Which Jazz will surprise this year?

[Luigi]

Okur's not a bad post defender. But he is bad against a pick and roll, and he's not going to get nay helpside blocks.

Still, he's probably the best post defender out of all our bigs. And Jefferson is probably our best shot blocker (Favors would be, but his foul rate negates his shot-blocking).

I don't understand why everyone thinks Kanter should be playing ahead of either of them right now. Kanter might have a great post game one day, Jefferson has one right now. Kanter might learn how to play reasonable defense one day, Okur does that right now.

I can see why Favors gets the nod for his potential though, since his potential is to offer us something that nobody else can do. But the hopes for Kanter . . . we're hoping he becomes something we already have.

[StocktonShorts]

If Okur is 95% I'd love to see

Jefferson/Okur

That'd be a very potent offensive duo.

Especially if Al Jefferson learns how to pass.

[red4hf]

If Okur is 95% I'd love to see

Jefferson/Okur

That'd be a very potent offensive duo.

Especially if Al Jefferson learns how to pass.

He did set a career high for assists last year....... I think he's getting there......

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Ya I think Memo has a bad and unwarranted rep as a bad defender. He really isn't as bad as everyone thinks.

He is a more than solid defender in the post but he struggles on the P&R (like so many other bigs do). He's also a good rebounder to boot. I've seen Memo shut down Duncan in the post before... I don't buy that he is a terrible defender.

Okur and Favors would be a great combo on offense. Memo really fits well with any of our big men on offense and I could see him averaging 12+ ppg. with his ability to stretch the floor if he gets the playing time.

This is kinda OT but... I met Sidney Lowe today... the players and fans are going to love this guy. I was rally impressed by him and he seems like an awesome guy. I'm really excited about his hiring now that I've met him.

[Amish Mafioso]

Okur's not a bad post defender.
still, he's probably the best post defender out of all our bigs. .

Ya I think Memo has a bad and unwarranted rep as a bad defender. He really isn't as bad as everyone thinks.

You're missing my point. Your'e evaluating him on the player he used to be. That's not the player he is now. I believe that injury will hinder him for the rest of his career, and especially his defense. I guess we'll wait and see.

[Jazzfan12]

The issue for Al and Okur isn't the plays they're involved in, it's the plays they're not involved in because they're too slow to react to a defensive breakdown and just let a guard drive to the basket with no interference.

[Soul Patch]

They shouldn't spend too much time playing together for that reason. Honestly, in today's league if you have a solid to good post defender and one guy that can provide the help you'll be ok. How many great help defenders are out there and who do they play next to?

[franklin]

Fans always knocking lack of help D and the discussion tends to forget why the Jazz need so much help D in the first place.

[Soul Patch]

The rules?

[Jazzfan12]

They shouldn't spend too much time playing together for that reason. Honestly, in today's league if you have a solid to good post defender and one guy that can provide the help you'll be ok. How many great help defenders are out there and who do they play next to?

Dwight Howard (Ryan Anderson)
Andrew Bogut (Drew Gooden)
Tyson Chandler (Dirk Nowitzki)
Andrew Bynum (Pau Gasol)
KG (Big Baby Davis/Jermaine O'Neal)
Josh Smith (Al Horford)


I also think Omer Asik is top tier, but he plays really limited minutes. Noah (Boozer), Duncan (Blair), Okafor (West) and Marc Gasol (Z-bo) probably the second tier of great help defenders.


And also, the league is built around great help defending big man. The only team in the last 50 so years of basketball that didn't have a great starting help defending big man was the 2006 Heat. Bulls didn't have elite ones maybe, but still had Rodman and Grant.

[franklin]

I also think Omer Asik is top tier, but he plays really limited minutes. Noah (Boozer), Duncan (Blair), Okafor (West) and Marc Gasol (Z-bo) probably the second tier of great help defenders.

Asik looked great on the offensive end in the Euroleague. His defense didn't stand out to me, but he always seems adequate.