Is Paul Millsap the real deal?

[JStockLivesOn]

So, we've been having these discussions on the periphery for a while, I know, but let's just get it right out in the open here.

Is Paul Millsap the real deal? A player who can be counted on to produce for about 75 games each season? Does he make letting Boozer walk a viable, even preferable, solution to our salary problems?

At the beginning of this season, I said that Paul was about at his ceiling -- that being, he was the best off-the-bench energy player in the league, but wouldn't progress past that.

I'm, not surprisingly, starting to rethink that assessment. We've seen Paul put up numbers night after night after night, all while playing competently and with high energy on BOTH ends of the floor. Now, it would be difficult for one to claim he possessed an offensive skill set comparable to Boozer's, but I would argue that his defensive adequacy makes up for the discrepancy between his and Carlos' post games.

My only concern, really, is his height. And that's a minor qualm, all things considered.

What do you all think?

I might just be ready to see Boozer walk, and lock up Paul, Memo, and KK.

[fivas14]

Hell mother **** yes he is.

He's a better rebounder, plays harder, doesn't commit stupid fouls, gets the other teams best big men in foul trouble, a warrior. His offense isn't as advanced like Boozer but he makes up for it with his better defense. He'll be cheaper then boozer and he's going to surpass him SOON.

[fivas14]

And compared to Boozer, he's not undersized. Only by numbers. He's an inch smaller and 15 lbs lighter yet he plays x3 as big as Boozer.



Hey Boozer, see ya!

[carrottop12]

He's the real deal. His stats are almost identical to Boozer when he's been starting. Yeah, he's averaging fewer points, but he has a higher shooting percentage then Booze, and is only averaging 2.0 less points per game. Give Millsap two more shots a game and he'll eclipse Boozer's scoring.

Then look and see that they are averaging the exact same rebound stats, Millsap just averages a block more per game.

Millsap is the man, the Jazz need to find a way to get another back up PF now though.

[Lava Rock Kid]

I love millsap and all, but watch Kevin Garnett or Duncan pass over the top of his head with ease. Their is alot of hate on this board for Boozer, but he is the better player. Why else would boozer get more money. Boozer has had two major injuries twice in his career. That is not that bad. He is not faking it, it is a contract season. Dont forget all the games that Boozer carried us through when Dwill was injured. Plus Boozer is the only person you can hand the ball to at the end of the shotclock with time running down and go one on one and score. Millsap usually needs a screen and to be moving. Most of Millsaps points come off hustle and put backs. Plus this is a contract year for millsap, what if we max him out ala kirilenko and the returns ala kirilenko.

[HammerDunk]

Are you insinuating that Garnet or Duncan have never passed over Boozer's head? You're probably right, because they don't need to pass it when they can get to the hoop at will. Boozer's 1 or 2 inches over Sap isn't going to make a lick of difference if the guy doesn't play tough defense.

Millsap's stats are amazing, considering the offense doesn't go through him like it did with Boozer. This streak of DDs is getting downright ridiculous. The guy has no quit in him. If you don't think he is the real deal, I'm sure the rest of the league will disagree with you at the end of the season.

[outerspacefella]

I like Millsap better. But to keep Millsap and Boozer would be great (even if I use to be slighty hard on Boozer... the guy sometimes just provokes the common fan!).
Anyway, it's almost impossible to keep the bunch of Boozer, Millsap, Okur, Kirilenko... in the best conceivable scenario it would cost the Jazz 50M, and that would get the Jazz toying with the 64M point mark for 5 players.

[FJS]

He is really great... but I think we would be better with two playing, and right now Boozer is the better player.
Said that, I can assume Boozer lose without drama, because I think a frontcount of Okur, Millsap and Koufos is fine.

[El Turco]

he is the real deal but i still think utah needs a go to player offensively. both deron and okur is way too inconsistent in that aspect.

[carrottop12]

Yeah, the Jazz need to find another offensive threat with Boozer gone a la Rip Hamilton.

[HammerDunk]

Yeah, the Jazz need to find another offensive threat with Boozer gone a la Rip Hamilton.

That would be a pick up that would put this team over the top IMO.

[d-will8]

I love Millsap as much as the next guy and I would have to answer the question in the affirmative. However, I don't want to get too carried away. We are definitely missing Boozer right now and it's not just because we have less depth without him. Millsap is a much better defender, although his lack of height is something of a disadvantage, an extraordinary offensive rebounder and an incredibly active, efficient and productive offensive player who can get a lot of points without having many plays run for him. However, he's nowhere near as polished as Boozer offensively, he's not the same kind of go-to-weapon in the post and he's a significantly worse pick-and-roll option (or maybe just significantly less proven, given that we've hardly been running the pick-and-roll with Boozer out.) Defenses don't key in on Millsap the way they do on Boozer and, at this point, I think of him as more of a Shawn Marion type scorer than a legitimate offensive centerpiece. Also, Millsap is not a better rebounder than Boozer. Obviously, he's a great offensive rebounder, but we haven't been rebounding nearly as well on the defensive end since Boozer went down.
Again, I love Millsap and, if Larry's not willing to pay the luxury tax and it comes down to keeping him or Boozer, I'd probably chose Millsap for various reasons. That being said, I think people are underselling Boozer: he's still the better player.

[carrottop12]

Boozer clearly has a more polished game that right now fits in better with the Jazz offensive scheme. But the Jazz were only going to get so far on a stellar offense.

Millsap has the potential to be the low post defensive anchor and tough guy that Boozer never dreamed of being that your championship needs.

Can Millsap carry the Jazz to a ring by himself? Of course not, but I don't think Boozer could either, and I feel it's worlds easier to find players who can make up for a lack of scoring, then it is to find players to clean up another players defensive weaknesses, especially when that player is too valuable not to have on the floor.

[jazzed77]

well the pick n roll has not been run through Sap, it has worked with Okur, who is danegrous all the way past the 3pt line. as far as Booze being our only go to player......I'd argue that Deron is actua;;y that guy....think about it, 5 sec on the clock, who gets the ball?

[Racer X]

RIGHT NOW (meaning as of today):

When it comes to a regular season grind if you had to pick between the two than I think you take Millsap. His effort level and consistency just carries the team.

When it comes to a Game 7 in the playoffs, I think you take Boozer. His performance in Game 7 in Houston was underrated. With the game on the line, you need a bucket I just trust Boozer more now.

With all that being said . . . iI truly hope there is a way that we can keep both of them, BUT if during the offseason I could only keep one, I think I take Paul Millsap.

[majortripps69]

I'd love to see Boozer and Millsap both in the game at the same time, I think it's a viable option. Run Memo at the 5, you put two very dangerous guys in the game. They are both too good of players to not try it.

[ColdBlue]

I think Sap is the real deal, but he has a ways to go yet. He is finding his inside game but it's still a little chaotic.

Boozer is a game changer. He is consistent and solid offensively. He provides that stable scoring that the Jazz need.

So I voted for keeping Booze.... but with that said...

I really like the idea of picking up Rip, letting Booze go, retiring Harp, signing Sap and playing Kosta at back-up. Rip could be very consistent and solid offensive scorer in our system ala Booze.

[d-will8]

Boozer clearly has a more polished game that right now fits in better with the Jazz offensive scheme. But the Jazz were only going to get so far on a stellar offense.

Millsap has the potential to be the low post defensive anchor and tough guy that Boozer never dreamed of being that your championship needs.

Can Millsap carry the Jazz to a ring by himself? Of course not, but I don't think Boozer could either, and I feel it's worlds easier to find players who can make up for a lack of scoring, then it is to find players to clean up another players defensive weaknesses, especially when that player is too valuable not to have on the floor.

Those are definitely valid points, but, if we lose Boozer, building/rebuilding a championship contender without him won't simply be a matter of replacing the points he scores. If you look at championship teams, almost all of them have had at least two great offensive players who could create their own offense in all kinds of situations when their team got them the ball. When healthy, Deron is certainly one of these and, although he didn't play like it in last year's playoffs, I think Boozer is one as well. He has one of the most polished and well-rounded skillsets of any big man in the league, he's incredibly difficult to stop and the vast majority of teams in the NBA have to double-team him. Maybe Millsap is not done developing offensively, but, right now, I don't think he's suited to be one of the top two options on a contending team and Memo isn't either. Boozer is and, if we lose him, we will need to acquire somebody else who is.

[GP]

Rip is a good offensive player, but he is below average defensively. Adding another defensive liability doesn't seem like a great idea.

[Soul Patch]

Boozer's advantage on offense is < than Millsap's advantage on defense. I like the Rip-Maxiell for Boozer and a wing player trade but I'm too damn emotionally attached to both Miles and Brewer to trade them. Maybe Boozer, Korver, and Collins and than have Miles come off the bench to help spread the floor with AK. We've got legitimate pieces, a top tier PG, Sixth man of the year, a solid low post presence on offense and defense, an improving wing defender, and something most teams don't have in a sharp shooting center. Our defense is better than last year but still has a lot of holes but with Fesenko and Koufos improving they could very well help us off the bench.