The Downbeat: The "I'm Not Afraid To Do That" Edition

There were a lot of interesting tidbits passed along at locker clean out day extravanganza. But none I feel that were more promising than this by Dennis Lindsey:

If the best alternative is to go young and be very young with the financial flexibility we've built, I'm not afraid to do that.

*Spit Take*

Yes you read that right. This sentence is very akin to your dad giving you the keys to the Mercedes and saying, "What the hell, go have fun tonight." Dennis "Analytics" Lindsey may have finally seen enough. The key to this whole phrase is the emphasis on the financial flexibility. Signing Al or Millsap back would limit the Jazz's flexibility. It would damper any future plans to re-sign any of the "Core Four". It would also limit the Jazz's ability to take on bad contracts in return for promising assets such as young prospects or draft picks. In essence, with one contract the Jazz could annul what it took 3 painful years to achieve.

The other "OMG DID HE JUST SAY THAT" is the RE-emphasis on going young. Dennis Lindsey doesn't mean just go young with 20-28 year olds. He means "LET'S GO ALL IN ON ROOKIE CONTRACTS AND VET MINIMUMS! YOLO!" This would also fit the theme of staying flexible. This could create some interesting implications for the future. I'm excited.

I have said on twitter and on here that I felt Dennis Lindsey was watching all the inner workings of the Jazz before he began his reign. He wanted to know what worked in the organization and what didn't. That took an entire season of successes and failures. He knows this organization now. He can separate the pragmatic dogma from the useful tools needed to succeed. In short, the draft is his rodeo now. This is Dennis Lindsey's time to shine. We will know a lot about the direction of this franchise after this season. But his comments are promising. Thank the Basketball Gods.

Chris Paul, god of point guards and flopping basketball said this:

Bled is one of the best guards in our league. I've said it all season long. I'm enjoying playing with him right now because there's no way he can be here next year because we probably won't have enough money to pay him. He should be a starting point guard in this league next year.

I think I have made it known that I'm in love with this player. I think he's tough and he'd become a fan favorite if he ever graced a Jazz uniform. I'm not sure how the Jazz would ever be able to pull a trade for him but I do know the Clippers are at the salary cap and need cheap contracts to fill out their roster. Rookie contracts might be able to pull Bledsoe away. MAKE IT HAPPEN, LINDSEY.

It's the offseason. That means #KanterTwitterWatch2013 has begun. This means we all must stay vigilant. We must put his tweets on notifications to our cell phones. We must google his name once or twice a day. This is important, people. We must know if he's at the playboy mansion, the Salt Lake City Zoo, or swimming with sharks. Why? Because it's ******* hilarious. That's why. He is an olive leaf sent from the basketball gods to relieve our suffering from the last 3 seasons of distress. He is the chosen one meant to fill the giant sneakers of the one who spoke in third person. He is.......dun, dun, dun.....Enes Kanter.

Also write your best Enes Kanter joke in the comments.

Gordon Hayward finished with one 3rd place vote for Sixth Man of the Year. Which is appalling. The fact that he was on the bench long enough this season to warrant a Sixth Man of the Year vote is enough to make me gag in my throat. Yes I know he was terrific off the bench. Only because he was terrific period. Do you sit a guy on a bench when he has Per 36 like this:

Seriously. This is the guy you played less minutes than the year before. If Gordon Hayward ever gets another nomination for Sixth Man of the Year whoever is coaching is doing something wrong.

[UPDATE 10:31 AM 4/23/14]

Not one Utah Jazz player received a Most Improved Player Vote. Not one 1st place, 2nd place, or 3rd place vote. Must be a result of developing them so well.

Speaking of Per 36, here is the Per 36 numbers of everyone on contract next year. One thing that has been bothering me during the season and to start this offseason is this question: How will the Jazz score without Al Jefferson? I despise this question. The real question should be: How will anyone score on the Jazz without Al Jefferson?

In addition, here are their advanced stats:

To review. Now is the time. This is the place. They are the ones. Any questions?