"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Karl Malone at age 37 (same age as Duncan this year) averaged 23 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 4.5 apg. His 24.7 PER that year would be 8th best in the league this season. And that was actually a pretty steep drop from the year before when he posted a PER of 27.1 at age 36.

[Jacob]

Here we go!:

The Celtics have expressed some interest in acquiring Utah's Gordon Hayward, a league source tells CSNNE.com. Hayward, who starred for Celtics head coach Brad Stevens while at Butler, will become a restricted free agent this summer after he and the Jazz could not come to terms on an extension this past fall. CSNNE.com

Sure, Let's make a deal!

Despite Utah's desperate need for a point guard, there's little interest in Rajon Rondo primarily because they don't anticipate he'll re-sign with the club beyond his current contract which is up in the summer of 2015. CSNNE.com

Oh, come on. Surely there is an offer in there somewhere that would work.
Celtics get: Hayward

Jazz get: Rondo, Bostons #1 this year
Celtics Get Hayward, GS#1 this year.

Done. (OK. That's too much for Boston.)

Jeff Green is another option, but the Jazz aren't all that interested in him, either. CSNNE.com

Yeah, NO thanks. makes too much money.

It would appear the one thing that might nudge Utah towards giving serious thought to dealing Hayward, would be if the Celtics were willing to part with at least one of their stockpiled first-round picks. But two league sources, both having had recent conversations with the Celtics, told CSNNE.com on Tuesday that Boston is "very reluctant" to part with any of their first-round picks in facilitating a deal. CSNNE.com

Not believable. Of course Boston would give up a first round pick to get Hayward. No doubt about it. All that matters is what else is included.

[MarkGrace]

I'm sure by 1st rounder it means boston's first pick this year. Anything else (like just some general 1st rounder with lotto protection or something) and it doesn't make any sense for the jazz.

[Jacob]

I'm sure by 1st rounder it means boston's first pick this year. Anything else (like just some general 1st rounder with lotto protection or something) and it doesn't make any sense for the jazz.

That depends on what else is offered. But the quote is quite clear that they are only talking about "one of their stock-piled first rounders." Maybe it's Rondo plus a mid-first rounder the Jazz want.

[MarkGrace]

That depends on what else is offered. But the quote is quite clear that they are only talking about "one of their stock-piled first rounders." Maybe it's Rondo plus a mid-first rounder the Jazz want.

Sorry, didn't complete my comment. I don't think some generic 1st rounder plus anything they have makes sense.

[MarkGrace]

Burks positioning himself for a run at 6th man of the year next year.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Burks positioning himself for a run at 6th man of the year next year.

Speaking of Burks, I thought it was awesome how the Jazz just ran through their normal offensive sets when they had a lineup on the court of Gobert, Evans, Jefferson, Burks, and Garrett. Don't want to do any clear-outs or high SnR stuff for Burks. You can only do those in the last 3 minutes of a game. Much better to get Garrett the ball on the wing running screen action with Gobert.

I really wish Kanter would be more aggressive on rebounds. So many times last night there was an easy board to grab, and he just deferred to Evans or Marvin. He is one of the league's best (might be the best, haven't looked recently) at getting contested rebounds. His rebound rate would bounce right back up to where it used to be if he'd just have the mindset of always clearing the glass.

[Jacob]

Speaking of Burks, I thought it was awesome how the Jazz just ran through their normal offensive sets when they had a lineup on the court of Gobert, Evans, Jefferson, Burks, and Garrett. Don't want to do any clear-outs or high SnR stuff for Burks. You can only do those in the last 3 minutes of a game. Much better to get Garrett the ball on the wing running screen action with Gobert.

I really wish Kanter would be more aggressive on rebounds. So many times last night there was an easy board to grab, and he just deferred to Evans or Marvin. He is one of the league's best (might be the best, haven't looked recently) at getting contested rebounds. His rebound rate would bounce right back up to where it used to be if he'd just have the mindset of always clearing the glass.

But, would that have any effect on the team's rebounding? If not, who cares? Some of the advanced stats track a teams rebounds while a player is on the floor, don't they? If so, how does that reflect that Enes is a superior rebounder?

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

But, would that have any effect on the team's rebounding? If not, who cares? Some of the advanced stats track a teams rebounds while a player is on the floor, don't they? If so, how does that reflect that Enes is a superior rebounder?

To me it matters in terms of Kanter's mindset on the court. Similar to how I'd like to see him get more physical in the post at times. I think he shies away from backing guys down hard on the block because he's afraid of making a mistake. But that can be an important variation to his offensive game. So in terms of team success, who grabs the easy rebound doesn't matter one bit. But I do think seeing Kanter getting back to what he once was on the glass could be an important sign of his continued development.

And FWIW, his shot looked great from 3pt range during warm-ups. Just like Hayward has said about him in the past.

[Jacob]

To me it matters in terms of Kanter's mindset on the court. Similar to how I'd like to see him get more physical in the post at times. I think he shies away from backing guys down hard on the block because he's afraid of making a mistake. But that can be an important variation to his offensive game. So in terms of team success, who grabs the easy rebound doesn't matter one bit. But I do think seeing Kanter getting back to what he once was on the glass could be an important sign of his continued development.

And FWIW, his shot looked great from 3pt range during warm-ups. Just like Hayward has said about him in the past.

I agree with you that the mindset or attitude of aggressiveness on every rebound (every type of play, really) is important. It is one of the things that distinguishes mediocre players form good and great players.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I agree with you that the mindset or attitude of aggressiveness on every rebound (every type of play, really) is important. It is one of the things that distinguishes mediocre players form good and great players.

I sat pretty close to the court last night. And of all of the players that I've gotten to see from the 4th row (KD, Westbrook, Paul, Blake, Curry, Harden, Love, Dirk, Duncan/Parker/Manu along w/the Jazz guys), KG is probably my favorite player to watch. Westbrook was the most amazing athlete I've seen that close. But KG was the only superstar that I've ever seen play hard the whole time, on both ends of the court. Obviously he's more limited, but last night he set picks on offense, didn't take bad shots, and then as the clear anchor on defense for that team when he was in. But watching him earlier in his career was awesome. Never have sat that close for a Heat game.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Lakers and Philly are showing how to get it done. Utah can't even tank right. Destined for middle of the pack status again.

[smokymountainrain]

I sat pretty close to the court last night. And of all of the players that I've gotten to see from the 4th row (KD, Westbrook, Paul, Blake, Curry, Harden, Love, Dirk, Duncan/Parker/Manu along w/the Jazz guys), KG is probably my favorite player to watch. Westbrook was the most amazing athlete I've seen that close. But KG was the only superstar that I've ever seen play hard the whole time, on both ends of the court. Obviously he's more limited, but last night he set picks on offense, didn't take bad shots, and then as the clear anchor on defense for that team when he was in. But watching him earlier in his career was awesome. Never have sat that close for a Heat game.

4th row? lol. I was on the 2nd row. I was disappointed KG didn't play more because he was the guy on the opposing team I was most looking forward to seeing up close. He was definitely the clear leader on that team, however.

[MarkGrace]

Speaking of Burks, I thought it was awesome how the Jazz just ran through their normal offensive sets when they had a lineup on the court of Gobert, Evans, Jefferson, Burks, and Garrett. Don't want to do any clear-outs or high SnR stuff for Burks. You can only do those in the last 3 minutes of a game. Much better to get Garrett the ball on the wing running screen action with Gobert.

I really wish Kanter would be more aggressive on rebounds. So many times last night there was an easy board to grab, and he just deferred to Evans or Marvin. He is one of the league's best (might be the best, haven't looked recently) at getting contested rebounds. His rebound rate would bounce right back up to where it used to be if he'd just have the mindset of always clearing the glass.

Lowe had an interesting bit in his recent "10 things to like" on how the Jazz have changed the way they use screens for Burks to his benefit. I'd post it but my firm is blocking sports sites right now because of the Olympics.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

6. Utah adapting to Alec Burks

I noted before the season how Alec Burks tends to dribble away from screens on sideline pick-and-roll plays, even (especially?) when defenses shade him in that direction. If a Jazz big man set a pick designed to spring Burks into the middle of the floor, he often dribbles the other way — and right toward the dead zone where the sideline meets the baseline.

Utah has adapted this season by flipping the direction of a lot of picks for Burks, and often at the very last second, to confuse defenses.

If Burks wants to go toward the short sideline, the Jazz are at least going to set their screens in a way that gives him more of a head start in that direction.

Had a pic too that I can't seem to attach correctly.