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Millsap is not a go-to player
Posted by: Jared Jardine on February 7th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I know that there are many Jazz fans that think Millsap walks on water. I am not one of them. Honestly, I am stunned that Millsap is even mentioned for an All-Star slot. Millsap is at his best when he is scrapping for every loose ball and fighting for every rebound. The Jazz are definitely not at there best when they are running plays for Millsap. IMHO playing with Jefferson down low has dramatically inflated Millsap’s statistics so far this year. Tonight vs the NY and the other night vs Golden State the defense keyed on Millsap and he wilted big time. There is a gigantic difference between a player like Al Jefferson (In my view the real All-Star candidate on this team) who can still produce even though double teamed (although we would admittedly like him to pass out of it a bit more often) and Millsap who gets consistently erased completely. Don’t get me wrong, I love having Millsap on the team, but I think it is time to put Favors back in the starting lineup and put Millsap back as the 6th man on the Jazz roster. We need Favors in the starting unit for his defense, his height, and his rebounding. It is hurting the Jazz to pretend that Millsap is the Power Forward of the future, and after watching his performance tonight it is obvious that it isn’t helping us win games either.
Looking at our record (home games and away games) it looks like we will end up around .500. At the end of the year, would we rather have spent a year (ending it somewhere in the 7th-11th best in the West) developing our young talent or letting Millsap and Bell start (and more importantly get starter’s minutes) while our young players make minimal improvement and gain minimal experience? I know Favors is still getting minutes, but the minutes that really count are the ones when you are put in with the game on the line and expected to produce. One of the reasons that Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan had a stressful relationship is because of the way that Sloan played D-Will his first year with the Jazz. If Corbin continues to treats our young talent the same way, we will continue to have our best players want to leave as soon as they are able.
Replies: 13
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13 Responses
Putting Favors in will only give you some else to be mad about and asking to trade. Until you can spread out defenses its only going to get worse no matter who you put in. Favors is closer to ready, but not there yet. Worship Al if you like, but where did his rebounding go, the same place Millsaps offense did. They need some help. Surprised you dididnt focus on our non existent PG play last night.
I don’t have problems with you pointing out struggles, but pick out the worst one then go from there.
Millsap was going through his hot streak shooting almost 60% from 16+ feet. That’s an amazingly high percentage for a big man from outside (or for any player for that matter). It seemed to open things up for him.
He’s lost his confidence of late in that shot and doesn’t seem to take as many of them.
Anyway, the hot streak was kind of an anomaly because of that great shooting.
But, and I’ve said this before, Millsap can’t be the focus for our offense. He’s efficient, and that’s important, but what he gives you is about 15 points, 8 rebounds a game. We’ve seen this cycle before from Millsap. When he’s asked to play high levels of minutes or to carry the team, he wears down over time and becomes less efficient. We saw it over the long periods where Boozer was out. We saw it again last year (Millsap faded down the stretch after amazing games early like the Miami game). And we’re seeing it again this year. Millsap is a great 2nd option, he’s great as the pressure-release guy, and he’s great off the bench.
It’s been pointed out, but what we really need is better shooting from the wings and a penetrating, passing point guard who can help guys get easy baskets.
One thing that should turn the light bulb above your head on. Harris is at the three point line all alone, steps across the line looking for someone to pass to, no one there since 5 guys are now guarding 4. He steps back and takes a quick off balance shot from 3. Miss. Earlier the ball is thrown into Sap, (happened to all the bigs) before he can turn to shoot 3 guys have collapsed onto him. Why, no ones guarding someone on the perimeter.
Jazz are shooting .289 from 3 point land. We are averaging 4 of 13 a game. If I am an opposing coach, I let you shoot unguarded. So what I give up 4 points. If I gum up the paint I get those points back with more rebounds, and frustrating your bigs. It doesn’t help that our guys stand around watching the big guys battle, rather than move to a spot where they can kick it back out.
Intersting, Bell .36 3pt, Burks and Tinsly .33 3pt, Millsap .30 3pt. Two of those guys DNP. Can you see a problem? We are playing 4 on 5 Basketball at best, since our PG’s are ineffective and we condense defenses
KC you got it. All guys buckle, even Kobe when they have to do it all. We need to take some of the load off our bigs. I don’t believe SAP is a superstar, but in the right stretches he is effective. Al is making points, but his rebounding dropped for the same reasons. They need perimeter help, and consistent PG play. We are one dimensional.
Who is to say our rookies aren’t developing? Sometimes practice, and watching will help a rookie more than immediately getting the start and getting destroyed night in and night out. Remember, everyone wanted more playing time for Deron too and I think he turned out okay.
I agree. The ONLY thing that will help our “bigs” is to have some good outside shouting. I see Hayward and Burks maybe in the future having some outside capabilities but we really need to draft some shooters. That doesn’t solve this year’s problems, but it is where I think we need to go.
I agree with some of the other comments being made. The problem isn’t Millsap, Millsap had some great games offensively and opposing teams started to take note. Now they are doubling him quickly and forcing him into taking fade away jumpers. We need other guys to step it up and become a threat which is yet to happen.
I am not sure about benching him but I strongly agree that he should not be our go to guy. You brought up many valid points. Once again Millsap thought he was Michael Jordan and took stupid shot after stupid shot. He keeps forcing it. Give the ball to Al. He just might be the best offensive center in the league. Think of the others and who they share the paint with. Al shares a lot of possessions with Millsap but is still having a solid year. He is the All Star in my opinion also.
@Patrick, KC Jones & others – I agree that our PG play is killing us. We made another no-name PG look like an MVP candidate. I also agree that our lack of outside shooting is a real problem. I think that if Hayward can get into a rhythm, that he is our best outside option, but he hasn’t shown that this year. However, I think you missed my point. I don’t think that the team will be much better with Favors starting instead of Millsap, but I think it will help Favors get better. We are going to win approximately half of our games this year with either of them starting, and I would rather have more development of our young players. Further, I think that Millsap had reached his ceiling, and we need someone in there who can become truly great. It seems to me that the talk of Millsap as an All-Star has really thrown his game off. I don’t know if Favors can become great, but we will never know if we don’t play him as a starter.
Jared, I like your thinking but, he is not ready. There are several types of players. Some are hungry and tough and do whatever they can to Excel. Millsap probably has reached his ceiling and Favors has a higher ceiling. But he isn’t a hungry player who has taken a starting position. So it may be best to have him watch and learn under guys who are. Paul and Al are great role models that way. Sooner or later that work ethic Will sink in and he will decide he wants to start and he will make that push. Putting him out there too soon you get Boozer. Lots of talent and numbers but a guy who will never reach his ceiling. Maybe I am wrong, but if he was ready, he would be there.
I still say we need to start running the ball thru favors more when he is in give him a chance to prove his worth. Milsap to me is a good player never will be great. I still think we should have signed wesly to an extention and not have let him go before signing sap but that’s just me. I give sap a lot of credit for how much he has improved but I think sometime soon we need to start bring him off the bench like old times and let favors start. The fastest way to develope a player is get to him playing time. Especially against the other teams starters. I don’t say that to upset anyone on here I just feel sap is a great spark coming off the bench and favors needs to have more of an opportunity then what he is getting now. Half the other teams in the league he would be starting for he at least deserves a few more minutes
Blood is boiling. Just re-read Patrick’s posts if you want my input, minus the profanity and insults that I feel very tempted to unleash.
Your blood can boil and everytthing else nick but, like I have said in other post I don’t know why you guys feel this way about favors. He has done nothing bur grow his reads are better he plays more physical on d and, his free throw percentage is up. I disagree on hungry though one thing milsap and kanter have on favors its the art the rebound. They know how to go up there and get it. I don’t see that as hungry its an art to rebound the ball, not anyone can go rebound the ball believe it or not. Hunger has nothing to do with it. The way paul plays on defence is all I have to say about hunger. He plays scared plain and simple he gets a few steals and stuff but wont guard the paint at all. I have don’t say that to make jazz fans made I just say what I see. Favors goes in and if who ever he is guarding. Puts a foot in the paint he is getting knocked out of it, milsap doesn’t do that. Like this post says though its not comparing the two milsap and, favors its milsap being a go to player. Wich he isn’t some one you go thru the whole game like a james or love or kobe. I will say he is a go to player down the stretch though. Give him the ball the last five minutes of the game and he can make shots for ya. He’s like a robert horry kind of guy down the stretch