"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[MarkGrace]

That's ok, I'm planning on jumping into the top 3 anyway.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

That's ok, I'm planning on jumping into the top 3 anyway.

From the #12. Same here. Should be sweet.

[Sizzle]

The Manu-Hayward thing has been discussed in this thread only a couple pages back. His teammates have said he reminds them a lot of Manu and that he should be watching all the film of Manu he can get his hands on.



Now, even as his biggest champion in this thread, I don't think he's going to be as good as Manu. Manu is extremely underrated because he's always played so few minutes -- but on a per-minute basis, Manu is a flat out superstar and one of the most prolific scorers in the league. Hayward's not getting to that level, but I can see the comparison a bit.



Manu Ginobili career 3pt%: 37%. Manu single best season from 3: 40.1%
Hayward rookie year: 47.3%. Hayward after AS break: 54.5%.

Obviously Manu is taking a lot more 3pters and being guarded a lot more closely, but hot damn those are some serious numbers from G-Hay from beyond the arc. Who knows if he'll keep it up (Deron's only season above 40% from three was his rookie year, and he similarly shot +50% after the AS break), but from the kid who I was constantly told couldn't shoot, that's not half bad.

I don't see why he couldn't be as good as Manu. Obviously this needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but Manu came into the league at 25 (I think), being very seasoned in international play (he was the key cog in Team NBA/USA's first ever loss in international competition). His rookie year he averaged 7.6 points, 43% from the floor, 35% from the 3, 2.5 board, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 20 MPG. He's also listed at 6'6".

Looking at Hayward, he's got 2" on Manu, and averaged 5.5 points on 48.5% from the floor and 47% from the 3, with 2 boarrds, 1 assist, and .5 steals per game. He's also coming into the league 5-years younger than Manu.

When I watch Hayward, he's not there yet, but given his shooting percentages, I don't see anything in his game that would keep him from growing into being as good as Manu, if not better. He shot better percentages from the floor, he's longer, and IMO, he's more physical. I'm not saying he's better than Manu, but I don't see anything in his game or attitude that would prevent him from getting to that level.

[Blueintheface]

I thought Locke was finally a bit more honest in his assessment of CJ on locker clean out day when he compared his work ethic to Gordo's. He said the consistency of each shot for Gordon was outstanding. While CJ's were different nearly everytime in form and result. Locke also compared Gordon's consistency favorably to Ray Allen.

Hearing more about this type of consistency in his work habit and is very, very encouraging to me as a fan. The results in the last 15 games was obvious.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I thought Locke was finally a bit more honest in his assessment of CJ on locker clean out day when he compared his work ethic to Gordo's. He said the consistency of each shot for Gordon was outstanding. While CJ's were different nearly everytime in form and result. Locke also compared Gordon's consistency favorably to Ray Allen.

Hearing more about this type of consistency in his work habit and is very, very encouraging to me as a fan. The results in the last 15 games was obvious.

I thought you were saying CJ was being compared to Gordan Giricek. And I was going to say that Giricek was far more consistent on his shot than CJ could ever dream of being. And that the old hag Sloan ruined Giricek's career path that was going to end with him being the next Drazen Petrovic.

But back to CJ...I think all you need to know about him as a pro right now can be learned during warm-ups before a game. While other players are working on specific shots and taking several in a row from a certain area Miles just coasts around the perimeter, shooting fadeaways and high arching wasted shots mixed in with a few that actually look decent. It's no wonder his shot looks different every time during the game if that is how he's warming up. Compared to how guys like Kobe, Allen, and Dirk warm up it makes CJ look like a manger who got to put on a jersey to take shots before the game.

[MarkGrace]

Harp was on some season wrap-up program and mentioned that Corbin is thinking about a 2-guard offense like we ran post-S&M/pre-Deron. Interesting thought. I wonder if he would play two points like we previously did, or if this is maybe an opportunity to get Hayward more SnR opportunities to play with.

The other thing he mentioned is that the Jazz will shift their defense to focus around forcing guys to the baseline instead of the middle of the floor.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Harp was on some season wrap-up program and mentioned that Corbin is thinking about a 2-guard offense like we ran post-S&M/pre-Deron. Interesting thought. I wonder if he would play two points like we previously did, or if this is maybe an opportunity to get Hayward more SnR opportunities to play with.

The other thing he mentioned is that the Jazz will shift their defense to focus around forcing guys to the baseline instead of the middle of the floor.

Imagine bringing the baseline into the equation as a defender, a defender that doesn't ever move and is the best trapper on the court.

The coaching staff hire to be done this off season is awfully important. Any mention yet who they were talking about when KOC said one person would be brought in to just work with Favors this summer?

[MarkGrace]

Any mention yet who they were talking about when KOC said one person would be brought in to just work with Favors this summer?

No. Probably Karl.

[CardiacCoug]

Boozer getting absolutely owned by Tyler Hansbrough here down the stretch should make Jazz fans feel a little better.

For somebody who went to Duke, Boozer is an idiot when it comes to basketball IQ.

[SoCalCoug]

Boozer getting absolutely owned by Tyler Hansbrough here down the stretch should make Jazz fans feel a little better.

Well, they need something to feel good about during the NBA playoffs.

[MarkGrace]

Boozer getting absolutely owned by Tyler Hansbrough here down the stretch should make Jazz fans feel a little better.

For somebody who went to Duke, Boozer is an idiot when it comes to basketball IQ.

I was really, really enjoying that -- especially the backcourt rip and and-1 on the dunk. Disappointing that Chicago ended up winning.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

From Locke's tipoff this morning:

82games.com tracks points allowed by an individual defender (I haven't looked it up, just going off what Locke said) and the top 5 from this season was 1) Iguodala, 2) Howard, 3) Deng, 4) LeBron, 5) AK (and Ronnie Brewer was 6th).

I don't know how they are able to track a stat like that, and so I don't know how useful it is. But AK was 5th. There ya have it.

[Blueintheface]

From Locke's tipoff this morning:

82games.com tracks points allowed by an individual defender (I haven't looked it up, just going off what Locke said) and the top 5 from this season was 1) Iguodala, 2) Howard, 3) Deng, 4) LeBron, 5) AK (and Ronnie Brewer was 6th).

I don't know how they are able to track a stat like that, and so I don't know how useful it is. But AK was 5th. There ya have it.

Then why is Locke always so quick to fellate the guy?

[LiveCoug]

Would you guys be ok with resigning AK with the mid level exception? I would.....

[Donuthole]

Would you guys be ok with resigning AK with the mid level exception? I would.....

At the MLE, I'm all for it. It will take some masterful juggling by Corbin to keep everyone happy, though:

Millsap - 34 mpg
Jefferson - 34 mpg
Favors - 28 mpg
AK - 28 mpg
Memo - 20 mpg

That leaves 96 mpg for the following:

Harris
Watson
Hayward
Miles
Raja
Evans

And doesn't give any minutes to Fess and or whoever they draft this year. I guess my point is that if they're going to re-sign AK, they probably need to trade either Millsap or Jefferson. Also, they need to tell Raja that he's not going to get any time, and that he can seek a trade or be content to be a practice player. Wishful thinking, i know.