Millsap willing to come off the bench.

[asian_roger]

We all know Sap will be beast playing against the other team's bench, so he'll still likely make some significant points and become the SUB of the game almost every game. He has the skills, toughness, and attitude to play very well, but his size is his biggest limitation.

 

[NAOS]

Millsap will probably finish a lot of game and get starter minutes.

And with Memo gone, Jazz will need a low post presence in the second unit while Kanter develops his offensive game.

Makes all the sense in the world to bring him off the bench.

I don't think of "low post presence" when I think of Millsap. That's Jefferson. Why not bring him off the bench?

 

[fishonjazz]

I still think they should start him at small forward and see how it goes. If we play great and win games with him at small forward, then that is great. If we lose a few, no big deal. better draft pick and you switch him back to power forward.

 

[sportsnut1232]

If we didn't have a promising talent like Favors, I would say start Millsap, but if anyone can be our sixth man, it's Millsap. As long as he gets 30 min/per, I'm all for it. I have a feeling we will be playing Sap and Favors together a lot down in crunchtime this year.

 

[LogGrad98]

Bring him off the bench. Add a scorer to that second team while the bigs develop.

 

[NUMBERICA]

As it stands, Millsap's earned the starting job. I still think Favors needs to take it from him. It would benefit the both of them, and the team.

I have never had any doubts Sap would be at least willing to obey orders.

Longterm, I think the answer is on the wall, and it has since last year's trade deadline.

 

[billyshelby]

It's hilarious the way Locke is treating Sap's political statement about not starting and doing what's best for the team as fact. Sap will be pissed if he's put back to the second unit. Like, really angry. But what's great about Sap is he won't let it affect his job. That's the kind of guy he is.

But with Memo dealt, Ty is now in a tough spot. If he starts Al and Sap, he has to limit how much Kanter and Favors play together. As a result, Sap almost has to come off the bench. Will it be a problem? No. But Sap is never going to adopt the Lamar Odom zen philosophy on this, because we aren't the Lakers and he's only 26. This is his prime.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

Millsap will not be coming off the bench, end of story.

 

[GVC]

But with Memo dealt, Ty is now in a tough spot. If he starts Al and Sap, he has to limit how much Kanter and Favors play together. As a result, Sap almost has to come off the bench.

Because Jefferson coming off the bench isn't an option?

 

[cctrackstar]

Because Jefferson coming off the bench isn't an option?

I say let's play a few games and see what his new strength and athleticism brings him. From all reports, he worked his butt off this offseason, and should have better quickness and vertical. This could fix all of his problems, and make him our best big on the floor this season. Favors has talent, but little experience. My opinion is that Jefferson is our best option in the paint this year. That's not to say that Favors won't pass him up eventually, but then he'd be our second best big.

By the way, what's with the love affair with Millsap? He doesn't score that many points and doesn't rebound near as good as he used to. Just because he'd start on a bad lottery team doesn't mean that he deserves to start when there is someone better than him on the team. This is the NBA. As a player you work your butt off to get what you get. I'm pretty sure that Ronnie Price works his butt off too, but that doesn't mean he should start over Steve Nash! There are no guarantees in the NBA, and if another team wants to give us good value for Millsap, another team who would start him, great. Until then, he comes off the bench behind better talent, and when his contract expires he can go elsewhere, or re-sign.

(heartless, i know)

 

[jazzfan1971]

Millsap is better suited to coming off the bench anyway. Bring him off the bench, give him 30 minutes and I think everyone is happy.

 

[GVC]

By the way, what's with the love affair with Millsap? He doesn't score that many points and doesn't rebound near as good as he used to. Just because he'd start on a bad lottery team doesn't mean that he deserves to start when there is someone better than him on the team. This is the NBA. As a player you work your butt off to get what you get. I'm pretty sure that Ronnie Price works his butt off too, but that doesn't mean he should start over Steve Nash!

Did you just compare Paul Millsap to Ronnie Price?

Keep in mind that Jefferson only scored 1.3 more points per game than Millsap last season, while taking 3+ more shots than him per game. Read that again.

Sap is also a much better team player on both ends, actually runs the floor, and can fit MANY roles. The second unit last season was pretty much useless in half court sets, and relied on CJ Miles in isos a lot. What happens if those isos are instead taken by Al Jefferson against reserve big men? I'd guess his average (at best) efficiency is improved on drastically, and the gains on the second unit are far more than the losses on the first unit. Jefferson probably doesn't complement good players much better than he complements bad players (if at all). Millsap likely complements good players a lot better than he complements bad players.

Also, although many will dismiss these stats entirely, Millsap generally scores quite well in adjusted +/-, and was 10th in the entire league last season.

Millsap starting has nothing to do with charity. He was Utah's best player last season.