Favors our defensive stopper?

[Gyp Rosetti]

While we're talking about Defense and our big men, we do all remember that Al Jefferson graded out extremely well as a one-on-one defender this past season, right?
If I remember correctly he graded out in the Top 5 for his position.

Having Favors develop alongside him will only help Jefferson. As much as I love Sap, he's the defensive liability. That's why he needs to be coming off the bench (giving him a chance to see more minutes against the opponents 2nd tier players) or traded.

Is basketball a one-on-one sport? Jefferson was awful defensively otherwise. Awful.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Is basketball a one-on-one sport? Jefferson was awful defensively otherwise. Awful.

To an extent, it can break down to one-on-one match ups quite often and Jefferson has proven that in those cases he is more than capable defending his man.

Help defense is much more important IMO, but I don't fault Jefferson as much in this area as you seem to. Having an undersized PF playing next to you who can be abused by bigger players doesn't help Al look good at all. Playing next to Favors in the same capacity would mean a world of difference.

I don't mean to bag on Sap. If the dude was in a 7 foot body, he'd be one of the best players in the league. Problem is, he's not and no matter how scrappy you are, you just can't make yourself taller.

 

[Revolution 9]

Sap was a stud on the bench. Meh as a starter. Although he had some monster games. Overall he wasn't the same guy in the starting role.

 

[SojoDave]

He has to learn how to not foul first.

Agree, he didn't know how to play defense last year and caused a lot of unnecessary fouls very quickly. I think that is the main reason Millsap will start the season as the PF and Favors will come off the bench. He has got to learn to stop fouling.

 

[sportsnut1232]

Back to the OP, Favors has unlimited potential. He is going to be extremely fun to watch. He has what it takes to start at the 5 (as long as he gets his fouls under control), and be one of the very best big men in the league. Put him next to big Al and our interior defense will be very respectable.

 

[Chad Feldheimer]

"Millsap to play his natural role as a 25-30 minute bench energizer"

+++++

 

[candrew]

Agree, he didn't know how to play defense last year and caused a lot of unnecessary fouls very quickly. I think that is the main reason Millsap will start the season as the PF and Favors will come off the bench. He has got to learn to stop fouling.

Favors fouls per minute went down while his MPG went up the last 15-20 games this past season. In other words he was playing more and fouling less as the season ended.

I think this will be a non-issue soon enough.

Ron Boone made a comment about Favors last March in that he feels that "Favors may not even realize how good he is". I think there is some relevance to that comment when it comes to his a defensive presence.

 

[gregbroncs]

I think Milsap will do damn near anything the Jazz ask, there is no reason to think he wont. Everyone knows that every great team has at least one great bench players.

Except for his own words stating he's a starter.