Jazz 2018/2019 Breakdown

[mdonnelly1989]

Imo the Jazz have the best most balanced starting 5 in the league....

Jazz were a 5th seed last year in a stacked WC, and really only 1 game from being a 3rd seed.

That was a Sophomore for DM who almost had zero offensive help. Ricky Rubio was injured and inconsistent compared to the previous year.

Rudy Gobert is limited offensively.

However this year, you add Mike Conley who had a bounce back season with 21 PPG with good defense and is a solid veteran. Where Ricky Rubio gave you 13 that's an extra 8 more Point per game.

AND you add

Bojan Bogdanović who imo is one of the more underrated players in the league...

Gave you 18 PPG but more importantly on 50% shooting 42% from 3. He will able to stretch the court big time for Conley and DM to work on the inside for 12 PPG. That's an extra 6 points and much better efficiency.

Just between these 2 players thats an extra 14 PPG from last season, just that difference alone would have on paper put the Jazz right in the mix the tops seeds in the League last year.

The biggest X-factor and what I will be keying in on is....
A.) Does Mike Conley stay healthy all season long...
B.) How does Conley and DM fit in regards to offensive scheme where both dominate the ball.
C.) Does Mitchell take his game to another level regarding efficiency...

Combined there added offensive firepower and their already elite defense their starting 5 is good enough to warrant them a top 3 seed along with the Clippers and Lakers.

They are also good enough to make the finals, but only if Mitchell takes that next step into superstardom.

[KqWIN]

You know you can't just at PPG from incoming and outgoing players right? It doesn't work that way.

[PapaBear53]

Don't overlook the departure of Derrick Favors. He gave us 11.8 points per game on 58.6% FG and played solid defense and protected the rim. Granted, he and Gobert had some problems playing together, but his loss will be felt despite the addition of Ed Davis. Davis is a great rebounder and should be a solid backup for Gobert, but he is not the offensive player nor shot blocker that Favs is. But Davis doesn't make the kind of money that Favors does, and that, after signing Conley and Bogdanovic, was the bottom line. For the money they had available Davis is the absolute best fit they could have put behind Gobert at the 5.

My bottom line is I am VERY excited for the coming season to see what the Jazz are capable of. Gotta give the Jazz front office credit. Once they saw that what they had wasn't gonna be good enough to go to the next level they didn't hesitate to make the moves they felt needed to be made. I can't wait for the season to start. This is the most excited I've been about a Jazz team in years!

[mdonnelly1989]

You know you can't just at PPG from incoming and outgoing players right? It doesn't work that way.

Why do you think I also mentioned the things I will be looking out for....

Which include how does Conley and Mitchell work together?

Does DM improve...If so by how much...

Bojan is one of the best catch and shoot players in the league and at a high rate so he will help offense flow. That alone would have made the Jazz a top 3 seed last year and comfortably too.

[mdonnelly1989]

Don't overlook the departure of Derrick Favors. He gave us 11.8 points per game on 58.6% FG and played solid defense and protected the rim. Granted, he and Gobert had some problems playing together, but his loss will be felt despite the addition of Ed Davis. Davis is a great rebounder and should be a solid backup for Gobert, but he is not the offensive player nor shot blocker that Favs is. But Davis doesn't make the kind of money that Favors does, and that, after signing Conley and Bogdanovic, was the bottom line. For the money they had available Davis is the absolute best fit they could have put behind Gobert at the 5.

My bottom line is I am VERY excited for the coming season to see what the Jazz are capable of. Gotta give the Jazz front office credit. Once they saw that what they had wasn't gonna be good enough to go to the next level they didn't hesitate to make the moves they felt needed to be made. I can't wait for the season to start. This is the most excited I've been about a Jazz team in years!

This is true, something I did not take into account.

Although I think that Gobert is just fine down low manning the paint, the Jazz have never had a time stopping offenses, they have always come up short on the offensive side it seems. And I'm sure you know they took care of that.

My biggest gripe with how far they can go is Superstar power, that's why IMO the biggest X factor is the improvement of Mitchell. He needs to go the next level for them to make the finals and win it IMO.

[KqWIN]

You know you can't just at PPG from incoming and outgoing players right? It doesn't work that way.

Why do you think I also mentioned the things I will be looking out for....

Which include how does Conley and Mitchell work together?

Does DM improve...

Bojan is one of the best catch and shoot players in the league and at a high rate so he will help offense flow. That alone would have made the Jazz a top 3 seed last year and comfortably too.

You kept saying the Jazz will be "adding" PPG, it doesn't work that way, which is why I pointed it out.

I don't actually think the seeding matters. It will be the same as last year when there were just as many teams trying to tank for a lower seed than actually trying to win and get a better seed. I'm not sure the Jazz will have a better regular season and/or win more games than last season. The depth is much worse, and that means a lot as far as regular season wins. They were also very healthy last year. In the end, the regular season doesn't mean much. Getting to the playoffs healthy is what actually matters

The fit between Conley+Mitchell isn't a concern to me. Mitchell is not a ball dominant player and will be much better served playing off the ball even more. He is an elite spot up shooter but had to play more with the ball in his hands because nobody on roster was capable of creating their own shot. The Jazz offense is egalitarian as it gets, adding Conley and Bogey is reseting back to how it's supposed to be run.

[Crives]

What’s the backup plan if Conley agitates that Achilles again? (Very possible)

[SK21209]

I think their biggest weakness will be defending bigger wing players like Kawhi, PG, LeBron, and Harden, although Bojan and Ingles are competent.

[KqWIN]

What’s the backup plan if Conley agitates that Achilles again? (Very possible)

Royce O'Neale

[picc]

Really looking forward to watching them play.

Whats the word on Dante Exum? He should be a bolster to their bench if he's healthy.

[Catchall]

What’s the backup plan if Conley agitates that Achilles again? (Very possible)

Probably Mitchell at the 1 with Exum and Ingles running more point. I have no idea what Mudiay will bring.

[Catchall]

Really looking forward to watching them play.

Whats the word on Dante Exum? He should be a bolster to their bench if he's healthy.

Exum and Mudiay will come off the bench as guards/wings who can do some secondary initiation.

[Catchall]

Imo the Jazz have the best most balanced starting 5 in the league....

Jazz were a 5th seed last year in a stacked WC, and really only 1 game from being a 3rd seed.

That was a Sophomore for DM who almost had zero offensive help. Ricky Rubio was injured and inconsistent compared to the previous year.

Rudy Gobert is limited offensively.

However this year, you add Mike Conley who had a bounce back season with 21 PPG with good defense and is a solid veteran. Where Ricky Rubio gave you 13 that's an extra 8 more Point per game.

AND you add

Bojan Bogdanović who imo is one of the more underrated players in the league...

Gave you 18 PPG but more importantly on 50% shooting 42% from 3. He will able to stretch the court big time for Conley and DM to work on the inside for 12 PPG. That's an extra 6 points and much better efficiency.

Just between these 2 players thats an extra 14 PPG from last season, just that difference alone would have on paper put the Jazz right in the mix the tops seeds in the League last year.

The biggest X-factor and what I will be keying in on is....
A.) Does Mike Conley stay healthy all season long...
B.) How does Conley and DM fit in regards to offensive scheme where both dominate the ball.
C.) Does Mitchell take his game to another level regarding efficiency...

Combined there added offensive firepower and their already elite defense their starting 5 is good enough to warrant them a top 3 seed along with the Clippers and Lakers.

They are also good enough to make the finals, but only if Mitchell takes that next step into superstardom.

The main difference is that shots that were going to Rubio (one of the worst shooting PGs in the league) will now be going to Conley (an above-average shooter).

The shots that were going to Jae Crowder (a below-average shooter) will now be going to Bojan Bogdanovic (a very good shooter).

Shots that were going to Derrick Favors (a decent center, but a poor shooter for a 4) will be going to Royce O'Neale and Jeff Green (average shooters).

So their offensive efficiency and floor spacing to run their actions will improve. Plus, Ingles won't have to work so hard and can normally just spot up.

They can also put 4 players on the floor together who are each capable of scoring 25-30 on any night without hurting their defense much. Look for the Jazz to be a top 4-6 offense and a top 4-6 defense as well.

[TheBallsDeeper]

I don't see them improving if they keep giving the ball to Mitchell. I don't think he has superstar potential - he is an undersized shooting guard with low BBIQ, which results in poor shot selection and the inability to play as the primary facilitator. He should be played like what he was drafted as - a defensive specialist who can make some athletic plays and be a great role player/teammate.

[Catchall]

I don't see them improving if they keep giving the ball to Mitchell. I don't think he has superstar potential - he is an undersized shooting guard with low BBIQ, which results in poor shot selection and the inability to play as the primary facilitator. He should be played like what he was drafted as - a defensive specialist who can make some athletic plays and be a great role player/teammate.

Seems like Sixers fans are always down on Mitchell, when he was pretty much Victor Oladipo during the 2nd half of last season.

[TheBallsDeeper]

I don't see them improving if they keep giving the ball to Mitchell. I don't think he has superstar potential - he is an undersized shooting guard with low BBIQ, which results in poor shot selection and the inability to play as the primary facilitator. He should be played like what he was drafted as - a defensive specialist who can make some athletic plays and be a great role player/teammate.

Seems like Sixers fans are always down on Mitchell, when he was pretty much Victor Oladipo during the 2nd half of last season.

What does this have to do with the Sixers?

When in the past I've praised Gobert as a top ten player in the league, or Ingles as the most underrated it had nothing to do with the Sixers either.

You need to grow up and realise that people can have rational opinions about NBA players.

[Stoked]

Multiple thoughts.

No mention of the loss of Favors, clearly the biggest Jazz loss. Especially with the now lack of 48 minute elite rim D

Rubio slipped on man D at the point last year. The D change between Conley and Rubio based on that is negligible. The offense, and just as importantly ball security, is a substantial upgrade.

Defensive rebounding was somewhat addressed with Davis. Keep an eye on this.

With the roster changes the Jazz, a top 10 catch and shoot 3 t am last year now has 5 catch and shoot 3 players above 40%

Gobert is limited offensively. But he led the league in dunks, FG% and screen assists (again). His limits are over done. It’s more different than it is limited.

I say the Jazz finish 2nd in the west, Clippers #1, and anything short of WCFs is a failed season.

[mudsak]

Really looking forward to watching them play.

Whats the word on Dante Exum? He should be a bolster to their bench if he's healthy.

Exum and Mudiay will come off the bench as guards/wings who can do some secondary initiation.

If Exum is healthy I have to imagine Mudiay is going to struggle to find playing time. There's no way Mudiay gets playing time ahead of either Exum, or Royce.

2nd unit...
Exum - defense/slashing/playmaking
Royce - defense/slashing/shooting (shot 40% from 3 last year)
Ingles - In Ingles we trust
Niang - Spark plug/shooting
Davis - Defensive anchor/Rebounding

[mudsak]

Multiple thoughts.

No mention of the loss of Favors, clearly the biggest Jazz loss. Especially with the now lack of 48 minute elite rim D

Rubio slipped on man D at the point last year. The D change between Conley and Rubio based on that is negligible. The offense, and just as importantly ball security, is a substantial upgrade.

Defensive rebounding was somewhat addressed with Davis. Keep an eye on this.

With the roster changes the Jazz, a top 10 catch and shoot 3 t am last year now has 5 catch and shoot 3 players above 40%

Gobert is limited offensively. But he led the league in dunks, FG% and screen assists (again). His limits are over done. It’s more different than it is limited.

I say the Jazz finish 2nd in the west, Clippers #1, and anything short of WCFs is a failed season.

I think this is a pretty fair take... I think the expectation has to be WCF at a minimum. Tall order though... It's not like there aren't other teams who aren't fully capable of earning that spot just the same. Lakers, Houston, Nuggets, (Blazers made it last season...still a great team), etc... There isn't going to be any easy route. If they're going to make it to WCF they're going to have to have a magical season imo.

[mdonnelly1989]

Multiple thoughts.

No mention of the loss of Favors, clearly the biggest Jazz loss. Especially with the now lack of 48 minute elite rim D

Rubio slipped on man D at the point last year. The D change between Conley and Rubio based on that is negligible. The offense, and just as importantly ball security, is a substantial upgrade.

Defensive rebounding was somewhat addressed with Davis. Keep an eye on this.

With the roster changes the Jazz, a top 10 catch and shoot 3 t am last year now has 5 catch and shoot 3 players above 40%

Gobert is limited offensively. But he led the league in dunks, FG% and screen assists (again). His limits are over done. It’s more different than it is limited.

I say the Jazz finish 2nd in the west, Clippers #1, and anything short of WCFs is a failed season.

I think this is a pretty fair take... I think the expectation has to be WCF at a minimum. Tall order though... It's not like there aren't other teams who aren't fully capable of earning that spot just the same. Lakers, Houston, Nuggets, (Blazers made it last season...still a great team), etc... There isn't going to be any easy route. If they're going to make it to WCF they're going to have to have a magical season imo.

There are only 2 teams I can picture making it over the Jazz in the WCF's. The Lakers and the Clippers.

Otherwise, they have a much stronger balance both offensive/defensively than any other team in the WC IMO.

Imo Lakers/Clippers/Jazz are slight tier ahead of the other teams on Paper. And IMO the Lakers are a more favorable matchup for the Jazz than the Clippers are. But that series would go at least 6 IMO with the slight edge to Jazz because Gobert can give AD a very tough time downlow and the Lakers will rely too much from AD.