A deep playoff run in 3 years...

BarneyGumble · Post #1 » by **BarneyGumble** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:02 pm

I've been thinking alot today about the Utah Jazz team and what needs to happen and what they lack currently in order for them to be a team that makes a deep WCF or NBA Finals run....

I dont know how good of a coach Tyrone Corbin is, but if I were a current Jazz player, I would have a hard time finding any coach to be credible who tries to get me to buy in to us being capable of a deep playoff run right now.

If I were the coach of the Utah Jazz, I would present my vision to the Jazz of making a deep playoff run three years from now. I would say I believe we are capable of getting the #8 spot this season, and fully expect to acheive this goal and anything less will be a setback in all of our careers. I would say from there, in year two, simply making the playoffs should not be the only goal....that we must advance past the first round and show we have learned from our experience. Finally, I would say by year three, we should not be satisfied with anything less than a trip to the Western Conference Finals.

Our key players are all young, and they all need development. This plan would help them buy into the concept that they are a team, that they are here for the long haul, that we plan to succeed with them here. This also alleviates pressure for them to go out and be all-stars immediately, but instead puts their focus on improving their skills and jelling as a team.

What needs to happen to realize the goals:

1) Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors must develop and begin reaching their true potential by year 3.
Hayward must play the same role for the Jazz as Ginobili played for the Spurs' title teams. He is the man with the ball in his hands during crunch time. He is an 88%+ free throw shooter who wins close games for us at the line because he can handle the ball and draw fouls on his penetration. He must be a knock-down open shooter, even from 3. He must be able to play good perimeter defense (preferrably without flopping).
Favors must be the man our offense goes through. He must be able to play with his back to the basket, as well as be able to face up his opponents and beat them with one power dribble. He must be a high percentage shooter, but not necessarily a great jump shooter or foul shooter. He MUST be a monstor in the paint defensively and be a double digit rebounder.

2) The Jazz must have an adequate shooting guard. We had this with Matthews, and to a lesser extent, Korver. Currently, we have squat with Raja Bell. Maybe Burkes is this guy, or maybe we will need to trade or sign a free agent. But we cannot go deep without a complimentary SG player like a Harden that can hit open shots and handle the ball and be an average defender at least.

3) Devin Harris must stay healthy and in great shape, or else be traded. If Hayward is to develop as our Ginobli, then Harris is the perfect Tony Parker for us. He doesn't need to be a great passer (which he isnt). He just needs to be fast, able to score well in the paint, able to run the fast break, and able to defend.

4) Enes Kanter must play the role of the big center who contributes through hustle and fundamentals. I dont see him being a 20/10 all-star when he is 22. What he can, and should be, though is a guy who gets 10 rebounds per game and scores off hustle putbacks and other opportunities. He must also be an above-average defender able to protect the rim. If he could develop a consistent open jumper and be an 80%+ free throw shooter, then we would be very tough.

Conclusion: I obviously dont see room for Millsap or Jefferson in these plans. Millsap is perfect for us if he can embrace the 6th man role and be our scorer off the bench. But I dont think he is willing to go back to that role. He is simply too small to be an effective starter at his position. Jefferson is a great player. But he is also priced like one, and he needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective and it slows our offense down. He is also a below-average defender. We should find a way to trade these guys, phase them out, or figure out how to get Millsap to embrace the 6th man role.

What do you guys see us missing to be a deep playoff team?

ColdBlue · Post #2 » by **ColdBlue** » Thu Sep 1, 2011 12:03 am

BarneyGumble wrote:What do you guys see us missing to be a deep playoff team?

Deron Williams. :wink:

To be a little more specific, I think we need a team leader and go to guy.

Post #3 » by **StocktonShorts** » Thu Sep 1, 2011 1:24 am

ColdBlue wrote:
BarneyGumble wrote:What do you guys see us missing to be a deep playoff team?

Deron Williams.

To be a little more specific, I think we need a team leader and go to guy.

I like Deron and I'd have him back in a heartbeat, but the guy seemed like a subpar leader.

BarneyGumble · Post #4 » by **BarneyGumble** » Thu Sep 1, 2011 6:19 pm

It will be interesting to see which, if any, of our young guys possess leadership capabilities. I really miss Stockton's mental toughness and Malone's preparation and focus during games.... Williams had mental toughness, and he was clutch...but I agree he has work to do on the leadership front...

reapaman · Post #5 » by **reapaman** » Thu Sep 1, 2011 9:24 pm

Fpr the last few decades championships are usually won by a team with an elite top 3 nba player or a well balance defensive juggernaut team. We are unlikely to be either unless we tank and luck up with a franchise player in the next draft or trade like crazy for guys with more defensive potential along with adding a strong defensive coach.

Fido · Post #6 » by **Fido** » Fri Sep 2, 2011 5:20 pm

The problem with "3 years from now" is that who knows if the coach or any of the players will be here in 3 years--some of these vets will be out of the league by then. Whether or not you feel the team will actually be successful in a deep playoff run 3 years from now, you can't set team goals like that. You just play every game to win and go as far as you are able.

BarneyGumble · Post #7 » by **BarneyGumble** » Fri Sep 2, 2011 7:05 pm

Fido wrote:The problem with "3 years from now" is that who knows if the coach or any of the players will be here in 3 years--some of these vets will be out of the league by then. Whether or not you feel the team will actually be successful in a deep playoff run 3 years from now, you can't set team goals like that. You just play every game to win and go as far as you are able.

I disagree. I feel the problem with most teams is they are trying to win today, because the coachs will get fired if they dont, and the players give up and just try to get their numbers once the losing begins.

The Jazz need to have a plan, and they need to get the players to buy in. They are young, they aren't winning a championship this season. Without guidance and a long-term goal, they will end up like the Wizards once the coach-bouncing begins....

BarneyGumble · Post #8 » by **BarneyGumble** » Fri Sep 2, 2011 7:08 pm

reapaman wrote:Fpr the last few decades championships are usually won by a team with an elite top 3 nba player or a well balance defensive juggernaut team. We are unlikely to be either unless we tank and luck up with a franchise player in the next draft or trade like crazy for guys with more defensive potential along with adding a strong defensive coach.

I have hope that Favors can become an All-Star. If he were to become a top 3 then that would be gravy.

As far as defense goes...I guess I'm missing something here. We are stacked in the paint, and are a few guards who can actually shoot away from having a pretty good team. Besides, defense is something you have to WANT to play. Its not so much something you are just either good at or you arent. Defense is much more dependent on coaching and desire IMO....so in my opinion, that part is in our reach.