Williams.

[NUMBERICA]

I'm mostly sympathetic with NUMBERICA's views on this, but in the spirit of the OP I'll add a little caveat.

I think we might have learned that if DWill is going to be the outright #1 on this team, then he needs more than just a #2 player to carry the team through the 82 game schedule; he needs a #1a. Part of the problem with this team is that no #2 has emerged, let alone #1a.

Besides a change in the starting lineup, I want the Jazz to work on establishing a solid two-man game with DWill and SOMEBODY ELSE. There is too much democracy happening out there between Al and Sap... somebody's got to step into a more dominant role. I've now seen enough of the Spurs this year to be convinced: you have to be able to play the two-man game during stretches, control the tempo, take over games. Why should a team famous for Stockton-to-Malone need to learn this lesson?

Sap is my man in this scenario. I run a high pick-and-roll with him... let him decide to pop or dive to the basket. Everybody else clear the F&$% out for a second, and make sure that CJ (added to the starting lineup) is camped on the three point line (Hayward, too?). Tell Al that if he doesn't get every rebound, then you're going to cut his balls off.

Otherwise, let the flex do its thing... we're just putting too much faith in it. It's frustrating when it doesn't go well -- resulting in these "pouting" spells by Deron when he can't take the game over for whatever reason.

I've wanted to post something very similar to this but have not been sure just where it would be long and I can be lazy. Very aptly put, hard rep.

 

[Headtrip]

I'm mostly sympathetic with NUMBERICA's views on this, but in the spirit of the OP I'll add a little caveat.

I think we might have learned that if DWill is going to be the outright #1 on this team, then he needs more than just a #2 player to carry the team through the 82 game schedule; he needs a #1a. Part of the problem with this team is that no #2 has emerged, let alone #1a.

Besides a change in the starting lineup, I want the Jazz to work on establishing a solid two-man game with DWill and SOMEBODY ELSE. There is too much democracy happening out there between Al and Sap... somebody's got to step into a more dominant role. I've now seen enough of the Spurs this year to be convinced: you have to be able to play the two-man game during stretches, control the tempo, take over games. Why should a team famous for Stockton-to-Malone need to learn this lesson?

Sap is my man in this scenario. I run a high pick-and-roll with him... let him decide to pop or dive to the basket. Everybody else clear the F&$% out for a second, and make sure that CJ (added to the starting lineup) is camped on the three point line (Hayward, too?). Tell Al that if he doesn't get every rebound, then you're going to cut his balls off.

Otherwise, let the flex do its thing... we're just putting too much faith in it. It's frustrating when it doesn't go well -- resulting in these "pouting" spells by Deron when he can't take the game over for whatever reason.

Rep added. It's refreshing to read a well thought-out post, and I agree with you. Mansap can do what Boozer used to do on the offensive end. He isn't as good of a rebounder but he has developed a sweet shot. The pick and roll/pick and pop should give him a chance to shine.

 

[D Will> CP3]

[QUOTE= Tell Al that if he doesn't get every rebound, then you're going to cut his balls off.

Rep given

 

[Jazz4ever]

I'm mostly sympathetic with NUMBERICA's views on this, but in the spirit of the OP I'll add a little caveat.

I think we might have learned that if DWill is going to be the outright #1 on this team, then he needs more than just a #2 player to carry the team through the 82 game schedule; he needs a #1a. Part of the problem with this team is that no #2 has emerged, let alone #1a.

Besides a change in the starting lineup, I want the Jazz to work on establishing a solid two-man game with DWill and SOMEBODY ELSE. There is too much democracy happening out there between Al and Sap... somebody's got to step into a more dominant role. I've now seen enough of the Spurs this year to be convinced: you have to be able to play the two-man game during stretches, control the tempo, take over games. Why should a team famous for Stockton-to-Malone need to learn this lesson?

Sap is my man in this scenario. I run a high pick-and-roll with him... let him decide to pop or dive to the basket. Everybody else clear the F&$% out for a second, and make sure that CJ (added to the starting lineup) is camped on the three point line (Hayward, too?). Tell Al that if he doesn't get every rebound, then you're going to cut his balls off.

Otherwise, let the flex do its thing... we're just putting too much faith in it. It's frustrating when it doesn't go well -- resulting in these "pouting" spells by Deron when he can't take the game over for whatever reason.

The problem with this though is AJ has nowhere to clear out to. He can't back off to the three point line like Memo and draw his defender out. That extra defender will always be ready to step up and swat Sap on any drive.
And the angle isn't always there to pass it, so Sap will run the risk of turning it over. I really hope the Jazz at least try Memo in the starting lineup once he gets healthy. This losing the 1st quarter by 6 points every night has to stop.

 

[NUMBERICA]

You don't need 4 shooters to run a pick and roll (although that would be AWESOME). When the Jazz offense was at it's best ever (2007-2008), it featured two wings that weren't shooting threats and the Jazz never had a problem running the offense with Boozer and Millsap on the floor together either. At least not in the regular season. You can have a big clear the paint by either spotting up past the high-post (Jefferson isn't a bad mid-range shooter) or having them play behind the D on the baseline for well-placed dump-offs. Let's also not forget that Al is an above-average post player at the very least. Al should actually be able to dictate how the 2-game would be run, essentially making it a 3-man game based on how the defense shows. If Al goes for deep-post position and gets it, get the easy basket. If he doesn't (which would be the case most of the time), he'll have created enough of a scene to keep the defense watching him which would setup a more favorable 2-man game with Deron and Sap.

Deron and Millsap 2-man game is the closest thing this team has to a 2-man game right now. I think they can run it well ENOUGH (Millsap is no Boozer in that regard because no one is, he's one of the best at the 2-man game that I could name) to create go-to plays that can draw enough attention to open up the rest of the angles or plays.

 

[David Stern]

I think the key stats are Deron's turnovers and double-digit (or very close, say 8 or more) assists. If he gets more than 8 assists and fewer than 4 TO then it is going to be a win, if not we will struggle. Not sure if that has much to do with his attitude or if he just gets out of the swing of things, but those 2 seem to correlate with rough games.

Eight assists? Nah, I think the magic number is 12 for us to have a super good chance to win.

 

[LogGrad98]

Eight assists? Nah, I think the magic number is 12 for us to have a super good chance to win.

Well 12 is just about a guarantee. I picked 8 as that seems to be the tipping point. Over that and we have a good shot. Under and we are hurting. I don't have any numbers to back that up, but it seems that way to me.

Heck let's see him get 15 every night and we will sweep the rest of the season!

 

[NAOS]

You don't need 4 shooters to run a pick and roll (although that would be AWESOME). When the Jazz offense was at it's best ever (2007-2008), it featured two wings that weren't shooting threats and the Jazz never had a problem running the offense with Boozer and Millsap on the floor together either. At least not in the regular season. You can have a big clear the paint by either spotting up past the high-post (Jefferson isn't a bad mid-range shooter) or having them play behind the D on the baseline for well-placed dump-offs. Let's also not forget that Al is an above-average post player at the very least. Al should actually be able to dictate how the 2-game would be run, essentially making it a 3-man game based on how the defense shows. If Al goes for deep-post position and gets it, get the easy basket. If he doesn't (which would be the case most of the time), he'll have created enough of a scene to keep the defense watching him which would setup a more favorable 2-man game with Deron and Sap.

Deron and Millsap 2-man game is the closest thing this team has to a 2-man game right now. I think they can run it well ENOUGH (Millsap is no Boozer in that regard because no one is, he's one of the best at the 2-man game that I could name) to create go-to plays that can draw enough attention to open up the rest of the angles or plays.

Beat me to it. I don't think I have any more rep for you.
Let's not forget that Al can hit the wide open 15 foot set shot as well.

@Jazz4ever: when did Stockton and Malone have a 3-pnt shooting center? A jump shooting center?

 

[vslice02]

You don't need 4 shooters to run a pick and roll (although that would be AWESOME). When the Jazz offense was at it's best ever (2007-2008), it featured two wings that weren't shooting threats and the Jazz never had a problem running the offense with Boozer and Millsap on the floor together either. At least not in the regular season. You can have a big clear the paint by either spotting up past the high-post (Jefferson isn't a bad mid-range shooter) or having them play behind the D on the baseline for well-placed dump-offs. Let's also not forget that Al is an above-average post player at the very least. Al should actually be able to dictate how the 2-game would be run, essentially making it a 3-man game based on how the defense shows. If Al goes for deep-post position and gets it, get the easy basket. If he doesn't (which would be the case most of the time), he'll have created enough of a scene to keep the defense watching him which would setup a more favorable 2-man game with Deron and Sap.

Deron and Millsap 2-man game is the closest thing this team has to a 2-man game right now. I think they can run it well ENOUGH (Millsap is no Boozer in that regard because no one is, he's one of the best at the 2-man game that I could name) to create go-to plays that can draw enough attention to open up the rest of the angles or plays.

Rep'd. Millsap and Deron ran the 2-man game to perfection on Millsap's last 4 buckets in Houston. Also, Deron, Al and Millsap occasionally have success with more of a 3-man game in high-screen roll with Al as the pure dive-man (no matter what the defense does he goes straight to the rim) and Millsap rolling up on the weakside for an open jumper at the elbow.

Need to get that going because late in games the Jazz will be more effective running screen-roll than trying to get Deron open looks off the ball on pin-downs and fades .

 

[franklin]

His demeanor on the court in these situations obviously rubs off on the rest of the team. You can tell how a possession is going to end when Williams walks the ball up the court with his head down and dumps the ball off to Bell with 23 seconds left on the shot clock, then doesn't touch the ball again for the rest of the possession. It's like he's pouting. Meanwhile the bench guys are completely outhustling him and generally showing a lot more enthusiasm.

On the other hand, you can't expect him to be MJ every night. Maybe he's playing injured or something.

23 seconds left! This has to be a world speed walking record. Can somebody check this for me?

 

[Inn Dawn]

23 seconds left! This has to be a world speed walking record. Can somebody check this for me?

Could be...could be...

 

[David Stern]

Need to get that going because late in games the Jazz will be more effective running screen-roll than trying to get Deron open looks off the ball on pin-downs and fades .

I agree to an extent. We're awesome at closing games, we just need to open the games up a lot better. It helped that Boozer was a dominant first quarter player, but we need to come out every game with this three man scheme and hit it early on.

 

[vslice02]

I agree to an extent. We're awesome at closing games, we just need to open the games up a lot better. It helped that Boozer was a dominant first quarter player, but we need to come out every game with this three man scheme and hit it early on.

I was talking primarily about the past 18 games or so where the halfcourt offense broke down late in losses to Dallas, Miami and 2 times against Portland and allowed teams like Memphis and Detroit to hang around at home. But yeah, good offensive starts would help too.