Theory On Why Jefferson Makes Us Better Against L.A.

[7StraightIsGreat]

While everybody seems to love the Jefferson trade, it also seems like everybody is of the same opinion that Jefferson doesn't do much, if anything in regards to helping Utah defend the 7 footers that L.A. has. While I agree that Jefferson's defensive impact against the Lakers won't be huge (however I do think we will improve slightly in that area), I think overall the addition of Jefferson makes us a much tougher team when playing L.A.

Here's why:

-David Locke was throwing out some numbers to consider when comparing Boozer/Jefferson. The number I found most telling was the amount of time each player actually catches the ball in the low block. Boozer's career % of low block possessions is 25%. With a number like that, how Boozer is conidered by many as a low post scorer is beyond me. 3/4 of the time the guy isn't anywhere near the low post. I think this is the biggest reason we saw the Jazz struggle against the Lakers. Not only do we not have anybody to body up against the likes of Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, when they've been on the defensive end, they've had nobody make them work in the low post.

-Jefferson's % of low post touches is 50%. Half the time this guy gets the ball, he's already on the low block and I think it's fair to assume that his % is only going to get higher now that he is in Utah's system. Now all of a sudden, the 7 footers of L.A. have to face something they haven't had to worry about before: A strong, big bodied player who is going to force the issue on the low block. I'm of the opinion that Gasol is still fairly soft for a big man. I'm interested to see how he responds when he actually has to battle down low on the defensive end against Utah. Can he stay out of foul trouble? Can he hold up to the constant pressure of defending the low block on every possession? How will he respond to getting knocked around? These are all things that any of the Laker big men have yet to worry about when facing us.

-One of the oldest theories in basketball is that if you want to slow a guy down offensively, you have to make him work his *** off on the defensive end. All of a sudden, this is exactly what we're going to be doing to the Laker big guys. Add in the addition of Bell and I think this Jazz team is better equipped to face L.A. than they were when the offseason began.

 

[Jean-Luc]

 

[ncoloradojazz]

perkins proved gasol is soft and al has way more moves then perkins. Hopefully millsap can guard either bynam or gasol.

 

[Coloradojazzfan]

I want to see Jeffers on the floor so I can hear some combination of 'jeffers to jefferson' or 'jefferson to jeffers'... make it happen!

 

[Realjazz]

Millsap is actually our biggest challenge against the Lakers, both Gasol and Bynum are too big for him to effectively guard against. Jefferson and Okur could be very interesting as Okur would pull one of the two (most likely Gasol) away from the lane and create space for Jefferson to operate.

Lamar Odom is a tough assignment for the Jazz as well because he is so long. AK is our best bet agaisnt him and he isn't always able to handle him down low. I think this is the reason why KOC said he is looking for another big man that can block shots. We are way ahead of where we were a month ago regarding matching up with the Lakers, but we need one more piece to really take it to them.

 

[Hopper]

Jefferson: "My whole mindset ever since I’ve been playing basketball is, I like to be in the ring, I like to be in the paint. That’s where we get nasty at, that’s where you become a man.…"

The number I found most telling was the amount of time each player actually catches the ball in the low block. Boozer's career % of low block possessions is 25%.

Just some kinda wild-*** coincidence, ya figure? I don't think so! Homey don't play dat.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Millsap is actually our biggest challenge against the Lakers, both Gasol and Bynum are too big for him to effectively guard against. Jefferson and Okur could be very interesting as Okur would pull one of the two (most likely Gasol) away from the lane and create space for Jefferson to operate.

Lamar Odom is a tough assignment for the Jazz as well because he is so long. AK is our best bet agaisnt him and he isn't always able to handle him down low. I think this is the reason why KOC said he is looking for another big man that can block shots. We are way ahead of where we were a month ago regarding matching up with the Lakers, but we need one more piece to really take it to them.

Your assesment is dead on. I think Okur is a big benefactor of the Jefferson deal, especially against the Lakers. Jefferson is going to force the Laker defense to draw inside much more than they did in the past. Okur (and all of our perimeter shooters for that matter) should be able to roam that 3 point line and get better looks than he ever has before against LA. Raja is a huge signing because despite his age, I still think he's a great perimeter defender. Putting him on Kobe is going to free up guys like AK. Maybe now AK can be used more to help with the likes of Odom.

However, I agree with you. Utah is still 1 piece away from really giving L.A. a run for their money. But with that being said, I still think the pieces this Utah team now has in place compliment each other much better than what we had with Boozer and Korver. Like everybody else, I wish this season could start tomorrow.....

 

[DutchJazzer]

my theorie on why Jefferson WONT MATTER against LA

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Your assesment is dead on. I think Okur is a big benefactor of the Jefferson deal, especially against the Lakers. Jefferson is going to force the Laker defense to draw inside much more than they did in the past. Okur (and all of our perimeter shooters for that matter) should be able to roam that 3 point line and get better looks than he ever has before against LA. Raja is a huge signing because despite his age, I still think he's a great perimeter defender. Putting him on Kobe is going to free up guys like AK. Maybe now AK can be used more to help with the likes of Odom.

However, I agree with you. Utah is still 1 piece away from really giving L.A. a run for their money. But with that being said, I still think the pieces this Utah team now has in place compliment each other much better than what we had with Boozer and Korver. Like everybody else, I wish this season could start tomorrow.....

Harp TPE and Memphis pick for Perkins at deadline as Boston stumbles along.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Harp TPE and Memphis pick for Perkins at deadline as Boston stumbles along.

Memphis pick went bye-bye in the Jefferson deal, did it not? However, I think you're thinking along the right lines. Utah still needs a piece, but that piece probably won't be available until trade deadline time. With the Harp TE, Utah could be in a great position to get somebody like a Perkins from a team who maybe ends up underachieving and wants to shed some salary heading into 2011.

 

[sportsnut1232]

I think jefferson has more heart than boozer and won't back down against the laker bigs like boozer did. However, we are still completely outclassed by their bigs. (Along with every other team). Bynum can hold his own against big al. Who do we have to guard their bigs? Still nobody. I think that aj can give the lakers some problems, and millsap is crafty enough to do some damage. However, the only way we stand any kind of chance against them is if kobe takes a major step back or gets injured.

We absolutely must do everything we can to grab a defensive big to come off the bench.

 

[sportsnut1232]

Our strategy against the lakers should be to run as much as possible. I'm praying that hayward can create his own shot and take some pressure off dwill.

 

[sportsnut1232]

Harp TPE and Memphis pick for Perkins at deadline as Boston stumbles along.

No way boston gives us perkins. They could be in the 8th seed and still believ they will win the championship. I think gortat is a more realistic option.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Spot on, Jazzman!
I've whined about our lack of a scoring SG for some time; Kobe could just cruise on D against the likes of Brewer... Same goes for Gasol much of the time. As you said, Boozer offensively wouldn't use his body against him to force the issue; he'd either throw up a jump shot or pass the ball off. Gasol could just hang in the paint; not really have to work hard on D.
The mindset we need to have on defense is make opponents work for everything. Nobody is gonna shut down the Lakers, but Boston showed they can be slowed if the opponent makes them work hard on both ends of the court!
I honestly believe Big Al presents a major problem to the Lakers offensively, and will improve his defense here with us. At least the effort will be there, which it rarely was with Boozer.

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

I have to agree with everyone on this. Big Al presents a problem because he loves contact and to get down low. He isn't like Boozer where he will either be swatted or settle for a fade away. Still, I think we are one move away and that move isn't coming this season. Maybe next if Ante Tomic decides to come stateside and adds 10 or so pounds of muscle. Jefferson/Tomic.... I am drooling at the though.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I have to agree with everyone on this. Big Al presents a problem because he loves contact and to get down low. He isn't like Boozer where he will either be swatted or settle for a fade away. Still, I think we are one move away and that move isn't coming this season. Maybe next if Ante Tomic decides to come stateside and adds 10 or so pounds of muscle. Jefferson/Tomic.... I am drooling at the though.

I could be dead wrong, but in watching film on Tomic, there is literally nothing that gets me excited about that guy. I think he will get badly abused in this league.

 

[Hopper]

I could be dead wrong, but in watching film on Tomic, there is literally nothing that gets me excited about that guy. I think he will get badly abused in this league.

I aint watched Tomic (ever), but if you're right, forget him. Whatever else Fess is, or aint, he's at least big enough to take up some space and knock some guys around. I think Sloan, Deron, Jefferson, and everyone else will help him progress in that department if he's with us next year.

 

[bat]

The fact that he won't cower and hide when Gasol comes out is why we should be better against the Lakers. When facing taller guys, Boozer shied away and became a jump shooter. That kept him off of the offensive glass, caused him to stop going to the free-throw line and made Gasol and Bynum only have to play on one side of the floor.

Jefferson will make both of these guys work defensively, and he won't randomly become a fade away jump shooter. That's how he helps against the Lakers.

Millsap's willingness to attack the rim actually really benefited the Jazz against the Lakers. It was Boozer's unwillingness to battle that hurt.

 

[Twin Towers]

I have to agree with everyone on this. Big Al presents a problem because he loves contact and to get down low. He isn't like Boozer where he will either be swatted or settle for a fade away. Still, I think we are one move away and that move isn't coming this season. Maybe next if Ante Tomic decides to come stateside and adds 10 or so pounds of muscle. Jefferson/Tomic.... I am drooling at the though.

I am sorry but everything on Ante Tomic I have seen and read does not look good. He is not going to make it in the NBA. And I will tell you why.

Watch any You tube videos of him. Even the highlights. When he is backing down guys in similar size to him he gets pushed out of the paint. No way he has the strength to hold up against NBA big men.

And one thing that Gasol has over Tomic is he has wide shoulders. He came into the league skinny but he has wide shoulders. That shows you how much weight they can actually put on. Tomic has girl shoulders. We should give him padded jerseys. NBA scouts look for wide shoulders or wide body in NBA big men. That is a basic trait that scouts look for to see if they can add muscle.
Also when players have wide shoulders it allows them to create space before they get off there hook shot. Tomic doesn't have that. That is his patented move. He will get swatted or pushed out too far to make a move. And his athleticism isn't anything amazing and he won't be blowing past big guys in the NBA.
His game will not translate here. He will be a failed European player. His mid range shot might keep him in the league. But we should trade him while he has value now before the rest of the league finds out he isn't a NBA player.

 

[Kyoto]