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AK: The X Factor

NUMBERICA said:
If AK took the offseason off, he'll be pathetic. His conditioning from last offseason showed itself in a huge way once he got into a groove and I feel it also had an effect on his mental toughness. When AK takes time off from training, you get the Anorexic cancer from '08-'09.
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It appears that he's kept the weight on.
Here's a couple videos this summer. AK's hair is even longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZj7Hhycf30&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PEcSpF1gYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adNgtUqxQKc
 
NotDeadYet said:
I do believe his effectiveness diminished after Boozer signed with Utah and became the PF and "go to" guy. AK was a better if unconventional PF than at his current SF role. I would love to see him get more minutes at PF this year.
I also believe CJ Miles and Gordon Hayward will greatly determine how PT is distributed. If Hayward "gets it" as quickly as I think he will, he'll see significant minutes in our rotation. If CJ continues to improve like he did the latter half of last season, his minutes could go up too. AK could then see half his minutes at PF. Heck, he could even end up starting at PF with Millsap getting most of his minutes off the bench at PF.
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I'm skeptical of the AK-is-better-at-PF theory. Opposing frontcourts didn't get any smaller in the off-season, and Utah needs him more at the 3 (unless Elder Hayward contends for all-rookie team). Based on last 2 years' data, 82games doesn't seem to provide an implication one way or another. In 2008-09, it has AK having played around half of his minutes at the 4 (which seems very high vs. reality, even with the Boozer injury). Kiri did well, but it appears that a good chunk of it was against the opposing second string.

Key difference from previous years is that Boozer won't be around to hog the stats in the paint. Millsap seems to be much more open to sharing the court--and contributing on both ends of the court. Against a small number of teams (perhaps very small), AK and Millsap might be able to switch roles. But I don't see playing Hayward or Miles alongside AK at the 4 to be a particularly strong lineup against the opposing team's top 7 or 8 players.
 
CareySkyScurry said:
It appears that he's kept the weight on.
Here's a couple videos this summer. AK's hair is even longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZj7Hhycf30&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PEcSpF1gYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adNgtUqxQKc
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1) This is very good news. Let's just hope he's healthy.
2) I love that he started lifting. It's been mentioned but he appears much more confident for whatever reason. He looks and acts like a man now, not a bitch.
3) Love the Rocky music in the 3rd vid. Freakin' Drago.
 
Scorpjazz said:
Every year there is this same thread. AK is the X factor, and WOW how good it would be if he comes through. But, every year, he fails.....again.
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+10 internets

If the old Jazzfanz were still around, we could probably find 10 threads from each of the last 4 seasons about how AK is the "X factor" and if he just gets back to 75% of the player he once was, the Jazz will contend for the WC title and maybe a championship.

The only thing less likely than that was "if Boozer would just play a little defense."

Or maybe if Fes can improve just a bit and be the enforcer the Jazz need in the middle.

People need to realize AK is past his prime. Look at how many on this board keep talking about 2003. SEVEN YEARS AGO!!! AK has shown signs of being on the way down. Everything he did "back in the days" - his 5x5's - was a result of athleticism. Well, he's not a young guy any more. He's not as quick. He can't jump as high. He's not durable. And when a guy has built a career on athleticism and has very few other legitimate skills to fall back on (like being a great or even decent shooter, being a good one-on-one defender, etc.), then the deficit becomes even more apparent.

Jazz can't "hope" AK returns to his old self. It ain't gonna happen. Best case is to trade his expiring contract at the deadline to a non-contender looking to cut salaries. Get a legit starter in return. Then if AK really wants to assume the role he's suited for, Jazz could offer him the MLE next season as a backup.
 
I'm not sure if AK is better at the 4 than at the 3, he may be, but I think it's irrelevant. As a coach you have to look at the make-up of your team. Why would you want Millsap, one of the top 5 power forwards IMO, sitting on the bench?

People don't give that guy enough credit. He's an all star.

We've got 4 positions so solid I'd put them up against anyone. If CJ can play like he did in the Lakers series, then baby. Watch out.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
1) This is very good news. Let's just hope he's healthy.
2) I love that he started lifting. It's been mentioned but he appears much more confident for whatever reason. He looks and acts like a man now, not a bitch.
3) Love the Rocky music in the 3rd vid. Freakin' Drago.
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A few posts ago he was a bitch. So now he is not? Make up your mind!
 
This is his year. All those other years, well, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you're a dick. Fool me three times, why do you hate me? Fool me four times, you must also enjoy watching videos of girls throwing puppies in a river. Fool me five times, you are teh spawn of Kobe. But this is his year. Watch out. The X-Factor. Now I'm going to put my hand on that stove burner to see if it's still hot.
 
CareySkyScurry said:
It appears that he's kept the weight on.
Here's a couple videos this summer. AK's hair is even longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZj7Hhycf30&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PEcSpF1gYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adNgtUqxQKc
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Love that steal he had against the what, 14 yr old in the first video? And I'll bet he could block any of those girls' shots if he really wanted to.

His hair is longer, I'll give you that. But appreciably bigger/heavier.

37462824_IMG_1178s.jpg
 
akhair.jpg
 
Lets just hope his injuries are limited to back spasms this year. It is almost a guarantee he will miss a few games because of that, but if that is it we should be happy.
 
NCJazz said:
Lets just hope his injuries are limited to back spasms this year. It is almost a guarantee he will miss a few games because of that, but if that is it we should be happy.
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Back spasms suck. I get them all the time now, especially when I play ball.
 
For those said AK is to small for the PF you should rephrase that too to light, last year he was the tallest PF on the team, only Fess, Kouf and Memo where taller then AK and his wing span is also very long.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed and thought the Rocky "eye of the tiger" music was classic given his resemblance.
 
//r00t 4 Jazz said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed and thought the Rocky "eye of the tiger" music was classic given his resemblance.
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Wow! Is that true?
You know, I had never noticed the resemblance he has to that Russiana fellow, Drago, until you brought it up just now. And I don't think anyone has ever said that. You are absolutely the first.

Oh another note, hey has anyone heard that Matt Harpring was a footbal player. You heard it from me first!
 
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