Being a 6th man on a team where nearly everyone is a 7th man or below is not a formula for success.
Game Thread Oct 02, 2022 04:00PM MT: Jazz at Raptors (Preseason)
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Being a 6th man on a team where nearly everyone is a 7th man or below is not a formula for success.
homeytennis
Well-Known Member
This reminded me of some of the Uncle Jeff and Ed Davis games in days of yore.
mongoose01
Well-Known Member
HeatCheck
Well-Known Member
I wonder why Hardy played a 10 man rotation most of the game while the Jazz are sitting on 18 contracts. Something doesn't add up.
Felt bad for the young guys thrown out there during garbage time. Butler was horrid. THT looked awful like he had gained a bunch of weight.
Felt bad for the young guys thrown out there during garbage time. Butler was horrid. THT looked awful like he had gained a bunch of weight.
Probably because he wants to set some sort of tone and get w/e his system is down by playing more consistent rotations. Performances in pre-season games arent going to be what makes or breaks a player making the team.
Today was disappointing for the jazz but I have to say this raptor team could be special. That starting lineup is a matchup nightmare and I really like the young guys that they have coming off the bench now. They have length and athleticism everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised to see them at the top of the east this year.
A few (many?) thoughts:
As for players:
We had Vanderbilt, Olynyk, Beasley, Gay, NAW, THT, Fontecchio, and Butler combine to shoot 7 of 48 (exactly half our shots) from the field for just under 15%. That will improve, but the team is going to need a lot more time together to figure out how it's going to become a good shooting team (if it ever does so).
- It's clear the Jazz aren't used to each other and haven't installed much yet. They didn't know where their shots were coming from. Not at all unexpected.
- Jazz used to tear Toronto's defense up because they knew how to make it pay. Very far away from that at this point. Instead, Toronto's length and switching got them increasingly flustered/tired even though they hung in for a half. Don't know if that ever improves enough. But it's great to start out with this benchmark to base improvement upon.
- Rebounding and transition defense may be real problems (again starting off against Toronto magnifies much of this). If they solve those problems, look for them to be relatively competitive over the long haul (even if not winning a lot).
- Jazz looked tired all second half. I'm sure being unable to stem the barrage contributed, because shock and tiredness often look similar.
As for players:
- Markkanen: likely our best shot leading the team in scoring for the near future. Like a lot of what he does, but getting a little more physicality and passing feel out of him will do wonders for his game
- Sexton: very rusty. Looked worse than I anticipated, though hopefully the rust wears off soon enough. Looks like a real defensive liability despite some effort plays, as he really doesn't appear to stop anyone determined to drive on him.
- Kessler: pretty impressed with mobility and offensive feel. The game's coming too fast at him for him to have an impact defensively yet, but I'm hopeful
- Vanderbilt: OK -- effort was there, but he's not the "stopper" some of us were hoping he was; very limited as a scorer and in this game he wasn't coming up with rebounds
- THT: looked out of shape -- too heavy -- was disappointed
- Agbaji: nothing much to say -- wasn't really involved in the offense -- couple nice offensive rebounds
- Olynyk: looked to be about what I expected overall, but his shot didn't fall
- Fontecchio: game came a little fast for him, not surprisingly -- still hopeful he has a chance to be a role player
- Conley: no surprises. Was good, but at this point in his career in a fairly limited way
- Clarkson: bleh -- will be so much better in a situation where there's multiple real offensive threats around him. Don't know if the Jazz this year ever get to that point. Hardy had the Sexton-Clarkson-NAW-Gay combo in there more than once I think. That will be a true offensive adventure if it gets regular-season time.
- Beasley: looks like he needs better openings than the Jazz got him this game.
- NAW: still have totally no faith that his shot is going in
- Gay: about what I expected
- Butler: most of the team looks like it struggles against length and speed, but probably nobody more than Butler
- Zeller: I expect him to look somewhat better in a game in which the Jazz understand what they want to do. This wasn't that game. But take him or leave him -- whatever
We had Vanderbilt, Olynyk, Beasley, Gay, NAW, THT, Fontecchio, and Butler combine to shoot 7 of 48 (exactly half our shots) from the field for just under 15%. That will improve, but the team is going to need a lot more time together to figure out how it's going to become a good shooting team (if it ever does so).