2019 Utah Jazz Regular Season Thread

[stitches]

On a scale of 1-10, how much as the size difference matter against LAL and PHI?

For me that's about a 2. We'll get another test against MIL tomorrow. The supposed benefit from extra spacing/shooting is also at about a 2 right unfortunately.

I think both matter more than you are giving it credit. I'd say about 4-5 on both. Right now IMO the biggest reasons for our offensive struggles are actually turnovers and rebounding. We are losing the battle of possessions right now, part of it because we don't have the size to get offensive rebounds(bottom 3 in the league in ORB%), but part of it is also turning it over a ton(top 5 highest TOV%). I'm expecting the last part to get better with time and with the team gelling together better and Conley regressing a bit to what he's been in his entire career(one of the most ball-secure PGs in the league). The thing I don't expect to change is some huge jump in ORB. It's just not going to happen. No matter how much lip service DL is paying to punishing teams on the glass, it's not going to happen when you are 1. small and 2. don't send anyone to the offensive glass, but rather prefer to get back on D. It's just not going to happen.

I still like the theory of this team offensively. Besides the two things I pointed out above it's kind of hard to pin point why we are struggling so much on offense. It's not like we are missing shots. We are 12th in both TS% and eFG%, we are no. 9 in 3pFG%... Sure you'd like to be much higher with all this shooting but it's not like there is some huge disparity between what we are shooting and what is expected. The thing that we actually need to get better at is... taking more 3s rather than hitting them. We are bottom 5 in the league in creating 3p shots, which is not something that's normal for a Quin Snyder team. Again - IMO with more playing time together we will get there.

[KqWIN]

On a scale of 1-10, how much as the size difference matter against LAL and PHI?

For me that's about a 2. We'll get another test against MIL tomorrow. The supposed benefit from extra spacing/shooting is also at about a 2 right unfortunately.

I think both matter more than you are giving it credit. I'd say about 4-5 on both. Right now IMO the biggest reasons for our offensive struggles are actually turnovers and rebounding. We are losing the battle of possessions right now, part of it because we don't have the size to get offensive rebounds(bottom 3 in the league in ORB%), but part of it is also turning it over a ton(top 5 highest TOV%). I'm expecting the last part to get better with time and with the team gelling together better and Conley regressing a bit to what he's been in his entire career(one of the most ball-secure PGs in the league). The thing I don't expect to change is some huge jump in ORB. It's just not going to happen. No matter how much lip service DL is paying to punishing teams on the glass, it's not going to happen when you are 1. small and 2. don't send anyone to the offensive glass, but rather prefer to get back on D. It's just not going to happen.

I still like the theory of this team offensively. Besides the two things I pointed out above it's kind of hard to pin point why we are struggling so much on offense. It's not like we are missing shots. We are 12th in both TS% and eFG%, we are no. 9 in 3pFG%... Sure you'd like to be much higher with all this shooting but it's not like there is some huge disparity between what we are shooting and what is expected. The thing that we actually need to get better at is... taking more 3s rather than hitting them. We are bottom 5 in the league in creating 3p shots, which is not something that's normal for a Quin Snyder team. Again - IMO with more playing time together we will get there.

That’s fair. Offensive rebounding does matter, and being last in the league does not help. The drop from being mediocre to league worst is certainly taking a toll on the offense.

I thought that with this improved skill/shooting we’d be getting even better shots. We should be getting more layups from the guards and dunks from Gobert. Instead we’re taking tougher shots.

One aspect I think I didn’t give enough consideration to is that we have a lot of good, but also reluctant shooters. Bogey doesn’t always have a quick trigger, same as Ingles. Guys are going under on Conley and Mitchell isn’t getting very catch and shoots at all.

I thought that Mitchell would see and efficiency boost because his shots would be shifted to easier ones, but he’s actually taken worse shots and hit them at an astronomical rate.

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538 released new season RAPTOR's numbers. Donovan is no. 3 in the league right now in RAPTOR WAR. Rudy is no. 3 in Defensive RAPTOR :

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-nba-player-ratings/

[Crunch 99]

Nice win (over Bucks). I like the Jazz at the all-star break at this point. They are still figuring it out? I have no idea why they looked so bad, disjointed coming out of the half but bottom line is a W. All hail Bogey. Jazz didn't have a guy like him until Horny showed up. Could be a difference maker like Horny was. I'm sticking to Jazz as contenders so far - been a very long time since.

Hope it's OK to answer your post in this season thread. I am getting more (cautiously) optimistic about this team. Have to throw that word "cautiously" in there because the Jazz have broken my heart on multiple occasions. In addition, both those LA teams look extremely formidable. But Bogey has been great, and Conley still seems to have the athleticism to get to his spots on the court and get good looks at the basket. Hopefully, he just needs more time to settle in to the Jazz system and will find his rhythm. O'Neale, Ingles, Mudiay and Green have all stepped up from time to time and made big plays to help us win. And Ex will likely come in and positively impact games here and there as well. DM has taken his game to another level and Gobert is doing another stellar job on defense. Go Jazz!

[FJS]

We have played 5 games vs contenders and we have won 3 of them and lost the other two fue to horrible offense. Suns is the other teams we beat with positive record.

[ForeverRDjazz]

We have played 5 games vs contenders and we have won 3 of them and lost the other two fue to horrible offense. Suns is the other teams we beat with positive record.

We lost to LA but didn't have Bogey for that game. Who's been a huge part of our team so far. And I don't think we've played close to what we can. Watch out if this team really starts jelling.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I really, really hope that the Jazz can resign Royce. In fact, if the Ingles extension gets in the way of that, I'll be upset.

[SoCalJazzFan]

Also, I feel the need to compliment Tony Bradley for his hustle and play the last couple of games, since I regularly crap on him.

[Rauxcee]

I really, really hope that the Jazz can resign Royce. In fact, if the Ingles extension gets in the way of that, I'll be upset.

Is Royce a RFA? Or are only 1st round picks RFA? I'm assuming undrafted players are only signed for their contract and then are UFA (as what happened with Matthews).

Good thing he and Mitchell are BFF.

[Crunch 99]

I am pleased with the 7-3 start and believe this team has more upside, but with Davis out, I worry some that the roster is thin at Center. As long as Gobert and Bradley are healthy and don't miss any games 'til Davis gets back, fine, but if either of them miss any games, I don't think I want to see Jeff Green playing Center some more (though maybe I am underestimating him).

On the other hand, when I look at the Jazz roster as listed on ESPN, I see seven guys that can play point guard: Conley, Mitchell, Ingles, Mudiay, Exum, Nigel and JWF. Seems like we are over covered for that position.

I don't think we have any flexibility at the moment to sign another player, but a Center who is still available is defensive minded Joakim Noah. It looks like Noah played good backup minutes the second half of last season for Memphis, even though he hadn't played much in recent seasons. Conley could confirm whether or not Noah has anything left in the tank.

[KqWIN]

It does seem unnecessary to have so many PG’s when we already had guys who can handle the ball at other positions (Mitchell and Ingles). We had all of our PG’s injured last year and it wasn’t a huge deal.

Losing another C would be rough with no depth. I would not mind waiving Goss or Kidd for Noah. Jerebko would have been a good player to bring back but he’s in Europe now.

[jazzfanWA]

Conley could confirm whether or not Noah has anything left in the tank.

Maybe he already has and that is why Noah isn't on the Jazz.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I really, really hope that the Jazz can resign Royce. In fact, if the Ingles extension gets in the way of that, I'll be upset.

Is Royce a RFA? Or are only 1st round picks RFA? I'm assuming undrafted players are only signed for their contract and then are UFA (as what happened with Matthews).

Good thing he and Mitchell are BFF.

The salary sites I've seen show him as a RFA. Good question, though. A broader concern is the team salary. Ingles is great, but will he be great in his mid-30's? I am a LA Rams fan, and am watching their front office potentially destroy their future by being overly anxious to pay their players, and I hope that the Jazz aren't doing the same.

[ForeverRDjazz]

I really, really hope that the Jazz can resign Royce. In fact, if the Ingles extension gets in the way of that, I'll be upset.

Is Royce a RFA? Or are only 1st round picks RFA? I'm assuming undrafted players are only signed for their contract and then are UFA (as what happened with Matthews).

Good thing he and Mitchell are BFF.

The salary sites I've seen show him as a RFA. Good question, though. A broader concern is the team salary. Ingles is great, but will he be great in his mid-30's? I am a LA Rams fan, and am watching their front office potentially destroy their future by being overly anxious to pay their players, and I hope that the Jazz aren't doing the same.

We are sucking this year. Lost that edge and players aren't playing up to what they did last year. Hard to watch the games.
Go horns.

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Watch on YouTube

[KqWIN]

Kidd released for Juwan Morgan

Read on Twitter

[SoCalJazzFan]

Kidd released for Juwan Morgan

Read on Twitter

I'm glad that the Jazz aren't content, but I have to admit I am a little confused. Morgan was a summer league or training camp signee. The Jazz could have drafted him in the 2nd round, but didn't, and could have signed him over the summer, but didn't. What has happened in the intervening time period?

[KqWIN]

Kidd released for Juwan Morgan

Read on Twitter

I'm glad that the Jazz aren't content, but I have to admit I am a little confused. Morgan was a summer league or training camp signee. The Jazz could have drafted him in the 2nd round, but didn't, and could have signed him over the summer, but didn't. What has happened in the intervening time period?

Ed Davis got injured. I don't think this move is confusing, but choosing to use their last roster spots on positions that did not need more bodies was strange.

[Catchall]

Kidd released for Juwan Morgan

Read on Twitter

I'm glad that the Jazz aren't content, but I have to admit I am a little confused. Morgan was a summer league or training camp signee. The Jazz could have drafted him in the 2nd round, but didn't, and could have signed him over the summer, but didn't. What has happened in the intervening time period?

Morgan has been playing well in the G-league, showing that he can shoot from distance and score consistently. He's always been a tough defender. The Jazz felt they needed to sign him before some other team picked him up.

[Crunch 99]

TS% through 18 games, last 9 games, last season and for career.

Ingles is 49.3 TS% for season and 49.1 TS% for last nine games. 58.1 TS% last season and 58.5 TS% for career.

Conley is 49.6 TS% for season and 51.9% for last nine games. 56.9 TS% last season and 54.6 TS% for career.

Mitchell is 55.3 TS% for season and 53.8 TS% for last nine games. 53.7 TS% last season and 54.0 TS% career.

Bojan is 62.7% TS% for season and 61.5 TS% for last nine games. 61.3 TS% last season and 59.0 TS% career.

Royce is 65.8 TS% for season and 61.8 TS% for last nine games. 58.9 TS% last season and 57.6 TS% career.

Rudy is 67.3 TS% for season and 70.1 TS% for last nine games. 68.2 TS% last season and 65.1 TS% career.

Glass half full takeaway: Seems unlikely that both Ingles and Conley have dropped off this hard from just last season and their career total shooting percentages. I expect improvement from one or both. That could be a big help to this team that is still a top ten defensive team, but is struggling on the offensive end.