Milsap
by Jon Schultz on Jul 27, 2010 7:59 PM MDT
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PrintI see a lot of posts and discussion about the lineup - who's starting at what. Considering Okur's injury, it seems to be a lock for the first half of the season
I see Milsap becoming a 3.5. Many will disagree, but consider his skill development over the years. His expanding ability to put the ball on the floor and the extension of his range have been tremendous. He's able to face the hoop from 15-16 feet and (without a pump-fake) get to the hoop. Imagine what happens when he becomes lock solid at 18 feet and mixes in some head fakes to keep people honest. He's becoming a better version of Jerome Kersey.
I'm looking forward to seeing how opposing teams deal with both Kirilenko and Milsap playing at the forward spots. Frankly the lineup flexibility that the Jazz are going to have is exciting to look forward to. It's going to be fun to watch some great team basketball. Versatile weapons with Deron Williams as distributor. Let's hope Raja Bell is back to form and Hayward can be an effective option as a long SG? . Good defense and %40 3-pt will easily replace what Korver and Mathews provided.
So long to Boozer and the frustration of watching games where he goes 20-10 while being the 3rd best player on the team.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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I think Milsap is just an undersized 4
Had he grown 2 more inches he would be an elite PF in the NBA. I don’t think he’s quick enough to play the three or has a good enough outside shot to be a three.
That being said, a lineup of AK, Milsap, and Jefferson will give defenses a tizzy trying to guard all the cutting and post moves.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Very true
Although the bad thing is that if he was 2 inches taller he probably wouldn’t have been drafted by the Jazz :)
I can’t wait until the season starts and we can see what Millsap can do!
Milsap and I have one thig in common...
If I was 2 inches taller, I wouldn’t be drafted by the Jazz either!
I don't think Millsap can play a lot of 3
I could seem him helping the Jazz there for short stretches against certain lineups. Take the Lakers for example, Millsap could defend a guy like Artest and having him at SF against a big team like that could help us on the boards. I think it only works with him at 3 if Memo is healthy though. Memo could provide spacing on offense for Jefferson and Millsap to work down low. While Millsap has improved his jumper a great deal, if he gets too far away from the basket you lose a lot of his put backs and broken play baskets. I don’t want him to develope a 18 ft or beyond jumper and start falling in love with it and lose what makes him so valuable. But him playing some 3 with Memo and Big Al against a big team could be a good lineup for short spurts. I don’t see this happening a lot, but for stretches it could be a mismatch against certain teams and could make us a real good rebounding team.
I like the lineup with Jefferson at 5 Sap at 4 Memo at 3 Ak at 2 and Deron at point for offense. For defense we would have to play a zone so who ever is at 3 doesn’t get burned. But with Memo out put in Hayward then everybody but Deron is 6’8" or taller and have high Basketball IQ. or Ak at 3 and Bell at 2. The options are limitless and could provide fits for any team.
I like the way you think....
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Memo
is WAY to slow to play the 3 on defense. Sap can’t cover 3’s on defense either. The only reason teams like the Lakers can get away with a 7 footer at the 3 is because Odom is quicker than Milsap. I don’t think the Jazz have a lineup that can do that. Unless you put Jeremy Evans at the 3.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Right on Memo
But I don’t think anyone was suggesting that he could defend the 3. More function as a 3 on offense. As for Millsap defending the 3 you are right that he can’t defend a lot of 3s. I do think in the right situation he could do it in short bursts. No he can’t defend Durrant or Carmelo, but he could do ok on Artest or Hedo. Even if Artest is quicker the Jazz would welcome the idea of him trying to make plays off of the dribble. I don’t think it works most of the time, but again against a team like the Lakers that kill us on the boards it might work to help out with the rebounding. If you remeber in the early 80s the Celtics in for a few mins a game would run a lineup with Parish, McHale, Cedric Maxwell, Bird, and DJ. Larry Bird was defending 2s. Remeber a thing about really big lineups is you can create problems for other teams.
I just
don’t think the offense generated by having Jefferson, Milsap, Memo, Ak, and D-will all on the court is enough to offset the defensive liabilities. Against certain matchups it could be great. I think the majority of the time it would be a disadvantage for the Jazz.
I still think our best starting lineup is Williams, Bell, AK, Milsap, Jefferson. There is enough outside shooting, cutters, ball handlers, and post players in that lineup to be very well rounded and a nightmare.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Agree on both accounts
I think we are saying the same thing. The first lineup you mentioned would only work against certain matchups. I also think that second lineup you mentioned are the starters.
Teheran are things that old Celtics team had that the Jazz don't
McHale was an all-world defender who was quick enough to keep up with other SF’s, which helped him eat them alive with his height.
Parish was a strong defender
Bird was freaking Larry Bird.
It didn’t work just because they were big.
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
Agree and disagree
I know the Celtics were better. I know the Jazz don’t have Larry Bird or Parish or McHale. I wasn’t trying to suggest that we do or that we could be that good. All I am saying is versatility helps.
It did work because they were big. I also think that is the main reason the Jazz have struggled against the Lakers, they are big. Part of why the Celtics lineup worked so well is they could rebound. I know size isn’t everything to rebounding, but it certainly helps when you have a guy playing 2 guard who can get 10 boards a game. That is a big part of why that team won the 1984 NBA finals. That and Larry Bird saying, “Celtics play like sissies.”
It might not have worked just because they were big, but it reallly helped. But the NBA is a big man league. Every team to win an NBA championship has been a good rebounding team. And other than MJs Bulls, every NBA Championship team has had an All Star Big Man.
I still think our best starting lineup is Williams, Bell, AK, Milsap, Jefferson
Absolutely.
Though the “Jefferson, Milsap, Memo, Ak, and D-will” line-up would have been interesting against the Laker’s big 5.
I think when Milsap and AK are on the floor togthe, the opposing team will decide which is the 4. Both can play high flank very well. With jefferson anchoring the low-post, and Deron Williams distributing, we may have to call the offence ‘The Razor’ with all the cutting that will happen.
I like it.
When’s the freakin’ start of the season?
If Jefferson can develop his ability to read the floor and make passes...
The inside ouside game and everything in between will be sweee-it!!
It would be interesting.
It could either get picked apart or would hold up well.
With that lineup against the Lakers lineup of Fisher/Blake, Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum.
I think I’d leave Williams on Fisher/Blake. Then I would mess things up a ton. I’d put Milsap on Kobe. Crazy? Yes, Crazy. Kobe can’t drive like he used to. Milsap is a good enough defender to force Kobe to keep shooting up outside shots and strong enough to keep him out of position. I’d put AK on Odom. Ak is long and quick and could hang with Odom as well as give help defense on Gasol/Bynum. I’d then put Jefferson on Gasol. Jefferson is quick enough and HOPEFULLY strong enough to push Gasol out of position. Boozer struggled to do that for whatever reason. He might even be long enough to alter Gasol’s shots. That leaves Memo on Bynum. They are both relatively slow. I think Bynum would win the matchup on his end but Memo is big enough to give him some hassle.
The big issue would be can Milsap stay out of foul trouble while playing Kobe? If Milsap can play off him and force him to shoot from the outside, we might be able to give them fits.
That’s the only way I could see that lineup working. If not, leave Memo to come off the bench and destroy Luke Walton or whoever on the second team.
I’m sure Utesfan, Clark, Yucca, David, or Moni is going to tell me I’m retarded and to shut up but yea…..
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
You forgot to mention me
You’re retarded…shut up!
Oh…and Jonah Hex “Best worst movie ever!”
For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!
+1
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
i don't think you're retarded (for what that's worth)
what we’ve been trying against the lakers for the past three years doesn’t work, and i’m ecstatic we’ll be trying something new with new players.
I'd never say you're retarded
Never think you’re retarded either.
Like you, I can’t see that lineup working (I mean you don’t sound confident in it – just fishing for 1 possibility that it might work. I could see the Jazz try some stretches with Memo, Al, AK, Raja, and Deron matching up with Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Kobe, and Fisher/Blake. Actualy, with Memo pulling Bynum out of the middle, Deron going past Fisher and Blake would jump-start an offense that eats the Lakers alive. By keeping Raja in to hound Kobe, I like that lineup. I even like it with Millsap in and Al resting – because Pau will have to rotate to help in every Deron drive, and we all know how well Millsap recognizes when his defender leaves to help.
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
I'm NOT Calling Anyone's Intelligence, Education, or Basketball Acumen into Question Here...
…I just want to say that it’s fascinating how a guy can be on a team for going on five years now, and there are still fans who can’t spell his name right. It’s MILLSAP. Two Ls. Thanks!
Sorry but stuff like that bugs the crap out of me.
Good post, in any case, John Schultz. Just kidding, Jon! :)
"Three-pointer from the parking lot...YES! The Golden Griff!"
by Dr. Dunkenstein on Aug 24, 2010 2:26 PM MDT reply actions
Are you Paul?
lol…
Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Koa Misi -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"
"Let's kick their ass and get the hell out of here!" -- General George Armstrong Custer
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