Utah Jazz: Making the case for Joe Ingles as sixth man
https://thejnotes.com/2017/08/12/utah-jazz-case-joe-ingles-sixth-man/2/I've assumed that Ingles would be starting at SF, but this guy at Purple and Blues (now the JNotes) is making an argument that Thabo should start. His argument basically is that Thabo is an even better defender than Joe, capable of defending elite small forwards, and that Joe's considerable skills at point forward are much needed with the young guys, Exum and Mitchell, who would also presumably be coming off the bench.
No doubt Ingles would be a very helpful, stabilizing influence playing alongside Exum and Mitchell, but I think I want Joe in the starting lineup. Many people are already rating our starting offense with Ingles as subpar, but I think it would be even more subpar with Thabo starting in place of Ingles. Thabo has only shot the three ball at 33.5% the last three seasons compared to Ingles' 40% over the last three seasons. That's a pretty big spread. Though Joe and Thabo have been scoring similar low points, Joe has recently been rated quite a bit higher than Thabo on various offensive rankings. In addition, Ingles has played with Rubio before, played with Rudy before (and Hood and Favors) and can help integrate Rubio in to the new starting offense. Joe seems quite coachable, adaptable and ready to help lead by playing the role in the starting lineup that the Coaches ask him to play. I trust Ingles to make the right play at the right time on offense in the starting lineup whereas I am not so sure about the new guy.
A hopeful Jazz fan.
