Vanderbilt

[FJS]

Am I the only one who is not satisfied with his play?

He has a lot of intensity, and play hards... but he is not very effective rebounding (he rebounds, but with Olynyk and Markkanen they aren't effective and he is the most limited in offense of those 3).

He does a little bit of everything, but he is not very good in anything.

Frankly I would like Kesller to play more with Olynyk and Lauri, because we are going raped a lot in rebounds.

What do you think?

[red4hf]

The Jazz have him guarding perimeter players A LOT so I think that really impacts his rebounding....... If he was playing in the paint full time, the numbers would be better......

I am pretty happy with his effort..... His utilization however leaves something to be desired........

[zero24gravity]

The Jazz have him guarding perimeter players A LOT so I think that really impacts his rebounding....... If he was playing in the paint full time, the numbers would be better......

I am pretty happy with his effort..... His utilization however leaves something to be desired........

Agreed. I'm happy with his play and think he's a motor for the Jazz's level of effort, which is a key to why they have played above their talent-level up to this point. They are competitive, and I think Vandy is the driving force for that attitude. Like Royce, last year, he's asked to guard many different positions. Love having him on our team and have no desire to see him lose any significant level of playing time.

[bkohler]

I’m not as sold on him as others are! It feels like his reputation might be bigger than his actual production. If I were Ainge he’d be on my list of ‘sell high’ candidates.

[mg]

The Jazz have him guarding perimeter players A LOT so I think that really impacts his rebounding....... If he was playing in the paint full time, the numbers would be better......

I am pretty happy with his effort..... His utilization however leaves something to be desired........

I think they put him more closer to the perimeter for 2 reasons:

1. He's a bad fit with Lauri in the paint. Vando has no offensive skill so his man just sags off and doubles Lauri. Not good. Teams are now seeing film on the Jazz and are making adjustments.

2. The Jazz are sorely lacking in athletic 6'-8" wings that can defend the perimeter. Vandy can do it but unfortunately it's going to impact his rebounding. Playing him out there is a problem offensively as opposing defenses do not have to defend his shot on the perimeter. Despite his total lack of shooting he's pretty good as a facilitator.

I do love his motor though. On the right team he would be a really nice piece of the puzzle. Even on the Jazz I think he should be more of a high end bench piece. I could see Ainge deal him for the right price though. He's another guy who will need a new contract in a year and a half too.

[Rauxcee]

I too have felt like that. I often ask what he does out there besides energy. He can't score, he's too small to rebound and regularly misses rebounds to taller players, and he can't seem to defend without fouling.

I think a bench role as an energy guy for 15-18 minutes a game is what he is suited for.


Also, I really, really hate when people used the term rape to describe situations that aren't rape. My 2 cents.

[Inigo Montoya]

Vanderbilt isn't too small to rebound. He's 6-9, which is taller than Millsap and as tall as Boozer, who were very good rebounders. He's also second on the team in rebounds with 8.2 rbs in 25 minutes, with Markkanen (a seven footer) in the lead with 8.4 rebs in 33.7 minutes. Per 36, he actually leads the team (if we ignore Dok).

What Vanderbilt does, outside of bringing energy and rebounding, is versatile defense, as he can defend multiple positions rather well. Having said that, our roster composition is one where we have no shot blocking other than Kessler, and our rebounding is suspect as well since Olynyk was never a good rebounder, and Markkanen spends a lot of his time defending wings further from the basket.

The issue for me is that it looks like Ainge might be setting up for a major reshuffle in the 2024-25 season, when there will be very few players on the books. Currently, Vanderbilt is on a bargain of a contract at $4.3M and $4.6M next season, and the question is whether he'll be such a great asset when he'll be making over 10M per season. I think might end up in a similar position as the previous team, where we'll have a capped out payroll with a core that isn't good enough to contend. I really wish we'd tank.

[AingesBurner]

Vanderbilt isn't too small to rebound. He's 6-9, which is taller than Millsap and as tall as Boozer, who were very good rebounders. He's also second on the team in rebounds with 8.2 rbs in 25 minutes, with Markkanen (a seven footer) in the lead with 8.4 rebs in 33.7 minutes. Per 36, he actually leads the team (if we ignore Dok).

What Vanderbilt does, outside of bringing energy and rebounding, is versatile defense, as he can defend multiple positions rather well. Having said that, our roster composition is one where we have no shot blocking other than Kessler, and our rebounding is suspect as well since Olynyk was never a good rebounder, and Markkanen spends a lot of his time defending wings further from the basket.

The issue for me is that it looks like Ainge might be setting up for a major reshuffle in the 2024-25 season, when there will be very few players on the books. Currently, Vanderbilt is on a bargain of a contract at $4.3M and $4.6M next season, and the question is whether he'll be such a great asset when he'll be making over 10M per season. I think might end up in a similar position as the previous team, where we'll have a capped out payroll with a core that isn't good enough to contend. I really wish we'd tank.

We kinda have been tanking; hell, Hardy is playing NAW and Dok, that’s the definition of tanking

[mg]

Hardy didn't call a timeout down 1 when PHX got the ball with 26 seconds left in the game.

He was playing Dok last night.

Those almost appear to be very subtle tank moves in 2 straight games.

By the way I am impressed with Vando's passing but they are only playing him about 20 minutes a night. He is not a fit with Lauri. Last night they had to get Beasley out there in the 4th quarter for some much needed shooting. Vandy is a good rebounder but we can't expect him to be beating the Drummonds, Embiid, Ayton 7'-0" guys for boards. Actually the team is getting killed right now every time they play against one of these big physical 7' types.

[FJS]

He is defending best offensive player... but they are torching us...

Derozan 26,
Booker 29
Curry 33
Bojan 23... in the last games...

Sure, he is not defending every minute, but there's no a lot of difference.

[red4hf]

He is defending best offensive player... but they are torching us...

Derozan 26,
Booker 29
Curry 33
Bojan 23... in the last games...

Sure, he is not defending every minute, but there's no a lot of difference.

I wouldn't say any of those point totals mean we were "torched".......

[FJS]

okay... they were a little bit above their averages... so at least he was not slowing them.

[red4hf]

okay... they were a little bit above their averages... so at least he was not slowing them.

That is true...... It's the Royce O'Neale thing all over again..... Jazz used O'Neale as a "defensive stopper" even though every metric showed he was no such thing, and in the process there were so many bad matchups created that it completely ruined the defensive scheme...... The Jazz are making the same mistake with Vanderbilt, they need to stop and let him play his position......

And somebody needs to show Olynyk how to block out opposing bigs for rebounds properly......