Boozer o AK, who is more important?

[FJS]

I think Boozer is a star and he is really important to us, but I think when we play without AK our team is really weak.
I mean we have played without Williams, Boozer and AK and our team is pretty decent with Boozer and AK together, and with Williams and AK, but when AK is missing the game, our team sucks.


oppinions?

[jozef]

It's cornerstone versus bench spark.
I think Boozer is go-to guy (at .559 FG% !, 12 rebs per 36 mins), Karl Malone type of player who dominates his defender and commands double-team. Without him the Jazz miss any polishness on inside game and the execution is shaky.
Kirilenko looks good against weaker competition of opponent's bench, he does look good at Euro Champs that's the trick. His biggest asset to the Jazz offense is drawing touch fouls from defenders who lost their coolness instead of let him shooting those weak layups. His assist are outbalanced with his bad passes. Kirilenko's production at SF (with the exception of shotblocking, that's what only Koufos can provide now) could be easily replaced by Miles or Brewer or Harpring. If you look at per 36 mins stats this season he rebounds 2 more defensive rebound cause of playing at PF and he shoots 2 more free throws cause of handling the ball more in bench lineup.
Once we could get complete center with shotblocking skills (Kaman) then AK would be forgotten.

[idajazz]

Boozer.

I think it is really starting to show!
All the Boozer haters are eating crow.

[Lava Rock Kid]

Depends.
Which boozer? Last years playoffs boozer or this seasons healthy boozer?
Which Kirilenko? Last years ak or this years ak?


Mabey our players are like the spurs. They only produce on odd years?

[jazzed77]

IMHO it's AK and it's not even close......AK can do sooo much for the team, but if Boozer's offensive ame is off he's basicly useless

[cjs55]

Kirilenko's production at SF (with the exception of shotblocking, that's what only Koufos can provide now) could be easily replaced by Miles or Brewer or Harpring. If you look at per 36 mins stats this season he rebounds 2 more defensive rebound cause of playing at PF and he shoots 2 more free throws cause of handling the ball more in bench lineup.

How about the fact that he plays much better help defense, helps our team defense, causes deflections, and gets more steals than Miles or Harpring? Not to mention he can run the offense when Deron's out, something Miles or Harpring have no chance of being able to do. This is a pathetic statement.


Boozer and AK are both really important to our team.

[Duiz]

Boozer isn't nearly as dominant without Andrei Kirilenko on the court. Kirilenko doesn't look nearly as good, if he doesn't have a great finisher on the court. Just like PGs and PFs, they kinda depend on each other.

I would say that Kirilenko's versatile defense, and high level repertoire of skills he has are of much more value than Boozer's high offense, No defense value. Boozer isn't even the go to guy at the end of the games for the Jazz anymore, that is Deron Williams. We have such a great depth, that having both Kirilenko and Williams helps us to have balanced scoring everynight. If you remember last year, when we were best, making the greatest runs in the season and winning by the widest differentials... AK was playing great, but not scoring much, and 6 or 7 people were in double digits scoring.

Salary wise, Boozer/Kirilenko... I would prefer Boozer's salary this year rather than Kirilenko.

[HammerDunk]

This year it is AK. He has been our best player IMO, and takes so much pressure off Booz/Sap when he is in the game. No question in my mind AK is our best player so far this year!

[Soul Patch]

This year has been AK. Without him we've lost our spark, we've looked lack luster in the games he's sat out. Also, Ak has been more valuable because we don't have anyone that can do what he does, Boozer's rebounding and inside game has been sorely missed but Millsap's been doing a more than adequate job filling in. Korver, Miles, Almond, and Harpring aren't able to bring what AK does to the table. Brewer would be the one that'd come the closest and I really want to see his playing time go up.

[jozef]

How about the fact that he plays much better help defense, helps our team defense, causes deflections, and gets more steals than Miles or Harpring? Not to mention he can run the offense when Deron's out, something Miles or Harpring have no chance of being able to do. This is a pathetic statement. Boozer and AK are both really important to our team.

Steals per 36 mins: Harp 3.1, Brew 2.3, AK 1.8 (half of his AK's steals came off his pterodactyl misses when defender collect the rebound but AK stayed there and deflected lazy outlet pass)
Blocks per 36 mins: Koufos 2.8, Fes 2.7, Collins 2.3, AK 1.8, Sap 1.6
I think Knight and CJ ran the offense much better than AK.

Boozer isn't nearly as dominant without Andrei Kirilenko on the court. Kirilenko doesn't look nearly as good, if he doesn't have a great finisher on the court. Just like PGs and PFs, they kinda depend on each other.

I never saw any sign of Boozer depending on Kirilenko. That's a nonsense. Most of time they do not even play together now. In fact Carlos proved that he can produce at same level without Deron.

I would say that Kirilenko's versatile defense, and high level repertoire of skills he has are of much more value than Boozer's high offense, No defense value.

High level repertoir? Do you mean mix one good pass with throwing the ball away? Or his .339 on jumpshots? He got easy baskets against bench players of weaker teams.

Which boozer? Last years playoffs boozer or this seasons healthy boozer?
Which Kirilenko? Last years ak or this years ak?

It was the same Boozer. Phil Jackson's defensive strategy on very good Lakers teams was the difference. Jackson let wings sag off Brew and AK and limit Carlos space.
It is the same Kirilenko. Go to his per 36 mins stats and you see only 2 improvements: +2 def rebs (playing at PF) and +2 FT's (attacking bench defenders).

[HammerDunk]

Dude, you are blind if you can't see what AK has done for this team this year. I don't give a single crap about your stats, it is blatantly obvious. His role off the bench has been a key to this team being so strong, He is the key to the success of our 2nd unit.

[ColdBlue]

Boozer by a landslide. Our offense is in shambles without him.

[schneiderjazz]

I honestly can't tell. They bring different things to the table. They've been our 2 best players so far this year.
Jozef, you really undervalue AK. Knight runs the offense better than AK of course, but CJ? Hell no. You say AK throws horrible passes? You should say the same thing about just everyone on the team, especially Deron.
I think it's awesome that you compare AK to the team's best shotblockers and best ball stealers and AK is one of the top guys in both categories. It just proves the opposite of what you were trying to prove.
I agree with you that Boozer doesn't depend on AK and vice-versa. They're both great players and although they benefit from each other, they don't really need one another to do their thing.
And saying that AK only plays against second units is bull. More than half the time he's on the floor, he's playing against the opposing teams starting unit.
I also love the fact that people always point out AK's poor shooting percentages, but by some strange reason, our offense always runs better with him on the floor. I wonder if it's a coincidence.
Still, I don't think we miss AK more than Boozer. Boozer is our 1st option and a damn good one. I just think that AK does a lot more than some of you might be suggesting.

[MeestR]

ak. the jazz benefit more from his presence and are hurt more by his absence. i think even taking millsap and memo out as if they weren't on the team, i would still rather have only ak than only booz. not saying i dont like booz, he is a good addition. but ak is more of an anchor to the team and its success.


or take 3 on 3's. deron brew and ??? or deron memo and ??? is it booz or ak that will win more games? i pick ak still.

[CAE15]

How about the fact that he plays much better help defense, helps our team defense, causes deflections, and gets more steals than Miles or Harpring? Not to mention he can run the offense when Deron's out, something Miles or Harpring have no chance of being able to do. This is a pathetic statement. Boozer and AK are both really important to our team.

Steals per 36 mins: Harp 3.1, Brew 2.3, AK 1.8 (half of his AK's steals came off his pterodactyl misses when defender collect the rebound but AK stayed there and deflected lazy outlet pass)
Blocks per 36 mins: Koufos 2.8, Fes 2.7, Collins 2.3, AK 1.8, Sap 1.6
I think Knight and CJ ran the offense much better than AK.

Boozer isn't nearly as dominant without Andrei Kirilenko on the court. Kirilenko doesn't look nearly as good, if he doesn't have a great finisher on the court. Just like PGs and PFs, they kinda depend on each other.

I never saw any sign of Boozer depending on Kirilenko. That's a nonsense. Most of time they do not even play together now. In fact Carlos proved that he can produce at same level without Deron.

I would say that Kirilenko's versatile defense, and high level repertoire of skills he has are of much more value than Boozer's high offense, No defense value.

High level repertoir? Do you mean mix one good pass with throwing the ball away? Or his .339 on jumpshots? He got easy baskets against bench players of weaker teams.

Which boozer? Last years playoffs boozer or this seasons healthy boozer?
Which Kirilenko? Last years ak or this years ak?

It was the same Boozer. Phil Jackson's defensive strategy on very good Lakers teams was the difference. Jackson let wings sag off Brew and AK and limit Carlos space.
It is the same Kirilenko. Go to his per 36 mins stats and you see only 2 improvements: +2 def rebs (playing at PF) and +2 FT's (attacking bench defenders).

Damn got some major hate for AK. stats dont tell the whole story. Why not get the deflections stat for this team. Even with the games he's missed AK leads that category easily for this team. Sure he has some careless passes every game but so does our star deron. Ak is at least the 4th best passer deron and Knight are better and price is borderline. AK I think is more important to our team. Millsap can do what boozer does to an extent he will never be the offensive threat that boozer is for us. But he can fill in real well. Like others said, no one else on our team can do what AK does. Hell brewer is so athletic so why cant he be like wade and get some blocks?

[jozef]

Knight runs the offense better than AK of course, but CJ? Hell no. You say AK throws horrible passes? You should say the same thing about just everyone on the team, especially Deron.
I think it's awesome that you compare AK to the team's best shotblockers and best ball stealers and AK is one of the top guys in both categories. It just proves the opposite of what you were trying to prove.
And saying that AK only plays against second units is bull. More than half the time he's on the floor, he's playing against the opposing teams starting unit.
I also love the fact that people always point out AK's poor shooting percentages, but by some strange reason, our offense always runs better with him on the floor. I wonder if it's a coincidence.

We could see CJ in point guard role running the offense smoothly, making great passes and committing no turnovers. He is way betterin that area than AK.
AK is not team top shotblocker or stealer anymore. That's all.
AK averages 28.7 minutes coming off the bench. Do math.
I don't think our offense runs better with AK on the floor. The most beatiful execution-based runs happened off Boozer and Miles (and maybe Williams) plays. Just my opinion.

I do not hate AK. I just think he got a bit more of credit while playing against bench players. I also think that other guys (Knight, Millsap...) were as much important as AK was for the success of our bench.

[JStockLivesOn]

AK has easily been our most versatile and valuable player this year, but our offense has been extremely anemic without Boozer, to a painful degree, so -- for this season -- I'd call it a wash to this point.

[Soul Patch]

Knight runs the offense better than AK of course, but CJ? Hell no. You say AK throws horrible passes? You should say the same thing about just everyone on the team, especially Deron.
I think it's awesome that you compare AK to the team's best shotblockers and best ball stealers and AK is one of the top guys in both categories. It just proves the opposite of what you were trying to prove.
And saying that AK only plays against second units is bull. More than half the time he's on the floor, he's playing against the opposing teams starting unit.
I also love the fact that people always point out AK's poor shooting percentages, but by some strange reason, our offense always runs better with him on the floor. I wonder if it's a coincidence.

We could see CJ in point guard role running the offense smoothly, making great passes and committing no turnovers. He is way betterin that area than AK.
AK is not team top shotblocker or stealer anymore. That's all.
AK averages 28.7 minutes coming off the bench. Do math.
I don't think our offense runs better with AK on the floor. The most beatiful execution-based runs happened off Boozer and Miles (and maybe Williams) plays. Just my opinion.

I do not hate AK. I just think he got a bit more of credit while playing against bench players. I also think that other guys (Knight, Millsap...) were as much important as AK was for the success of our bench.

Good Lord, CJ Miles running the point would get at least as many turnoves a 70% Dwill did. AK knows our system and his basketball IQ dwarfs Cj's, his main problem is trying to do too much. Andrei's a glue guy, if Boozer was asked to come off the bench do you think he'd do it? Hell nah, he's too worried about being Batman to Deron's Robin. Even if it would benefit the team he wouldn't come off the bench. Knight and Millsap benefited the most from AK coming off the bench, Knight has a player who can back him up to make a play if he can't, Millsap benefits from two passers that can get him the ball at the right time and someone who can help him protect the paint. Basketball isn't about stats, if you watch the **** game you can see what AK brings to the table and how it's helped the team.

[jozef]

CJ did run the point in one or two games and on few other occassions and did not turn the ball over at all. CJ's bball IQ is higher than AK's one. AK's 4.3 assists and 2.5 turnovers versus CJ's 3.4 assists and 1.1 turnovers per 36 mins...

Knight does not need "a player who can back him up to make a play if he can't" cause Knight could start at PG for most teams.
Millsap (who can start at PF for most teams) does not need AK to "benefit from two passers that can get him the ball at the right time" cause everybody can pass the ball as you see in games without AK now.

If you watch the **** game you can see what all Jazz players bring to the table and how it's helped the team. Comparing Boozer and AK importance is a joke or an insult.

[schneiderjazz]

CJ did run the point in one or two games and on few other occassions and did not turn the ball over at all. CJ's bball IQ is higher than AK's one. AK's 4.3 assists and 2.5 turnovers versus CJ's 3.4 assists and 1.1 turnovers per 36 mins...

Knight does not need "a player who can back him up to make a play if he can't" cause Knight could start at PG for most teams.
Millsap (who can start at PF for most teams) does not need AK to "benefit from two passers that can get him the ball at the right time" cause everybody can pass the ball as you see in games without AK now.

If you watch the **** game you can see what all Jazz players bring to the table and how it's helped the team. Comparing Boozer and AK importance is a joke or an insult.

Deron Williams per 36: 11.9 assists, 4.9 TO. It's clear to me that CJ should be running the point for the Jazz, based on what you're saying. I think you're the only who's been watching the games and thinking that AK is not helping the team as much, jozef. His stats are good, he's playing good defense, he's a damn good passer (despite the occasional WTF pass), he can draw fouls better than anyone on the team. He's clearly helping the team a lot.