2011 Draft: Time to go big
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:18 pm
Regarding the Jazz needs, I feel like we are lacking 3 things: 3pt shooting, rebounding, and interior defense.
To point out the obvious, our 3pt shooting declined because we lost Memo, Korver, Matthews, and Deron (not that he had a stroke at the end of the year). Hayward is our main threat, but we need more to open up the floor more for our bigs and cutters.
The Jefferson/Millsap duo is not getting it done on the boards. As Paul's points have increased, his rebounds have decreased. I believe our defensive rebounding numbers are correlated with our decline in defensive efficiency.
The Jefferson/Millsap duo is also undersized, 2-3 inches each, at least. I won't belabor the obvious when it comes to matching up to the elite teams, size-wise. Paul isn't a defensive stopper, and Al is slow.
Looking over the draft boards, it seems like there is an overabundance of PF, PF/C, SF/PF. The shooting guards where we are likely picking can't shoot (Burks), neither can the points with the exception of Jimmer. The one point who is brought up repeatedly in our range is Brandon Knight. To me he seems turnover prone (4.2 ast/3.2 TO) and isn't an excellent outside shooter (he may be passable though). I may regret these words, but I definitely wouldn't take him at 5/6, wouldn't mind terribly at 12.
One thing Locke said that has stuck with me is that we don't want to be undersized at any position. With that said, even given our current log jam at big, 3 players stand out to me: Biyombo, Vesley, Kanter.
Biyombo 6'8" SF: potential to be a huge defensive stopper and solid rebounder. As you all know, insane wingspan 7'7", great motor, super raw offensively. I was hoping we could nab him at the 12, but seems like we may need to use our 5/6. A real risk/reward type. If he busts, I wouldn't get on KOC's case about it.
Jan Vesley 6'11" SF: to me is a slightly-less-agile/more-awkward, younger, healthier-at-this-time Kirilenko. He doesn't shoot well from 3 overall, but he is not much worse than Kirlenko. I doubt he'll ever be the help defender/shot blocker Kirilenko was in his prime, but his length could cause some problems to the opposition. Worth a 12 pick.
Kanter 6'10" PF/C: while undersized for a center, may be a rebounding machine, I hear (in the young-kid games he gets 20+, in Europe he didn't play much). My concern with him is defensive quickness (esp. if we slot him at PF). May need the 6th pick to grab him, doubt he is there at 12.
Disregarding any future lotto picks (GS), in 4 years I could see this lineup working defensively if we get 2 bigs (trade Millsap if he won't come off the bench and Kirilenko gone within 3 years if we resign):
PG: Harris 6'3" / Watson 6'1"
SG: Hayward 6'8" / not CJ
SF: Biyombo 6'8 or Vesley 6'11"
PF: Favors 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"
C: Jefferson 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"
With this lineup we are undersized at 5, oversized at 2 and 3, good height at 1 and 4. Hopefully solve 2 of our 3 issues long-term.
I say go big with 5/6, try to go big at 12 with one of the other 2 players. If one of those is gone, go Knight first, then Jimmer.
I'm not completely happy with this, if Biyombo works enough defensively to justify starting we better trade for or draft a GREAT shooter to pair with Hayward. Anyways, just my ramblings, do you think this strategy and lineup could work?
To point out the obvious, our 3pt shooting declined because we lost Memo, Korver, Matthews, and Deron (not that he had a stroke at the end of the year). Hayward is our main threat, but we need more to open up the floor more for our bigs and cutters.
The Jefferson/Millsap duo is not getting it done on the boards. As Paul's points have increased, his rebounds have decreased. I believe our defensive rebounding numbers are correlated with our decline in defensive efficiency.
The Jefferson/Millsap duo is also undersized, 2-3 inches each, at least. I won't belabor the obvious when it comes to matching up to the elite teams, size-wise. Paul isn't a defensive stopper, and Al is slow.
Looking over the draft boards, it seems like there is an overabundance of PF, PF/C, SF/PF. The shooting guards where we are likely picking can't shoot (Burks), neither can the points with the exception of Jimmer. The one point who is brought up repeatedly in our range is Brandon Knight. To me he seems turnover prone (4.2 ast/3.2 TO) and isn't an excellent outside shooter (he may be passable though). I may regret these words, but I definitely wouldn't take him at 5/6, wouldn't mind terribly at 12.
One thing Locke said that has stuck with me is that we don't want to be undersized at any position. With that said, even given our current log jam at big, 3 players stand out to me: Biyombo, Vesley, Kanter.
Biyombo 6'8" SF: potential to be a huge defensive stopper and solid rebounder. As you all know, insane wingspan 7'7", great motor, super raw offensively. I was hoping we could nab him at the 12, but seems like we may need to use our 5/6. A real risk/reward type. If he busts, I wouldn't get on KOC's case about it.
Jan Vesley 6'11" SF: to me is a slightly-less-agile/more-awkward, younger, healthier-at-this-time Kirilenko. He doesn't shoot well from 3 overall, but he is not much worse than Kirlenko. I doubt he'll ever be the help defender/shot blocker Kirilenko was in his prime, but his length could cause some problems to the opposition. Worth a 12 pick.
Kanter 6'10" PF/C: while undersized for a center, may be a rebounding machine, I hear (in the young-kid games he gets 20+, in Europe he didn't play much). My concern with him is defensive quickness (esp. if we slot him at PF). May need the 6th pick to grab him, doubt he is there at 12.
Disregarding any future lotto picks (GS), in 4 years I could see this lineup working defensively if we get 2 bigs (trade Millsap if he won't come off the bench and Kirilenko gone within 3 years if we resign):
PG: Harris 6'3" / Watson 6'1"
SG: Hayward 6'8" / not CJ
SF: Biyombo 6'8 or Vesley 6'11"
PF: Favors 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"
C: Jefferson 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"
With this lineup we are undersized at 5, oversized at 2 and 3, good height at 1 and 4. Hopefully solve 2 of our 3 issues long-term.
I say go big with 5/6, try to go big at 12 with one of the other 2 players. If one of those is gone, go Knight first, then Jimmer.
I'm not completely happy with this, if Biyombo works enough defensively to justify starting we better trade for or draft a GREAT shooter to pair with Hayward. Anyways, just my ramblings, do you think this strategy and lineup could work?