The Downbeat - 4 March 2010 - #178 - The Please Not Larry Hughes Edition
by Basketball John on Mar 4, 2010 10:00 AM MST
in The Downbeat
20 comments
Really? Larry Hughes is a candidate? I can't believe the Jazz would look at Hughes. First, another guard? Second, Larry Hughes? Really? The Larry Hughes that inspired this website?
March has entered like a meek little lamb for the Jazz. A loss to the Clippers started the month and now they'll face PHX tonight and LA again on Saturday.
Next Tuesday is when March turns into a Lion. They'll have 14 games in 23 days with no more than one day off. Only 6 of those 14 are at home.
The Jazz still though have a very favorable schedule and should they pull out of the funk they're in, they will be in good shape. Maybe someone can hit a game-winner tonight? Jeffers won't play tonight, or probably much any other night, maybe it's the KOOF's turn to step things up?
Great post from clarkpojo on why Sloan doesn't need a COY and why we should be grateful to have him,
But now I am going to change gears and tell you why coach Sloan is one of the best at what he does, even if he may never get the recognition. I have to defend Jerry. Jazz fans don't realize how good they have it. In fact, Jazz fans these days will call for Jerry Sloan's dismissal before they praise him. Of all the scapegoats Jazz fans conjure up for the Jazz's lack of a title, Sloan is probably number one with a bullet these days. But the truth of the matter is that coach Sloan rarely underachieves with his teams. He only had the best team in the NBA one season and that team came within minutes of winning it all, before the greatest of all time snatched away from them.
Man, an article about breaking the 30-assists in a game record and not having Paul or Deron on that list? Is he trying to bring the anonymous internet fury on his head? Here's his top 5,
1. Rajon Rondo
2. Steve Nash
3. Russell Westbrook
4. Brandon Jennings
5. Jason Kidd
Not doubting any ability on the part of those listed, I think you have to take a team's pace into account. So right off I think you drop Rondo and Kidd as their teams play at slower paces. Possessions are important. I don't think Jennings has enough around him to do it. Chris Paul doesn't have the players and he plays in a slower paced offense.
That puts Nash in the top spot because PHX plays at a very high pace and well, it's Steve Nash. I would put Billups up there but he shoots a little more often than not. Deron has had several 20+ assist games and the Jazz are a bit above average on pace. The thing that hurts him is that everyone in the Jazz offense can get the assist. Westbrook is up there as well. I would also put Jameer Nelson on the list because of their offense. And you couldn't count out Mo Williams. So here's my top PGs likely to break the 30 assist mark,
- Steve Nash
- Deron Williams
- Russell Westbrook
- Chris Paul
- Chauncey Billups
- Jameer Nelson
- Mo Williams.
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30 assists won't happen again
Too many weird factors have to be in place for it to occur. You have to score an outrageous number of points (I think the Magic scored 150+ when Skiles broke the record), the other players on your team have to both be shooting the lights out and not get fouled on plays to prevent them from scoring, you have to have a generous statistician who will liberally interpret the assist statistic, and you can’t get so far ahead that the coach pulls you because it’s a blowout and he wants to avoid injury.
Essentially given any list of players vs. Skiles record I will always default to the position that the record will outlast them all. Hundreds of NBA point guards have come and gone and that record still stands 20 years later.
You're right, it's not going to happen
They would almost have to be making a concerted effort to do so. Heck, most teams don’t even come close to 30 assists a night.
by Basketball John on Mar 4, 2010 2:26 PM MST up reply actions
That Phillips dude sure gets himself some good stuff!
How about guessing which NBA player can score 99 pts per game, for 10 games in a row in March, during the NCAA playoffs, with a full moon! ?
I suspect it will happen the same month as Phillips cleans my corals, which will also be a March cuz dey will be real soft and deep, with rain and snow to aid him!
Has the season worn on this fellow so much that ALL he can talk about is what he perceived was informational or interesting from his drug induced fog?
What a waste…..
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
by RRR on Mar 4, 2010 7:23 PM MST up reply actions
Way to swoop in and ruin all the fun, Kicky
with your “logic” and your "statistics.. pff.
by prodigal punk on Mar 4, 2010 2:43 PM MST up reply actions
If
We sign Hughes. I will probably break down. I mean even the Bobcats backed out on him because of his fractured finger. There’s no way he’ll want to ride the bench. He’ll probably end up complaining about playing time. Which means A. he becomes a problem or B. OSMW loses playing time.
Sigh. Please no.
For the Love of the Game
loved
your referring to Larry Hughes as a “candidate.” Pretty sure his name needs to be crossed out from the lighthouse wheel/cave ceiling. :)
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
SLCDunk.com: Bringing you ninjas, The KOOFs and anti-jinxes since 2008.
Ohhh. I see what he did there. I didn't catch that.
My mind is still short circuited from catching up on this week’s episode, last night.
by prodigal punk on Mar 4, 2010 10:58 AM MST up reply actions
I can't NOT catch it.
My brain is on LOST overload right now, and I’m enjoying it thoroughly.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
SLCDunk.com: Bringing you ninjas, The KOOFs and anti-jinxes since 2008.
I'm hoping at some point they are going to actually answer some questions in the final season.
Here’s me after every episode of Lost for the last [however many] years:
by prodigal punk on Mar 4, 2010 11:47 AM MST up reply actions
Why?
Why did they sign another guard? This just screams that logjam theory of there’s is completly false. I’d rather sign ostertag than another guard.
by KaBar6 on Mar 4, 2010 12:14 PM MST via mobile reply actions
1. Boo, although I don’t think this rumor will have any validation. I can’t see how the FO would be stupid enough to bring in another guard who will demand minutes. We would be better off letting our D-leagers ride the pine the rest of the way.
2. I can see us doing good this month. Really, when playing at this level they shouldn’t complain about the amount of rest affecting their game. The only thing this should effect is practice time for our newest member.
3. Hmm, I am on the byebye sloan bandwagon, so I don’t really know what to say here. I think Sloan is falling behind with the times and I really don’t see us winning a championship while he is here. Make the playoffs, yes. Win championship, no.
4. The list is definitely messed up. I agree more with yours. Nash and Williams are the most likely right now.
5. The FO is probably so worn out from all the moves they’ve made this year that I don’t see them having enough energy to make anymore changes.
Follow me on twitter @JD23UT
In regards to Jerry Sloan. Pick whoever you think is the best coach in the NBA and swap them with Jerry Sloan.
What seed does this Jazz team get with Phil Jackson for instance? No better than a 2 or 3 seed, which we may get. And we would still lose to the Lakers. Look at Gregg Popovich this season. Guy is a top 2 coach in the league and probably the world. And he might miss the playoffs with a fairly talented team. The guy wasn’t a good coach until they lucked into the greatest power forward of all time, no offense to Karl Malone. Coaches can get more out of a crappy squad, but ultimately you have to have the best players.
And for the record I think Popovich and Jackson are the only coaches that are better than Sloan and Phil Jackson has lost two titles when he had the most talented team in the world. Two years ago and in 2004.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
This is not relevant to my comment.
I didn’t hint that I knew someone who could do better. Just because I observe that something is not working does not imply I know the answer. I do however know the definition of insanity…
Follow me on twitter @JD23UT
Sure, but if you can't think of a better answer, then maybe Sloan is the best answer there is.
Maybe the answer is to give Jerry a better team he can win with rather than chase him off. If there is no better person to take his spot, then if he leaves, the Jazz probably get a worse coach and have a worse record.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
Damn, can't a writer have more intelligence than a google search
Take one site that some 7th grader makes at GoDaddy.com with Dad’s permission so he can blog about Lebron. Ya, Hughes played the point guard for Cleveland and would get tossed the ball on the side with 2-3 seconds left and throw it up, what would you do? He also took them to the Eastern Conference Champions and the finals, where they were swept. This means, he took them right through Cleveland and Chauncey Billips? RIng a bell writer? This is playing point, and Hughes this year, when started for a month, lead the NBA (whole league) in steals. Ya, he is that fast he still can cover the passing lanes. Look at stats, but don’t forget the players game, Hughes, always defense, it hurts to have to teach as a fan, but Hughes clock management, knowledge of the players (12 years in league of 400 best men in the world) would be a great asset down the stretch. Also remember, he was the first winner of the Austin Carr Award, as the most professional player on and off the court to fans, press and charity. Hughes is quiet and not well known, most writers are ignorant of facts, Hughes played one year at St. Louis U. You don’t get into SLU on being the top recruit, you have good grades and SAT scores, learn the game, know the players and don’t reference a 2005 website. Hughes stats are similar to his game his whole career. Instant defense, at $240,000, which Hughes earned in two nights this year, it’s the bargain of the day. A class act, who incurred many family medical tragedies with the lost of his brother and almost his wife and himself (career ending, but overcame), and at the age of in his twenties, kept his life, his family and his game on course. Many of us have know idea the challenges of losing our only brother, almost our wife. Hughes is a class act, you need to move up in the writer’s world and see what this man has overcome and what he does on and off the court. Again, Bargain of the Day!
My error
Took them through Detroit, playing point for injured Eric Snow for whole season, then the next season. Was promised 2 guard. Injury, which ripped finger to the bone, had him learn how to hold the ball completely different to shoot. Yes, a tad lower stats, but look at the arms on Hughes at 6 foot 5. Steals, Rebounds, excellent defense and never demands minutes. Only in Chicago, when a rookie coach went to press, not Hughes and said that Hughes complained. Hughes only ask to contribute for the money they were paying him.
15 million? In New York, Curry, Marbury, Robinson benched for a month, Harrrington (not permitted to start, though leading scorer and the playing of Duhon for 50 games as the worst point guard of the year had numerous players and agents saying they wanted out. A closed door policy. Hughes pulled them out of their worst start in New York history, Then started a month, then after a three of four game injury to a hammy, got benched for a month? No answer from Coach, but see what D"Ants respect from players is now and if many players choose this as a start. Hughes, damn, no he is no superstar, but ball handling, career stats, making it 12 years, leading in steals this year, winning games for New York when started they almost had their best December in history, but writers are like school kids, They just do not do their research, “Let me google Larry Hughes, Oh, look at this site, someone bucked up $5.00 for a domain, I will reference that for my article”. Dig deeper, out scored Lebron in games, went to finals, has Cleveland been back since? And point guard is not his position, 2 guard is, he slashes to the hoop (high free throw average). Also, at 6 5, a small forward. Had to correct my error and add more. Someone will take him, Boston looks most probable, but broken finger and waiting two weeks is the real question. If not, season over, Larry earned 17 Million. He did something over 12 years to get that contract, some people just let money get into their stats, he did not “demand” that money. He wants one thing, any interview and I watched every Knicks game this year was one answer, I want to WIN. Knicks are the worst team since he left in wins. D’Antoni is an idiot that Steve Nash made look pretty. The boy from W. Virginia is not the coach that should demand the highest salary.
Sloan is 10 times the coach, he has earned the right to call his own shots in Salt Lake.
Never given the talent of other coaches.
Hughes is worth a shot
Really, who else out there even has a shot at helping the Jazz? He’s not just another wing player, he plays SG/PG. Back-up PG isn’t exactly a strength of the Jazz. Also, how many guys on the Jazz can create their own shot? How about being good perimeter defenders? His FT% over the last few years is around 80% (another Jazz weakness), and even his 3 point shot, while not his strength, is respectable over the last few years. There’s been so much rumbling about the Jazz getting worse (Brewer) while other teams get better… well, this guy is the only one out there that COULD be a difference maker. I know a lot of fans want to see the Jazz get a guy like Moore because of his size, but where are Moore’s minutes going to come from? Honestly, if Millsap, Boozer & Okur are going to lose time on the court I’d much rather a big defender like Fes get those minutes. I liked Moore when he was in Utah a few years ago, but he’s not a big shot-blocker, nor is he a “big guy”. I say take a flyer on Hughes, worst case senario, he doesn’t fit in & complains about minutes, so he’s benched or released. Best case senario, he’s the missing piece to the Jazz puzzle. I think it’s worth the risk.
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