Preseason Game 1: Utah @ Portland, Monday Dec 19th, 8pm MST

[candrew]

Biggest positive is obviously Favors. While the numbers were great, what was even better was the little chip that he seemed to have on his shoulders last night. He played a little mean which you didn't see that much last year. I think he made a huge case for starting at the 4.

The biggest negative from last night had to be the spacing - the worst I've ever seen from a Utah team. The Jazz looked like the Memphis Grizzlies 5 years ago - alot of standing around, no meaningful cuts, lazy screens, everyone waiting to get the ball so they can go one-on-one which led to ball handlers contantly dribbling the ball into traffic. It looked like Portland had 7 guys playing defense on every possession.

This will be the first adjustment I look for on Wednesday

 

[northeast]

They need someone who can go one on one... Favors aside, all I saw was catch and shoot , or driving all the way to the hoop. Doesn't anyone on the team have an in between game.... put the ball on the floor, pull up to score, or draw the defense and hit the open man?

 

[Stoked]

It amazes me how fast people on here will rush to bash the players and team. It was a preseason game. Lets see how they do in a couple games that actually matter before we are ready to ship players out, fire coaches...

They need time to jell, work the rust off. It will get better.

 

[One Brow]

I can not take any more CJ miles. He has had his fair chance and he just is not consistent enough.

I was really impressed with Favors offensively..

The difference was obvious even from the boxscore. Favors managed 66%, Miles was the picture of inconsistancy at 60%. If we hadn't had the youngsters Burks, Hayward, and Kanter in, who knows what our FG% might have been?

 

[MVP]

Some people still insists to not get it, but both Kanter and Favors will be much better players than Jefferson, Memo or Boozer , and i am not talking about stats, i am talking about real contribution and being team players.

Favors - very possible. Kanter - very unlikely.

 

[One Brow]

mharpring15:
I think its safe to assume tonights starting lineup will not be the starWting lineup come opening night for the jazz

Will the Lakers be starting two SFs, or two centers? I forget.

 

[fishonjazz]

A couple things i noticed that havent been mentioned yet: CJ started out hitting shots and playing better than any of the starters.... And was the first guy taken out of the game The last guy to come out.... raja bell. not good coaching. if cj is hot then leave him in, if he is cold THEN take him out.

Another thing: I have always hated how the jazz double team down low no matter what the match up is and end up leaving the 3 point shooters open. I thought that ty might change that but alas he did not. I remember a specific play where Favors is guarding craig smith one on one down low and hayward and another player both came down to help favors leaving their guys open on the 3 point line. So basically we were triple teaming craig freaking smith. I think that we should allow our best defender (favors) to defend a guy like craig smith one on one and tell the wings to stay on thier guy. I felt that the coaching was horrible. Although im not giving up on corbin as it was just one pre-season game. But man it was 1 very badly coached pre-season game.

 

[candrew]

The difference was obvious even from the boxscore. Favors managed 66%, Miles was the picture of inconsistancy at 60%. If we hadn't had the youngsters Burks, Hayward, and Kanter in, who knows what our FG% might have been?

I don't know if you saw the game; but Miles made two uncontested jumpers and had a great drive to the basket for an and-1. In every other facet of the game he was dreadful.

Enjoy watching CJ play his seventh consecutive rookie season.

 

[cowhide]

Anyone want to say anything about Jeremy Evans? He had 9 pts and 3 rebs in 9 minutes.

I agree. The thing that is impressive about Evans is how much he contributes with the small amount of time he gets. I think Evans deserves to get some playing time. Personally, I would trade CJ and that would open up minutes at the SF for Evans. Burks/Hayward -SG and Howard/Evans SF with Hayward and Howard being able to play both positions (SG/SF). Millsap could get a few minutes at SF if needed.

 

[fishonjazz]

I don't know if you saw the game; but Miles made two uncontested jumpers and had a great drive to the basket for an and-1. In every other facet of the game he was dreadful.

Enjoy watching CJ play his seventh consecutive rookie season.

that is still more than harris, bell, memo, howard, and hayward did.

 

[candrew]

Another thing: I have always hated how the jazz double team down low no matter what the match up is and end up leaving the 3 point shooters open. I thought that ty might change that but alas he did not. I remember a specific play where Favors is guarding craig smith one on one down low and hayward and another player both came down to help favors leaving their guys open on the 3 point line. So basically we were triple teaming craig freaking smith. I think that we should allow our best defender (favors) to defend a guy like craig smith one on one and tell the wings to stay on thier guy. I felt that the coaching was horrible. Although im not giving up on corbin as it was just one pre-season game. But man it was 1 very badly coached pre-season game.

This is true; but the problem runs deeper than that. I must have counted at least a half dozen possessions where Portland had 3 (three!) wide open perimeter shooters. This doesn't come from double teaming down low - this comes from lack a of communication, lack of rotation and back-court defenders just standing around watching the play.

Corbin has his work cut out for him.

 

[MDAV28]

Saw a little of the game last night and only thing I really noticed was Kanter was a TERRIBLE defender. Didn't see any time when he actually knew what he was doing on that side of the floor. People would get wide open on the 3 because of him (players like Hayward having to come over and help on Kanter's man). He should become smarter with time but it is really hard to see any hope for him on that side of the floor.

Oh and I think my Jefferson/Okur defensive worries were also proven true.

 

[Zulu]

I don't think Corbin was playing match ups in this game, he was just looking to see who Played well together. I bet we Will see more adjustments in the lakers game.

 

[The Thriller]

I can see some people having worries about Kanter's leaping ability. I don't think he was ever projected as a dunk contest finalist.

However, saying that he isn't as athletic as Favor's isn't insightful nor a bad thing.

Name 5 other bigs in this league that are more athletic than Favors?

Dwight... Maybe Amare.... And maybe Blake?

Uhhhh...

That's about it folks. Favors is an elite athlete.

Like I've said before, some of you expected Dirk (MVP version. Not his rookie year version) out of Kanter. The dude hasn't played in years. He's the youngest player in the league.

He should shoot for a career like Luis Scola. Folks need to lower their expectations. In his rookie year, if he can provide us with energy and rebounding that Anderson V or Udonis Haslem provide, I'll be happy.

 

[The Thriller]

I think more concerning than any of our bigs was our lack of outside shooting. You're not going to win games against anyone if you can't hit the long ball. We saw problems with this ever since we lost Korver and Wes.... Before that, it was when Hornacek left.

We need someone that can hit the long ball consistently!

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I can see some people having worries about Kanter's leaping ability. I don't think he was ever projected as a dunk contest finalist.

However, saying that he isn't as athletic as Favor's isn't insightful nor a bad thing.

Name 5 other bigs in this league that are more athletic than Favors?

Dwight... Maybe Amare.... And maybe Blake?

Uhhhh...

That's about it folks. Favors is an elite athlete.

Like I've said before, some of you expected Dirk (MVP version. Not his rookie year version) out of Kanter. The dude hasn't played in years. He's the youngest player in the league.

He should shoot for a career like Luis Scola. Folks need to lower their expectations. In his rookie year, if he can provide us with energy and rebounding that Anderson V or Udonis Haslem provide, I'll be happy.

I think there are a handful of bigs more athletic than Favors. I just don't think there are many bigs with his combination of size and athletic ability.

 

[The Thriller]

I think there are a handful of bigs more athletic than Favors. I just don't think there are many bigs with his combination of size and athletic ability.

That's what I was meaning. Going by just leaping ability I'm guessing that Evans and probably even CJ could beat him. But the combo of size and athletic ability make him special.

That along with his skill set. He isn't Bynum or Kuame Brown. Unlike most bigs, Favors seems to actually have a pretty good understanding of how to post up and score.

 

[fishonjazz]

Favors obviously needs alot of minutes and he should be a starter. However millsap and jefferson are probably not going to be happy to come off the bench, so I really hope that millsap can play small forward. That would be the ideal situation assuming no one is traded. A starting line up of Jefferson, favors, millsap, hayward, and harris is the way to go if millsap can actually play small forward.

Maybe some nights depending on matchups millsap needs to come off the bench but i hope he will be good at the 3.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I think there are a handful of bigs more athletic than Favors. I just don't think there are many bigs with his combination of size and athletic ability.

So there are a handful of bigs with his athleticism .. but not many that are big and athletic?? I guess you're saying he's big(r) and more(r) athletic?
I was sincerely curious.

 

[MVP]

I can see some people having worries about Kanter's leaping ability. I don't think he was ever projected as a dunk contest finalist.

However, saying that he isn't as athletic as Favor's isn't insightful nor a bad thing.

Name 5 other bigs in this league that are more athletic than Favors?

Dwight... Maybe Amare.... And maybe Blake?

Uhhhh...

That's about it folks. Favors is an elite athlete.

Javale Mcgee, DeAndre Jordan, Taj Gibson and I think Bismack Biyombo is pictured as athletic freak, but that needs to be seen.