NBA Trends and Jazz Strategy

countrybama24 · Post #1 » by **countrybama24** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:34 pm

Fact: The NBA is getting smaller, faster and more athletic
Fact: The 3 point shot is more important than ever

Given these trends, I'm worried about the fit of the prototypical "jazz player" in the NBA. Enes Kanter is a good example, could be a very effective player against a lot of teams, but how many minutes could he play theoretically in the finals this year, when each team is playing a 4 at the 5?

Who on this team is going to guard durant? What do we do when other teams play small at the 4 (durant, melo, lebron etc). Gordon is very good, but not elite in any particular part of the game. It seems like we're building this team to beat the old lakers, when we need to beat the thunder now. I just hope the front office notices these trends and adapts accordingly, because "tough" and "smart" won't keep russell westbrook from blowing by you.

Also, I think derrick favors should be our 5, and we should look into a really athletic 4 (like Thomas Robinson) who can score, because they're easier to find and cheaper than "true centers," who are becoming increasingly obsolete imo. It's not like he isn't strong enough to handle it, and the quickness advantage will help him on offense.

hoops4life · Post #2 » by **hoops4life** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:01 pm

Another way of looking at it is...

Who is going to guard Kanter and Favors when they are on the court together? The Jazz need to do what they do best and others can worry about their defensive schemes.

QuantumMacgyver · Post #3 » by **QuantumMacgyver** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:31 pm

hoops4life wrote:Another way of looking at it is...

Who is going to guard Kanter and Favors when they are on the court together? The Jazz need to do what they do best and others can worry about their defensive schemes.

Exactly. I'll take the Spurs and Lakers Dynasties over an OKC finals appearance any day.

countrybama24 · Post #4 » by **countrybama24** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:30 pm

Well, the spurs are playing small now, and we don't have to beat the lakers, we have to beat the thunder.

I mean, obviously there are great franchises built on huge front courts, but just look how in many series in the playoffs coaches were forced to go small. If you played chris bosh vs. Kanter one on one, chris bosh is winning that matchup even if Kanter can score pretty effectively. Or favors vs. carmelo, or favors vs. durant. Ya, they won't guard our bigs well, but its easier to guard a bigger guy than a smaller quicker guy imo. I mean Kanter did a pretty good job guarding himself this year, and it's not like Favors is a scoring savant either.

We just need a 3 who can slide down to the 4, imo. Idk if thats gordon.