One of the biggest weaknesses for the Jazz has been the shooting guard spot. Not just on our end of the court, but defensively as well.
1. Michael Redd (57 points)
2. Ray Allen (54 points)
3. Kobe Bryant (52 points)
4. Gilbert Arenas (51 points)
This past season, the five biggest scoring outputs against the Jazz were all by shooting guards. Of the 12 games where a player scored more than 50 points last season, four were against the Jazz.
If there is a bright side, it’s that none of the 50-point performances came when the Jazz were playing at home. However, it isn’t particularly pretty any way that you look at it. The Jazz went 1-3 in those four games, thanks to a narrow victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In perspective, the Jazz probably recognize that these are the stars of the NBA scoring these 50-point games, and when one opposing player scores more than half of his team’s points, you should be feeling pretty good about your chances at winning.
Since the team went 1-3 in those games, though, and gave up more of these performances than any other team, the Jazz recognized that they need to improve their perimeter defense. Their solutions so far, after failing with Gordan Giricek and 6′ 2″ Derek Fisher? Bring in another pair of point guards, Ronnie Price and Jason Hart, to play alongside Deron Williams.
Morris Almond and Gordan Giricek can’t stop Michael Redd or Tracy McGrady. Neither can C.J. Miles, and Ronnie Brewer has yet to really show that he can himself.
Athletic as Ronnie Price may be, can he make up for the four inches he loses when he plays shooting guard? Jason Hart probably doesn’t even stand a chance if Kobe Bryant steps on the floor with something to prove.
Now could Dee Brown have been a better choice than Price or Hart? That continues to lead a debate, but none of the three aren’t the tall, long-armed defenders I expected to see the Jazz go after.
Thoughts? How will the Jazz handle big-name scorers this year? Will Andrei Kirilenko be back in form to step up to the challenge?
La287 is a contributing writer for UtahJazzBlog.net — while also maintaining Daily Basketball, a round-up of the latest NBA and NCAA sporting news.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
That Arenas game killed me. He’s one of my favorite non-Jazz players in the league, but it was just sickening to watch, especially that deathblow at the end.
Surprisingly, Giri played not-entirely-awful defense during much of the playoffs. I daresay he played better against T-Mac than Fisher did. At least he’s taller.
You’re right, though, the Jazz have done nothing to really lock down opposing two-guards, despite their claim that they got Ronnie Price for his defense. Fish is a decent defender too, except that he’s 6′1″. Price is only 6′2″. Not going to make enough of a difference.
But I’m not willing to pass judgment until I see what happens on the court, especially if Ronnie Brewer finally gets some playing time. I think he can be our answer at the 2-guard, splitting time with Almond.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:10 am
Ronnie Brewer showed a flash of great defense against one of the best scoreres in the league… MELO. He has the best chance of any of our guards of filling those shoes. HE is athletic, active, can be agressive, but mostly he’s smart. He watched Melo, studied what he was doing as he did it in the game, then defended it perfectly the next time Melo tried the same move. Brewer can also score, not like Almond or Giri quite yet, but his relentless slashing and hustle toward the hoop at minimum gets him a dunk or two. If the coaches took some extra time honing his skills, we would have an excellent answer to the shooting guards. Even if they just gave him 20-25 minutes a game on a regular basis, he wouldn’t have to worry so much about getting benched for seemingly no reason, and then he could find his stride and fall in his role. Like a more athletic, less offensive-minded Raja Bell.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I have always been a Giri fan and as I have been screaming the entire year we need to let Ronnie play!!! Sloan has such a quick hook with these two guys and he never lets them play and get comfortable. Giri with confidence and Ronnie Brewer with experience could do the job Sloan just needs to get out of their way if they miss a shot or comitt a silly foul every now and then.
I know that it was the Rocky Mountain Revue and most guys playing there are already again bagging groceries but, Morris Almond did show a pretty good ability at forcing Kevin Durant into uncomfortable shots and bad scoring situations. It is stupid to think that a rookie could have any kind of impact in a Jazz system but if we are looking to the future he may be a nice option as well.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:45 am
All the young guards the Jazz have show promise, but I really thought they would get a tough, tall 2-guard who could score and play D - they courted MoPete and had me thinking everything was going to be cool and then they didn’t get him. I think O’Connor is looking ahead to next summer - I hear there will be a lot of big-time free agents, so the league will be shaking and people will be making all kinds of deals, including 3-way trades and sign-and-trades, so the Jazz might be able to fill that spot better than with the thin market this summer…Also, I liked how O’Connor wouldn’t overpay for MoPete - he seems to be a smart businessperson. Wait until the right opportunity arises. You have to have a long-term AND short-term perspective in the L. The Jazz won’t win the title next year, even with a top-tier 2-guard. Unless it’s a Kobe or T-Mac, in which case Boozer or D-Will would be gone, and no one wants that, so the Jazz have to be patient. If Almond develops quickly (remember he had 3 years of college) he could become the piece they need to compete for at title in the post-prime-Duncan era a few years from now.
I also would like to see Giri/Collins traded for better talent, but how many teams are scoping out the Jazz hoping they can aqcuire those two players? Probably very few, especially few with talented, tall 2-guards.
Stopping the burn, I think AK needs to step it up, I think the Jazz need to give major minutes to a defensive-minded center, and I think Kyrolo Fesenko may team with Kirilenko to become one of the L’s great defensive tandems, like Duncan and Robinson - that would be incredible!
August 10th, 2007 at 11:37 am
How about another post?? I know there isn’t much going on in the way of Jazz Basketball, but there is in the the rest of the NBA.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I’ll see if I can come up with something this afternoon…Right now, the only Jazz new is the LACK OF NEWS about Fesenko.