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Some observations and a poll

  • Thread starter Thread starter JAZZGASM
  • Start date Start date

Do you like watching our current offensive sets?

  • Total voters
    10
J

JAZZGASM

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I was raised watching the Jazz under Jerry Sloan. I learned what good basketball looked like on both ends of the court, and how to frustrate a defense with a well oiled offense with lots of effective screens and cuts.

Currently, in my opinion, the Jazz offense is one of the most boring in the league to watch as I have stated on many threads. I also think we have regressed since last year in regards to the offense we are running. We seem to almost exclusively run pick and pop off the top of the key which results in a lot of perimeter jumpers and not a lot of action in the post. Our assist% is second to last. After noticing this I compared it to last year, and we have had a bring drop off (a drop of 6.2%, which is huge). Even when we have a great game, we generally have 3 players largely inactive, which gives opponents a chance to rest. Teams that are well prepared for this have demolished us. I understand we are down a lot of players, and I don't expect us to win every game. I largely just miss basketball that is fun to watch and I feel we have the personnel to be much better.

My early feeling this season is many of our players are playing a LOT better. Burke, Favors, and Burks especially. Neto is starting to show promise. I actually really like the skillset of our players. We ran quite a sets out of the Horns offense last year, which, for whatever reason, has been largely dropped this year except for a set that does what the rest of our offense (on ball screens).

Even with the improvement in player development (Snyder I think is good with that), our assist% is down (IMO due to the offense), our rebounds are down (same due to player positioning), our FG% is down, and our 3P% is up 1% from last year. Hayward's assist% is down about 6%, Trey is down 3% Rudy is down 1.6%, Ingles is down 6% and Favors is the same. We did lose Exum, but Neto has a 4% higher assist% and surprisingly a 3% higher usage rate.

With that said, I'd like others opinion on our current offensive sets. Before you answer the poll, I ask that you want a Jazz game, and FOCUS on the offensive sets we are running. Watch where we get shots on the floor, watch how often we screen, etc. And give me your honest opinion, do you like the offensive sets we are running? Are the sets enjoyable to watch?

I don't see the Jazz changing any time soon, which is unfortunate.
 
Thee jazz fan said:
Where's the option for sometimes yes sometimes no?
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I don't want to cloud what I think the issue is. Yes, we all agree it is fun to win. I am just asking if you like the sets win or lose. Obviously when we lose it is more painful. I think it is painful even when we win.

It especially suffers when we play teams that can effectively switch on the on ball screens. It shuts us down. I actually give credit to our players for doing so well as they have to create most of their own shots with the ball.
 
I voted no, but only because this offense isn't consistent yet. There are times where they pass very well and it's great to watch, but something needs to gel quick for them. The bad shots and turnovers are awful. Turnovers in general really irritate me, especially when you get that 8 or so turnover quarter.
 
I won't answer the poll because I wouldn't call it hard to watch. Less exciting yes, but I must admit I like watching the Jazz anytime. I think I agree with you in that, the offense could be more efficient. I see a lot of iso and screens for outside shots, but little going inside and most concerning the dead last in assists. Perhaps our pts in the paint come off of Alec & Hayward drives (iso), but it seems like the pts in the paint don't come from offense generated easy buckets. We are also down fast break pts by 2 pts/game over last year. Is this because our defense is not near the level of last year?

I haven't checked recently, but we were near tops in passes made. One theory was Quinn was taking baby steps in getting them in the habit of being unselfish even when it wasn't necessarily logical. I have been hoping to see a next step. I can't see what the plan is there to be honest, but I feel like Quinn is the type of person to be extremely patient in order to take steps at the best times and wait as long as necessary. Players have mentioned that the offense was a lot to wrap their heads around last year, and this year QS is more relaxed offensively. He looks to be clearly very calculated and deliberate, and he is able to get great effort out of the team imo.

Another stat we are down in is fast break pts. We are down 2.2 pts which is enough to go from #28 to #12. If anybody knows how they calc fast break efficiency we are dead last. Stats are from www.teamrankings.com Our defense has also steadily declined which may be connected to the fast break pts. Perhaps the defense is entirely related to injuries. Hard to say. In this case maybe QS (who I really like) probably shouldn't get credit for what we did post EK/ASB.

I have a lot of negativity above, but I do think we are going in the right direction. This is more of a collective gut feeling that stat driven. The team is weathering expectations despite the injuries and our schedule is in fact about to lighten up a lot. I am optimistic about the team and see a good likelihood that we get to see playoff basketball. If some of these weaknesses were addressed, I would be extremely optimistic and be pondering upsets in the playoffs.
 
One of my favourite things about Quin is his patience-- especially in a league where people are so quick to ignore it.


Slow, complete growth is the best kind of growth. Taking baby steps with this teams maximizes the talent and capabilities of our squad as a whole-- not to mention enhancing the trade value of every asset if we choose to part paths with our players.

Think of Trey's trade value now vs. the Corbin years. Think of the same with Favors.

As Jazz fans, we simply need to buy into the process, and be patient-- some of our players have incredibly high ceilings, and we need to focus on providing the environment to have them best realize that potential.

Withey has been awesome-- so maybe we don't need a backup-5 after all. But finding a consistent 3rd-big (pls don't bust Lyles) is the next big step for our team. We're almost there, you guys.
 
our offense isn't flashy, and I wouldn't exactly start off someone with no knowledge of basketball with a Jazz game. But I personally enjoy watching every game.
 
I would have preferred an option somewhere in between. It might be related to lack of playing time together.
 
I can't believe the jazz escaped with that win over Memphis. The offense was one-on-one trash, with Hayward buried in the corner. Hood with the ball, with no cutters. We got bailed out. I'm fine with PnR-heavy stuff for a lot of possessions in a game, but you need good plays, with multiple options, in close games. The jazz got lucky, imo.
 
When I see the Jazz play well and win, when I see players improving, when I see a cohesiveness in the team -- win or lose -- I get excited about the future for the Jazz. That is something we as fans really can appreciate after the horrible Corbin years.
 
KD's Framily said:
I think watching a young, developing team isn't for people like the thread creator.
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I don't think I was clear enough in the original post. I understand we are growing, and I don't mind mistakes. I just hate our overdribbling on ball screening offense. It is ugly ball. I am not criticizing the effectiveness of how well we run the plays, I just don't like the actual system with the majority of the plays (mostly one play this season). I think the system underutilizes our players abilities.


One of my favorite seasons was the 03 season when we were predicted to finish with the worst record ever and we won 42 games with a young squad that ran really good sets. We were hard to beat because we ran sets that got us a lot of layups. I loved the flex offense that Motta ran that was even better under Sloan. Lots of easy paint points using off ball screens. We don't do that anymore. Last year only 2.5% of our points were from off screen shots compared to about 13% in the mid 2000s. Our baskets off cuts are way down too.
 
Unfortunately we don't have any great passers on the team. It's probably the one reason Neto is getting so much playing time along with his defense. There are some great potential inside passes that are "passed" up pretty consistently for the easier perimeter pass or penetration shot.
 
bezerkus said:
There are some great potential inside passes that are "passed" up pretty consistently for the easier perimeter pass or penetration shot.
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I see this happening a lot, actually. In tonight's game, Booker was open several times if a quick pass had been made but like you said they passed him up for an easier perimeter pass, or just held the ball for fear of a turnover. That was one thing about Stockton, he wasn't afraid to make the difficult pass and it led to a lot of easy baskets.
 
KD's Framily said:
I think watching a young, developing team isn't for people like the thread creator.
Click to expand...
I liked your post because I couldn't dislike the OP's. I'm very impressed with the way Snyder has gone about his job and the way the players have bought in. I'm also a huge fan of DL. Seems like there's a rush to jump off his bandwagon around here lately. I hope that those of you who take the leap enjoy the taste of crow.
 
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