"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Was going to post earlier today after MG's article on the draft prospects that what is still unique about Wiggins is he is just a big game or two away from scouts drooling all over him again. 17 and 19 will probably do more for his rep than if he'd scored 30. Randle could come out and put up 20 and 20 in his next game and it won't move the needle nearly as much as breakout performance by Wiggins will.

[MarkGrace]

SMR's little blue pill. That move on Foye where he goes behind-the-back and then finishes lefty through three guys was filthy.

[smokymountainrain]

SMR's little blue pill. That move on Foye where he goes behind-the-back and then finishes lefty through three guys was filthy.

He had three or four plays that if he or the Jazz were more relevant, could have made SC's top 10. The floater on the baseline over Fournier - who played perfect defense on the play - was a thing of beauty and an incredibly difficult shot.

[Jacob]

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.112m8fo0.dpuf

This just in: Wiggins is slipping out of contention for No. 1-2. The NBA guys I talk to say that will be Parker and Kansas seven-footer Joel Embiid. At No. 3, Wiggins has yet to separate himself from Kentucky power forward Julius Randle, Australian point guard Dante Exum and, depending on whom you talk to, Arizona forward Aaron Gordon. So Wiggins, whose fame in high school far exceeded Kevin Durant’s at Montrose Christian (it’s in Rockville, Md., if you haven’t heard of it) could miss the top two… or three… or more? “There’s zero chance of any team taking anybody before Jabari Parker,” says an Eastern Conference personnel guy. “And there’s zero chance of any team taking Wiggins before Joel Embiid.” Forbes.com - See more at:

And the BGR prediction now in full effect:

Deep as this draft class is, its star quotient is another question. Setting aside comparisons to LeBron James and Durant, who are beyond anyone on the horizon, no one in this class is as highly regarded as No. 1 picks Anthony Davis (2012), Kyrie Irving (2011), John Wall (2010), Blake Griffin (2009) or Derrick Rose (2008). “If you called the Pelicans, the Cavs or any of those teams and offered this year’s first pick for their guy, they’d fall over laughing,” says a Western Conference personnel guy. Forbes.com - See more at:

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.112m8fo0.dpuf

Wow. It's getting silly already. Of course teams aren't going to trade a young top-tier all-star for a draft pick this year. There is too much risk in the pick and you already have your upside in your current guy. Though Chicago would probably jump all over Rose for the #1 pick. Let's be honest, Rose hasn't played for 2 years now. And Washington was probably considering trading Wall last year, not to mention that the Cavs are still terrible. But think about these NBA guys the day they were drafted. Everybody was saying that Kyrie wouldn't be an All-Star and than maybe nobody in his draft would be. Derrick Rose was a solid pick, but there was some question as to whether he'd go #1. I wouldn't trade Anthony Davis for any of these new guys because Davis is the best of the bunch of NBA stars they listed. He'd have likely been ranked #1 in this class out of college.

[MarkGrace]

Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA 3h
Just finished Nugs-Jazz. Like that Corbin has re-designed Utah's pick-and-roll D. Great game from Burks, energy from Evans in 1st half.

And a milestone 100th win for coach Ty!

[Jacob]

Last 5 games:

Marvin - 7 ppg, 37% FG%, 33% 3pt%, 1 FTA/gm, 4.3 rpg 1 apg, 27 mpg

Kanter - 13 ppg, 56% FG%, 4.3 FTA/gm, 7.8 rpg, 1 apg, 21 mpg

And I predicted this a few weeks ago. The regression to the mean is not pretty (well, not for Marvin, it looks pretty good on Kanter). Marvin is still the same guy he was last year and the year before. Surprise!

Dennis better make his move.

[MarkGrace]

And I predicted this a few weeks ago. The regression to the mean is not pretty (well, not for Marvin, it looks pretty good on Kanter). Marvin is still the same guy he was last year and the year before. Surprise!

Dennis better make his move.

Marvin last year and the year before were not the same guy. He was much better the year before, and in terms of PER over the last 7 years, last year is a real outlier, not what he'd done up until before this little slump this year.

[Jacob]

Marvin last year and the year before were not the same guy. He was much better the year before, and in terms of PER over the last 7 years, last year is a real outlier, not what he'd done up until before this little slump this year.

Don't be so literal. By last year, and the year before, I merely meant that he is who he was. He is right at his career average PER this year. He is never going to be better than an average offensive player.

You are right that he was especially bad last year. Let's hope Dennis can find a buyer before he dips to that level again.

There was a week or two-week stretch this year where not only was the guy playing well, but his entire personality changed and he was aggressive and emotional. If he could have learned to bottle that, he might not have been such a disaster of a #2 draft pick.

[MarkGrace]

Don't be so literal. By last year, and the year before, I merely meant that he is who he was. He is right at his career average PER this year. He is never going to be better than an average offensive player.

You are right that he was especially bad last year. Let's hope Dennis can find a buyer before he dips to that level again.

There was a week or two-week stretch this year where not only was the guy playing well, but his entire personality changed and he was aggressive and emotional. If he could have learned to bottle that, he might not have been such a disaster of a #2 draft pick.

Last year he posted a 10.91, the year before 15.87. I'll try not to be so literal, but those really aren't the same player, so it doesn't make sense to me to say he's the same player as last year and the year before. But who cares I suppose.

I don't expect he'll dip to last year's level again. That was the result of the Jazz making him strictly a 3 when he's been better in his career as a stretch 4. It's not surprising that his PER is now back in line with his career averages and not last year since they're playing him at a spot where he's been more productive.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Updated eFG% differential for Jazz players when they play with Trey and when they play w/o him:

Burks: +18%
Favors: +12%
Jefferson: +10%
Kanter: no change
Hayward: no change
Marvin: -2%

So I'm thinking that means Burks should play more with Trey.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Updated eFG% differential for Jazz players when they play with Trey and when they play w/o him:

Burks: +18%
Favors: +12%
Jefferson: +10%
Kanter: no change
Hayward: no change
Marvin: -2%

So I'm thinking that means Burks should play more with Trey.

Why in the hell would a coach look at numbers like that. He needs to rely on instincts.

[Blueintheface]

That was a fun game last night. Alec was spectacular and Favors and Trey had their moments as well. No Gordon, no problem.

[MarkGrace]

James (Philly)

Chad, which lottery team do you think can turn their team around the fastest if they land a top pick
Chad Ford (1:25 PM)

The Jazz. I really like their stable of young players. Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Trey Burke and Alex Burks all have so much talent. If they could add an alpha dog like Jabari Parker (who I think is a lock to go to Utah at No. 1 if they win the top pick) ... I think they will be a playoff team in the West next year.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/49817

[smokymountainrain]

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/49817

I love how so many people/experts think the Jazz will jump all over white kids, guys with Utah ties or mormons if they have the opportunity. Pretty sure the Jazz don't have an honor code. It wouldn't have been difficult for the Jazz to trade up to get Jimmer, yet they didn't do it. The fact is, if Jabari keeps playing poorly, while Embiid, Randle, Wiggins, Smart, etc, play really well in the second half of the season, I'd say it's a lock that the Jazz will not pick Parker #1 overall.

Alex. Really, Chad?

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I love how so many people/experts think the Jazz will jump all over white kids, guys with Utah ties or mormons if they have the opportunity. Pretty sure the Jazz don't have an honor code. It wouldn't have been difficult for the Jazz to trade up to get Jimmer, yet they didn't do it. The fact is, if Jabari keeps playing poorly, while Embiid, Randle, Wiggins, Smart, etc, play really well in the second half of the season, I'd say it's a lock that the Jazz will not pick Parker #1 overall.

Alex. Really, Chad?

Ford, and others, keep bringing up the fact that Jabari would be far more likely to stay in Utah than other stars. Sure, let's even say that is true. What does it matter? If a team wants to keep a high draft pick around, that player is going to stay with the team for what, a minimum of 8 years? 4 years on the rookie deal, and then at least 4 years on the following contract if the team matches the maximum contract offer another team could make him as a RFA? So are the Jazz really going to take a guy over another player because they think they might have a better chance of keeping him around in year 9 or 10?

I get it if they want to say drafting Jabari would provide the most interest for their fan base and might help sell tickets and drive viewership. But the nonsense about drafting him because they can keep him in SLC more than some other guy is dumb.