Utah Jazz Preview

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UTAH JAZZ

Key Additions: Randy Foye (FA), Marvin Williams (trade), Mo Williams (FA)

Key Losses: Devin Harris, CJ Miles, Josh Howard

Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Mo Williams
SG: Gordon Hayward
SF: Marvin Williams
PF: Paul Millsap
C: Al Jefferson

Role Players: Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Foye, Alec Burks, Jamaal Tinsley

Comments: The Utah Jazz are one of two teams that have weathered the storm after losing a superstar player (the other being the Nuggets of course). The Jazz made a preemptive strike in trading Williams, before there was any drama. The Jazz then had the ability to get younger and deeper, and they should improve on las years campaign. They have 7 players who could start for most teams, which is a great luxury, especially in the front court. Tyrone Corbin has also proven to be just like Jerry Sloan (his predecessor), able to get the most out of his players. The Jazz also have really underrated fans, so shout out to all those Jazz fan readers (crickets)

Losing Devin Harris at PG will hurt this team. While he shot a little much, he is a much better passer than anyone they have now. Mo Williams especially thrives in the Jason Terry/ JR Smith role of lights out shooter off the bench. He will return to a starting role, where he never was much of a distributor. In Cleveland, LeBron did all the work, and in L.A he had Chris Paul. Williams will have to dish the ball to the other talent up front, and then be a floor spacer. If he looks for his own shot too much, there offense will stagnate. Tinsley is the backup. He is a good passer, but missed like 3 years in a row with injury. He played OK last year in a brief stint, but if he can be half of what he was for the Pacers in the early 2000's, he will be a just fine backup.

Gordon Hayward is one of my favorite players in the league, if only for the reason that he still looks like a scrawny teenager that is living out a dream playing next to a bunch of muscular black men. But, he is a fierce competitor, fearless while driving, a good playmaker and a solid shooter. He is weak defensively and on the boards, but he has proven to hustle all the time. http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/454/239/hi-res-5962114_display_image.jpg?1343626375 I feared he would be like Adam Morrsion, but he has proved me wrong. If only he had made that damn half court shot. Randy Foye is another streaky shooter. When I think of it, the Clippers had Williams, Foye, and Nick Young last year to shoot 3's, and now they are all gone. Wonder if that will affect them.....hmmm.

Marvin Williams came to Utah in the Harris trade. After being selected as the 2nd pick in front of Chris Paul and Deron Williams, he has been seen as a major disappointment. People thought he would be what Kevin Durant is now. He has not nearly the same shooting ability or strength on his drive. But he is an OK defender. The Jazz this year will tend to go with a bigger lineup with Millsap in this position with Favors and Jefferson. That is the best way to maximize their potential, so Williams and the other SF's on this team (Jeremy Evans, Demarre Carroll) will see less time than you think. Williams will have to shoot the ball well to stay in the game, or the Jazz will just try their luck with the big lineup.

The Jazz have the deepest frontcourt in the NBA. Against the Spurs in the playoffs they all had a bad 4 games which led to the easy sweep. Paul Millsap is the most underrated player in the NBA, hands down. It is a shame he hasn't made an all-star team yet. He is small, but really strong and can score in many different facets. He has an OK shot, but his best skill is getting the garbage put backs and sneaky lay ups. If he does play more SF this year, I would like to see more range and better lateral quickness. Derrick Favors is the backup. When drafted, everyone knew he was a project, and it has taken time for him to develop into a quality player. He should take more strides this year, but he has that NBA body that everyone fears, and he is the big man of the future for this team. While the Jazz have a deep frontcourt, they need to make room eventually for Favors and Kanter, which means one of Jefferson or Millsap will have to go. I would try to get a PG to make this a complete team.

Al Jefferson is the Jazz's best player. He is one of the best offensive big men in the NBA, and when on, can score at ease against any defender. He has got a really effective hook shot, and its kind of funky. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITrDCzxsSfU. He isn't the most consistent player ever, the problem with the Jazz as a whole, but could make an all-star team if he puts it together for the first half. Enes Kanter is the odd man out in the frontcourt. He didn't play enough last year for me to make a real assessment of his game. I would like to see him play more, but it is a logjam. You just get a bad feeling leaving 7 footers on the bench who can do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spxBXGQVhto.

The Jazz will be a good team this year.  I think that they have surpassed the Mavericks for sure and are probably better than the Timberwolves (especially now with Love out). That puts them at around 6-7 in the West (unless the Spurs aren't good, or the Jazz can somehow be better than the Grizzlies). The team just doesn't have much firepower on the wings to take it to the next level, and it is possible to shut down a good frontcourt when there is no real threat on the outside.

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