RealGM

Include your own... I look forward to the discussion.

Overall team - Exceeded most expectations from NBA analysts. Quality wins over the NBA elite - Miami, OKC, Lakers and even the gimme Spurs game. Sparkling home w-l record, 9-4 divisional record, playoff berth in first full season after last season's drama. On the negative side, very poor road record, embarrassing losses to bottom-feeders, Corbin & Bell, Malone and Miller drama both reflected a little poorly on the organization.... Grade: B

Front office - Solid draft that looked a little better then than it does now, good trade of Memo Okur ( depending on what is done with the TPE), solid signings of Howard, Carroll, Tinsely and Watson. Grade: B

Coaching - Corbin finishes the year 6 games above .500 but is summarily swept out of the playoffs. Should have deployed big men lineup much earlier in the year, but imo handled Bell and Miles' situation rather well ( if you're going to not produce and whine, you can sit the rest of the year..). Gave decent minutes to Kanter and Burks, and wasn't afraid to sit Harris when he wasn't performing. Still seems a little over his head, but all in all a slightly better than expected first year. Grade: B -

Players:

Al Jefferson - Drives some crazy with his now you see now you don't defense, and baffling inability to draw fouls / contact in the paint. Still, one of the most effective offensive low-post players in the NBA. Genuinely interested in improving, showed mild improvement in passing out of double-teams. Very team-oriented and solid fit in organization. Lowest fg% of career ( by a fraction), but exceeded career averages in ft%, reb, ast and blocks. Grade: B

Devin Harris - seemed completely lost and disinterested during the first third of season, came on nicely toward the end of the season. Highest fg% in the last 5 years, highest 3fg% ever believe it or not, lowest ppg and apg average in 6 years. Terrible at getting to the line. The team has to be looking at him regarding what if any trade value is left.. Grade: C-

Paul Millsap - epitomizes the Jazz brand, but had a really rocky 2nd half of the season. Frequently seems to be overmatched against taller PF's, but seems to hustle non-stop on the court. Top-5 in the NBA in steals, healthy 16 and 9 contribution. 80% from the free-throw line, lowest fg% of career. Grade: B-

Gordon Hayward - Flashes of real brilliance on both sides of the ball were offset by many set plays that seemed to disintegrate into pick and nothing - Gordon will catch the ball on the wing, do nothing for several seconds, and then try to improvise against the shot clock. 3 pt accuracy plummeted, but his FT % improved nicely. Lower than expected rpg and spg stats, in my opinion. Grade: B-

Derrick Favors - While I think some fellow Utah fans are mildly irrational about his improvement arc, he's unquestionably the top defensive player on this squad, and likely top-10 in the league next year. He was one missed shot under 50% FG for the year, and improved his FT% nicely. Only averaged 1 bpg in 21 mins per game, but anyone would argue he deserved 30+ mins a night. Interestingly, a -21 in the annual +/- rating. Here's a question - would Utah fans now accept the Deron Williams trade if it was just for Derrick Favors alone? The fact that 50% or more would tells all you need to know about our occasional irrationality while understating that this guy can be really, really special. Grade: B+

Alec Burks - What surprised me the most this year was his composure, and his uncanny ability to get to the line - drawing fouls as if he were a mid-career star player in his limited minutes. Wouldn't hurt him to put on 10-15 lbs of muscle. Not afraid to drive to the hoop ( hence the high # of foul calls in his favor) compensating for a wobbly outside shot ( 33% from three). Needs to improve FT% ( 72%) and A-TO ratio (dead-even @ 1).. Grade: B-

Enes Kanter - Seemed to hit the rookie wall faster and heavier than Burks did. Has the makings of a spectacular rebounder, and seemed to miss an exorbitant number of shots at the rim, but to his credit, rebounded a lot of those misses, only to miss again. Only 8 assists and worse, only 23 blocks in over 800 minutes on the floor is rather worrisome. Still, lots of time yet to develop, and seems to be coachable. By a wide margin, the worst +/- rating on the team, probably to be expected for a rookie C. Grade: C-

Demarre Carroll - Ronnie Price replacement (yes I know they play different positions) - immediate fan favorite, shows lots of hustle on the court, but the impact of his play usually results in fairly pedestrian box scores. Will be nice to have around next year ( if in fact it happens) but expectations should be fairly low. Grade: C+

Jeremy Evans - Grade for All-Star weekend - A - the rest of the season provided a few highlight reels but in short he's about a zillion lbs too light to play meaningful minutes. It seems like other teams caught on to the alley-oop after the All-star break. Grade: C+

Jamaal Tinsley - very pleasant surprise. Recorded the top 2 or 3 season highs in assists, and seemed to be exactly the type of veteran presence in the locker room that the team hoped (but weren't sure) they were getting. A little shot-happy, and not particularly accurate most of the time.. Still, a pleasant surprise, all in all. Grade: B If you'd have asked me between Tinsley and Josh Howard who would have meant more to the team, I would have mistakenly said Josh Howard - Grade: C

Earl Watson, CJ MIles and Raja Bell, aka the players whose jerseys will be on the 80% clearance rack next year @ Fanzz... - Earl was great the first two months of the season, and tailed off quickly. CJ's inconsistency had just become too consistent, and Raja's bridge burning will likely mean we'll get < 0 for him in the offseason. Grades - Earl - C+, CJ is at a C- and Raja's 3 pt range improvement saves him from an F at a D-

Pretty spot on. Favors grade is a little skewed due to optimism and you were a little harsh on Harris but not by much.

What would KOC and Corbin have had to do in order to get an A? Jesus.

KOC brought in a veteran who before the year nobody thought the Jazz would have a chance at, made two picks in the lottery that look like they were clearly the best available at the time, even after a year there isn't anyone picked after them that I would move them for, and made a very heady move bringing in a veteran that nobody wanted to play 3rd string PG who helped us win several games. Also, and maybe most importantly, moved a dead in the water Okur for a potentially huge TPE trade, at the very least he saved the Jazz 10 million dollars that can be spent elsewhere in the coming years.

Corbin balanced the veterans and the young guys so all of them got real, in game minutes, not just garbage minutes or tank the season minutes, kept the value of our veterans high going into their final contract years, and made sure all of our young guys improved from the first game of the season. Favors is worlds better on the floor, he's going to be a legit 18/10/2/2 guy next year, Hayward started every game this year and improved his game significantly every month across the board, Kanter learned how to get a shot off which he couldn't do at all early in the season, and Burks looks like he's going to be the second or third guy off the bench starting next year, he was playing solid minutes in the playoffs.

Bat wrote:What would KOC and Corbin have had to do in order to get an A? Jesus.

I am normally a HUGE supporter of KOC, and I consider myself very grounded when it comes to having realistic expectations with a rookie coach. Having said that, I think things could have turned out a little better in the least, and as far as long term, I would have much rather had things go quite a bit different. That doesn't mean I think we're screwed, but I am less enthusiastic than I would be had all the cards fallen the way I consider to have been the best case scenario.

First, KOC. Excellent job dumping Memo when he did, regardless of whether or not anything happens with the TPE. However, he dropped the ball by not dumping Raja at the same time, IMO. And if not then, he certainly blew it at the deadline, with Bell, Howard and CJ as players that should have been moving. Some, one, all, whatever. His inactivity at the deadline was a fail in my book. Ideally, he should have also pulled off an Al trade for rebuilding pieces. Instead, our FO played it conservatively, and made a run at the playoffs. Losing our own pick was one thing, but losing the GS pick could have had a little more startegy involved. That comes down to KOC and Corbin, but whatever. I hate to nitpick the details of things that are iffy in the first place, but I think things could've worked out better.

As for Corbin, I don't have much for complaints, but there are a few. Burks should've never had a DNP this year. No excuse. I also think he could've done a better job getting Kanter more burn when he was playing well. Not having Favors in on defensive possessions to close games was also bad coaching.

Anyway, I'm sure I could nitpick a few more things, but overall I'm happy with the job they've done. My biggest concern right now is with KOC and the direction he chooses to take in the offseason. I'd like to see some risks taken. If they play it safe and go into next season with the same basic team, I'll be expecting the same basic result. Not at all what I'm hoping for.

If we're grading based upon pre-season expectations, Kanter is in the B range for me, because he showed more than I expected him to after the long lay-off. I'll be looking for significant improvement next year, with off-season workouts, summer league, and a full training camp under his belt.

I give O'Connor at least a B+ for tracking down Tinsley and Carroll, while picking up Kanter and Burks in the draft.

Hayward gets a B+ from me. After a rough start, he finished the season on a tear. Probably would've been an A-, but his rough playoff series brings it down a bit.

Favors gets an A- for being one of the only guys who consistently got after it every second of every game, for his improved footwork on the offensive end, and his beastly playoff run.

If we're going by maximizing one's abilities, Carroll gets an A++++++++++. Not sure there's anything he's capable of giving us that he didn't.

I talk enough about Harris in other threads, so I'll leave him out. CJ and Earl both get Ds; Raja fails (at everything).

Not a lot to quibble about, but I would make a few changes.

Ty Corbin: C-
His stubborn insistence in sticking with underperforming vets really cost this team. I can't give him credit for making changes late in the season,when the only reason he did so was due to injury. Finally, the 4OT game in Atlanta was the worst single coaching performance I have EVER seen. I have hope that he will get better, but right now I think Coach Corbin is a detriment to the team, not an advantage.

Kevin O'Connor: D
I will qualify this in that I think he deserves an "A" for last years DWill trade, but that was last year. Failing to have a single capable outside shooter on this team and failing to make more room for Favors by moving Al or Sap at the deadline were huge errors. Draft is the only thing that keeps him from an "F" in my book.

Enes Kanter: A
Obviously grading on a curve here, but for what he has been through in the last three years, Kanter exceeded my wildest expectations.

Corbin C- many rookie coaching mistakes, and took too long to make moves with lineups that I would have done from the begining of the year.

KOC B+ Great GM but standing pat at trade deadline was a mistake. He should have pushed hard for Wes Matthews and trade away the GSW pick which has loss some value bc the Jazz have to wait therefore.

Kanter B He was much better than I expected pre-season and had an impact on meaningful games. Reason not an A was he hit rookie wall late in year and needs to get into better shape.

Burks B- Showed signs of being a talented scorer but is a terrible defender. He also showed to me that he will never be more than a 6-7th man in this league.

Hayward B- Finanlly came into his own later in the year. Showed superstar games and plays BUT just like in Butler he showed that he doesnt have the makeup to be the man. He choked in the playoffs and will need to be the 3rd-4th best player in your starting lineup to win a championship.

Favors A- Not an A+ bc Corbin didnt play him. Im his biggest fan in the world. I think if he plays 35+ min per game next year which is expected than he he an Allstar. He is already the best defensive big in the league (yes better than Dwight Howard).

Big Al B- Im not a huge fan of his game but he is such a good team leader and helped the young bigs developed. Im impressed with him as a person. Taking Kanter and Favors to Santa Barbara this summer is extremely impressive to me. I might be able to live with his game bc of his leadership ability.

Devin Harris C+ The worst PG in the league for the first few months than to one of the better ones than to average play in the playoffs. He has guts and can play big in big games. Jazz probably better off letting him go.

Paul Millsap B Plays hard and generally smart, but lack of size stops him from being an allstar player. If he works on his 3 point shot then he could be our SF next year but I think he is one that is traded with Harris for a PG and/or wing scorer

Demarre Carroll B+ I was his biggest detractor when he was picked up off waivers and was suddenly playing minutes. He won me over and I love him as an energy wing player off the bench. If he could become a lights out 3 pointer shooter than he could have a great career.

Jeremy Evans C He showed signs that he could contribute to this team but why doesnt he workon his body? He could make himself a good player and alot of money but adding bulk and strenght to his body. Next year going to be a very important year for him as he could be out of league otherwise.

Earl Watson B+ Started the year well and was a great leader for the team. Injuries set him back. A good back up PG and should be named team captain with Hayward asap.

Tinsley/Howard B- Played well at times and like crap at other times. I dont want neither back as I prefer their roster spots go to younger developing players

CJ/Raja D+ Played good defense when they played but inconsistent offense and made unecessary comments yesterday.

You guys are all nuts.

HT, didn't Hayward lead an underdog Butler team to the brink of an NCAA title? Not sure what you're getting at with that reference.

The59Sound wrote:HT, didn't Hayward lead an underdog Butler team to the brink of an NCAA title? Not sure what you're getting at with that reference.

He was their main guy at Butler BUT he wasnt really the guy that took the shots at the end of the game less the one last half court shot he missed in the championship. Their clutch shooter was Mack. When I watched Butler during the NCAA tourney that year, I would say Hayward can be awesome but something is missing. Its like something was holding him back from wanting to take games over. He would pass on shots. His mentality is of a pass first PG (which he played throughout high school). He will never be the leading scorer on the Utah Jazz, but thats ok bc he brings other things to the court. He cannot be your 1st or second option offensively but I do like him as a facilitator for other scorers, and his defense is great much better than I expected.

I'm pretty sure I remember him taking most of the end of the game shots. He had a turnaround on the baseline the play before that that probably would have won them the game.

I'll order them by grades, and all grades are based on my preseason expectations.

all grades are based on my preseason expectations

based on preseason expectations

A's - Exceeding expectations
Favors: A
I loved watching his improvement as the season progressed. While Ty is often maligned for not giving Favors more time, I think refusing to immediately hand over the reigns to Favors made him work really hard this season to improve and earn the minutes. I remember realizing at some point late in the season that Favors had become someone we could give the ball to when we needed a score, which I didn't expect from him this year. I love his defense and his fire. I'm also happy that he started going strong to the basket all the time, forcing the other team to foul.

KOC: A
I'm with Bat on this one - you're all crazy for not giving KOC an A. Did he have that one flashy move to catch everyone's attention? No. But he found two solid rotation players in Howard and Watson, and the two draft picks seem to be spot on at this point. I understand why people might be frustrated that no trade deadline deal was made, but I don't think you can blame him for not "going through" with trades that are only speculative in nature. Another thing to note is that he purposefully built this team to handle a condensed season, and considering we exceeded expectations as a team I think his plan worked out.

Burks: A-
Maybe my expectations were too low for this guy, but I really like what I saw from the kid. He uses his athleticism well, and I love the way he relentlessly attacks the basket and draws fouls. If he works on his shot, he will be a special player. Only thing I was disappointed by was his passing.

Hayward: A-
Obviously the last couple playoff games left a sour taste in our mouths, but he really made great strides this year while taking on the starter role in his sophomore season. He still has a lot to improve on, but I was impressed by his multitude of talents. His passing and ball-handling will be great for us, and his defense really surprised me this year. I'm a little disappointed that his shooting is so streaky, because we desparately need steady shooters on this team.

Carroll: A-
Obviously I had very low expectations for him, but he still did a great job and really gave our team a lift at the end of the season. We probably wouldn't have made the playoffs without him.

B's - Meeting expectations
Corbin: B+
For the most part, I think Corbin did a great job handling the balance between the veterans and the young'uns. I like that he made the young guys earn more minutes, while giving them opportunities to prove themselves and succeed. Burks is the ultimate example of this. I think he still has some game management issues, and I'd like to see him be a bit more creative. I want to see if the offense will have the same problems if we lose Al Jefferson, but it is a concern for me as well. I wasn't too impressed with his playoff coaching, but he was a rookie coach against a great team.

Al Jefferson: B+
While I still think he is a detriment to the team in many ways, I have to give him credit for improving and playing hard. I never thought he'd give up on his "black hole" ways, but as the season went on he actually became a fairly willing passer. I think there's actually hope for him in this regard. I don't know why he's so terrible on pick-and-roll defense, but it kills me to watch.

Enes Kanter: B+
I was fairly impressed with Kanter, and I think he showed definite promise. I would have liked to see just a bit more improvement over the season - to me it looked like he hit the rookie wall hard. Still, not much could be expected out of him this year, and he is already a great rebounder and a solid defender.

Jamaal Tinsely: B+
I didn't expect him to do much at all, and was a bit worried that he might end up being a cancer for the team, but it seems like he was quite the opposite. He was always talking to the young guys and helping them out on the bench, and when we needed him to perform during the season he really helped us out. After Watson came back from injury, it seemed like he was a bit affected by losing his spot again and he wasn't as effective after that, otherwise he would have had an A- from me.

Paul Millsap: B
All in all, Millsap right on par with what I expected. He still hustles and produces, but also occasionally hurts us with his lack of size. His shot was really erratic this year, but the steals were an improvement I didn't see coming. Loved it.

Jeremy Evans: B
Did a great job representing us with the dunk contest, but can't really get consistent minutes. He might not get the chance to show his stuff unless we trade Millsap and Jefferson. While I love the guy and he energizes the crowd, I'm worried he's stuck between positions and might never get out of there.

Earl Watson: B-
I love the way he plays defense, but he hasn't really seemed to find a fit in our offense unless we're in transition or he's tossing alleyoops to someone.

Devin Harris: B-
This grade would have been lower if he hadn't really turned it on at the end of the season. The end-of-the-year Devin is about what I expected from him. I like that he can score the ball, but he's still not a great passer or defender.

Josh Howard: B-
I was really excited when we picked him up, because I thought he could be a great bench player for us. He showed some promise, but overall I wouldn't be disappointed if he moved on to another team. I was surprised at how bad his shot was and how shaky his passing was.

CJ Miles: B-
I wasn't too happy with his play this season, but I wasn't expecting much at all. He did seem to shoot a little less this year than last, but he seemed to have a bad attitude toward the end of the year.

C's Below Expectations
Raja Bell: C-
Raja's play really fell off this year, especially his defense. He did have a decent stretch of shooting, but everything else was a negative. I'm particularly disappointed by his run-in with Corbin and his pouting on the bench when there are simply better players than him to put out on the court, and when he was given ample playing time to start the season and prove he still had it.

KOC gets an A+ from me....... Great draft, and solid signings, Howard and Tinsley were good signings, and so was Carroll......

Players later on.......

Bat wrote:You guys are all nuts.

What's your take on the players?

I give in to the homerism, this is ridiculous.

"Burks B- Showed signs of being a talented scorer but is a terrible defender. He also showed to me that he will never be more than a 6-7th man in this league." -Toledo



This is horrible. Most rookies struggle on D and Burks can be much more than a career 6th man. He may only deserve a B but he showed some really nice stuff this year.

ColdBlue wrote:

Bat wrote:You guys are all nuts.

What's your take on the players?

Tinsley and Kanter are the only two who really surprised me. Tinsley at times being our best PG was shocking, I didn't think he was going to survive the training camp. Kanter is simply farther along than I thought he'd be, never imagined he'd be instrumental in a road victory in LA going h2h with Bynum.

The vets were pretty much the same as they were last year, Al's passing showed signs of life, but when push came to shove he's still Al. Sake with Paul, huge heart, small frame. Devin grasped the offense much better to end the season, but he's a stop gap until out next guy comes in.

Favors and Hayward showed exactly what we all hoped, they just reinforced that they are both legit upperclassman in the league, consistency is the key now.

Burks showed good signs too, his passing was a little dissapointing but that will come as he learns the offense, and his role. His shooting is better than advertised, h still hasthe talent to be one of our top 2 scorers of the future.

I dont think anyone on the jazz got more than a c+. Still allot of room to grow, the spurs showed us that painfully.

Glad to see people aren't butchering Kanter. He had some really impressive moments.