Are the Jazz improved from last year?

[GP]

Additions:

Al Jefferson
Bell
Hayward
Evans

Subtractions:

Boozer
Korver
Mathews
Kosta

[dr0welf]

Al Jefferson > Boozer
Bell > Korver *mainly because of defense could even out depending on how quick Raja is at his age
Matthews > Hayward *Right now but I think Hayward has a higher ceiling.
Evans > a rock > Kosta Wow did we really just trade Kosta?

[CAE15]

I might be able to answer this tomorrow when KOC lays another roster move on us.

[DByrne86]

Definitely not the same team.

Improvements:

-Perimeter defense (Bell)
-Post scoring (Jefferson)
-Height (Jefferson over Boozer)
-Veteran Leadership (Boozer wasn't a leader, Bell will at least lead by example)
-Shot blocking (ever so slightly)
-Toughness (Bell and Jefferson are light years ahead of Boozer and Korver here, Matthews was tough mentally, but he didn't have a mean streak in him like Bell)

Detractions:

-Outside shooting (Bell can't compensate for Korver and Matthews)
-Finesse scoring (This may be an addition by subtraction as this team needs less finesse and more toughness)
-Slashing (Matthews over Bell)
-FT shooting
-Passing (Korver and Boozer trump Bell and Jefferson easily in this category)


Neutral:

-Rebounding
-Low post defense (Boozer is the worst low post defender in the NBA, but apparently Jefferson is a close second)
-Whiteness (subtract Koufos, add Hayward)

[ColdBlue]

I think AJ is a better low post scoring threat than Booze but Booze had a pretty sweet 15 footer. Rebounding edge to Booze, Defense edge to AJ. Overall, I think it will come down to chemistry.

[dr0welf]

I think AJ is a better low post scoring threat than Booze but Booze had a pretty sweet 15 footer. Rebounding edge to Booze, Defense edge to AJ. Overall, I think it will come down to chemistry.

Let AJ play in a system for a while then re-evaluate it. I think you will be surprised who gets what edge. Boozer will probably still have the jump shot edge, but who needs a jump shot when you just Boom Bitches/Dunk it every time.

[hoops4life]

I think that low post defense got better. Jefferson isn't anything incredible but at least he adds a shot blocking threat that will make other players think twice, which wasn't the case with Boozer in there.

Korver's passing vs. Bell's passing is most likely a wash. I never thought Korver was that great. Bell is a better dribbler.

[ColdBlue]

Korver was a black hole when he had the ball and was covered, but made up for it when he was open.

[MeestR]

Al Jefferson > Boozer
Bell > Korver *mainly because of defense could even out depending on how quick Raja is at his age
Matthews > Hayward *Right now but I think Hayward has a higher ceiling.
Evans > a rock > Kosta Wow did we really just trade Kosta?

i say:
AJ slightly less than booz, but am hopeful
bell equivalent to korver. not equal. what he can do better may be negated by what he cannot do as well.
matthews vs hayward? too early to tell. but a fair comparison IMO
i dont know anything about evans, but can he be worse than du, duf, er kufos? (had to look at my hands for that one)

[davisuu]

Well....improved or not. It is something different, and not just more of the same. More of the same is frustrating as a fan. I need hope, something that says that things may turn out differently. I have hope at this point.

I also think that having some new blood in the system will bring some extra energy and heart from the players. There were some games last year that it was evident in the first quarter that our high dollar players (boozer, okur, AK) just weren't interested and didn't bring their game. I hope to see a more consistent effort with these changes because we have some players now with something to prove rather than just a fat wallet.

I also think that the last few seasons we have wondered what if...with players like Milsap and AK because of where Boozer played, and perhaps the AJeff signing will let us see what those players can do at the 4 should AJ play the 5. I like that we have a new look with two "bigs" in Okur and AJeff.

I'm happy that we haven't locked ourselves down to long contracts either so we have flexibility...flexibility also gives me hope, opportunity for more change should this combination not work out....nothing worse than signing long contracts and then having dissapointment in year 1 and being tied down. AJeff has 3 years, Raja has 3 years, those are good signings, AK with 1, Okur with 2. We still have flexibility. Boozer for 5 and Matthews for 5...alot can happen in 5 years. Look at AK...disappointment for several years now (at 17mil, at 10mil I would feel differently).

[carrottop12]

It really all depends on AJ.

But I'm definitely excited to be trying something different this year.

[erudite23]

Well, first we have to have a good handle on where exactly we were. Once again, we were right at the top of the WC in margin of victory. Given that this is the 2nd time in 3 years that this was the case, and given the reliability of MOV for indicating the quality of a team, you have to say that we have enough talent to win the West, or at least make a serious run. So what is holding us back? Two things seem to stick out: 1) defense; more specifically, a tough nosed approach that allows us to intimidate teams and buckle down when it comes down to the end of a game and we HAVE to get a stop; this is largely the result of a lack of an athletic interior presence to help clean up on penetration and alter shots around the hoop and 2) an overall sense of mental toughness; this exhibits itself in the large home/road splits, the profusion of close losses, and the large intra-season swings in level of play.

So, given that the talent swap is relatively even, did we change either of those two noticeably? Actually, like it or not, you have to say that Al is a significant upgrade over Carlos Boozer in the 1st aspect. He will block some shots, and he will alter others. Since I really don't think he will be any worse as a position defender than Booz was, that's at least a small plus. #2? Who knows. I like the Raja Bell acquisition. I've been pining for a grizzled, battle tested vet for awhile now. I love him on this team for that reason alone. That's something that's been missing ever since Fisher bolted. If we can turn around and get Anderson Varejao here, I would really, really start getting excited.

Overall, I think we are a better team, by a small margin. But you might see us win significantly more games while only being marginally better as a team. We had an SRS of a 55 or 56 win team last year, and we have an SRS of an 59 win team two years earlier. I think we are a contender. A 2nd tier one, but a contender nonetheless. And if Al has the type of transformation that you often see from star players who have always been on losing teams, the one where he looks like a completely different guy and makes a huge leap in winning performance (Pau Gasol is the best example here), then we might actually take a leap as a team. That is in play, at least.

[nyjazz]

If we sign Fes we are much better matched against the Lakers, for whatever that's worth.

[jcuuofd]

I voted a little better.

AJ put up 23 and 11 during the 08-09 season. His numbers should improve playing with Deron. He is also a better shot blocker than Boozer.

Bell is a great defender and a good all round player.

The Jazz still have a good bench.

Its all relative to what the rest of the western conference does also.

Phoenix got worse, San Antonio is getting too old and Richard Jefferson may leave, the acquisitions that Dallas made don't make any sense and will not help them.

[jazzfan1971]

I think we are right there. Maybe a little better. If Hayward is anything we need we could be significantly better. I'm not expecting much right now, so if he's something I can be pleasantly surprised.

[Soul Patch]

I think playing in Utah's system will turn Al Jefferson in to Jesus. I can't wait to see him play. Signing Raja Bell was incredible IMO because he adds more than defense and 3 point shooting. The guy is a dick and I hope he'll teach everyone else to be dicks too. As much as I love Williams, he's not a great leader and I think that's something Bell can help with too. Both Bell and Jefferson are seen as guys that compete every night and will do anything to win a ball game and that is refreshing as a Jazz fan.

[The Sheik]

On paper I think....

AJ v. Boozer = push

Bell v. Matthews = push

Hayward v. Korver = advantage Korver

I think right now we are a slightly worse team with the potential to be a better team depending on how AJ, Bell and others play and perform. Not expecting much of anything from Hayward right now.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I feel like we are better for this upcoming season and for the future.

Jefferson is going to be a monster on this team and everyone that remains for last years team are only going to get better (excluding Okur). I expect CJ to improve, I expect AK to improve, I expect Millsap to improve, I expect D-Will to improve or at least stay the same. On top of those improving players you get your 3 point shooting defensive stud in Bell, who also bings experience and leadership. You get a much bigger and skilled Boozer in Jefferson. I don't see where we drastically dropped, looks like an improvement across the board with room to grow.

[The59Sound]

I still think we need another guy who can shoot the ball. Bell will do a good job stretching the defense, but he's not a straight-up assassin like Kyle was. CJ, while heralded as a great shooter, hasn't shown me much in that department. The only hope we have at present as that Hayward comes in and makes it rain.

That said, I'm incredibly excited about the upcoming season. Boozer was a very good player, probably better than Al Jefferson, but he certainly didn't have the all-out-hustle, blood-sweat-and-tears attitude that AJ will bring to the team.

[Ming Kong!]

In 2008-09, Jefferson averaged 27ppg 13rpg 2apg 3.5bpg 1spg 1topg vs the Lakers. So I'm gonna say HELL YEAH baby.