Meet
Earl Watson, the Finisher
Posted by: Jeff Winget on February 5th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.During Earl Watson’s gutty performance last night against the Lakers, and really for the last couple weeks, a number of Jazz fans have been clamoring on Twitter and elsewhere for Earl Watson to start over Devin Harris. Watson has won over Jazz Nation with his guts, tenacity, and energy that he brings every time he steps on the floor. Jazz fans appreciate his blue collar, no nonsense approach to the game, and they would like to reward his hustle and heart. I would like to as well. However, even though Earl has earned the starting spot, I feel he should stay in the backup role behind Devin Harris.
*Pause for Jazz fan freakout*
Ok, if you’re still reading after my thesis, let me lay out my case for Devin to start and Earl to continue as the backup:
Our 1st and 2nd units have different personalities
Contrary to popular belief, the Jazz’s starting lineup is full of veterans.
- Harris (8th year)
- Bell (12th year)
- Hayward (2nd year)
- Millsap (6th year)
- Jefferson (8th year)
With the exception of Hayward, the Jazz starters have all had plenty of time in the league. They play a traditional style, setting up in the half court and running the ball through the post. Millsap and Jefferson have developed a nice chemistry in the post game and have both become willing passers who feed off of each other’s success.
While they can get out and run, our starting 5 seems more comfortable in the half court offense. They punish teams on the inside. In this type of offense, Harris is a good choice at point guard. He penetrates well in the half court offense and is a capable outside shooter. He’s also a good cutter or spot-up shooter when he doesn’t have the ball, which allows Hayward to play the role of distributor where he is very comfortable. The starting group has developed a nice chemistry together with Harris at the point.
Our second group, on the other hand, is full of young guys who like to work on defense and run the fast break. They are young and athletic. Our second unit bigs, Favors and Kanter, excel in the open court. They have shown a willingness to get out and run, and Watson has proven time and again that he will get them the ball to reward them for running the floor. Also, Watson’s toughness and leadership keep our second unit together. He is the perfect fit for that group.
Millsap and Watson are the team leaders
If the Jazz were to have a team MVP vote at this point of the season, Millsap would win, but Watson would be a close second. The two of them are the leaders of the team, and their teammates look to them for guidance throughout the game. With Watson coming off the bench, at least one of our leaders is on the floor at all times. The team benefits from their leadership, and struggles when one of them isn’t there. For example, look at the end of the Clippers game and the Warriors game. Not having Watson was a huge problem. In fact, I think the Jazz win the Clippers game if he is in.
Watson is a spark plug
If you look around the league at players who succeed coming off the bench (Jason Terry, young Manu Ginobli, Jamal Crawford, and Lamar Odom), they are all spark plug type players. They come off the bench and make an immediate impact. They don’t need 2-3 minutes to get into the flow of the game. They create flow with their very presence. Watson is that type of player (so is Josh Howard, but that is another post). His energy is infectious, and he could very well be the leader of the best bench in basketball before the year is over.
Watson shouldn’t play more than 25 minutes per game
One benefit that the Jazz have because of their depth is that players don’t have to play big minutes in a compressed, lockout-shortened season. Last night against the Lakers, only 2 Jazzmen played more than 30 minutes. Al Jefferson and Gordon Hayward both played 31. This moderation of minutes will help as the Jazz head into the brutal stretch of their schedule in February and March. It is especially useful for small veterans like Watson who benefit from a decreased load.
I include this last point mainly to dissuade the argument that Watson could play with both the first and the second group. Coach Corbin should limit his minutes like he has, and having him come off the bench with the group he plays the best with is an excellent way to do that.
Even though I believe Watson should come off the bench for the reasons above, he should be in for the end of the game like he was last night. Harris starting and Watson finishing is a winning combination for the Jazz.
Replies: 9
Views: 502
9 Responses
Interesting comments and observations. I tend to think that Harris still needs to adjust to the starting unit to better bring out their potential. He seems lost as a PG.
Harris had 1 point and 3 assists last night. Earl had 8 points and 11 assists I think in the same amount of time. I don’t think Harris should be getting more than 10 minutes a night. A Watson/Tinsley PG lineup could make us better. I think Watson should still come off the bench because he meshes well with the 2nd unit.
@Robert,
I agree with you. I think Harris is improving in that area, but it’s still not quite there. I like that he is penetrating more. That should put more pressure on the defense and help our bigs.
@Zach,
I think Harris is pressing a little. He’s taken a lot of heat from Jazz fans, and I think he’s feeling the pressure. He got to the rim a lot last night, just couldn’t convert the layups. Those shots will normally fall, and he will have better games.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Tinsley, but I think that Harris is the better option.
I think Tinsley should somehow get at least five minutes a game. These kids trust Watson and mesh well as a group.Throw Evans into the group for more fun. I vote Sap and Watson for co-captians.
I tthink with harris he just isn’t use to running a set style offence. Other teams gave him the ball and said floor it don’t stop pushing the ball. Then he gets here and its run but, if the fast break isn’t there then slow it down and run your offence well he probably hasn’t had to do that in a while. If one day he gets it great if not he should expect more bad games. Its a hard thing to change in your game but, hopefully one it will click for him because I don’t see us getting rid of him anytime this year
Great post Jeff. I agree that if Watson is on the floor for too long he might lose some steam. Watson is definitely the go-to point guard for the Jazz in the 4th quarter.
There have been at least two games this year when Corbin pulled Watson in the last five minutes of the game (and put in Harris), and we lost both games. In my mind, those were the two biggest mistakes Corbin has made the entire season. You don’t pull guys out who are red hot, like Watson usually is near the end of games.
In fact that’s really my only criticism of Coach Corbin at all. Leaving in players who are struggling and pulling guys out who are on fire. I’m not the biggest CJ Miles fan, but there have been occasions where he was on fire and Corbin pulled him out for no reason (I understand he fouls a lot, but in these instances he was definitely making the team better by being on the floor) and also leaving in Millsap and Jefferson on a few occasions when they were clearly exhausted and had nothing left.
Anyways, let Watson finish more games!
Nice post, Jeff. I agree with you on letting Watson finish. The proof seems to be in the pudding with performances like last night. Watson is tough as nails.
Excellent thoughts, Jeff. Could not agree more. Devin’s having a hard time, but has had his moments. Unfortunately, these moments are not regular during the fourth quarters. I thought, as a result, Tyrone made the right choice by keeping Earl in for the whole fourth vs. LAL…I believe for the first time this season.
Earl Watson for President…he’d unify us all.
Watson finish.
Watson start
Harris !@#$% off contract extension
that´s reality.