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I think, for the most part, that most of our struggles (especially at the start of games) are due to our team not finding their spots or better said, not finding or performing in their roles on the team. This has been really aggravated by our recent health issues that has put our team in a state of flux IMO.

There has been also complaints against Jerry for not "adjusting", but realisticly thinking, what can be done differently that is a sure fire way to fix things?

So, with that said, what role changes need to be made, if any? What about when Memo comes back?

As of right now:

Starting lineup

DWill
Bell
AK
Millsap
Al

Bench

CJ
Watson
Elson
Hayward
Price
Fesenko
Evans

IR

Memo

For me, what I would consider is replacing Bell with Hayward and Millsap with Okur (once he can play 100%). Then play Bell more in the 2nd half as his toughness/vet presence si more evident. I think our slow starts have to do with him more than anything, but that's not clear cut. You don't know how taking Bell out might affect our toughness and attitude, or affect him (Bell), or how Hayward responds to new responsabilities as a 20 year old rookie. But hell, I think it's worth a shot. And Memo, once 100% should start. Millsap off the bench is a proven thing, and I think will benefit him more to play that role (as Memo the starter role).

I think CJ should remain the 6th man (scorer) as IMO that's his best role. That way when he's playing well he plays more minutes, and when he's not... well... you get the idea.

Watson is backup PG
Price is energy hustle spot minutes guy
Bell would be the vet defender SG off the bench
Millsap would be our bench big (when Memo's back)
Fes is our big enforcer spot minutes guy.
Evans is our energy hustle big spot minutes rookie.
And Elson is, IMO the one to go to the IR when Memo is back. I think his role is the one really replaced by Memo/Millsap and I don't think he can play Fes' or Evans' roles as good as they can.

So, if we can finally get "comfy" in our respective roles, then I think we as a team will start to really click for all 48 mins.

I completely agree with what you said

Though Jefferson and Millsap are definitely starter material, I think we'd do better if they weren't on the floor together. They sort of get in each other's way, which makes 'em both a little less useful than they actually are. I would start healthy Memo over Jefferson instead of over Millsap. Millsap is more young and energetic, which the starting lineup needs, and the bench has enough energy in their guards to work well with Big Al comin' in off the bench.

I just don't know when we'll see the Memo we need.

I don't think they should change a thing because betting against the Jazz in the 1st quarter is easy money and I'm gonna ride this train all season long. As long as they keep winning games I hope they lose the first quarter the rest of the season. My only wish is I had more money to bet.

Where are you betting quarter by quarter? That sounds like easy money...

I can't believe no one has pointed out to Deron Williams horrific performances during the vast marjority of first halves and even during many 3rd quarters. Jazzmen have been playing without a floor chief for the most part this season. There's a reason for the team having better performances with Black Lenin on the floor (BTW this is one of the best nicknames ever ) and for Sloan to hand him better minutes.
When D-Will come back from wherever he is (I bet he's playing thru some serious pain) all pieces will fall in place... and then we will know what kind of team they are... and IMHO, this Jazz team with Okur back can be way better than Boozer's era Jazz teams.

It's definitely sad when I'm relieved to see Earl Watson check in.

I also wonder what it is that Deron is playing through. He never looks healthy to me and has some seriously bad body language going on.

I hear texas roadhouse has good ones.

Soul Patch wrote:I hear texas roadhouse has good ones.

At first I was like "WTF?!?!?" but then I was like "mmmmmm, roles............. "

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/51021567-87/sloan-jazz-utah-game.html.csp

Sloan has considered inserting either Miles or rookie Gordon Hayward into the starting lineup. But Miles is Utah’s premier scorer off the bench, while the 20-year-old Hayward is still adjusting to the highs and lows of the NBA.

“We try to make the best decision we can. It’s certainly not 100 percent, and it never will be,” said Sloan, who conceded that he will likely continue to use a season-opening starting lineup of Williams, Bell, Kirilenko, Millsap and Jefferson on Wednesday versus New York.

To Sloan, the most difficult issue facing the Jazz is the game-by-game uncertainty of who will take the court and when they will do so. He is not receiving consistent production from either Utah’s first or second unit, and is often forced to play a guessing game when considering player matchups and rotation changes.

“That makes it difficult,” Sloan said. “I’ve never had a team, probably, that’s been this unsettled.”

I think this article just about sums up the point I was trying to make here.

Reading that Sloan is considering inserting Miles or Hayward into the starting lineup kinda annoys me because I see it as AK being made the scapegoat as usual. I think we would all agree that the top 3 players on this team are D-Will, Al Jeff and Millsap and we all know that the Jazz are playing terrible in the 1st quarter of games. Why does the 4th best guy (or 5th if Bell is the one being replaced) among the starters get singled out as the problem when the top 3 guys play like trash too?

Soul Patch wrote:I hear texas roadhouse has good ones.

Hell yes they do, but I'm not paying $17 plus tips for them. Why would I pay for food they buy off my grandma in the first place.