What Style of Play Do You Want the Future Jazz to Have?

[bkohler]

Let’s say the Jazz figure out their core in the next couple of years. What kind of style do you actually want them to play?

Are you hoping for a gritty, defensive team like the 2004 Pistons or those recent Memphis squads?
More of a ball movement team like the Spurs or early Warriors?
Young, athletic and frenetic like current Rockets / OKC?
Stockton and Malone pick-and-roll all day?
Fast and fun like the 2007 Suns?
Modern and switch-heavy like today’s Celtics?
Something weird and unique like Jokic running the show in Denver?
Or maybe you just want five guys who can shoot and go nuts from three?

I keep going back and forth between wanting a team that locks everyone down on defense versus one that runs and puts up 130 every night.

What kind of basketball do you actually like watching, and what would you want the Jazz to build toward?

If there’s a team from the past or present that you’d love to model after, throw it in too.

[dr0welf]

I really enjoy watching the motion offense Jerry used to run but with a lot more 3pt shooting and dunking. I even enjoyed the pick and pop Okur days. Offensively, I hate watching isolation Mitchell. I want a full team offense with lots of motion.

Defensively, I like to watch a team with a solid defense that can shut guys down but not quite to the extent like Detroit where they really had limited offense because everyone was defensive minded players. I like the Boston switching style defense and would love having the players that are athletic enough and coordinated enough to do it.

[bkohler]

I agree with the isolation of Mitchell, however I did love that offense when we got the blender action going. One of my fears of getting some of these blue chip players in the next few years is that they’ll want to be Luka or Harden. It’s actually why I’d be so thrilled with someone like Flagg who seems to be willing to play in a more team based construct.

[babyjax13]

Really interesting question! I love the way the Spurs have played, historically (and even now). The ball movement is fun to watch. I also enjoyed "the Blender" before we started running more ISO in the last two seasons with Snyder. I don't mind what Hardy runs now, I think he has some fun sets, and I imagine that it will look a lot better with good players.

[bkohler]

Obviously all of this is player specific, the Nuggets don’t play anything like they do now without Jokic, so I guess one way to think about all of this is would you rather by guard centric, wing centric or big centric. As that feels like how most offenses are designed now.

[Inigo Montoya]

I agree with everything dr0welf wrote. I'd like to have a team that executes at a high level with a lot of motion and cuts, and plays good defense but not to the point they can't score themselves. In the end, it really depends on the personnel the team has and it'd be a bad idea to force a style of play that doesn't fit the roster. Maybe I'm old-school but it would sure be nice to have a really awesome PG once again, who could get the best out of the rest of the roster.

[bkohler]

I agree with everything dr0welf wrote. I'd like to have a team that executes at a high level with a lot of motion and cuts, and plays good defense but not to the point they can't score themselves. In the end, it really depends on the personnel the team has and it'd be a bad idea to force a style of play that doesn't fit the roster. Maybe I'm old-school but it would sure be nice to have a really awesome PG once again, who could get the best out of the rest of the roster.

I even find myself wanting someone like a prime Lonzo ball. I don’t need the Chris Paul level of control that sometimes I associate with PGs but someone that can get the team out and run and get easy buckets and keep everyone fed seems delightful. Think we got a little of that from Collier this year but if we could maybe get some shooting, defense and even a little size…. Oh it would be awesome.

[Inigo Montoya]

I even find myself wanting someone like a prime Lonzo ball. I don’t need the Chris Paul level of control that sometimes I associate with PGs but someone that can get the team out and run and get easy buckets and keep everyone fed seems delightful. Think we got a little of that from Collier this year but if we could maybe get some shooting, defense and even a little size…. Oh it would be awesome.

Sounds like Dylan Harper...

[Catchall]

I think the Jazz want to be a team that takes 50 3PAs per game, like the Celtics. I think they'd like to run a balanced attack where everyone defends, everyone rebounds, everyone moves the ball, anyone can drive the ball, and everyone shoots 3s. It's pretty obvious that the Jazz want players who can shoot and move on quickly from players who can't.

If the Jazz acquire an All NBA player they can build around, I'm sure they will. Until then, they'll run a balanced system and try to generate open looks for guys where they can make shots.

[Daddy 801]

Long and athletic that can shoot the three and switch 1-5 as much as humanly possible. I personally think 2-4 is basically the same position in the NBA now. There are PG’s, wings, and two types of centers.

We sort of have PG covered, we have some wings but need more athletic wings…we have shooting wings but not defensive wings, and we have a good center but we need a spacing center who can also defend adequately. Flip can play center for a few mins here and there but he’s not good enough defensively to play center unless the opposing team is playing small ball.

I’d go best player available with the first pick and then see if we can find a spacing big man with the next pick. I always say best available so with the second pick this year if some player the Jazz think highly of is a wing or PG go ahead and take him, but if there isn’t a clear player who is the best available a stretch big man would be nice. No idea if that player even exists in this draft. But they have to be more and more common these days. Curry changed the league and the guys growing up watching him are now being drafted. There has to be a decent stretch big man who can at least kind of defend the rim.

[Inigo Montoya]

I don't think we have PG covered. Collier was a nice surprise but he has a long way to go in order to prove he can be more than a backup on a good team. I think PG and SG are the weakest positions for the Jazz. Dylan Harper will fix a lot of problems for the Jazz if they could get him, though I'm obviously hoping for Flagg.

[bkohler]

II wonder sometimes if 1–4 is basically the same position now. It feels like there are more 3-and-D point guards than there are true 3-and-D wings, and a lot of wings are becoming the main offensive initiators or hubs.

You see it with teams like the Celtics, Magic, Lakers, Pistons, Thunder, Pelicans, Raptors, and Timberwolves. It is not really about traditional positions anymore, it is about size, defense, and being able to make quick reads.

At the same time, you look at teams like the Knicks and Grizzlies, both built around more traditional point guard play, and it feels like they are hitting a ceiling. Unless you are Steph-level good, it is getting harder for pure point guards to be the centerpiece of a real playoff contender.

If you are under 6’5” and cannot guard multiple spots, it is getting harder and harder to stay on the floor. Wing creation feels like the future, not floor generals.

[BigJimFinn]

II wonder sometimes if 1–4 is basically the same position now. It feels like there are more 3-and-D point guards than there are true 3-and-D wings, and a lot of wings are becoming the main offensive initiators or hubs.

You see it with teams like the Celtics, Magic, Lakers, Pistons, Thunder, Pelicans, Raptors, and Timberwolves. It is not really about traditional positions anymore, it is about size, defense, and being able to make quick reads.

At the same time, you look at teams like the Knicks and Grizzlies, both built around more traditional point guard play, and it feels like they are hitting a ceiling. Unless you are Steph-level good, it is getting harder for pure point guards to be the centerpiece of a real playoff contender.

If you are under 6’5” and cannot guard multiple spots, it is getting harder and harder to stay on the floor. Wing creation feels like the future, not floor generals.

Indeed, ball-dominant small guards are not the answer, and that isn't even really new. What do Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Russ Westbrook and James Harden have in common? Steph Curry's impact is not just about his shooting, his special superpower is the way he can give up the ball and become even more dangerous off it.

[Daddy 801]

II wonder sometimes if 1–4 is basically the same position now. It feels like there are more 3-and-D point guards than there are true 3-and-D wings, and a lot of wings are becoming the main offensive initiators or hubs.

You see it with teams like the Celtics, Magic, Lakers, Pistons, Thunder, Pelicans, Raptors, and Timberwolves. It is not really about traditional positions anymore, it is about size, defense, and being able to make quick reads.

At the same time, you look at teams like the Knicks and Grizzlies, both built around more traditional point guard play, and it feels like they are hitting a ceiling. Unless you are Steph-level good, it is getting harder for pure point guards to be the centerpiece of a real playoff contender.

If you are under 6’5” and cannot guard multiple spots, it is getting harder and harder to stay on the floor. Wing creation feels like the future, not floor generals.

That is my same opinion. The playoffs are almost always defined by ball handling wings. When was the last championship team where the PG was the best player and lead the team? Billups on the Pistons? Isiah and Magic? If you call Steph the PG I guess. But he’s a SG IMO and even then Dray is handling the ball more often than Steph. You could argue Kyrie but they had LeBron handling the ball as much or more than Kyrie.

There is no need for a traditional PG anymore. Just find guys who can handle the ball. And the bigger they are the better. Joker, Giannis, Luka, LeBron, Tatum, Paolo, Cade, etc are the stars for a reason. Even Shai is tall/big for a PG.

When I think of a traditional PG I think Stockton and Isiah. Those guys just don’t win championships very often. I would hardly ever draft a guy under 6’6” unless he had handles like Kyrie or CP3.

[bkohler]

The big board conversation made me realize that what I really want is less a style of offense and more an arch type of player. I want player with size, athleticism, defense, a willingness to pass and decent shooting. I think basically I’m saying I don’t want players that you have to play only situationally or worry about them on defense. I’d rather struggle to score than struggle to stop people because I think it’s an easier problem to solve.

[Inigo Montoya]

The big board conversation made me realize that what I really want is less a style of offense and more an arch type of player. I want player with size, athleticism, defense, a willingness to pass and decent shooting. I think basically I’m saying I don’t want players that you have to play only situationally or worry about them on defense. I’d rather struggle to score than struggle to stop people because I think it’s an easier problem to solve.

I think the Orlando Magic fit your description, and it doesn't look like their ceiling is very high even though they play good defense.

[bkohler]

Yep, ORL is a good example. I think Detroit and Houston also fit it to a lesser extent.

[Inigo Montoya]

Yep, ORL is a good example. I think Detroit and Houston also fit it to a lesser extent.

I guess it depends on what the ultimate goal is. Is it just a style of play we want the Jazz to play that we think is the most enjoyable, or is the style of play a means to an end, i.e, a championship. Orlando and Detroit are not close to even be a threat to win a championship, and Houston's chances are dependent on what kind of trade they can make with the pieces they have in order to upgrade their roster.

[bkohler]

Yep, ORL is a good example. I think Detroit and Houston also fit it to a lesser extent.

I guess it depends on what the ultimate goal is. Is it just a style of play we want the Jazz to play that we think is the most enjoyable, or is the style of play a means to an end, i.e, a championship. Orlando and Detroit are not close to even be a threat to win a championship, and Houston's chances are dependent on what kind of trade they can make with the pieces they have in order to upgrade their roster.

Well, two quick thoughts on that.

1. Regardless of style you need an MVP candidate to win a chip. I think Houston / Orl / Detroit don’t have that yet and that’s the real issue.

2. I think it’s easier to pivot into more offense than it is to pivot into more defense. As long as you have the baseline of 3-d throughout the roster.

[bkohler]

Also, I prefer + defense at every position instead of ++++ defense at one. But maybe I’m just shell shocked from Rudy days.