Fact: Raja ranks 41st in scoring/minutes played among Shooting Guards
Opinion: Raja has, and is, doing everything to be a competitive player at his position. That work ethic has kept his trademark defense at a semi-elite level. But that same work ethic can’t make him 28 again. He has physically slowed down, causing his ability to get clean shots off to drop.
Keeping Raja around 20 - 25 minutes a night will help his body last through the season, while allowing him to push harder during court time; knowing he won’t have to do it for 30+ minutes.
Whether he starts or not, he cannot play elite minutes AND give an elite effort. I still think he is a great addition to the team, but is possibly being asked to do too much.
Reality: The loyalty he has shown coming back to Utah and the loyalty Sloan and others have to “Hard Workers” create a situation where Raja himself might have to request the deduction in minutes.
Slow Starts
Fact: The Jazz have proven to be one of the worst 1st quarter teams in the league this year.
Opinion: This likely has a lot to do with several things. I’ll grab one of my favorites; Lack of athleticism to athleticism play. It takes two to tango, and right now Williams is looking for a dance partner while the other starters want to do the boot-scoot ‘n boogie.
A lot has been said about Williams wanting to get out and run… I think at this point he would settle for a jogging buddy. Like the god of baseball told the farmer, “if you build it, he will come.”, so goes becoming a running first squad: If Williams can get just one other guy to really run with him consistently, the remaining three “will come”.
NBA players have large egos… which means if they are not involved in an offense because they aren’t running, they will usually breakdown and start running!
Reality: Raja has aged legs, Big Al is… well BIG, A.K. will run… if someone else will, and then there is Millsap. I actually think Millsap could be the runner. I know he is an under-sized and bulky PF, but he is pretty quick, in good shape, has great hands, and can finish. A good chunk of PF’s are bigger and slower than him… out run them Paul!
The other option is starting C.J., Hayward, or Ronnie at the 2 and letting them run the floor.Or if you could get both to happen…
The Trade Deadline
Fact: Feb. 24th 2011 – the last day to make trades in the NBA.
Opinion: This will be one of the most important days between now and the summer of 2012 in determining if D-Will will sign with Utah again or bolt.
Unless the 2010-11 Jazz become the storyline for the next Mighty Ducks, Rudy, or Miracle inspirational movie and make it to the finals, the team must make a drastic move on Feb. 24th for an all-star type wing to hold onto Williams.… Or look forward to bringing in Jimmer F. this summer to run your offense in 2012-13.
Reality: K. O’Conner knows all of the above. And after seeing “The Decision Maker” create a hell for Cleveland, even after they did exactly what he wanted, he might be O.K. letting him walk… or trade him.
I think Deron is as talented of a player as is available in the NBA right now. A team should be built around him. That being said, K.O.C. will not be held hostage, and I for one am glad. No one player is greater than the organization. The second a player thinks he is, he is a cancer to the team and needs to be moved.
My gut says D-Will is not that cancer. But the reality is...?
The Pick-n-Roll/Pop
Opinion: Defending the pick and roll requires a decision of (a) fighting through or around the “picker”, (b) commit to switching defenders completely after the pick, or (c) A little of both. Obviously there is a little bit more to it, but that is the basic idea.
When a team runs the Pick-n-Roll one of the things they are banking on is a lack of decision and a lack of communication, causing the two defenders to choose different choices (a, b, or c). Utah is not communicating, and it is showing with open drives, sagging help D, and open 3’s!I’m not sure what Utah is running on offense, but it is so far from the “on the ball pick and roll” that it really can’t be called that.
Another key to a good pick and roll are the constant crossing wings…. Oh wait, that’s not happening so never mind.
Reality: On offense and defense, this really is 80% fixable due to the cliche; mind over matter. Utah can make some slight adjustments, and work out the bugs. But they have to want to and be consistent at it. They did it earlier in the season, the model is there.
and finally...
The Fear: Utah can't turn it back around this season, they don't make the playoffs, they don't make any personnel changes, and during the lock-out D-Will announces he's going to Dallas in 2012.
3 comments:
How would you feel about AK for Gerald Wallace? SF for SF straight across trade for less money and a little more energy and production out of a younger guy.
I really like Wallace... incredible rebounder for a SF! A little injury prone though, but so is AK.
If we could strait across, I would do it. I wouldn't want to add in too many other pieces though.
Last night's game is just another brick in the overwhelming wall that says we need an all-star caliber 2 or 3 guard that can create and shoot the 3.
Wallace would be nice, but I would like to see a push for D. Granger (Bird wants to pull the trigger on some type of move for the Pacers... already pulled it on the Coach!) or Monta Ellis (Golden State has been rumored that they want a different style of player to go with Curry... perhaps a little cheaper too!).
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