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Jazz Coaching Challenges
Posted by: Jazzaholic on August 2nd, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.There are lots of new moving parts in the Jazz system.
Ty will have lots of challenges ahead this year.
1. How will he get the most out of the talent he has?
2. How will he find time to develop the core 4?
3. Can he alter his defense (stop the fouling) to make it better?
4. Can he alter his offense (integrate the 3 pointer) to make it more productive?
5. Can he break with his past habit of playing a veteran over a developing player?
6. Can he get rid of the the more a player is paid, the more he is entitled to start attitude?
7. Will Kevin have to play “Money Ball” and trade away players, who should NOT have been starting? (This should ring a Bell 
)
8. Will Ty have too many options?
The biggest complaint with Ty’s coaching was fear of offending a veteran, by giving a productive kid more time. This has got to end! If I see a starting lineup of the highest paid or longest tenured players, you may see my head spinning on my shoulders and smoke coming out of my ears, just before I explode.
Next, it’s time to adapt. Stop trying to use the same lineups, and the same rotations, all the time. Use the ol’ knoggin and try different matchups. Solicit lineup/rotation changes from your assistant coaches and try something different. Don’t make injuries force you to play more efficient players (who don’t yet have the years or pay grade).
Ty needs to integrate more 3’s, along with the corner 3, not only to open the middle up and keep the defense honest, but to make the offense more productive. The layup and 3 point shot are the most effective shots. The rest are referred to as $h!% shots for a reason. The offense should have two priorities… The layup and the catch-n-shoot 3 pointer. Remember how San Antonio would pass up a layup for a wide open 3? Times are a changin’. Kevin is pushing the personel in that direction. It’s time for Ty to respond.
Ty needs to upgrade his defensive scheme, and avoid the fouling, with his upgraded talent. The 3 new additions are better than the 3 they replaced. Defense was the biggest problem the Jazz had last year. They ranked near the bottom of the league.
Ty must make the core 4 are a top priority, almost everyone else is on an expiring contract.
Lastly, can Ty finally shake the Sloan mantle off and be his own man?
I know it sound harsh, but the NBA is a big boys game. You better adapt or you are looking for another job. Ty needs to look toward the future, instead of looking over his shoulder. The Jazz would not have made the playoffs, if injuries wouldn’t have forced line up changes to younger, more efficient players.
Jazzaholic
Replies: 20
Views: 1063
20 Responses
tl;dr on the article, but my primary opinion is that the main problem Ty Corbin has is … he’s Ty Corbin. The guy isn’t very good at coaching basketball, he’s too timid, and I just don’t believe he’s smart enough to adapt and evolve.
I’d like to see him replaced right away.
@chris: too stupid, regret reading.
@jazzaholic: spot on article my friend. I agree with everything you said. Athleticism and 3 point offense is the way the league has been trending.
Corbin has been way too eager to placate the egos of veterans. Time on the floor needs to be earned. Seniority is irrelevant. The only time that players should be “given” time without having really earned it are the young developing players. But that’s only if doesn’t negatively impact the team.
What I mean is, veterans need to be competing for minutes with the young guys. And ultimately it all comes down to productivity. Raja Bell was one of the worst starters in the NBA last year. He was bottom ten if I remember correctly.
If Raja hadn’t gotten and “stayed” injured we wouldn’t have made the playoffs. the fact that no decent team even wants to touch Raja is indicative of his worthlessness as a player.
Time to step up your game Corbin. This is your big moment. Don’t let crotchety veterans push you around.
Ty needs the opportunity.
Jerry’s unexpected departure really was tough to get started. The lockout and shortened season wasn’t very kind.
This is the year to prove himself.
I hope he will.
Jazzaholic
With that many questions regarding the ability of a head coach, maybe they should have hired a better coach with more experience to begin with.
Good article. This year, having a regular schedule, will tell a lot about Ty Corbin’s abilities as a coach. They really don’t have any excuses now. They will have a time to adjust to each other, but how that is managed is where the emphasis on judging the results should be.
Well said NA, couldn’t agree more
The Jazz didn’t have much choice as to a new coach, because of Jerry and Phil’s sudden departure.
They could have left Ty as the coach for the rest of the year, like Portland did, or give him a vote of confidence and a contract. They chose to give him a contract and some time.
Other teams have interviewed him for head coaching positions, and there has been a move lately to hire the younger assistant coaches, instead of recycling the old coaches.
I’m not calling for his head. I’m just looking for more self confidence, leadership and innovation, which I think he can accomplish.
Jazzaholic
David Locke had good things to say about coach Corbin when asked by the fans if he was a good coach.
David has some good points, but his viewpoint has changed somewhat since becoming a Jazz employee.
And that’s OK!
For instance, he says complaints about starting the 3 players last year, who now have little or no market value, was a credit to Ty’s management of the team to be able to make the playoffs.
I maintain that injuries to those 3 players, forced Ty to play more productive younger players, which propelled them to the playoffs.
I think David’s own stat analysis supports this.
I don’t think you should believe either one of us, but form your own opinion.
David is smarter and better informed than I, but working for the Jazz probably suppresses some of less favorable opinions.
I follow David intently and love his comments!
I also love Ty as a person, just question if he can’t improve from being a “good” coach to being great.
Jazzaholic
Also, it’s easy for me to say for Ty to try this or that, but I would fail miserably as the Jazz coach.
So, I’m rooting for Ty!!!
I hope my criticism is constructive and positive.
Coaching in the NBA has to be one of the world’s toughest jobs.
Jazzaholic
Its good that Ty Corbin has been given a chance to prove himself.
The problem in lots of sports is after a long serving coach leaves, new coach’s don’t given enough time and then the team suffers from having lots of different coaches.
@Jazzoholic – How much of Corbin’s reliance in veterans comes from the lack of training camp last year? I think that it is easy to forget how poorly the Jazz were predicted to be less than one full season away from trading away our super star. I hope that with the coming season (and the training camp that will proceed it) that we can get a fuller view of what Coach Corbin brings to the table. I agree 100% that we need more 3 point shooting and less fouling. Kevin O’Conner seems to agree that we need better outside shooting with the off season acquisitions.
@Jazzaholic
lol I saw your ‘Toxic Raja’ question to Larry Coon. Making him sit out and then waiving him March 1st would be great.
I have a blog to post on Toxic Raja for tomorrow.
Jazzaholic
If my new found job, and feeding my family, depended on winning as many basketball games as possible, I would probaby lean toward playing the more experienced players on my roster the most minutes also.
When you throw the ball down low to Al Jefferson, there is about a 50/50 chance he will make the bucket for you. In the NBA, that pretty good odds, and a very tempting strategy from a coaching perspective. Will you win a championship that way? No. But, when was the last time, even during the Sloan/Malone/Stockton era, that the Jazz ever really took a huge gamble, and made the type of risky blockbuster move that either would assure you a ring, or put you in the lottery? The one exception might be the Deron Williams trade, but even then, the only reason it was done, is because the player literally forced their hand. If we don’t win a title during the Marvin Williams/Derrick Favors/Enes Kanter era (the three current players on the roster directly or indirectly linked to the D-Will trade), then we will always be left to wonder if D-Will might in fact of stayed with the Jazz, like he decided to stayed put in Brooklyn. You need a star to win a title, and I’m not sure another is headed this way anytime soon (Favors has the potential, but he has such a LONG way to go).
You’re right, winning games keeps you employed, but I think that was part of the jazz strategy of giving Ty a contract.
“We gave you a $h1%%y deal, on short notice, and we’d like you to develop the team, instead of looking over your shoulder, wondering when the ax will fall.”
ie you’re safe, develop the talent and the team.
The lockout and shortened season were bad too, but he did get some experience and develop some long term and short term plans.
This is the year to get that payoff.
Injuries to veteran starters forced him to play more productive youngsters and develop the team more than anticipated.
Jazz fans are very knowledgeable. They don’t want a couple of extra wins this year, if it sacrifices the future.
There’s really only a 3-4 year window to develop a rookie. Let’s not blow it.
Jazzaholic
@JMC: I’m not sure I agree that you need a “star” to win it all. I guess that depends on exactly what you mean by the term. Karl Malone and John Stockton weren’t even “stars” in the traditional sense.
They never raked in millions of dollars in endorsements, or starred in a bunch of commercials [I'm talking on the national level. Yes, they were the biggest stars in Utah, that's for sure.] But there are ignorant people who when asked to name basketball stars of the 90s probably wouldn’t even mention Karl or John.
What you need are good basketball players, good coaching, good teamwork, and a little bit of luck. Confidence and swagger, and a winning mentality.
ALLSTARS on the other hand do win championships. But the notion that having a bunch of “stars” on your team is not an answer in and of itself. (Look at the Lakers when Malone went over there).
Look at the Magic with Dwight Howard. Do you consider any of the Spurs’ players to be real stars?
Favors and Hayward will both be Allstars in the future, possibly even this year. HOPEFULLY Kanter can get there as well (kids got a looooooong way to go, though).
Although I do confess I’m kind of hoping we can lure Chris Paul over here in 2014! We’ll certainly give him a better shot at getting a ring than the freaking Clippers ever will.
Derrick Favors>>>>>>>>Blake Griffin.
I’ll keep Derrick. Blake Griffin does have a spectacular dunk, is fun to watch and sells tickets, but his shooting, rebounding and defense are not very good.
I like Derrick’s lower salary too.
The Jazz keep replacing less productive players with more productive players. So far, Kevin has done it on a budget, with no long term contracts.
Chris is far too nice a guy to leave the Clippers. He’s very loyal and the Clippers have a nice team in a big market. I don’t think he could be made angry enough to demand a trade or switch as a FA. They can also pay him the most.
If you have a rotation of players ALL above NBA averages, who play tough defense, I think they can challenge for a championship.
Right now you have older multimillionaires taking minimum salaries on big market contending teams. The stars do attract them. It’s another big market advantage.
Jazzaholic
I hope Ty plays the most efficient players, but I hope he pulls players out for not taking open uncontested shots.
Many times good shots are passed up only to “work the clock” and end up with a turn over or contested shot.
Instead of the old philosophic “take him out for making a mistake”, include not shooting the open shot as a reason to take them aside and tell them why they are on the floor.
Also, if they are not playing aggressive defense, pull them out and let them rest up so they can give it their all the next time.
Jazzaholic
Ty Corbine has faced two seasons on extremely adverse footing: Taking over for THE coach and then having an abbreviated season with a subpar team (wow, I do love Kevin O’Connor at work).
This year he has all the time he needs and KOC has giving him a great team to work with. I am extremely excited to see it in action.
But if you have anything but a healthy competition in the team for the starting spots I’d be very disappointed. While Mo is set at PG, SG, SF, PF, and C should definitely be open to competition.
I’d be very amazed to see Raja back on the court again – it’s unlikely that he can compete with Alec, Gordon and Randy Foye.