KqWIN wrote:stitches wrote:Have to give it to Andy Larsen BTW. The only Jazz media member who is actually showing anything resembling a spine and is actually calling it like it is right now with what the Jazz did in the draft.
It's really fun how everyone in the media (correctly) identified our need for a wing defender...Now apparently our need the whole time was 48 minutes of Rudy Gobert
I could make a good argument that it was our biggest area of concern. It's clear that Gobert is our MVP and this season whether because of a lack of back up i.e. Favors or because there was a lack of help defense or players missing him while open on the offensive end, there was times where Rudy simply didn't play hard and was awful. It filtered down to the rest of the team and the defense which is designed specifically around him leaked easy baskets big time. Now if Rudy doesn't play hard Favors can step in and do just that and at 20 minutes a game I honestly rate Favors as one of the best C's in the game, its when he plays too many minutes and his body can't handle it he becomes less effective.
I also don't understand why a wing defender is all of sudden a huge demand for us, don't get me wrong we need another defender to help defend the likes of Harden, Lillard and Murray but I would rather and on ball defender such as Dunn over any player we have overlooked in the draft or by signing Favors and Clarkson. Im also higher on Oni than most on here and think he has a real shot at making it, he could be another option to guard those guys. Signing Favors actually helps us guard the likes of Lebron/AD and Giannis/Lopez, Jokic/Milsap. The only team the worries be a far as wings go remains the clippers and heat, the rest of the league its all about the guard play.
I'll admit I didn't watch much college basketball and only really highlights but the guys we passed on and supposedly have made a huge mistake in doing so I hardly guys I considered likely at making it anyhow and only time will tell if that is the case. They all had elite measurable's but their basketball skills were severely lacking based on their highlights. The one I liked most was Green who although I I think has limited upside is going to be a good defender and really understand his role on offense and he was well and truly gone by our pick. Funnily enough the only highlights packaged I liked was Hughes and had we taken him at 27 I don't think the hysteria amongst Jazz fans would be the same. Based on his highlights he was one of the best shooters in the draft with legit NBA range, which with improved spacing and faster ball movement I feel he has a good shot of becoming a big threat from deep on catch and shoot attempts as opposed to the attempts he was forced into at college. Highlights obviously don't always show the full story but I recall watching Thybulle's defense highlights before he was drafted and there was little question he would be able to defend star players in the league and if he improved his jump shot he value would increase even more so. These guys still have questions about their defense let alone their offense.
Im over the moon with Favors coming back, I think Clarkson represents fair value and although we don't need another ball hog which he is no.1 ball hog on this team, we absolutely need his energy off the bench which is where he gives this team the most value (think Booker a few years ago) and our two draftees it remains to be seen what comes of them. It might not have been the way I personally would have gone about it but I think DL and JZ have done a very good job of getting the players Quins need for his defensive system to work (obviously not Clarkson), it is now up to Quin to make sure that system works as their isn't going to be a plan B, drop big coverage - ride or die.