Jazz Spotlight, Week 5: Raja Bell

Xsy · Post #1 » by **Xsy** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:51 pm

Late again. Whoops.

Anyway, Raja Bell. Let me tell ya, I was pretty stoked with the Bell pickup this last offseason. Especially since it involved blowing off Kobe's private recruitment lunch and helicopter chauffeur. Talk about false optimism.

Bell is no stranger to Utah. We were expecting classic Raja defense, and solid Raja shooting. What we got was old guy Raja defense, and abysmal shooting. Raja isn't what he used to be, and he's far from a starting calibur shooting guard in today's league. What we've got ourselves is a 3 million dollar per season bench vet and locker room guy. I think Bell's biggest asset to this team next season is sucking enough that Burks might actually earn a starting position.

Bell was Utah's answer for a starting 2. In 30 minutes a game last season, he shot 0.409 from the field, and 0.352 from three, with 8ppg. The lowest ppg since his third season in the league. He didn't contribute in passing or rebounding. His only saving grace was the fact that the guy can hit his free throws.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNxiWES8G0o[/youtube]

On a brighter note, I guess I could say I'm excited to see Raja ride the pine for the next two seasons, giving our rookies little words of encouragement, and getting away with 1fpg (flop per game). Aside from that, I don't expect much more. Maybe I just need to see the glass half full. Maybe I'm being too hard. I just don't see Raja making any sort of impact on the Jazz in the short or long term.

So let's talk, RealGM. What do you think Bell has in store for this franchise?

Post #2 » by **jazzfan1971** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:56 am

I think he may have 'buyout' in his future.

Soul Patch · Post #3 » by **Soul Patch** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:02 am

Raja won us at least one game this season. I forget which one but I know it happened. Other than that he sucked ass through a bendy straw. I don't know what that means but I hope it learns him a thing or two.

babyjax13 · Post #4 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:47 am

He shot better than most of the players we have. I've never really been able to stand the guy, but I think he can still contribute when our young wings aren't playing well.

Post #5 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:16 am

People hyperbolize the guy it seems. He's a smart player and a hard worker. His body isn't keeping up and should be used sparingly against nonathletic teams that leave the perimeter open and get bothered by bumps on defense. He's a back-up who got pushed to a larger role mostly because the guys beneath weren't over taking him. Trial by fire in the NBA seems better for lay-coaches than pro ones. There's a reason.

BarneyGumble · Post #6 » by **BarneyGumble** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:03 pm

Raja Bell earns a place in the "spotlight"?

More like Raja Bell: The guy I want to lock in the basement and throw away the key...

reapaman · Post #7 » by **reapaman** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:29 pm

Basically a 6.7 million dollar mentor at this point. Could be worse, could be rashard lewis.

Jefff · Post #8 » by **Jefff** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:46 pm

i regret Wes Matthews... Raja can still be useful, but he doesn't deserve the starter role

3960HOOD · Post #9 » by **3960HOOD** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:52 pm

Hopefully we can get rid of him somehow some way.

Xsy · Post #10 » by **Xsy** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:58 pm

BarneyGumble wrote:Raja Bell earns a place in the "spotlight"?

Its a long lockout.

Jazzfan12 · Post #11 » by **Jazzfan12** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:46 pm

babyjax13 wrote:He shot better than most of the players we have. I've never really been able to stand the guy, but I think he can still contribute when our young wings aren't playing well.

He refused to shoot wide-open threes by the end of the season, choosing to throw passes to CJ's feet when CJ was going in for the potential offensive rebound. He shot terrible.

The59Sound · Post #12 » by **The59Sound** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:59 pm

Jazzfan12 wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:He shot better than most of the players we have. I've never really been able to stand the guy, but I think he can still contribute when our young wings aren't playing well.

He refused to shoot wide-open threes by the end of the season, choosing to throw passes to CJ's feet when CJ was going in for the potential offensive rebound. He shot terrible.

Other than Dwight, LeBron, and Zach Randolph, who is definitively better than Raja Bell?

Jazzfan12 · Post #13 » by **Jazzfan12** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:59 pm

How is considering the best player on a team that came within one game of the conference finals to be top ten that controversial? Raja Bell was worse than every other starter in the NBA last season other than Andris Biedrins and worse than almost all rotation players. He has no NBA-level abilities in any area at this point in his career.

Amish Mafioso · Post #14 » by **Amish Mafioso** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:14 pm

I would be fine with Bell for about 15 MPG, as long as he's not starting or finishing games. That's the problem, though. He ain't gonna be happy with that. The only way he's going to be our locker room guy/vet to help the youngsters along, is if we're overplaying him. And I ain't gonna be happy with that.

So, as I see it, he'll either be taking minutes away from better players, or he'll be a malcontent bitching about not getting enough minutes. Utah needs to dump him. Period. That's my 2 cents.

countrybama24 · Post #15 » by **countrybama24** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:24 am

This dude sucks. Win wise, no minutes please, especially cause I'd rather see burks 100/100 times. But at least he's a good locker room presence. I guess I could live with whatever the minimum is to keep him engaged and not mailing it in. I also want to tank, so if he played 40+ I'd be thrilled. But not because of the on court product.

For everyone defending Raja, check out the best/worst lineups on basketball reference. He single handedly ruined our starting lineup. We played from behind literally the entire year.