Strategic De-fense!!!

Posted by J R Stewart on May 11, 2009

As the opposition get into their offense, we all shout, in rhythm, at the Jumbotron’s prodding, DE-FENSE!…DE-FENSE!…DE-FENSE!. Yet, despite our spirited yells, the Jazz don’t play defense very well. On the road, without the hometown backing, it’s even worse.

Based on my observations, because I have no statistics to back this up, the Jazz seem to allow more penetration and wide open 3 pointers than most other teams. Watch any NBA game and you see lots of uncontested 3’s and penetration, so this isn’t uniquely a Jazz problem.

The Jazz seem to have problems keeping teams off the offensive boards and giving up layups on unforced turnovers.

Gripe, gripe, gripe.

What can the Jazz do to bolster their defense?

1. Improve The Roster.

The Jazz have 6 players under contract, D-Wil, AK, CJ, Brewer, Kosta and Matt. They are all good defenders.

They can exercise the option on Fes and match any Millsap offers. Both can play defense.

Let’s assume potential free agents Memo and Korver are signed to extensions, or don’t opt out. Memo is weak on help and exterior defense, but better one on one inside and has had some memorable moments against Yao. KK has improved his defense and hustle to more than acceptable levels.

If Boozer opts out, and is too expensive to resign, the loss of Boozer will help the defense. Addition by subtraction.

Let’s further assume they leave their 2 European projects overseas to develop another year and don’t trade their 20^th or 50^th pick.

If they end up carrying only 13 players, to avoid the luxury tax and retain flexibility, that gives them 3 players, 2 draft picks and a free agent, to try to improve their defense. That’s not many options to improve their defense.

Most NBA players/free agents are in the league for their offense, not their defense. Also, it’s rare to find a young rookie, who plays great defense, until they develop for a few years.

So, outside help may not be available.

2. Change The Defensive Scheme.

Perhaps it’s time to take a look at a new defensive plan.

I watched the Hated Lakers and the Rockets play defense in the 4^th quarter, of game 1, when the game was on the line. It was impressive on both sides.

The Hated Lakers go to a scramble, man-zone, trapping defense, which puts extreme pressure on teams to cough the ball up for easy baskets and keeps them out of their offense.

The Rockets played very tight coverage and made effective rotations.

Of course the Hated Lakers sport a luxurious $78 million payroll and have had numerous gifts (Pau and Fish), so you would expect better athletes. The Rockets push $76 million and took a chance on the volatile Ron Detest, who has behaved himself quite well this season.

However, the Jazz coaching staff have the summer to study the other teams defensive tactics and come up with a new philosophy, which works better.

Should they look at adding an assistant, who is a defensive specialist from another team? New blood? Fresh opinions?

Look at the teams playing the best defense and ask permission for an interview with their defensive specialist.

3. Get Nasty!

I watch Vujacic play, and is there a bigger pest in the NBA?

They don’t have to beat players up, just get under their skin, push them out of their comfort zone and make sure they eat lots of garlic before the game. Little grabs, pulls, pushes, jersey tugs and claw marks do wonders to irritate players. They don’t have to bite off an ear or commit a flagrant foul, just make life miserable for players. When they go out of the game, ‘tag’ their sub coming in, just like a wrestling match, to continue the irritation. The sub then jumps up on the upper turnbuckle and launchs onto the semiconscious player on the mat.

This is a cultural change. It requires a full commitment from every player. D-Wil can’t just decide to hustle on defense for the last half of the 4^th quarter. He’s got to lead by example, and demand everyone toe the line.

4. One Last Pet Peeve.

Could the Jazz have a mandatory 100 free throws, with statistics logged, every day? This would give the Jazz the knowledge of who needs help, and extra practice, and be able to follow their progress.

Perhaps use some video, so players can see what they do wrong, when they miss, and what they do right.

How about a part time free throw specialist, to coach them?

If they are going to win on the road, and in close games, they’ve got to improve their free throw shooting.

Jazzaholic

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Boondock Saint on May 11, 2009 said:

I agree with all your points and love the idea about getting a defensive minded assistant coach. In addition to the 100 free throws thing…can we please add 100 layups?! I think in the last 2 weeks of the season and all of the playoffs I saw more missed layups than I have in my entire life.

J R Stewart on May 11, 2009 said:

Ah, the layups!

In the warm up drills, the players miss uncontested layups. They usually practice dunks. Practice dunks??? I would think layups, floaters and deceptive moves, to make the layup harder to block, would be the things to practice.

Part of the missed layups are due to injury and timing from inactivity. D-Wil and Booz both had greater problems, when they first came back, due to the inactivity and reduced muscle strength/lift.

AK could really use some more bulk. Remember, before he got his max contract, how well he would finish plays? Now, he just throws his arms up in the air and hopes to get a foul, instead of finishing the play.

Matt has had long stretches where he has almost no lift, because of his frequent injuries and rehab.

I couldn’t agree with you more. Just 2 or 3 layups a game could add 4-8 points and prevent a layup on the other end. How many games are lost by 10 or less points?

Jazzaholic

Trent on May 11, 2009 said:

Defense has been lacking in some areas. Remember when Boozer got an amazing block on Tim Duncan during the playoffs a few years ago? Why can’t he do that every game?

I am still an advocate of starting Okur at the power forward if we lose Boozer, and then starting Koufos at the center. I believe our defense would be improved, especially due to our increased size in the middle. Millsap would become our sixth man, allowing us to keep up the pace when the starters sit. If Koufos doesn’t work out as a starter, you just simply move Okur back to the 5.

However, I am all for Millsap starting if Boozer doesn’t stay here.

mike on May 11, 2009 said:

I agree Okur has a great mid jumper and he can take it to the rack so PF would fit him. We don’t run too many plays if any for the center so scoring isn’t a must so Kosta and fez would be good. They both are good shot blockers and rebounders. Millsap can play the small forward. Teach the rookies how to stay out of foul trouble and we got a legit team.

montgump on May 11, 2009 said:

I’m all for Millsap starting, but he can’t play the 3. If he could shoot the three and keep up with guys like LeBron then he could play the 3. He’s a power forward and last resort center.

mike on May 11, 2009 said:

He still has some work to do if he wants to be a PF. he’s starting to get the fade away jump shot at mid and shows some decent footwork on the post. If we can bring in Malone to show him some tricks and teach him the art of the pick and roll, than I think he can play PF but right now Id like to see memo start and millsap back him up.

J R Stewart on May 12, 2009 said:

Paul plays better when Boozer is not around, because the Jazz depend on him more and he can’t just blend in, like he usually does. However, he is undersized, as is Boozer for that matter, for a PF, which makes is difficult to have a dominate inside game. But Mailmen don’t grow on trees, so the Jazz will have to settle for the Paperboy.

Jazzaholic

Trent on May 12, 2009 said:

Even though Millsap is undersized for a PF, he can still be a great player in this league. Charles Barkley is the perfect example of this. He is about 6′ 4″, yet he is one of the greatest PF’s this league has ever had. Millsap is no Sir Charles, but Barkley proves that undersized guys can be great. (Of course, Barkley was also massive in the weight department)

Dallan on May 12, 2009 said:

I dont know if this is true but i think that we gave the 76ers our first round pick this year? Is that true? From the korver trade?

J R Stewart on May 12, 2009 said:

2010 first round draft pick to Minnesota (via Philadelphia)
Utah’s own 2010 1st round pick to Minnesota via Philadelphia (top 15 protected in 2010, top 17 protected in 2011, top 16 protected in 2012, and top 16 protected in the 2013 Draft). However, if Utah’s own 2010 first round draft is not protected, and if Utah is entitled to receive New York’s own 2010 first round draft pick, then Utah shall convey to Minnesota via Philadelphia the least favorable of its own 2010 first round draft pick and New York’s 2010 first round draft pick. If Minnesota via Philadelphia does not receive a first round draft pick from Utah pursuant to the foregoing in any of the Drafts from 2009 through 2013, then Utah’s obligation to send a first round draft pick to Minnesota via Philadelphia shall be extinguished and Utah shall instead convey to Minnesota via Philadelphia Utah’s own 2014 second round draft pick and pay to Philadelphia cash. [Philadelphia - Utah, 12/29/2007 and then Minnesota - Philadelphia, 7/9/2008]

Jazzaholic

Linda McFarland on May 12, 2009 said:

JR Your beginning blog was great. I pretty much agree. As to the last answer concerning the trade, my head is still spinning!!!! Sure glad it all makes sense to some and that they can keep us informed when some of it happens. Think I will read this over a million times and try to get it in my mind.

Jeff on May 12, 2009 said:

Sign and trade Boozer! I hate him, and every jazz fan i know hates him! Sign and trade or let him opt out. If he puts on a Jazz jersey ever again, it will be soo hard for me to watch my favorite team. Please Greg Miller do the right thing.

J R Stewart on May 13, 2009 said:

I think the only way the Jazz could ever hope to keep Boozer, if they feel they must, would be to trade the Harpring $6.5 million contract and a 2nd round pick to an under the cap team for luxury tax relief.
If Boozer doesn’t opt out, and the Jazz trade him, they’ll be taking back at least $9.25 of his $12.3 million contract in players with bloated long term contracts. I’m not sure this is a viable option either.

Jazzaholic

tman11 on May 19, 2009 said:

this deffense one gets me to the jazz play very physical on the offensive side i mean wow 28 free throws a game thats alot they drive to the hole get hit and every thing else but they cant do this on defense that doesnt add up if they played liek the suns or some thing and just shot out side shot and didnt get to the free throw line ok i under stand but they are the most physical team in the league on offense but when it comes to deffense they have no problem giving up those open 3s and letting deffenders cut accros the key with out hitting them at all i mean you wouldnt have seen that from karl malon or even greg ostertag if some one was even goiong to try and get in the paint they were getting hit and not even goin to come close to getting a lay up or a rebound they either need to get some guts or get some players they will thats all i can say about there deffense its jsut sad

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