For the haters, a few reason's we need to keep Raja Bell around this year...

[NotDeadYet]

1. Raja is a vet who can and does help the younger Jazz adjust to life in the NBA. He is literally a man among boys who are still learning to be men. Coaches can lead a guy so far; teammates who have "been there done that" recently can be invaluable mentors.
2. It's a long and very compressed schedule, meaning injuries, always a Jazz bugaboo, could be more frequent.
3. Raja still has the desire to play; just can't remain effective over a long stretch. Never was a lockdown defender, but still knows all the tricks and does help disrupt opponents' offense with a combination of smarts and willingness to do the dirty work. He's willing to get nose-to-nose with an opponent, something rooks usually are timid about doing. SEEING a teammate do it kinda tells a rook "oh yeah, that's what coach Ty's been telling me"...
4. Raja is very approachable, a great teammate.

With all that said, as quickly as Burks is picking things up, Raja's minutes may start to decline as Burks' pick up.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Raja is our only 3 point shooter.

 

[Cope]

Raja is a vegetarian....

 

[oldtimer]

I don't think raja is the vet you want teaching the young guys. Raja believes either rightly or wrongly that he deserves not only a starting spot but a prominant role on this team. Remember when he was struggling and he came out in the press and said he was playing well and if the team didn't believe in him they could trade him. Thats not the vet we need. We need a vet who understands that burks is ready to play and pumps him full of confidence and supports him. We need a vet who accepts he should be playing behind burks at this point in his career.

That being said, I thinks Bell started turning around his season and has been playing much better than the first ten games. Raja does have a place on the team, its just on the bench. 15 minutes maximum. The rest of the time should go to Burks. Let the kid develop.

 

[gregbroncs]

I don't mind him on the team. But the "team stats" while he is on the floor are very disturbing. If they don't improve dramatically he needs to stop playing.

 

[Chad Feldheimer]

Raja is our only 3 point shooter.

What about Millsap?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

What about Millsap?

What about him?

 

[Archie Moses]

Every team needs a whipping boy?

 

[fallenchicken]

Every team needs a whipping boy?

This. I need someone to hate.

 

[Weron Dilliams]

Am I the only one too attached to all the Jazz players to ever bag on them? I mean I am willing to offer criticism but never hate on a Jazzer. That being said, I couldn't let go of Raj.

 

[Weezur]

If he's the one teaching Alec Burks to play defense, give him an AK contract I say!

 

[fallenchicken]

I'll admit Raja doesn't smell so bad right now. And when his contract is up The Burkman will start and we will win all the championships between him and Godward.

 

[prodigy]

I'm content with Raja at the moment. He's been only a positive influence when I thought he could be a negative. Props to him for turning it around.

 

[Stoked]

This. I need someone to hate.

It cannot be that we just dislike him as a player. No it has to be hate.

 

[Brown Notes]

I like him. He is one of the guys that will always bring a hard nosed attitude every game, along with Watson. That's why those guys are on the team. It's a lot easier to preach toughness when you have these veteran players that show it.

 

[sgt.mac.1981]

I agree that Raja has a place on the team, and don't even mind him starting the game. I don't want him on the floor at the end of games. Our perimeter play at the end of the last three games has been terrible. With how well both CJ and Burks have been playing, it is frustrating to watch Raja and Hayward either pass up or brick open shots in the fourth quarter.

 

[Brown Notes]

Raja can force a low % shot one on one at the end of the clock without fouling. That's why he closes games. Gordon has been very good aside from his shooting which has been sort of murkily improving.

CJ is a defensive liability half the time and will not use the offense to score. He will almost certainly chuck late in a game. He also commits absurdly dumb fouls in these situations. He can't close. Burks will get called for rookie fouls and also will chuck. I don't think those guys can be depended upon in clutch situations yet.

I do think those 2 guys ought to play further into the 4th though.

 

[billyshelby]

Bell is a ridiculously bad offensive player. It's fascinating how he has set the bar so low for himself that if he only connects on a few jumpshots everyone concludes he's needed for his defense. The reality is his defense would have to be First Team All NBA to justify his offense. The less Raja plays, the better we are, and it's that simple.

 

[Ron Mexico]

I want him on the team I just dont want him to start or play more than 15 min or so.

 

[sgt.mac.1981]

It would be nice to have a player on the wing that can create a shot for himself or a team mate out of nothing at the end of the game. Late in the game, a better than average team can just pack in the paint to deny paul and big al open looks at the basket. The Maveriks and Raptors both dared us shoot from the outside in our last 3 losses. CJ is not the long term answer by any means, but atleast he wont stand behind the 3 point line and pass up open looks.