FanPost

Hey, you know your basketball


This was going to be my comment to the 14 year old Jazz fan who just posted for the first time on this site, but then it got lengthy, so I though I would just make it a fan post, in case anybody else has some thoughts...Here's my reply.

You really know your basketball for a 14 year old kid. Keep the passion. When I was your age the Jazz had just come to Utah. I would mostly go to games to watch the opposing team's players. Dr. J was my favorite. The arena was so sparse with fans...I would just walk down with my brother and end up sitting only a few rows back from front court to watch the games. I wanted to see "Pistol" Pete play, but he wanted out of Utah and I never saw him take the court. Coach Nissalke, hated him. If I were to credit one individual for keeping the Jazz in Utah it would be Adrian Dantley. He never got the credit he deserved. Mostly, because Tom Layden and him never got along. He helped the Jazz more than any one person, keep the team in Utah. If your at a Jazz game any-time soon, when your walking down the aisle to take a seat, thank Adrian Dantley for giving it all he could while in a Jazz uniform. All the fans knew that the Jazz were going to lose back then but they kept on going to games because they wanted to see A.D. score 30 or more. I think he was only about 6' 4" inches tall but it was amazing to see him score in the lane consistently over much taller players.

My choice for who will be the best player of our young guys is Gordon Hayward. I think he already has all the skills...his battle will be realizing how good he really is. I see him defer to Al or Paul or Devon. He needs to know that "He is the Man" and sometimes just take over. At the end of games and you need to score, he would be the one player I would get the ball to. Of all the Jazz's players he's the best decision maker on the team. I compare him to Kevin Durrant. When I compare players I always compare them to the great ones....because it shows what their potential could be.

Alec Burks, Has to be a better shooter from outside. If he improves his jump-shot he will be unstopp-able. His passing is way underrated and I think he is already our best defensive perimeter player. I don't know why Corbin didn't stick him in at the end of the Phoenix game to guard Steve Nash. If he starts hitting from outside...we are looking at a "poor mans" Kobe Bryant.

I still don't know what Derrick Favors can do offensively. He still is a little bit hesitant to take over the game...I call it the "Gordon Hayward Syndrome" or (GHS). He dosen't yet know how dominant he really can be. If he was our go to guy right now, I could see him scoring 18-20 per night and rebounding 12-15 a game. At the basketball version of the football combines...he recorded the 10th highest no step vertical jump reach in it's history at 11' feet 91/2" inches, amazing. His max jumping vertical reach was was only 31/2" inches shorter than Shaquille O'Neal's - who once jumped 12' feet 5" inches high (the highest ever recorded at the combine). I would compare Derrick Favors game to a young Moses Malone...one of the greatest of all-time.

Enes Kanter. Hum...I'm not really sure what to think of him yet. He is going to be great on a team that doesn't need him to be a high-scoring center. I think when he's in the game the Jazz pound the ball into him way too much and he's just not ready yet. . I think he should always be considered our second scoring option while on the court. One, he is a very poor passer out of the post, and two, it seems he's forcing things a little too much. My worry for him is that he's just not very athletic. Ten years ago in the NBA it wouldn't of mattered. But now, it seems, that every 7' footer can run, jump and are as agile as point guards (I'm exaggerating a bit, but I hope you get it)...I don't understand why Enes can't block shots. He's "freakin" 7' feet tall !! However, his big body and length alter a lot of those shot-attempts.

He's prone to turnovers and can't pass or handle the ball very well. I agree that he needs to shoot a little more outside, I've seen him shoot from 15' feet out and he can make that shot. The man is an amazing re-bounder though, and I think could very well lead the league at about 15 rebounds a game if played "starter" minutes. His game most reminds me of...I can't think of anyone playing right now, but in the past maybe Bill Walton, minus the passing skills or better yet, Patrick Ewing only not as athletic and not quite the shot-blocker. I still think Enie Kantar is the "Big Un-known" at this point, mostly because he is only 19 years old and hasn't played enough yet. Who Knows? Maybe he will still grow another 2" inches, Here's to Hoping. Go Jazz !!

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