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Game 3: The Phoenix: Philadelphia 76ers @ Utah Jazz (12/30/11, 7pm MST)

Credit where credit is due: Harris was fantastic tonight. A key factor in his ability to be more effective was the speed at which the Jazz were able to play with Millsap swapped into the starting lineup. Harris was able to push the ball, get more transition opportunities, and, when those opportunities weren't available, get into the offense earlier in the shot clock. The Jazz killed the 76ers in pace and pressure this game, getting more transition opportunities, forcing the 76ers into more shots later in the shot clock, and, again, getting better shots for themselves by getting into their offense earlier and making much crisper passes.

It was nice to see the Jazz run some PnR's with Hayward/Favors. With Harris hitting shots and Millsap drawing the defense away from the basket, our two young studs had plenty of room to work together.

I was pretty meh about the Josh Howard signing, and before tonight not terribly impressed with his play, but while he's not going to much of an offensive dynamo out there this season (and forces shots a little), he's easily been the Jazz's best defensive wing player thus far. A high energy player. The Favors-Millsap-Howard-Hayward-Harris lineup was very fun to watch.
 
This has to be said: Howard looks like a problem. His defense is not the problem. He did well against Iggy and he plays defense. But offensively, he takes bad shots constantly. I worry that he's trying to get numbers for his next contract. I've got no problem with a guy looking to score, but he's not playing basic basketball a lot of the time on offense. He's forcing shots and I hope it's just the fact he's not familiar with the offense, but he's made some glaring errors in his decision making.
 
The obligatory Bell comment: He stinks. But getting Bell out of the rotation entirely, not just as a bench player, is crucial to our success. Bell did OK guarding Meeks, but ANYONE can guard Meeks. He's Bell lite--take away the perimeter and Meeks sucks ***. I will never understand what perceived benefit we get from Bell on the floor.
 
It's a one game sample, but Sap needs a post player to be effective. Favors (who had a nice game) is horrific on the PnR. Just terrible. He can learn it (and honestly, that's his future), but he can't score on the PnR right now. He's great as an athlete in the paint. But neither Sap or Favors work as post threats right now.
 
This was the best game I have seen Hayward play by far. If we actually ran more PnR with him, he might have had a fantastic game. What I don't get is this: Hayward is really not that great breaking his man down off the dribble. But he has killer passing instincts and he could be deadly in the PnR game. I have no idea why we don't do this.
 
Incidentally, Hayward is a 3. NOT a 2. He can't guard 2's. In the brief moments he was matched up against Jrue he struggled. He stunk against Gallinari, but he held his own well tonight against Iggy. Despite Harp's idiotic comments, Hayward is actually a mismatch against 3's with his drive and pass skills. Not so much against 2's. Everyone wants the height advantage, but he's a 3, and a very good one.
 
GVC said:
Credit where credit is due: Harris was fantastic tonight. A key factor in his ability to be more effective was the speed at which the Jazz were able to play with Millsap swapped into the starting lineup.
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Seems to me Utah has started off well in all three games. The difference in this one was that they actually were able to fight back once they started getting blown out. I think Sap's energy had a lot to do with that, but I don't really see how the starting lineup was the big difference here.

Also, Harris got yanked early, and then started playing well when he came back in. Again, hard for me to credit the starting lineup for that.
 
Just because it always needs to be said: We would be SO SO much better if we put Bell out to pasture. The weird thing about Bell is on any other team he would just get pushed to the bench. But we're actually fighting against Bell's history in Utah more than his perceived benefit. Ty showed some balls tonight benching Harris early when his defense on Jrue was horrible in the 1st quarter.

Will he finally pull the trigger on Bell? Honestly, my opinion of Ty has a lot to do with when he actually realizes Bell is killing us. The longer this goes on, the less I will think Ty really wants to win.
 
freakazoid said:
I've thought the same thing several times. Looks like he just wants to jack it up as soon as he touches it.
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I'm convincing myself that what I'm seeing is Howard not being familiar with the O and just playing instinctively. But he constantly takes bad shots. What got me worried is in the last game when he ran a 2 on 1 break with CJ and took a horrific shot instead of passing it off. And most of the time he's just looking to score when the ball gets in his hands. I see a guy trying to put up numbers. I hope I'm wrong.
 
Harris absolutely stunk early. But his problem really isn't offense. It's defense. He played much better after the first yank, but I don't know why he's so passive defensively. He can be very good when he tries. This is his biggest issue, not the offense.
 
After watching the game, i thought about two things,

Isnt there any possible way to land Holiday using Harris and gsw draft pick?

We should definitely go younger and play faster, because hayward is the closest playmaker like player, we make a lot of turnovers when trying to settle the offense. (or we need a playmaker type pg)
 
freakazoid said:
Seems to me Utah has started off well in all three games. The difference in this one was that they actually were able to fight back once they started getting blown out. I think Sap's energy had a lot to do with that, but I don't really see how the starting lineup was the big difference here.

Also, Harris got yanked early, and then started playing well when he came back in. Again, hard for me to credit the starting lineup for that.
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Fair enough. The starters were a big difference tonight, if not at the very start of the game. That is, yes they were down by one when Sap was pulled, but that lineup sans Raja (plus Howard) in the second quarter (and into the third with Raja) was very good.
 
freakazoid said:
Seems to me Utah has started off well in all three games. The difference in this one was that they actually were able to fight back once they started getting blown out. I think Sap's energy had a lot to do with that, but I don't really see how the starting lineup was the big difference here.

Also, Harris got yanked early, and then started playing well when he came back in. Again, hard for me to credit the starting lineup for that.
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I would personally credit the 2nd quarter comeback more to Devin Harris. He made backtobacktoback baskets, and nailed almost every single one of his free throws. He was playing like a complete stud in the 2nd quarter. Then later in the third, the Watson/Hayward/Howard/Favors/Kanter lineup was very very solid in the defensive end. We started falling behind a bit there as well, but we managed to come back. Im just hoping for some solid Burks minutes tonight.
 
Revolution 9 said:
Bell and Al for Mayo?
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No, this essentially forces Hayward to the 3 and long-term, I don't think that'll work. We're fine where we're at. Hell, we can't even find Burks time right now. We don't need someone else, in this case Mayo, coming in and getting 30 minutes a night, thus taking away precious minutes from someone like Burks or heck, dare I say it, Hayward. Personally, I'd love to trade Jefferson and Miles for a pick and a couple crappy expirings who don't mind being 4th or 5th options off the bench and won't go into a tizzy if they are. We'd free up and save money by dumping Big Al a year early, expedite Favors', Burks' and Kanter's development by freeing up time for them, and get a first round pick in what could be a very good and very deep draft, If people wanted to swap Bell with Miles, I'd understand. I think a vet/leader like Bell could be valuable unless he becomes a malcontent of course. And I do see value in trading him and keeping Chucker as he's our biggest three point threat and has a shorter contract. Either way, our books would look amazing this coming summer, our young guys would have gotten solid playing time, and we'd (possibly) have three first rounders and two second rounders in a fairly loaded draft. The problem is, I see no such possible trade.
 
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