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Not Enough Offense
Posted by: Brian McCann on January 10th, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Do the Jazz, as they are currently constructed, have what it takes offensively to reach the next level? Over the last few years, Utah has put teams on the floor that have characteristically dominated the offensive side of things, but have had too many weaknesses on the defensive end to progress. Fans that paid close attention to Utah’s defensive rotations came to realize that changes needed to be made in order to make the team tougher on the less glamorous side of the court. Kyle Korver was great at hitting deep shots, but he wasn’t athletic enough or quick enough to rotate out to the wing if he were double teaming in the post. As a result, teams that had a dominate big man, and did their homework would try and lure KK down into the paint, and spot up a three point shooter in the corner. Korver got burned so many times that watching it happen became both predictable and maddening. Another glaring issue had to do with Utah’s starting bigs. Booz and Memo have always been deadly when it comes to scoring the ball, but defensively, they have always also been huge liabilities. Having both of them on the court at the same time fostered that “wet paper bag” defense in the paint we all came to loath.
Over the summer the Jazz became decisively better defensively, but they also lost a step on offense. John Hollinger once said something to the effect that the ’08-’09 Jazz squad could challenge any team in NBA history as the most potent offensive squad ever. This year’s team is quite a bit different. Some of the stagnation and lack of aggression on offense this season still can be attributed to new players learning a complex system. Some of it also has to do with personnel. Regardless, my personal feeling is that the net sum of this team is all around better than other products we have put on the floor in the recent past. We aren’t as good offensively right now, but we are decisively better defensively (overall this season-the last couple of weeks have not been that great). Take for example our second unit. CJ Miles is the only one on paper in that group that you would think could consistently score the ball, but as we have all seen time and time again this season, it is the second unit that is the spark plug that gets the Jazz going, and it is that group’s defense that is fueling the spark.
My concern is that we do not have the depth offensively to score consistently enough to beat teams in the playoffs when defenses get tighter. While it is exciting to see the Jazz come back from large deficits, that will not happen in April and May. And if the Jazz ever want to get to June, they need to correct that issue. At the heart of it is offensive stagnation, and it makes trade rumors for players like Andre Iguodala and Kevin Martin very enticing, even if they are not probable. The Jazz are lacking a dynamic, consistant second option right now. Al and Paul can both put up big numbers on any given night, but both have been a little inconsistent at times. A free roaming threat like Kmart or Iggy would presumably have a field day because they would hardly ever see a double team.
I Believe the Jazz will become better offensively as the season progresses, but as we reach the half-way mark, I don’t know how much they will improve. I am becoming more and more convinced that the right AK trade would help to put us in the ball park of where we need to be. We need to score more and more consistently, and over the last few weeks, it just hasn’t been happening.
Replies: 11
Views: 921
11 Responses
One name to consider, who Memphis is looking actively looking to move is O.J. Mayo. I know the Jazz like good character guys, and his recent fight with Tony Allen certainly didn’t help his reputation, but let me make a case for him. First of all, his contract is reasonable (unlike Martin’s or Iggy’s). He’s only going to be making 5 to 7 million over the next two years. Second, this former third pick in the draft from 3 three years ago, is only 24 years old. He’s a potent scorer, and can definitely hit the outside shot with some degree of consistency. He’s also the type of player who has trade value. If you bring him aboard, and he doesn’t work out, it wouldn’t be hard to move him. His numbers are down this season, because the Grizz have been trying to use him in a sixth man role, but for his career he’s averaging about 17 pts, 3 reb, 3 assists, and shoots over 80% from the foul line. I think giving up AK might be enough to get the deal done. Memphis would like an expiring contract, because they have tied up a bunch of money in Gay, and Conley, and are looking to resign Gasol, and Randolph. Mayo would be an immediate upgrade over Bell, and Hayward, and even arguably, C.J. Miles. I wouldn’t mind having a 24 year old, 17 ppg scorer at the staring two-guard for the next 7 or 8 years. So I ask, why not O.J. Mayo?
I’ve always preferred Miracle whip over Mayo but in this case I might like some Mayo.
I totally agree with Brian, and I like the proposed OJ Mayo Trade.
We need a young, talented wing scorer.
If we could get that, I really really like this team.
Obviously, a third team, or more players, would have to be involved to make a proposed AK for Mayo swap work under the cap. Interestingly though, a straight up Miles for Mayo swap does work under the cap. The Jazz would be getting a more consistent player in Mayo, and the Grizzlies would be getting back a guy in Miles who would be willing to play a sixth man role, and losing a player in Mayo who has been a headache for them recently. The real question is who will be the better player long term? Miles or Mayo? It’s a tough call. The trade would actually make sense for both teams.
Getting rid of defense and XP for shooting isn’t going to solve anything.
We right now have all the pieces to go all the way, the Jazz just need to still find a way to make it work.
More time with what we have is the answer, not rushing to make trades.
AK has done really well. He and Al Jefferson have given us more blocked shots since Mark Eaton and when put on his shoulders took over a game offensively.
Half of our team is brand new, this is going to take some time.
Colby- I agree with you in part. AK plays well when AK wants to play well, but it is hardly consistant. Hi sshooting percentage from 15 feet out is not very good, yet he continues to shoot, and his defense is good but not great. AK hasn’t played great D consistantly in a few years. I do agree that this team will get better. My question is how good will they be? If you can trade AK for an all-star calliber player that is a stud on offense and defense (i.e. Iguodala), do you do it? Everyone complains that the Jazz have a hard time luring free agents to Utah, so do you wait til AK’s contracyt is up and then try to get someone to come, or do you go after someone in a trade that will help us now?
I like Mayo, but trading CJ would cause Deron to throw a fit, so I would advise against it unless it were a no-brainer. Dwill and CJ are pretty close (imagine the Ronnie Brewer ordeal * 10).
Deron is a fierce competitor, and want’s to win as badly as any Jazz player I can ever remember. I think he would put improving the team over a personal friendship. He didn’t like the Brewer deal, because in his mind, we didn’t get enough in return. Mayo, at least right now, is a better player night in and night out, then Miles. Surely, Deron would realize that.
Jason-
I agree, so longa s Deron views Mayo as an upgrade. OJ has a reputation of being a little hard-headed, and CJ and Deron are closer than any two guys on the team. Question is, if CJ were on a team that has struggled like Memphis, would his numbers be close to Mayo’s? I don’t know. How would OJ play in a structured system? I’m not saying I would be against it, I’m just saying Jazz mngmt has to be smart about it, because Mayo does have a history of being volitile.
Iggy has been injured most of the season and his Achillies is on it’s way to Okurville.
i would hardly call him a stud on O and D.
Unless it’s a player like LeBron,Wade or Paul Pierce
bringing in even more new players isn’t going to magically take us to the finals this season as opposed to working with what we have.
Personal chemistry is just as important as a talent based.
Colby- prior to this season, Iggy had missed a total of six games in six seasons. Safe to say the ten games or so that he’s missed this season are an anomaly. He has a 16.4 PER (AK’s is 15.2), and opposing two guards, including the best of the best (Kobe, Wade) average significantly less ppg when he guards them. He shuts the opposing player down, has unreal athleticism, and averages almost 16 ppg over his career. If you are worried about injuries, AK probably isn’t your man. When was the last time he played all 82?
I’m only saying the Jazz should make a trade if it makes the team better. An Iggy+Kapono or KMart+Battier does it for me. All of those players are rummored to be on the block, and both of those trades make us better.
I’m not asking for anything “magical”, I’m just not loyal to AK. He is injured way too often, shows up when he wants to, and is hindering our progress with one of the largest contracts in the NBA (the largest contract the Jazz have ever agreed to). If a deal comes along that makes us better, I say take it. Don’t keep AK just because of the sunk cost of his atrocious contract or because you like him. Everyone likes him.
I don’t want to trade him just to trade him, but i also don’t want to wait until April for this team to jell only to have him pull a hammy and miss the playoffs. I’m over that.
It’s just Iggy’s outside shot that makes me cringe … but then, so does AK’s