This is your team
by MTN on Jul 17, 2009 1:47 AM MDT
56 comments
I don't think we're going to get a starter for bamBoozler.
If we're lucky, we'll get a fire starter off the bench, like the yet-underused Ronaldo Price. If we follow our tradition, we'll get a Devin Brown-type of player: at best, serviceable; at worst, Devin Brown. At this point, the likelihood of getting a game-changer is slimmer than AK. Cue coach Norman Dale:
"This is your team. I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team."
This is your team, for the most part:
The Players: Deron Williams, Ronaldo Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap, Mehmet Okur.
The Contributors: Kyle Korver, CJ Miles, El Koofador (AKA Le Coif), Trade Remnants (I'm guessing it will be Haslem)
The Backups: Price, Maynor, Fesenko.
And Change: Harpring? Who else?
My friends, it's not exactly the '88 Dodgers. In fact, it looks an awful lot like the 2008-2009 Utah Jazz.
So what do we hope, and what do we expect? Absent some vintage KOC double-deal hustling, I expect a hard-fought Sloan-like season, a middling playoff berth and 2nd round exit. Deron might get his All-Star nod finally, and we will celebrate that. Meh. But here's what I hope:
I hope AK finds his way. Maybe it's a matter of giving him time at the 4. Maybe it's a matter of him just taking it all personally and exploding with a second career breakout year (has that ever happened in the league?). Maybe Sloan makes him a captain and gives him some responsibility to lead again. Whatever it takes, I hope he gets five 5-for-5's. I hope he averages 2.5 blocks. I hope he shoots jumpers unconsciously. And I hope every game involves him running down a fast break, pinning it on the board, making the outlet, running the floor and getting his (Masha-style).
I hope Memo and Deron become best friends. I hope they work the Pick and Roll to Jazz standards. I hope defenders feel helpless when they see it coming because they don't know if Memo will pop, slip or roll, or if Deron will drop, keep, split, shoot or swing. I want to see Memo and Deron talking on their way to every huddle and talking on their way out of every huddle. A reporter once asked Malone how he and Stock developed the 'unspoken' chemistry that enabled them to run the pick and roll so many many times without defenders knowing exactly which way they'd run it. Malone answered that they talked it out whenever there was a timeout. They would say, "I'll slip this time" or "keep it" or whatever. I think Memo has got to become Deron's main man in the half court. We saw them run it so well during injury season two years ago that Memo got an all-star invite.
I hope Millsap punches Ron Artest and stands over him until six people pull him away. He will get suspended for a couple of games, and then he'll get every rebound within 20 feet for the rest of the year. The story of the offseason is that Millsap is the one who got Boozer's "raise regardless"; now he needs to earn it. I think he's lived his life working hard (unlike, for example, my impression of CJ), so I don't think the money will change that. But he's got to look at it as earning next week's paycheck, not getting paid for last year's hard work. He's got to be mean, brutal, pissed, and fierce. I want him to lose his cool a time or two early on just to put the rest of the league on warning. He's tenured now, and he doesn't have to be nice.
I want Ronnie Brewer to learn to shoot lefty. I hope he can still go roughly unnoticed down on the baseline. If he gets hot for only one game this year, I hope it's against Kobe. I hope he can raise his free throw percentage by 10 points, so that slashing to the basket can have a variety of happy endings. I hope he improves as much this season as he did in the last.
I want Kover to become Manny Ramirez - just shoot and shoot and shoot. I think his percentage will go up if he is unconscious, which is hard to do with Sloan watching every shot. But Korver has to shoot like it's a pop-a-shot and time is running out. Just get it up in the air. I think this last year he wanted to earn his keep playing D for Sloan. It's true that we were all surprised by his handful of blocked shots, decent coverage on some nights, especially considering that in real life he's probably about as tough as his hairstylist. But I don't want him earning his PT on D. We hired him to hit 3's and frees. That's where his focus (or zen-like unfocus!) needs to be.
I want Miles to say, "Screw this Sloan crap - I'm a star!" and start putting the rock in his pocket and taking it to the rim. Get to the line. Draw the defense in. Get some respect. Represent. Make it hard for coach to play Korver at all. And I hope CJ gets high one night and has some great awakening about playing defense. He's an athletic sob with nice long arms and a decent pair of legs. He ought to be able to stay in front of anybody. He ought to be able to get some of those weak-side/blind-side blocks that AK used to do all the time. He ought to be able to take some honest charges by beating his man to the spot. He needs to earn his time with defense.
I want the scrubs to play solid, foul like crazy (more rest for the weary), and make us say, "nice, it's price" or "Maynor Maynor Chicken Dinner" (okay, we'll have to work on that one).
I hope Fesenko grows up and asks himself this question: "How is it possible for opponents to score when I'm on the floor?" and answers, "It isn't possible, because I am enormous and irritable." I really don't think it's more complicated than this.
I hope Harpring moves into my neighborhood and wants to play catch (baseball) until our wives call us in for dinner.
I hope the Koof goes easy on his opponents, just to make it interesting.
Finally, I hope Deron Wiliams dunks on Carlos Boozer. I hope he dunks on Brandon Roy, pulls the ball through the net and tosses it to him. I hope Deron Williams dunks on f@#$ing Garnett and then quietly gets back on D as if it's routine. I hope Deron puts Chris Paul on the ground with a Barry Sanders twitch of his shoulder. I hope he puts his crossover-jumpback on Steve Nash/J-Kidd/Billups and pauses before shooting his J to give them a dirty look as they stumble back. I want D-will to tell Sloan which play we're running out of the timeout. I want D-will to headbutt Derrick Rose. I want him to ignore the likes of Conley, Iverson, Jarrett Jack, and OJ Mayo. I want him to average 25/12. And then I want him to decline his invitation to the All-Star game.
I really thought we had all the pieces last year, and then the injuries started, and then the chemistry failed. So now we're us-minus-Carlos. Does that make us better? Can chemistry alone put us over the hump? It will have to, because whoever we get for Boozer isn't going to.
This is your team, pretty much.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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"I want him to average 25/12. And then I want him to decline his invitation to the All-Star game."
Hell yes.
by Basketball John on Jul 17, 2009 6:31 AM MDT reply actions
That is
just beautiful…Deron, do it for the kids!
by UtonganKidInCali on Jul 17, 2009 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions
This was one of the most funny and inspiring posts I have ever seen.
It got me excited for the season, even if it is false optimism. NIcely done. And I want you desperately to play catch with Harpring until your wives call you in for dinner.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
Oh and I just wanted to add...
I think if the Jazz get Haslem, it will be a very good move. I know I am in the minority on this one. But at worst, Haslem is one of the hardest workers in the NBA. He will bring a nastiness and a work ethic and toughness to the team that we have been desperately lacking. You can’t win a championship if guys like Boozer are one of your main men. Because he is satisfied if he plays well and doesn’t have that desire to win it all that you can tangibly see and fell with other players. I could see this team becoming really scrappy and hard-nosed and just gelling together with the subtraction of Boozer and the addition of a guy who just wants to get dirty and win. And even if Haslem didn’t want to play for the Jazz or live in Utah, he is an expiring contract, so he could deal with it for a year. I love the Haslem deal.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
if you're in the minority
then I am too. I’m pro-Haslem. I think he will help offset Memo’s finesse game and The Koof’s youth.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
I like Haslem
(despite what my posts at TBJ may make it seem like), I just don’t know if adding another 6’8 F is the answer. I mean, that means we’re depending on j-slow using Fesenko/The Koof… or playing small ball the entire season. Doesn’t seem very likely.
I know shot blocking isn’t everything, but it’d be so nice to have an actual shot blocker (that doesn’t just depend on ‘help defense’ blocks like AK) on the team…
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Funny thing just occurred to me:
Through drafts, trades and free agency, Kevin O’Connor has put together Nellie’s ideal team. Can we trade for Nellie? Miles would thrive; D-Will’s numbers would increase 20%; Price would play serious minutes; Okur would run from arc to arc instead of paint to paint; Brewer would get a hip new nickname in reference to his above-the-rim game, as well as high priced offers in free agency; Fesenko could block, rebound and outlet passes all day long and never get tired (he’d run from baseline to free throw line on one side of the court)….. what do you all think? Nellie ball next year with this group?
I'll make it coach.
On Millsap
But he’s got to look at it as earning next week’s paycheck, not getting paid for last year’s hard work. He’s got to be mean, brutal, pissed, and fierce. I want him to lose his cool a time or two early on just to put the rest of the league on warning. He’s tenured now, and he doesn’t have to be nice.
I desperately hope this is what happens. I’ve seen that look on Millsap’s face way too many times, the “I can’t believe how bad I’m getting whacked out here with no call” look (a close cousin of the “I can’t believe I just got called for another bogus foul” look). I don’t want to see that look any more — I want him to take this contract as validation of the player that he is, and shove it in everyone’s face until the refs are forced to give him more of the benefit of the doubt, and until opponents fear him.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
"Finally, I hope Deron Wiliams dunks on Carlos Boozer."
Or, we could see this happen again, (except the change of uniforms)
9
just watched that video that many times…i love that dunk…and yes we will see D-Will attack boozie’ whenever they play..next years highlights will just be the dunks from the jazz on boozie’z face! forget the championship if we can just have everyone in a jazz uniform dunk on booz..i will die a happy bastard!
by UtonganKidInCali on Jul 17, 2009 4:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Very nice MTN!!
I am very jealous of this piece of work! I am also very excited to think about all those things happening. They all have the potential….its there. The fact that Sloan has to coach them up and motivate them….yes he should have to motivate them!! They have the potential to be one of the top 3 teams in the West. Lakers, Spurs, Jazz.
We have the best PG in the NBA period! We have one of the best shooting Centers in the NBA! We also have one of the best rebounding PF in the league! We have a knock down 3pt specialist and a shot blocking defensive havock when his mind is right. We have the tools….its up to Jerry to get this team on the same page and get this train rolling full steam ahead…..ALL ABOARD!!
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
cue solo clap clap clap
followed by a few more, a little bit faster now….whole blog applauding, whooping, yelling, LET’S GO!!!! ooops, it’s not even August yet.
Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts…. I wonder what your answers are to the question “What do you really expect from this team?” There has been some chatter about what Millsap will do. Will the chemistry really improve so much that it’s noticeable in the W-L column?
I'll make it coach.
our team next year
is the team we had last january/february…which is when they got things going and went on the 12-game win streak. things started going downhill literally as soon as boozer started getting 30+ a game again. therefore, i’m optimistic about next season.
What do I really expect...
I feel like if I expect anything less than top playoff spot I would be jinxing the team. I believe in my heart that we will be better without Boozer. Like I said before, would you rather have the guy on your team that comes to work in a hard hat with a lunch pale (Millsap) or the guy who comes with a top hat with a feather in it holding a briefcase (Boozer)……I think Millsaps work ethic and DWill’s leadership will be to great to overlook….the guys will have to respond to them and step up. This should make more shots for AK and that seems to keep him alive and kicking better then anything else. So yes the chemistry will be better with a bunch of selfless guys playing for one common goal….the Championship. This is no doubt DWill’s team. Boozer thought it was his and you could almost tell the animosity DWill had toward him….kinda like passive aggressive stuff. Now its all his and he will lead us to victory!!
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
Devil's advocate:
Here’s the Jazz’ all-lunch-pail team: Malone, Keefe, big Dawg, Collins, Harpring… I think it takes more than hard work and good attitude.
They say that most of the guys on the 1992 Dream Team were completely shocked at how intense Bird and Magic were in practice. When you get talent+ hard work, you get an all-time great. But what Boozer lacks in pride, Millsap lacks in height and quickness. I hope he develops effective moves like Booze, but I’m reserving judgment.
I'll make it coach.
Ok lets see...
This is their predraft measurements….
Boozer – 6’7.75" wo shoes 6’9.5" w/shoes 7’2.25" wing span 9’0.5" standing reach 28.5" max vertical 13 bench press 3.31 3/4 court sprint
Millsap – 6’6.25" wo shoes 6’7.25" w/shoes 7’1.5 wing span 8’9.5" standing reach 32.5" max vertical 15 bench press 3.30 3/4 court sprint
Boozer has two inches on him in height. one inch in wing span. but Millsap has the hops. speed is equal. Basically they are so close in measurements you have to look at skill and talent. Boozer has great offensive skills while Millsap is effective at defense. My take is that if Boozer had Millsap’s will to play hard and play defense he would be unstoppable because of his already high skill level. But under the circumstances Millsap can play on the same level as a non trying Boozer. So to end this we are not really taking that much of a decrease in adding Millsap and deleting Boozer.
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
boozer has the best left hand in the business.
That gives him 50% more options than Millsap.
(still playing Devil’s advocate)
I'll make it coach.
Right...I agreed with you on Boozer being better at offense
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
Let me just show you what I mean....
This picture tells it all….one man is making an effort while the other is afraid to crack a nail
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
thought clouds:
Boozer: I’m going to get the rebound.
Millsap: If I don’t stop this shot, there isn’t going to be any rebound.
Kobe: I’m Kobe Bryant.
I'll make it coach.
And both are watching
Kobe elevate above them to hit a bucket.
I am pleased the Jazz have decided to keep Millsap, but until we get a defensive shot blocker and a 2 who can spread the floor by consistently hitting outside shots, we still have a ways to go.
Still, the photo is a great visual expression of how we all feel about Carlos.
By the way, he is still on the team, right?
"I really don't eat that much. I just, more or less, tend to eat all the time." -- Chuck Barkley
by Juan B on Jul 19, 2009 6:14 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed on the shot-blocker
hopefully we can find one soon…
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Wow this is a great shot of Millsap and AK going to work!!
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
True or False
Kobe is pushing off – offensive foul.
(Correct answer – no, because, obviously, it’s Kobe.)
I'll make it coach.
Everyone has this wrong
It’s actually Kobe on D in this pic. It takes the combined forces of Millsap and AK just to get the ball that close to the basket. The Mamba, in all his greatness, still breaks up the attempt.
by Basketball John on Jul 20, 2009 8:34 AM MDT up reply actions
the main difference
Paul has a heart of a lion.
booboo no heart..just lust for money and none for the game. sure hes a great player but i think his game is chasin’ hoes takin season long vacations
by UtonganKidInCali on Jul 17, 2009 4:58 PM MDT up reply actions
If I got paid 12 million bucks next year
I’d probably also chase hoes and take season long vacations. I’m just being honest.
I'll make it coach.
lol
12 mil = retirement hehehehe true true! thats sum high class hoes too! or if you wanted more bang for the buck there’s always the ghetto ones..funny
by UtonganKidInCali on Jul 17, 2009 11:45 PM MDT up reply actions
was Booze wearing heels?
"I really don't eat that much. I just, more or less, tend to eat all the time." -- Chuck Barkley
by Juan B on Jul 19, 2009 6:32 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
from last season
i thought the jazz played with more intensity and heart when booboo was out. i think Paul will have a great season with his newly acquired net worth..now that he has a contract he can play his game..i think he wont be mr. nice guy anymore. AK is gonna have a monster season and i think we’ll see how versatile our team is. I think we’ll see a bunch of guys step up and the team will click and flow. im excited! Ronnie Price has the respect of sloan and sloan will turn to that spark plug more often and let him play his game. The kid earned his keep in that 1 game vs hollywood and sloan wont forget it. be nice to see maynor price ak brewer and the koof run sum speed ball. but my biggest hope is Fes grows up and becomes a swat machine..
by UtonganKidInCali on Jul 17, 2009 4:48 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m sick of waiting for AK to have (another) monster season. I’m now firmly entrenched in the “AK’s best days are behind him” camp, and counting down until he turns into “AK’s Expiring Contract”.
Here's the thing
AK’s monster season came when he was a PF.
He’s been playing SF ever since.
While he might not have an All-Star season in him, maybe the move to PF will help him a bit.
Plus… fewer jump shots = good.
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Nope
closer to bench = 3 point range = jumper. Please, no.
closer to the basket = dunks/lay-ups/tip-ins… that’s what he does.
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
You're right...
if he was closer to the bench, he might get punched by Jerry
by Chris-8ally on Jul 17, 2009 10:00 PM MDT up reply actions
After all those wild passes on the fast break last year
I’d be hard pressed to think of a scenario where he’d actually get punched by Jerry.
for example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAN9KdZYAwg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ezhPqpTSFQ&feature=related
and this one cracks me up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeERDDiSw3I&feature=related
I'll make it coach.
That is called quick black man flying by slow white men...
Who in the world could guard Michael Jordan?
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
I read this yesterday
And just read it again. Even better the second time around. Well done MTN.
All I ask is that Jerry’s kids play with the same intensity oozing from your post.
Again, well done.
"I really don't eat that much. I just, more or less, tend to eat all the time." -- Chuck Barkley
by Juan B on Jul 19, 2009 6:23 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
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