Gordon Hayward: When is it OK to start using the "Bust" word

[The59Sound]

In my opinion, he's nowhere near "break-down" weight, Bat. We'll see if I'm wrong throughout the rest of the course of the season. I'll be happy to admit it if I am.

[StocktonShorts]

To anyone comparing Kevin Durant to Gordon Hayward, realize you are comparing Kevin Durant to Gordon Hayward.

KD is 6'10, has a big time vertical, and an unbelievable wing span. Not to mention he has range anywhere beyond mid court. He's also a far better ball handler than Hayward which is saying something.

When you can space the floor like he can, and simply out jump and out reach people, your weight isn't as important.

I certainly wasn't suggesting he could be anywhere near a Kevin Durant type player (and I think you understand that); it was probably a mistake on my part to use Durant for my example of a player with a slight build succeeding in the NBA because he so many other things going for him (as you pointed out). Maybe Rip Hamilton is a better example. He made a nice career out of running people to death and hitting open shots while having a very slight build.

Also, I'm not saying Hayward is too thin to play, but simply that he's thin, but that is too be expected as a rookie, he'll bulk up over the years like CJ has and it will really benefit him.

The comparisons to CJ got me wondering which of them is actually stronger right now (however you want to measure it).

[jazzfan1971]

Like I said, he is stronger than he looks. I think he's strong enough all ready. More strength might help him score after contact a bit though.

What really impressed me was how much energy he had after 40 min of action. Kid has a great motor.

[StocktonShorts]

For what it's worth, Hayward did 10 reps in the 185lb. bench press at the pre-draft combine. As many of you probably recall, Durant failed to do a single rep before he was drafted.

Here are what some other wings drafted in 2010 did:
Paul George - 4
Evan Turner - 9
Xavier Henry - 8
Al-Farouq Aminu - 13
Wesley Johnson - 16

I think the Jazz strength and conditioning coaches would like to see him put on some muscle, but I don't think he's behind the curve at all considering he's just a 20 yr. old rookie.

[erudite23]

There's a difference between bulk and strength. Both are important, and while the two are related to a minimal extent, they do different things. Gordon has decent strength and inadequate bulk.

This is to be expected, since his body is still maturing. He'll be above average for SFs in both respects by the time he hits his stride as a player.


Just wanted to comment on Bat's Durant post. Durant actually did not post that impressive of numbers at the combine. His vert was poor and his agility test was horrid. What makes him special is his length. Also, while Durant will never be bulky, he's gotten a LOT stronger over the course of the last two years. But bulk and strength are still not strengths (kek) of his. If he wasn't so insanely long and skilled, this would be a significantly bigger deal for him.

[HammerDunk]

I don't see Gordon getting pushed around or bullied, so I'm wondering where the concerns are coming from, other than the eye test. He stays in front of his defender better than anyone else on the team right now, he is getting rebounds at a decent rate and seems to be improving at NBA rebounding, and isn't getting pushed off his routes easily. He is fighting hard, scrapping, and doing everything right except that he doesn't make every shot. He seems to be an above average finisher at the rim and is occasionally finding good separation from his defender. These are all things we had concerns about, and he seems to be addressing them.

IMO, all that is left is for him to get truly comfortable in the offense and get comfortable in front of the home crowd. He seems to play heavy at home on offense because he knows there are so many expectations. That will pass. Bulk will come with an NBA workout regiment, which I firmly believe he will work hard on. He does not seem like a slacker, so I expect him to look better and better after every off-season. He can easily be a 10 pt 5 rebound 5 assist guy with 20 minutes a night soon. Perfect fit for this team.

And Deron, with all his personality issues and what not, is the perfect mentor for him. He will be very hard on him, and I only see this kid getting great motivation from a guy like that. I also want AK to stick around to coach him on the position, because he can be a game changer like AK to a bit of a lesser extent.

[DelaneyRudd]

He had 0 points last night. Trade him for chicken wings!

[HammerDunk]

Also remember this kid is still a wide-eyed rookie. This article is interesting. I can completely relate to how he felt last night, which would be pretty similar if I were an NBA rookie 2 years removed from high school...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7000 ... cid=rss-38

[GoosePants]

And Deron, with all his personality issues and what not, is the perfect mentor for him. He will be very hard on him, and I only see this kid getting great motivation from a guy like that. I also want AK to stick around to coach him on the position, because he can be a game changer like AK to a bit of a lesser extent.

I would say its also nice to have Hayward play with Bell. I would love if Hayward would have a similar attitude as Bell.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Also remember this kid is still a wide-eyed rookie. This article is interesting. I can completely relate to how he felt last night, which would be pretty similar if I were an NBA rookie 2 years removed from high school...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7000 ... cid=rss-38

Ya, he is only two weeks older than me so I can only imagine how it would feel to be playing in the NBA against some of these guys right now.

I feel like he has done a great job thus far. Maybe he needs a bit more of "prove everyone wrong" attitude but I think he doing just fine thus far.

[king everything]

This thread makes me wonder what you guys were saying during Derons rookie season.

Trust me, you don't wanna know... those were the good old days here when men were men and women defended Sloan starting Milt Palacio and Keith Mcleod over Deron...

[HammerDunk]

I bet it was nuts, but I bet it also taught Deron a lot about himself and taught him some humility, which there isn't enough of right now. I would have been on the side of letting him play, but I also appreciate what may have come as a result of the situation.

[The59Sound]

Deron has admitted it was good for him.

[TexJazz]

This thread makes me wonder what you guys were saying during Derons rookie season.

Trust me, you don't wanna know... those were the good old days here when men were men and women defended Sloan starting Milt Palacio and Keith Mcleod over Deron...

Ah yes... I remember the days of McBrick... we don't know how good we have it now.

[kebutah]

This thread makes me wonder what you guys were saying during Derons rookie season.

Trust me, you don't wanna know... those were the good old days here when men were men and women defended Sloan starting Milt Palacio and Keith Mcleod over Deron...

Ljjazzman loved McLousy more than most. He also would never question anything that Sloan did.

[The59Sound]

CJ FOREVER!!!! TRADE HAYWARD!!!!

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Deron has admitted it was good for him.

Probably because anyone who has half a brain knows it was good for him.

[The59Sound]

I REALLY want to like this guy, but he just isn't having any positive impact on games when he's on the floor. What does he do well?, because right now I can't think of anything that makes him an NBA player. Did we just waste a top ten pick on a towel waving bench warmer with a missionary haircut?

I know everyone says we need to have patience, but he should be showing us a little something at this point. To me he looks like Morris Almond version 2. Thats not a good thing.

Bump.

[jazzfan1971]

That's just mean.

[Montanajazz]

I think the line should read Hayward.-give him time. Trade Miles and Bell!