Thank you Gordon Hayward

[Gyp Rosetti]

I'm about to ramble.

I am developing a theory about Hayward. Hayward is the kind of player you run an offense through. There's a template for this -- MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Larry Bird; to a lesser extent Wade or Ginobili. I'm not saying Hayward will be as good as any of those guys -- in face I'll guarantee that he won't be. But I do think he's going to need the ball a lot for the next iteration of the Jazz to reach its full potential. From what I have seen, I would be perfectly comfortable handing him the reigns as a point-wing and running the offense through him 50%+ of the time.

We already have an elite big man rotation in Millsap, Favors, and Jefferson. (Though I'm in favor of trading at least one of them to clear room for Favors; first of all, they're all power forwards. Secondly, they seem to be in each others' way.)

We need to* add an elite wing defender and a scoring point guard who can run around without the ball like a demon, getting open and hitting spot up shots. (Curry? Jimmer?) Also a rebounding, shot blocking center.

I think we should trade Harris. I don't see him, for some reason, really letting Hayward run things. It seems like when Harris and Hayward play together, Hayward barely touches the ball.

(*Need? Well, I mean, who knows. But that's how the championship teams that followed this point-SG / point-SF formula have been constructed.)

Good post except Favors can certainly play center. I'm not sure why people don't see this.

We need to get lucky, draft Irving, trade Harris mid-season for an expiring and a pick, and then go hard after Batum in '12.

 

[JohnnyClutch]

What do you guys think of Hayward playing point? Does he have the handle? It wouldn't be the first time a 6'9 guy played it.

As mentioned in the thread he's got the lateral quickness to stay in front of most of them, and would dwarf them, possibly stifflingly so. And he be a big advantage in being able to look and pass over the top of the guy guarding him. We know he's got the smarts to do it.

It's a dang interesting thought if nothing else. Just think of the advantage Magic had because of his height.

 

[tabor]

Hayward at point guard is too creative for the jazz. He would have to be in LA for that. But the jazz are famous for trading away good players so it's possible.

 

[Stickler]

Good post except Favors can certainly play center. I'm not sure why people don't see this.

We need to get lucky, draft Irving, trade Harris mid-season for an expiring and a pick, and then go hard after Batum in '12.

Oh, I agree. Favors and Jefferson can both play center, I just don't think it's their natural position. For maximum team-building I would try to get a real (traditional) center. Interesting thought about Batum. I like him. He could be very effective for us. Good call.

 

[Craig K. Manscill]

Hayward looks like he could play point guard, I can imagine him guarding Chris Paul and keeping him hands in the air while Paul drives to the hole. In retrospect, it probably was a good decision to put him at center court during the warm-ups, if only to see what he can do from there! Hopefully Corbin does a 180 on this lineup and feeds them what they want to hear.

- Craig

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Hayward looks like he could play point guard, I can imagine him guarding Chris Paul and keeping him hands in the air while Paul drives to the hole. In retrospect, it probably was a good decision to put him at center court during the warm-ups, if only to see what he can do from there! Hopefully Corbin does a 180 on this lineup and feeds them what they want to hear.

- Craig

Can you decode this please?

 

[SojoDave]

Can you decode this please?

1. Craig doesn't think Hayward can guard Chris Paul.
2. Craig thinks that Corbin put Hayward at Center court during warm-ups so he can see what can do from here????
3. Craig hopes that Corbin does a 180 on this lineup and feeds them what they want to hear. Obviously, Corbin is taking the team out to dinner and he hopes that Corbin tells the team that he is taking them to Panda Express.
4. Craig has been drinking.

 

[billyshelby]

The idea that any offense can be run through Hayward is ludicrous. Hayward should focus on being a a good wing. He can do that. But he absolutely does not have the handle needed, he's driven successfully in a game exactly once, and pro PG's would pick his pocket 10 times a game if he handled the ball primarily.

Getting Hayward shots should be part of any offense. I hope he can learn to drive. But he will never be the fulcrum of any offense ever.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

The idea that any offense can be run through Hayward is ludicrous. Hayward should focus on being a a good wing. He can do that. But he absolutely does not have the handle needed, he's driven successfully in a game exactly once, and pro PG's would pick his pocket 10 times a game if he handled the ball primarily.

Getting Hayward shots should be part of any offense. I hope he can learn to drive. But he will never be the fulcrum of any offense ever.

I look forward to watching him prove you wrong. I wonder if you'll be willing to admit it when it happens.

 

[billyshelby]

I look forward to watching him prove you wrong. I wonder if you'll be willing to admit it when it happens.

A Brandon Roy/Dwayne Wade styled shooting guard who is the primary ballhandler and playmaker? No, he'll never be that. And I'll be delighted to admit I was wrong if he can pull that off. Personally, I'm hoping for a better version of Dunleavy, but if all he turns into is Dunleavy I'll be fine with that.

 

[Stifle Tower]

A Brandon Roy/Dwayne Wade styled shooting guard who is the primary ballhandler and playmaker? No, he'll never be that. And I'll be delighted to admit I was wrong if he can pull that off. Personally, I'm hoping for a better version of Dunleavy, but if all he turns into is Dunleavy I'll be fine with that.

Decent comparison. I think he has better ball-handling skills, but I agree, he'll never be a Roy or Wade-type player. If he can defend the 2 on a consistent basis, though, that puts him ahead of Dunleavy as Hayward will really be able to use his height advantage. And that is what KOC said all along. He gave us a huge hint before the draft about taking a player who could create mismatches at his position. The plan all along was to have Hayward eventually play SG. BY the way, Dunleavy averaged 6 pts per game and doubled that in his second season. Here's hoping Hayward can do the same and average between 10-12 next year as the starting "making guard."