We're ****ing legit

[Isaiah 1:13]

We're good. There's still quite a bit of growth that will happen with the young talent. That said, a third player needs to step up and match Hayward and Gobert's level. There's decent talent across the roster, but someone's got to become that third consistent mismatch in our favor.

Not that those guys aren't a big part of it, but I look at it as more of the whole being more than the sum of its parts kind of thing. On any given night, besides Hayward and Gobert it might be Hill, Hood, Faves, Lyles even Exum or Mack that gets the big bucket or stop for us. We're playing some real unselfish ball it seems to me, playing off the hot hand. As Ernie said tonight, we have some good individual defenders but it's the team concept that's putting us over the top defensively. We're starting to operate with a certain telepathy on both sides of the ball. Everybody looked good tonight, even Withey.

 

[b_line]

We're good. There's still quite a bit of growth that will happen with the young talent. That said, a third player needs to step up and match Hayward and Gobert's level. There's decent talent across the roster, but someone's got to become that third consistent mismatch in our favor.

George Hill...

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

George Hill...

Hill puts up one bad individual offensive night and he cant be consistent anymore I guess.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Also, and get some tissues ready here 'cause you're gonna get excited, Rudy is shooting 31-42 over the last eight games (before tonight) from the free throw line for 73.9%. That rate at over five attempts per game is HUGE.

And why else is it important he can shoot FT's?

Because it allows him to finish games. As Quin pointed out, Utah was a very poor defending and rebounding team closing out games last season. A big part of that, which Snyder conveniently didn't mention, is that he was sitting Rudy on the bench in crunch time. Simply couldn't have teams play Hack-a-Rudy. That's no longer a consideration. Now Utah can have their best rebounder and the best rim protector finishing games.

 

[Miggs]

Our next 4 games are all against sub-par to bad teams, at the worst we should go 3-1 in those games going into the Warriors game. The Warriors also play a road game against the Clippers the night before coming to Utah for the game, so we will be at a rest advantage. Could be an exciting game.

I bet the players still don't forget that brutal lost to the Dubs late last year either and want redemption.

 

[Miggs]

We're 10th in offensive rating and 4th in defensive.

Our last three games would put us in 1st in defensive rating and 1st in offensive rating and that's against a red hot Rockets team after having played the night before on the road, at a semi-desperate Minnesota team, and against a solid 10-8 Atlanta team. Killin' souls. I want the next four heading into that Dubs game and then want to strangle those bitch's souls.

 

[Revolution 9]

The only downside is Exum isn't apart of this.

Mack played good tonight, but hasn't played any better than Exum most of the games.
Dante was starting to attack more, and showing signs. This won't help his development.

 

[BTP]

One aspect that none ever talks about is how solid Hood is defensively.
Back in college as a 21 yr old about to turn 22(Jr/Sr age) he was Harden level atrocious on that end.
The first thing when he got drafted he said in his introduction interview was that his goal was to impact the game on the defensive end.
While his body is fairly limited with his crocodile arms and lack of weight/frame, playing SG eliminates most of that disadvantage and the height of his head/eyes makes it easier for him to unleash his playmaking capability on the other end.
He's really good at staying focused on the action. He's doubled down on his promise to put effort on that end.
He and Parker were the Harden twins on that end in college. While Parker hasn't made much progress on defense, Hood's trying to maximize what he can do.

https://youtu.be/WhT1bxOAB0M?t=400

This is his dx vid, starting where they showcase his defensive lapses(Just check the scores at the bottom - No blowout situations, just overall poor effort/technique)

One play I really liked yesterday in the first quarter was when was backing down Hill, forcing his way to the middle. Instead of Rudy coming over trying to contest from the blind spot - which could've lead to an easy lob for Capela, Rodney was aware of the situation, closed the middle and forced a Harden TO without giving up an opportunity for his guy(Gordon), as Gordon and Anderson lined up and made it easy for Lyles to cover both.

 

[framer]

One aspect that none ever talks about is how solid Hood is defensively.
Back in college as a 21 yr old about to turn 22(Jr/Sr age) he was Harden level atrocious on that end.
The first thing when he got drafted he said in his introduction interview was that his goal was to impact the game on the defensive end.
While his body is fairly limited with his crocodile arms and lack of weight/frame, playing SG eliminates most of that disadvantage and the height of his head/eyes makes it easier for him to unleash his playmaking capability on the other end.
He's really good at staying focused on the action. He's doubled down on his promise to put effort on that end.
He and Parker were the Harden twins on that end in college. While Parker hasn't made much progress on defense, Hood's trying to maximize what he can do.

https://youtu.be/WhT1bxOAB0M?t=400

This is his dx vid, starting where they showcase his defensive lapses(Just check the scores at the bottom - No blowout situations, just overall poor effort/technique)

One play I really liked yesterday in the first quarter was when was backing down Hill, forcing his way to the middle. Instead of Rudy coming over trying to contest from the blind spot - which could've lead to an easy lob for Capela, Rodney was aware of the situation, closed the middle and forced a Harden TO without giving up an opportunity for his guy(Gordon), as Gordon and Anderson lined up and made it easy for Lyles to cover both.

Lyles has improved his defense immensely as well. Although he isn't Derek Favors, he seems to know where he is supposed to be positioned defensively on a consistent basis. That is pretty much all you can expect from a second year player.

 

[NAOS]

Mack played good tonight, but hasn't played any better than Exum most of the games.

disagree

This won't help [Exum's] development.

We have a coach who is internationally known for developing talent. I think we can turn the stress knob down.

 

[b_line]

disagree


We have a coach who is internationally known for developing talent. I think we can turn the stress knob down.

Yeah, I will worry about Exum if he is still getting DNP's in game 60 of this season, and next year as well. I think Exum can be good, but he is still so young. The offensive improvement from Exum has been a bright spot, but his D has been lacking, which is why he is probably not playing.

 

[NAOS]

but his D has been lacking, which is why he is probably not playing.

don't tell this to the homers, who are still seeing the DPOY.

 

[Stoked]

Hill puts up one bad individual offensive night and he cant be consistent anymore I guess.

I wouldn't even call it bad. Just not changing what was working. He only took 6 shots and had 8 points. 2/3 from deep and 2/2 from the FT line. If he pushed it he would have gotten his 20 IMO.

 

[zman1527]

I wouldn't even call it bad. Just not changing what was working. He only took 6 shots and had 8 points. 2/3 from deep and 2/2 from the FT line. If he pushed it he would have gotten his 20 IMO.

Agreed, and it just shows again how smart and in control he is. He could see that his offense was not needed so he did not push it. Most guys would have gotten an itchy trigger finger and gone for their own shot more.

 

[zman1527]

I think these last 4 games show what the ceiling may be for this team. They play like this and they can beat anybody. Not saying they would beat the top 4 teams, but they could. And if Favs and Burks come back and play well?

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

I think these last 4 games show what the ceiling may be for this team. They play like this and they can beat anybody. Not saying they would beat the top 4 teams, but they could. And if Favs and Burks come back and play well?

zman... you say that's our ceiling and then you immediately suggest that the 'ceiling' can go up with Favs and Burks. What I think you mean is that we are playing better, but we haven't reached our ceiling yet. I suggest you look up quickly and figure out how you are going to move your 'ceiling' up a bit when Favors and Burks start playing.

 

[NAOS]

I wouldn't even call it bad. Just not changing what was working. He only took 6 shots and had 8 points. 2/3 from deep and 2/2 from the FT line. If he pushed it he would have gotten his 20 IMO.

spot the **** on. Hill's ego is a major asset.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

Hill puts up one bad individual offensive night and he cant be consistent anymore I guess.

Quit peeing in the punch bowl. Hill IS the difference. He is killing it. He doesn't have to score 22 per night for him to have a consistent positive effect for the team. Notice Hayward's stats with him in and out. Notice the team's stats with him on vs off the court. Notice our record with him on/off the court.

Can someone bring a new punch bowl?

 

[Stoked]

These last few games have convinced me that the Jazz need to prioritize extending/re-signing Hill. Above Favors or anyone else. Having Hill locked in along with Gobert will be two major cards to play this offseason when it comes time to sign Hayward.

 

[Game6Conley]

It does seem like there's a decreasing amount of tests for this Jazz squad to pass (other than Medical tests ><)... Certainly it's that way for Rudy..

There's always a chance of regression but I can;t help but think that the only real remaining tests/measuring stick games left for this team in the regular season are vs teams like the Warriors, Cavs and to a lesser extent the Clippers, Raptors and Spurs..