Raja Bell, the worst player in the league...

[lp3]

We need to trade Bell for a tootsie pop or something

 

[Nate505]

As much as I detest Bell starting, I like what Ty has done in the minutes with the last game. Either it will fire Bell up or he can rot on the bench, at least if Ty sticks to his guns.

 

[Weezur]

Did you guys ever see that King of the Hill episode when Bobby makes the track team and he's used as a sub to punish the good players because if the good players get subbed by Bobby then it was the player's fault that the team lost?

Good, now replace 'Bobby' with 'Raja Bell' and replace 'King of the Hill' with 'Kevin O Connor' and you'll what I'm trying to get at.

 

[freakazoid]

Ty has been pretty ruthless with his lineups this year. He's playing who he wants. He's even sat vets like Sap far more than Jerry would have ever sat him. I might be naive, but I genuinely believe the last two nights with Burks getting minutes means something. Ty knows how bad Bell is like we all do. He says the right things in the press like he should. But there's not actual justification for keeping Bell on the floor. The only difference is Bell is a true vet and he's giving him a lot of rope. If he doesn't realize that rope is unjustified after a few more games, Ty is a lost cause.

My hoping for a trade is a likely a pipe dream. With the number of games they have to play in a short time, and possible injury concerns, I think Bell will continue to be part of the rotation. Right now, I'm just tickled pink to see Ty cut his minutes this early in favor of Burks. We could have been stuck with that situation all year.

 

[Revolution 9]

...but where would that leave CJ?

 

[YB85]

I keep hoping that ESPN makes him a good offer. IMO, Raja would be a very good studio guy or even color commentator. As much as I hate him on the court, he is one of the best interviews because of how candid he can be. I don't see him sticking around here and likely would go national. He'd be an immediate upgrade over Jon Barry in the studio and a great replacement for Mark Jackson or Reggie Miller on games.

 

[franklin]

It's amazing how much a week and 3 wins has settled this board.

We were up in Fire Ty arms for playing Raja three full games over a rookie with no training camp and a veteran signed very late and nobody knew if he had much left (one year contract anyone?). Now Raja is being replaced over time and this board sings praises to Ty.

He also benched Chucker. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but two games ago CJ looked like he had the end of his NBA career scared into him. He came out nervous as ever, and played terribly because of it, but actually played like his next contract was being threatened. I don't know what Ty Corbin said to him but I bet it was something along the lines of:

 

[tatermoog]

It's insane how much credit Bell gets for his past. The guy is absolutely done. If Ty hasn't completely ****canned him after 10 games I'll lose all respect for him.

The best part is that his past wasn't that good.

 

[davidbenoit]

wow. Check out Brian T. Smith's twitter talking about Bell. He sounds mentally checked out/messed up. Says there's a "situation." Said he had to take sleeping pills to get to sleep last season because of what was happening with the Jazz.

https://twitter.com/#!/tribjazz

I can't believe he still has another year on his contract.

 

[YB85]

From Smith's Tweets:

Jazz guard Raja Bell said he wants to play for Utah if team wants him. If not, he'll be a pro like he's always been and handle situation

Bell said he hasn't made a trade demand and won't. "That's not the type of player I am."

Bell said he's definitely open to speaking with Corbin but Jazz coach has to initiate conversation.

Bell entered camp with a clean slate but acknowledged there's a "situation." Doing his best not let anything affect him.

Bell said he got to the point last season where he had to take sleeping pills to go to bed at night because of what was going on with Jazz.

Bell won't go through that again and has a "life to live" with kids, a wife and a family.

 

[YB85]

Good of Raja to not make a trade demand. The Jazz don't need that distraction of the constant media circus and the Raja Bell Trade Watch. ESPN would probably send Ed Werder to do daily reports.

 

[Stoked]

The best part is that his past wasn't that good.

I think alot of guys want to have his baby for taking out Bryant that 1 time.

 

[bordelais7]

Good of Raja to not make a trade demand. The Jazz don't need that distraction of the constant media circus and the Raja Bell Trade Watch. ESPN would probably send Ed Werder to do daily reports.

Lakers' missing piece. Bank on it.

 

[davidbenoit]

Good for Raja for not making a trade demand? Is he in a position to be making demands?

 

[freakazoid]

Time to ship his *** down the road.

 

[YB85]

Good for Raja for not making a trade demand? Is he in a position to be making demands?

Obviously you're not a golfer.

 

[margodydek]

Anyone else catch the play last night where Raja had the ball at half-court, turned it over, sat there, let a guy (who was 15 ft behind him) run past him to get the easy put-back at the other end? Guy is checked out.

I think it's hilarious that he's saying there's a "situation", like Ty needs to address something that Raja isn't happy with. Dude, unless the "situation" is that you desperately want out of the lineup (or team altogether - please God), then you are in absolutely no position to have anything addressed.

 

[zross1]

Bye bye...You suck and contribute nothing to this team but a good interview. I'm sure you'll start shooting 60% somewhere else, it has nothing to do with the fact that your horrible.

 

[cctrackstar]

Bell said he's definitely open to speaking with Corbin but Jazz coach has to initiate conversation.

This thing about Raja shows how downright neurotic he is. Hey Raja, coach has a lot of things to do like try and save the season and teach/run the offence. Is it so hard to say 'hey coach, question for ya'? I have fallen off the Raja Bell bandwagon. I was excited to get him again, but something happened to him while he was in Dallas. Someone mentioned his past, then someone said his past wasn't all that. He does realize that his best years were sitting outside the 3 point line and getting Nash's leftovrers, right? He wants to be more of a part of the offence, yet a skinny inexperienced rookie is getting tons more points just by hustling. Raja is a diva, and that's the last thing the Jazz needs. Send him to the Lakers, I wouldn't shed a tear.

 

[YB85]

https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazznotes/53231482-62/job-frustration-bell-really.html.csp

Excerpts from a media interview Wednesday with Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin prior to practice.

Corbin on guard Raja Bell's recent visible frustration: I think it's a better question for him to answer. I really don't — you'll have to ask him the question. His frustration —

Is Bell's frustration affecting his leadership: I would certainly hope not. I thought he did a great job last night, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He made the 3 in the corner; he was up on his guy on the defensive end. I thought he did a great job of just getting up and attacking his guy when he had the ball; weak-side rotations were good.

Excerpts from an interview with Corbin

Recently talking with Bell: Yeah, we talk. Not a one-on-one sitdown talk. No. We talk during practice and we communicate with him like we communicate with everybody else. It is what it is.

His relationship with Bell: We're plugging at it. We lost some on the road, which we're dissatisfied with. And we won some at home, which we're more satisfied with. We're still plugging at it, man. Everything's not set yet and we're still working to get better. I don't think our relationship has been jeopardized any. If you miss shots, that's not anything you should look for a change in a relationship with anybody. … I don't know where the other frustration may be coming from.

Excerpts from an interview Wednesday with Bell

Bell on his public frustration: Really? How? I'm just curious. … I'm curious how I've appeared frustrated and just not affected? They're two different things to me. And so … I want to clear this up. Frustration and not being affected by a situation are two different things. I'm not necessarily over-frustrated. I don't have a problem with anyone. I'm just not going to let myself be affected by the situation.

The situation is playing time, not being involved in the offense, missing shots, etc.: Nope. It's none of that. I really don't judge my work to a team about on how many shots I make or how many minutes I play or whether a situation is good for me by those standards. It's not those things. I just can't be affected, man. I've got a lot of [stuff] going on in my personal life. I come to do my job as best I can do it, play as hard as I can. I take pride in doing things the right way; trying to do them to help the team win — I want all this on the record — and so that's what I come to do. Anything above and beyond that, I don't really know what anyone wants from me.

Wants to make it work with the Jazz: I mean, look — those aren't my decisions to make. I've been around long enough to know I have no control over that. So, as long as they want me here, I will continue to do my job to the best of my ability like the pro that I am. If they don't want me here, then I will move on to the next team and provide the same services if the opportunity presents itself.

Coming into training camp with a clean slate and the situation not working out during the first six games: I think clean slate for me was more mentally. I got to a place last year where I wasn't enjoying my time with my family. And it was affecting me to where I had to take slipping pills to sleep at night. And I vowed that that wasn't happening to me this year. It won't. So if people deem that as being — I've got a life to live, man. I've got two little boys, a wife and one on the way. This cannot affect me where I go home and take it out on them. I am 100 percent invested in that mentality.

Not requested a trade and won't: That's not my style. I come to work. As long as they want me on the court, he asks me to a job, I'm going to do that job to the best of my ability. That's the only way I know how to do it.

Willing or wants to meet with Corbin: Listen, I'm the player. I don't make demands. I don't dictate playing time. I don't say who gets the ball. I don't call meetings. If someone wants to speak to me, I'm just here to do my job. I will go speak to them, no problem. I haven't been asked to come in for a meeting and so there's not really a problem. Keep it moving.