Jazz Pre-Draft Workouts

[Ron Mexico]

Defense for PG and shooting guards is partially staying in front of your man, keeping a hand in his face when he shoots and a lot of fighting through screens and picks. Fighting through screens and picks is mostly determination and effort. The first two things are a combination of athleticism, effort and discipline.

 

[green]

Pretty minor compared to the mountain of talent on the other side of the ball.

Here is what we know about Jimmer:
He can shoot the lights out

Here is what we don't know about Jimmer:
Ballhandling skills (more turnovers that assists the last half of the season)
Ability to run a set offense
Ability to play off the ball
Ability to play man defense
Ability to play zone defense
Ability to play team defense
etc,

All we know about Jimmer is that he tested well athletically and can shoot the heck out of the basketball. Every other single faucet of his game is unknown.

Another funny thing is Burks has been ripped all day by the Utah media because he admitted to taking plays off defensively in college. BUT Jimmer gets a complete pass. There is no difference between Burks and Jimmer. NONE. They both had to carry their teams offensively and they both "saved" themselves for that burden by taking plays off defensively.

 

[BENTLEY]

Another funny thing is Burks has been ripped all day by the Utah media because he admitted to taking plays off defensively in college. BUT Jimmer gets a complete pass. There is no difference between Burks and Jimmer. NONE. They both had to carry their teams offensively and they both "saved" themselves for that burden by taking plays off defensively.

He gets a pass?!
Maybe from the bleary eyed bubble gum crowd that are constantly writing ballads to him, but not from people who know anything about basketball - certainly not on Jazzfanz. The Jimmer-hate is more than palpable, and nearly equal to the Jimmer-love. It's impossible not to miss the flaws in his game - especially because people are constantly pointing them out:

Ballhandling skills (more turnovers that assists the last half of the season)
Ability to run a set offense
Ability to play off the ball
Ability to play man defense
Ability to play zone defense
Ability to play team defense
etc,

If he was given a pass on defense I think he'd be talked about as a top 5 pick - minus the condescending smarter-than-everyone-else laughter. And sure, the Jimmer-lovers talk about him as a top pick - as a number 1 pick - because they're Jimmer-lovers and see absolutely NO FLAWS in his game. These people are either idealizing him or too stupid to see he has flaws, and I don't want to look as dumb as them so it's better to distance myself from them and talk about all the flaws they refuse to see.

BUT I think we've gone too far. We've minimized his talents and magnified his flaws. The guy keeps busting his *** to prove his naysayers wrong - and that's bloody attractive in a prospect. And the guy never shrinks from a challenge - also bloody attractive. The guy is impressive - and can be had AT 12!! Um, that's worth the "gamble." I still see his history of taking no interest in playing defense but I'm not going to continue to ONLY see this, and cut off my nose to spite my face.

 

[fishonjazz]

He gets a pass?!
Maybe from the bleary eyed bubble gum crowd that are constantly writing ballads to him, but not from people who know anything about basketball - certainly not on Jazzfanz. The Jimmer-hate is more than palpable, and nearly equal to the Jimmer-love. It's impossible not to miss the flaws in his game - especially because people are constantly pointing them out:



If he was given a pass on defense I think he'd be talked about as a top 5 pick - minus the condescending smarter-than-everyone-else laughter. And sure, the Jimmer-lovers talk about him as a top pick - as a number 1 pick - because they're Jimmer-lovers and see absolutely NO FLAWS in his game. These people are either idealizing him or too stupid to see he has flaws, and I don't want to look as dumb as them so it's better to distance myself from them and talk about all the flaws they refuse to see.

BUT I think we've gone too far. We've minimized his talents and magnified his flaws. The guy keeps busting his *** to prove his naysayers wrong - and that's bloody attractive in a prospect. And the guy never shrinks from a challenge - also bloody attractive. The guy is impressive - and can be had AT 12!! Um, that's worth the "gamble." I still see his history of taking no interest in playing defense but I'm not going to continue to ONLY see this, and cut off my nose to spite my face.

Best post about jimmer i have seen yet. Spot on. Great job Bentley. repped

 

[Favors Flave]

I'm just worried Jimmer won't fit with the offense. People go nuts on CJ's chucking ability, imagine Jimmer with us, except it would be even more. Jimmer makes them more than Smiles but comes down the court and fires up a 3. That's why I want him to go to NY or Phoenix and succeed in a run and gun system

 

[NUMBERICA]

He gets a pass?!

By most Jazz fans, absolutely.

P.S. If we're looking for a pure shooter that doesn't do anything else, why don't the Jazz just find a way to get Diebler? For all of Jimmer's heroics (which with his D will make it difficult for him to close games), Diebler kicked the **** out of him and everyone else shooting the ball.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Diebler is the better shooter .. Jimmer's the better creater/scorer.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Diebler is the better shooter .. Jimmer's the better creater/scorer.

Right, but if the role you're attempting to fill is "shooter off the bench", why use a lottery pick on the smaller one that can handle the ball when you can probably get the other as a free agent or the last pick of the draft (using 500k, Bell, or some other crap)?

 

[Dr. Jones]

No disagreement.

 

[BENTLEY]

If you only want a Korver-esque shooter then yeah, go get Diebler. The attractive thing that Fredette has over a mere shooter like Diebler is his moxie, his "it" factor, ...the force is strong with this one. I'm not saying it's the be all end all, but it is a factor. Kemba has this mystique as well, and is worth factoring in. I don't think you trade up for either one of them - a lot of what makes them attractive is you can probably have one of them at 12. It's a nice gamble. But it's not worth trading up for them since there are other pretty nice gambles that will be there at 12 if these guys are off the board. I really like Biyombo - his floor is still ok but his ceiling could be really special. Same goes for Fredette - ok floor, really special ceiling. The fact that these kinds of gambles will be available at 12 is awesome. They're both safe while also having nice upside. Oh, Valanciunas is another one that might fall to 12 - although I bet someone like the Spurs are trading up to get him. I like all these guys and I don't know which one I like better than another.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I don't hate Jimmer at 12, but here's my issue ..

For all his 'it' factor, I prefer long athletic ballers .. Gimme guys that can dribble, shoot, pass, and rebound .. and the biggest ones available (as a rule .. there are exceptions, obviously, but that's the formula).

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I question Jimmer's ability to get to the rim, mostly. I think this is a critical quality for elite PGs to have. Defenders will get right up on him and play him to drive into the teeth of the defense.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I question Jimmer's ability to get to the rim, mostly. I think this is a critical quality for elite PGs to have. Defenders will get right up on him and play him to drive into the teeth of the defense.

I don't think he will have a problem getting there. His jump shot is so lethal defenders have to play close to him and can't go under picks. He has a tight handle, which I think is more important in getting to the rim than lightning quickness.

 

[Jazz4ever]

The latest draft preview segment on NBATV, David Aldridge said fairly certainly the Jazz will pass on Fredette. There would be too much pressure on him. I disagree with DA, but respect his opinion.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The latest draft preview segment on NBATV, David Aldridge said fairly certainly the Jazz will pass on Fredette. There would be too much pressure on him. I disagree with DA, but respect his opinion.

David Alrdige has possibly the worst draft board from any "analyst" I have ever seen.

 

[green]

Jimmer has "it"? Hmmm. Going 11-29 and 3-15 in a game where he can take his team and school where they have never gone before is having "it"? Jimmer does not have "it." He has a great shot and pulled an easy path to the elite eight or further and he choked.