2011 Draft: Time to go big

[deron-fan]

Regarding the Jazz needs, I feel like we are lacking 3 things: 3pt shooting, rebounding, and interior defense.

To point out the obvious, our 3pt shooting declined because we lost Memo, Korver, Matthews, and Deron (not that he had a stroke at the end of the year). Hayward is our main threat, but we need more to open up the floor more for our bigs and cutters.

The Jefferson/Millsap duo is not getting it done on the boards. As Paul's points have increased, his rebounds have decreased. I believe our defensive rebounding numbers are correlated with our decline in defensive efficiency.

The Jefferson/Millsap duo is also undersized, 2-3 inches each, at least. I won't belabor the obvious when it comes to matching up to the elite teams, size-wise. Paul isn't a defensive stopper, and Al is slow.

Looking over the draft boards, it seems like there is an overabundance of PF, PF/C, SF/PF. The shooting guards where we are likely picking can't shoot (Burks), neither can the points with the exception of Jimmer. The one point who is brought up repeatedly in our range is Brandon Knight. To me he seems turnover prone (4.2 ast/3.2 TO) and isn't an excellent outside shooter (he may be passable though). I may regret these words, but I definitely wouldn't take him at 5/6, wouldn't mind terribly at 12.

One thing Locke said that has stuck with me is that we don't want to be undersized at any position. With that said, even given our current log jam at big, 3 players stand out to me: Biyombo, Vesley, Kanter.

Biyombo 6'8" SF: potential to be a huge defensive stopper and solid rebounder. As you all know, insane wingspan 7'7", great motor, super raw offensively. I was hoping we could nab him at the 12, but seems like we may need to use our 5/6. A real risk/reward type. If he busts, I wouldn't get on KOC's case about it.

Jan Vesley 6'11" SF: to me is a slightly-less-agile/more-awkward, younger, healthier-at-this-time Kirilenko. He doesn't shoot well from 3 overall, but he is not much worse than Kirlenko. I doubt he'll ever be the help defender/shot blocker Kirilenko was in his prime, but his length could cause some problems to the opposition. Worth a 12 pick.

Kanter 6'10" PF/C: while undersized for a center, may be a rebounding machine, I hear (in the young-kid games he gets 20+, in Europe he didn't play much). My concern with him is defensive quickness (esp. if we slot him at PF). May need the 6th pick to grab him, doubt he is there at 12.

Disregarding any future lotto picks (GS), in 4 years I could see this lineup working defensively if we get 2 bigs (trade Millsap if he won't come off the bench and Kirilenko gone within 3 years if we resign):

PG: Harris 6'3" / Watson 6'1"
SG: Hayward 6'8" / not CJ
SF: Biyombo 6'8 or Vesley 6'11"
PF: Favors 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"
C: Jefferson 6'10" / Kanter 6'10"

With this lineup we are undersized at 5, oversized at 2 and 3, good height at 1 and 4. Hopefully solve 2 of our 3 issues long-term.

I say go big with 5/6, try to go big at 12 with one of the other 2 players. If one of those is gone, go Knight first, then Jimmer.

I'm not completely happy with this, if Biyombo works enough defensively to justify starting we better trade for or draft a GREAT shooter to pair with Hayward. Anyways, just my ramblings, do you think this strategy and lineup could work?

[Jazzfan12]

Biyombo is a center.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Biyombo is a center.

Since when did a 6-8 guy play center?

[Jazzfan12]

Biyombo is a center.

Since when did a 6-8 guy play center?

Biyombo has the standing reach of a center and the game of a center. And Ben Wallace.

[king everything]

Derek Favors?

Can we please quit wanting to do things that stunt his development? Please? For the love of God, we traded a franchise PG- the hardest thing to find- for him. Can we please not be trying to replace him already?


And when did David Locke become God around here? Did I miss a memo while I was in prison or what?

[deron-fan]

How does losing Millsap and drafting a long SF or a backup PF/C stunt his development?

[kamazilla]

Size plays a relatively small role in success. Basketball, including defense, is a team game. The Jazz will be at their best staffed by players who understand the system and their role within it and are capable of executing that role consistently well regardless of size. If a player is at a decided disadvantage in most match ups because he is unable to overcome a height disparity, only then does size become an issue. To say that the Jazz must have only players who are among the league's tallest at their position is just silly.

And btw, Kanter and Biyombo are both undersized centers. If they also play PF for the Jazz, it takes minutes away from Favors. Millsap can play SF as well as PF, spreading the minutes between the bigs over three positions instead of two. I do like both players though, and if we stay at six either one would be a reasonable pick.

Lastly, I would stay far away from Vesley. I want to see a lot more form players than good length for their position. He can't dribble, rebound, defend, or shoot with range. Furthermore, he is a face up 4, not a 3 at all. In fact, he is the prototype Euro fool's gold tweener. Stay far, far away.

[Getjazz]

Bismack Biyombo PF/C
18 years old; 6'9"; 240 lbs.
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, International

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-dr ... z1JdSACnXt
http://www.draftexpress.com

Not a SF at all

[carrottop12]

He's not an SF, he's pure PF/C.

His only skills right now are rebounding, and blocking shots.

[hoops4life]

His only skills right now are rebounding, and blocking shots.

And look how that turned out for Sene and Thabeet.