also one of the most unselfish palyers he's every played with. Said he's always looking to pass, not shoot, but in the end he'd rather play with a guy like that. And Hayward was saying this in the paper today:



I think that is a mentality that in the end will be good for this team. If you assume that your future hinges on Favors and Kanter, and then you have Burks who is making me understand why Jamal Crawford is his favorite player, then I think you need a guy like Hayward who wants to play this role. If he can continue to play this way and just work on increasing his scoring efficiency with the limited amount of shots he does take (like Horny), I think he becomes an important part of what this team can be.

I agree with this. Hayward's skill and mentality will be very useful if he is paired with a high-scoring guard or wing. He'll be a very solid starter. But he doesn't look like he has the mentality to be your best player on the wing. I'd like to see him be a little more aggressive in creating for his teammates. he can improve his passing when he drives. He seems willing, but often gets stuck. And we don't have anyone else (other than Burks, I think) who will drive to create for teammates. Harris is looking to score when he drives. I love to see Hayward and Burks kicking it out to the corner 3. They need to improve their interior passing off the drive.

[MarkGrace]

Kobe aiming for another 40 point outing against the jazz.

[UtahJazzFan88]

Kobe aiming for another 40 point outing against the jazz.

Not going to be enough if Gasol and Bynum don't step up.

Bynum has fallen off a good bit in the past 2 games.

[Blueintheface]

Damn the Lakers bench sucks. Kobe is smart enough to understand that the only chance for this team to win is if he is getting up 25-30 shots per game.

As for the Jazz, Hayward is pissing me off. At least 3 times tonight he passed up a shot he or anyone else would make and when he has shot he isn't close. I like the teams energy though. Earl and Devin are pushing the tempo and it's really affecting the Laker bigs.

3 first half free throws. Gotta love the NBA.

[MarkGrace]

As for the Jazz, Hayward is pissing me off. At least 3 times tonight he passed up a shot he or anyone else would make and when he has shot he isn't close. I like the teams energy though. Earl and Devin are pushing the tempo and it's really affecting the Laker bigs.

He wants to be a passer but he needs to learn to balance it out because he passes up good looks in favor of passing and in a lot of instances we end up with a worse shot.

Sure would be nice if he would start hitting. Right now his NBA 3pt shooting is looking like a repeat of his college career.

[MarkGrace]

Hayward freakin' owned by Fish on consecutive possessions.

[Blueintheface]

Hayward. Yikes.

[Blueintheface]

Kobe intimidating the refs for over a decade. Gotta love it.

[Blueintheface]

Gotta love the NBA. Hahaha

[smokymountainrain]

CJ sucks.