UTAH JAZZ
Best-case: The offseason departure of Utah
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UTAH JAZZ
Best-case: The offseason departure of Utah
[QUOTE]22 Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz (43-39)
The Jazz have finally cleared up their long-standing frontcourt logjam. With Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap gone, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter go from prospects to starters. Gordon Hayward becomes the focal point of the offense and Alec Burks gets a chance to show what he can do. With the potential to start five lottery picks (when Trey Burke is healthy), the Jazz are going to find out what their future looks like quickly.[/QUOTE]
They shouldn't be ahead of Toronto. Maybe if they switched conferences.
[QUOTE]5
Utah Jazz
2012-13 Record: 43-39
Top Addition: Trey Burke | Biggest Loss: Al Jefferson[/QUOTE]
Loss of Jefferson was the best thing that happened!
[QUOTE]Whether you want to call it
[QUOTE]2012-13 Record: 43-39
Notable Additions: C Andris Biedrins, G Trey Burke, C Rudy Gobert, F Richard Jefferson, G John Lucas III, G Brandon Rush
Notable Losses: F DeMarre Carroll, C Al Jefferson, F Paul Millsap, G Randy Foye, G Earl Watson, G Mo Williams
Coach: Tyrone Corbin (fourth season with Jazz)
AN OPPOSING TEAM'S SCOUT ANALYZES THE JAZZ
This team is emphasizing development of its young players after the free-agent departures of veteran starters Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Mo Williams and Randy Foye. The Jazz will follow their game plan of building a team for sustained success, which they've always been known for, rather than trying to make quick fixes.
That approach will make for a trying season: They have two cornerstone big men in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, but they are pretty thin in other places. The likelihood is that they add another high lottery pick in next year's deep draft, and maybe they fill another spot and begin ascending again.
They did a tremendous job handling the transition from the Deron Williams/Carlos Boozer era in collecting young assets but also having some veteran pieces around them so those young players were not forced to play before they were ready. With Jefferson, Millsap and youngsters Favors and Kanter in the frontcourt, they could not play all of them big minutes. And even with the veteran guys, they weren't quite good enough to be a playoff team last season. So it makes sense that they would give the young guys more of an opportunity after slowly bringing them along the past few seasons.
DOLLINGER: Jazz No. 22 in preseason Power Rankings
Sometimes it seemed like Favors was overthinking when he was playing, that he was moving at a slower speed than everyone else. The skill level always looked like it was there. He just needed to go through the maturation process. Last year, he really turned the corner.[/QUOTE]
He did?
[QUOTE]Whereas Favors is going to be a little more offensive-minded, Kanter is going to be the interior presence. There's no question in my mind that Kanter averages double-figure rebounds this year and potentially ranks in the top 10. He's big, he's strong and he's getting stronger.[/QUOTE]
You have them mixed up?
[QUOTE]Favors and Kanter have had the good fortune of being able to develop at their own pace. Both will be better for it and the organization will be better for it.
Gordon Hayward really took a step forward last year. He showed the ability to put some pressure on a defense, making shots but also showing that he's more than just a jump shooter. There's no question he's their best wing player. [/QUOTE]
He's their best player period. He had already shown he was more than a jump shooter. The shooting part has been one of the questions about him.
[QUOTE]The Jazz will have to rely on Favors and Hayward to be their go-to scorers. It would not be surprising if Hayward leads this team in scoring. He has work to do defensively, but he'll stick his nose in there and make an effort.[/QUOTE]
Kanter should be their go to guy with Burks and hopefully Burke eventually as secondary options along with G. Favors sure looked good against the Clippers too!
[QUOTE]GOLLIVER: Northwest Division preview
The backcourt is the Achilles' heel. To thrust any rookie into the position of quarterback is tough, especially when he doesn't have much behind him. But once he returns from his broken finger, Trey Burke is going to get significant minutes no matter the situation. In the meantime, John Lucas III, a score-first point guard and career backup, is set to start in Burke's place.[/QUOTE]
Hasn't been a rotation player much.
[QUOTE]Whether Alec Burks is ready for an increased role in the backcourt in his third season remains to be seen. In an ideal world Burks wouldn't start, but he's got some length and versatility, and he looks capable of making shots.[/QUOTE]
Don't think there's much doubt he's ready for more.
[QUOTE]They're going to need someone to play minutes off the bench. The eldest statesman is Richard Jefferson, and no one knows if he has anything left in the tank. Andris Biedrins' confidence is completely shot. Marvin Williams [heel] and Brandon Rush [knee] are both coming off major surgeries.[/QUOTE]
And Marvin sucked!
[QUOTE]Tyrone Corbin was in a difficult position replacing Jerry Sloan, but he's made as smooth a transition as possible over the last two seasons. The transition era on the court is another difficult spot for Corbin. This organization is staring at a lean season because the talent is so green, and when you lose a lot of games, the coach often gets blamed.
[/QUOTE]
Steve Luhm: One thing that likely slowed Jazz-Hayward extension talks: No way Utah anticipated Pacers' Paul George to get a $90M deal.
Twitter @sluhm
[QUOTE]HOW IS THE INJURY SITUATION HEADING INTO THE SEASON?
A:
THE PROGRESS OF ROOKIE CENTER RUDY GOBERT?
Corbin:
[QUOTE]Utah's biggest offseason need was a point guard and rookie Trey Burke, currently sidelined after finger surgery, has the poise to run the offense and the perimeter game to keep defenses honest ... The Jazz were tied for eighth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.366) and with the arrival of Burke, there is no reason why that figure can
[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey said organization will exercise team options on Enes Kanter and Alec Burks for their fourth years.
Twitter @DJJazzyJody [/QUOTE]
no brainer
Jody Genessy: Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey said organization will exercise team options on Enes Kanter and Alec Burks for their fourth years.
Twitter @DJJazzyJody
Jody Genessy: Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey said Derrick Favors' agent's first question wasn't about money. It was: "Can you keep the young core together?"
Twitter @DJJazzyJody
Wallace Prather, the man Lindsey described as being a
[QUOTE]During the preseason, Favors averaged only 26.5 minutes, 8.3 defensive rebounds, 9.4 points and 1.4 blocks per game. According to my tabulation, if his stats are adjusted to 36 minutes a game, he would average 11.2 defensive rebounds, 12.8 points and 1.9 blocks.
Malone averaged 37.2 minutes per game during his career. Reduced that figure to the 36-minute measurement and Malone would have averaged 7.5 defensive rebounds, 24.2 points and 0.8 blocks.
The defensive rebounding stat is the most interesting, rather than a combined rebounding stat because Favors is a defensive minded player first. If Favors is truly a better defensive rebounder than Malone (he owns the all-time rebound record at 11,406 rebound) and if Favors sticks it out for 19 years, it is conceivable that Favors could break Malone
For nearly 30 minutes before Monday
[QUOTE]Some mixed news on the injury front came out of Monday