The contrast from last year’s training camp to what Jerry Sloan is about to experience couldn’t be vaster. Externally last year Carlos Boozer’s return was all the buzz, but internally the team had almost no turnover and were able to start the year running rather than learning.
This year will be the exact opposite. Optimism and excitement reigns with all the new pieces. However, Jerry will have to use all of his Hall of Fame skills this season.
Square one of the offense will be the starting point. Some of the great subtleties of the Sloan/Johnson flex offense will have to wait. Raja Bell returns with good knowledge, but Al Jefferson and Gordon Hayward will have a hefty learning curve.
Numerous players have success under Jerry Sloan that they are never able to replicate in other systems. The system itself is a large part of that. The underplayed element of Sloan is how good he is at using player’s strengths and hiding their weaknesses.
Sloan consistently put Carlos Boozer in positions to succeed. For example, playing from the elbow is a more effective spot for Boozer rather than back to the back basket in the deep block where his lack of size becomes an issue. When Boozer was out a year ago, the Jazz moved away from the pick and roll because it wasn’t in Paul Millsap strength.
Sloan and Phil Johnson need to quickly learn how Al Jefferson can be used most effectively. Unfortunately, last year’s Triangle offense in Minnesota limited Jefferson rather than exploiting his talents. Instead, film of Jefferson from two years ago under Kevin McHale maybe more useful.
Jefferson has done very little pick and roll work in Minnesota, but his point guards have been awful. Therefore, the coaching staff will have to discover if the pick and roll is in his skill set. Jefferson has not been a jump shooter off the pick and pop, instead he has been a pick and roll man.
From the film I have watched his hands are terrific and his ability to finish on the move is really good. If this turns out to be true the Jazz offense could return to more of the Stockton/Malone pick and roll and post up game than the Deron/Boozer pick and pop game and elbow isolation.
For Sloan and his staff the discovery level in training camp will be at an all time high. His offensive system is a read and react offense. When the defense takes something away there is always a counter move. How quickly the coaching staff is able to recognize where the new pieces excel combined with how quickly the new players learn how to read and react will dictate the season.
From Sloan’s standpoint this may be invigorating. He once again will get to prove to the NBA why he is in enshrined in Springfield, Mass.
