New Years Resolutions
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 31, 2009 4:14 PM MST
9 comments
First of all, sorry to everyone for not posting here ever. My computers hate me. Really, it's true. And secondly, sorry in advance to anyone else who wanted to write this post. I'm a busy guy and I'm not afraid to mail it in occasionally. Hence, the ever popular humor/fluff piece . . .
Now that preamble is out of the way, New Years always appears to be a time when individuals reflect off of the last 12 months and attempt to better themselves -- for however short a time frame as they can. (I know, I've broken New Years resolutions virtually moments after seeing Dick Clark's face) What resolutions should we expect / wish / hope for from our club? More after 'the jump' . . .
Jerry Sloan -- "I resolve to have more internal consistency with how I treat players; to use more logic in my rotations and game plan; and try to develop young players -- something lesser head coaches are capable of doing yet remains something I cannot fathom how to do in over 20 years of coaching at this level."
Okay, maybe that's all wishful thinking, but in a perfect world all of these issues would already have been taken care of already. (Again, don't want to beat a dead horse, but he has had this job for over 20 years -- I'd expect him to get better at it as time goes on. If my boss didn't see me improve any of my skills over 20 years I'm sure my job wouldn't be mine for much longer) Sometimes I'd like to see a starter get benched. I know he's all for consistency and stability -- but sometimes you have to rock the boat. A younger Sloan did exactly this when David Benoit, Chris Morris and crew couldn't do a damn thing right in the playoffs. That Sloan put in Bryon Russell in the game, as an untested younger player -- and he got playing time and developed into an integral starter on an NBA Finals team.
Kevin O'Connor -- "I resolve to figure out what we're going to do about Boozer -- and stick to my guns."
Boozer is truly the 6'9, Alaskan elephant in the room. He exists in this happy space right now where he's collecting 20-10 games and finishing down the stretch. It's a happy space right now for the team, the fans, and mostly, the front office -- if he's doing good, he's not a problem today. The point is Kevin has to be looking at tomorrow -- and if Millsap is to one day become a guy who can earn a $10 mill per season contract -- and handle Boozer's offensive load -- then he needs to actually do it. If Boozer is in the long term plans, then adjust accordingly! Right now the Ostrich method of dealing with this situation is not one that competitive, NBA Finals caliber teams use.
Phil Johnson -- "I resolve to egg Jerry on a few more times this year, and bait him into getting 2 techs in the same game more."
Okay, can anyone name the last time the Jazz lost when Phil Johnson finished the game as the coach? Maybe I'm having a mental block right now, but the Jazz don't usually lose when Phil has control of the clipboard. He's a good change of pace to the constant yelling that Sloan exhibits. Our players seem to respond to that accordingly -- and in a good way.
Tyrone Corbin -- "I resolve to teach our bigs to play defense, and if they have to, foul like bigmen."
He's not necessarily our bigman coach (Paging Mark Eaton . . . Mark Eaton to the paint immediately), but he's tougher than all of our bigmen except for Millsap. The Jazz fall like a house of cards whenever a team has a player who can penetrate with ease on it. (Make your own Kobe Bryant joke here) This is because other players know that if they get inside on the Jazz, Boozer and Memo aren't going to block them, or make them pay in some other way. Ty needs to teach everyone how to play a little "ugly ball" when the need arises.
Scott Layden -- "I resolve to watch March Madness, and learn how college teams score against the Zone Defenses."
Scott has to do this, because, apparently, no one else on the team knows how. (Not even guys who played college ball in the states) This year our best outside shooters resembled a M*A*S*H unit more than a second unit. (I'm looking at you Kyle and CJ) If that's not working, having dribble penetration is the answer. Teams have fought against the zone for years, and won. Why not the Jazz?
Greg Miller -- "I resolve to not fall in love with Carlos Boozer."
Simple. Don't do it. Don't.
Deron Williams -- "I resolve to get my team going in the first half -- but if all else fails -- I must put pressure on the opposing defense by asserting my dominance over whomever is guarding me."
Deron Williams has the best handle in the league -- in terms of practical handle that results in game-situation advantages (and not just AND-1 mixtape stuff). Basically, no one can defend him one on one. He needs to treat every game like the games he has against Chris Paul. 1. Dominate Early. 2. Put pressure on other team 3. Get his defender 2 fouls in the first quarter. 4. Get his defender a 3rd foul in the second quarter. 5. Murder the backups sent his way. If he can do this to New Orleans EVERY SINGLE TIME what's stopping him from doing this to Steve Blake or Derek Fisher? Nothing should/can stop him when he puts his mind to it.
Wes Matthews -- "I resolve not to get down if I don't get playing time early. I resolve to positively impact the game in the ways my unit needs, when I am on the floor."
Wes kicked some serious butt when he got playing time (due to injuries). He was everything we needed Quincy Lewis/DeShawn Stevenson/Morris Almond (*snif*) to be. He extended the defense by keeping them honest from outside. He drove and got to the line. (Like Shandon did) And he would play defense without fouling. The thing he doesn't have on his side is seniority. This may never come, but he has to remain hungry. B-Russ is a good example to model after.
Ronnie Brewer -- "I resolve to have more confidence in my jump shot -- at home and on the road."
My nemesis pointed out today on twitter than Brewer's fg% was a significant indicator of how well the offense is running. We all know that he's spectacular in the air around the basket -- and that he *can* be effective from midrange (and outwards) on occasion. Part of what he does have going for him is the fact that some teams (like the Lakers) don't even bother covering him when he's on the perimeter. He needs to use this as a free shot, and not a pressure shot. "I will make this" vs. "Oh man, I better make this". Perhaps seeing a sports psychologist will help improve his consistency? I think it could not hurt.
Carlos Boozer -- "I resolve to play as good as I can for as many games as I can -- I can make a contract year look real good with a long playoff run."
Boozer is a mercenary. Mercenaries get paid according to their worth. Boozer can be worth a lot more to everyone if he keeps playing good on offense, improves his defense, and shows leadership on the court / continues scoring clutch baskets. It's simple here. It's a contract year.
Mehmet Okur -- "I resolve to disregard my contract extension, and play with some heart."
Bluntly, Memo at his best gives the Jazz a completely new dimension on offense and defense. He can be a guy who hold Yao Ming to pathetic fg% for a 7 game series -- or he can be a guy who lets Dwight turn into Wilt. He can be a guy who finishes the game with 8 points and 6 rebounds -- or a guy who can pull down 19 in the playoffs while hitting dagger three after dagger three. When Memo is playing with heart, he is a Jannisary, worthy of his heritage. (After all, the three point bomb is a natural continuation a Jannisaries long range destruction)
Paul Millsap -- "I resolve to have my play demand that I'm on the floor at least 30 minutes every night."
The Jazz have put a lot of eggs in this one basket. $10 million, to be a bit more precise. Last season we saw flashes of his ability -- but his body broke down from all the wear and tear. A greater demand had burned him out early last season. We need to see him play more, and keep up his intensity over the entire game. Karl Malone was a wild beast on the court, and did not quit until the game was over. We're going to need to see some of this from Sap as well.
Andrei Kirilenko -- "I resolve to be the best 7th man in the league."
Andrei is a wild card. Some games we can look back and admit that we would not have won if it was not for his individual efforts (be it a good pass here, or a late three there -- it's his stuff that doesn't show up on the boxscore that makes him valuable to us, the pass before the assist, or a good screen mean just as much to the cause as flashy dunks do). Other times we can look back at some games and not even notice that he was in them. Andrei needs to be more of himself on the court. Sure -- he's not going to get a chance to average 30 mpg this season, but with what little time he has, he can still do the best with what he gets -- like Manu.
C.J. Miles -- "I resolve to not miss open jumpers anymore, and drive the lane when I can"
Parts of last season had C.J. devolve into a guy who would miss open shots and end up very passive on offense. The Jazz can't afford for him to regress like that this season -- he needs to get to the line more by being aggressive. Maybe his outside game will open up more if he gets going inside early, like the Memo Mantra we currently have.
Ronnie Price -- "I resolve to run the offense."
We all fell in love with Maynor, despite his floater that wouldn't go down from the Orlando Summer league till last week, because he ran the team. Price is a converted SG who is still learning the PG spot. He's a high flier and one who can get the crowd up with a number of highlight plays -- but he has to get the team going. He's not fighting for a spot on the depth chart -- something he's had to do every other season in the league. Right now he is the entire back-up PG depth chart. He just has to play like it.
Kyle Korver -- "I resolve to make Utah fall in love with me all over again."
Right now, honestly, I'd rather have Giricek on the team. He was healthy. This season I've almost made as many threes for the Jazz as Kyle has. Dude has to get well, and start bombing from deep. He's a one trick pony in a contract year -- and right now he hasn't done much to keep him in his $6 million dollar range.
Kyrylo Fesenko -- "I resolve to be Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne to Mark Eaton's Liam Neeson's Henry Ducard/Ra's al-Ghul from those early training montages from "Batman Begins"."
Good kid. Big body. He'll make a few contracts in this league if he learns how to play defense in the NBA. No better way than to have him climb some mountains and spar with Eaton everyday until he has to murder some guy for stealing bread or whatever. You know the scene in the movie, I don't need to explain it. Fes needs some mentorship from Eaton.
Kosta Koufos -- "I resolve to play in a basketball again, sometime, this year."
Okay, send him to the D-League. Let him do this thing. He's not getting better watching Millsap play center for us.
AllThatJazzBasketball -- "I resolve to post more in 2010"
Yup.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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it's a great website . . .
the least I can do is at least maintain the high standards you and others have established! : )
Follow me on Twitter: AllThatAmar
Visit my blog: http://allthatjazzbasketball.blogspot.com/
E-Mail me at: allthatjazzbasketball@hotmail.com
Really, I'm totally not lonely or anything . . .
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 31, 2009 11:16 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
good points
but for brewer, i think he should just give up on the J. over the past few years he has thoroughly proven that he cannot hit a jumper with any consistency. he should always be complemented with CJ or Wes when he’s on the court. let him do what he does well…run the break, back door cuts to the basket, and continue to be one of the better help defenders in the league. when brewer and AK play the 2 and 3 at the same time we are just begging to be zoned out of the game.
by bigdog'sshades on Dec 31, 2009 5:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed, on his limitations . . .
but Brewer, love him as we do, can’t go back in a time machine and become a player in the 1980’s. (Does anyone remember if James Worthy had a jump shot?) To be a player, a complete player, at the swing position in today’s game he has to expand his range a bit more. A good example of someone who did not was Desmond Mason (former Sonic and Buck). He was an explosive player who could score in the paint easily. Unfortunately, he wasn’t 7’1, but 6’something, and was a guard.
We are going to have to hide him (forever) with units that have better outside shooters (Has to be on the floor with a PG, other wing player and Memo — who can all shoot from 20 ft). IF a guy like Karl can go from shooting 45% to 77% over a career, I don’t see why Brewer can’t have some more consistency when he’s open. (I think it’s a mental / confidence issue really — I bet he makes those shots in practice).
Follow me on Twitter: AllThatAmar
Visit my blog: http://allthatjazzbasketball.blogspot.com/
E-Mail me at: allthatjazzbasketball@hotmail.com
Really, I'm totally not lonely or anything . . .
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 31, 2009 11:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
here's the right answer :-)
http://www.slcdunk.com/2009/5/4/865276/brewer-hank-gathers-world-peace
I'll make it coach.
by MTN on Jan 1, 2010 12:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
My goodness...
Can’t make and keep them for myself yet alone dare to pull out a crystal ball for others!
My futures consultant, (notice the fancy title he gets)?
As my desires for the team? Gonna keep it simple….
JUST WIN BABY!!
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
by RRR on Dec 31, 2009 5:28 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I'm weak and just can't resist sharing this one with you.
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
by RRR on Dec 31, 2009 5:40 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
this is funny.
thanks for sharing it. i’m going to email it to my wife. (she’s a little ‘hands on’ with her nagging)
Follow me on Twitter: AllThatAmar
Visit my blog: http://allthatjazzbasketball.blogspot.com/
E-Mail me at: allthatjazzbasketball@hotmail.com
Really, I'm totally not lonely or anything . . .
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 31, 2009 11:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
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