Reasons to be excited for the upcoming season: #1

by Yucca Man on Sep 3, 2010 11:45 PM MDT

A while ago, back when Boozer was still with the Jazz but expected to leave, someone (I think it was Clark) directed us all to the stats at 82games.com to see whether the Jazz would miss Boozer or not. As I went there and wandered about, I stumbled on an analysis of how productive different lineups were.

There was one particular lineup that jumped out:

Deron - Wesley - AK - Millsap - Boozer

That lineup's offensive rating was 1.14. It's defensive rating was .95. What that means for every 100 possessions, this particular lineup was scoring 114 points and giving up 95.

The bummer was, of course, that the lineup only played in certain circumstances — because both Millsap and Boozer were already slightly undersized at PF, let alone at C.

Now look at our (likely) starting lineup for next year:

Deron - Raja - AK - Millsap - Big Al

Doesn't that look eerily similar. I'm the one that called Big Al "Boozer 2.0" (and I know several other writers/commenters ranted the same thing at the time). And didn't we all give out a huge sigh of relief because Raja was bringing most of what we were losing with Wesley was going, going, gone?

The major difference is, of course, Al is big enough to play C regardless of who the opponent is. A slightly undersized C? Yes. But nothing like Boozer and Millsap were. And I've watched enough footage of Al to believe that he plays big. That he won't be hoisting 18-foot rainbow jumpers when the opponent is big. That he can still play on the low block, back down the behemoths of the NBA, and knock them around. And we all love Millsap because we believe he plays big. That he can still play the same kind of inside game regardless of who's defending him. (Incidently, isn't it interesting that Millsap — the smaller between him and Boozer — was the one who Sloan would put at C in this lineup).

"Right Back at Ya, Al"

So there we go. Even if Al doesn't improve at all with his first good coach, his first good teammates, and his first good overall team. Even if Al doesn't learn a single defensive skill or develop a single defensive ethic with his first good coach, and his first set of teammates to call him out if he's lazy (thank you in advance, Raja). Even if he is nothing more than that Boozer 2.0 I ranted about a couple months ago — he still allows the Jazz to make their most effective lineup transform into their most used lineup.

And that alone gives us a whole lot to get excited about.

*Note: I think this may be the shortest post I've ever put up in my entire life. William Strunk, Jr. would be proud.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.

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@Yucca Man

What changes, exactly, do you see Jefferson having on the Jazz style and ability, verses the style and ability Boozer gave the Jazz?

by ut2006 on Sep 4, 2010 12:02 AM MDT reply actions

Here are what I think are the most likely and most obvious changes

Boozer’s best post spot was the high post, near the elbow — because he was better around the basket if he had a running start first. This left the weakside and the baseline for most of the off-ball screening and movement.

All the stuff I’ve seen about Al suggests his best spot will be the low post. So the off-ball movement/screening can’t focus on the baseline (Al will be in the way). Instead, I expect the focus to shift to the weakside and screens and cuts straight down the middle of the paint — think of all those little flips Karl Malone made to Stockton and Hornacek cutting right down the middle.

The good news is that the guys that thrived most with baseline off-ball movement (Ronnie B. and Wesley) are gone. Instead we’re bringing our best weakside guy (Millsap) to the starting lineup, and likely giving AK more focus (because he’s better at cutting straight down the paint). Al seems to fit our current personnel better.

The second change is I expect Millsap to become by the primary guy Deron works with when the Jazz run the pick and roll. Millsap’s really good at it, and his speed will likely either beat all defenders to the basket or draw help defenders and open things up for Al and AK for open dunks.

The final change is when plays unfold. Boozer did not command double-teams. He drew defenders off his teammates after making his move (often a quick spin or lung to his left side). So the plays often developed after he took his first step. I believe Al will draw double-teams immediately when he gets the ball, before he makes a single move. This means a lot of plays will develop right when Deron or AK makes an entry-pass to Al.

I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time

by Yucca Man on Sep 4, 2010 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions