Take Note - Utah Jazz NBA 2k17 MyLeague

[JazzMan]

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TAKE NOTE.

Utah Jazz MyLeague

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Start Today - June 3rd, 2017 - Game 2 NBA Finals

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[JazzMan]

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WARRIORS WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN 5 GAMES

NBA Finals MVP:
Kevin Durant - 28 PPG, 10 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 2 BPG, 54% FG, 48% 3PT

After a dominant Game 1 performance by Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers responded in a huge way in Game 2 by stealing one in Oakland. LeBron James had one of his all-time greatest performances, putting up 34 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and 6 steals in an overtime thriller, as the Cavs got a 125 to 123 win to tie up the series heading back to Cleveland. Spirits were high, the Cavs were confident, being that they eliminated Golden State's home court advantage.

But Game 3 resulted in the Warriors stealing back the lead after a 107-106 victory over the Cavs. Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Andre Iguodala came off the bench adding 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kyrie Irving had 31, but it wasn't enough to for Cleveland to get the job done at home. LeBron had another triple-double - 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists - but shot just 6 for 19 from the floor and 5 for 12 from the free throw line.

The Cavs knew they needed to take Game 4. Sure, they came back historically from a 3-1 deficit last year to win the title, but that Warriors team didn't have Kevin ****ing Durant. It started off shaky - Golden State had a 31 to 18 lead after the first quarter - but Cleveland roared back with a 40 point 2nd quarter to make it a 1 point game at halftime. After a phenomenal defensive effort in the 3rd quarter, where Golden State scored just 15 points, the Cavs had an 8-point lead heading into the final period, poised to tie the series up once again. Then suddenly, Golden State erupted, scoring 45 points in the 4th quarter to secure a 119 to 113 victory.

Game 5 wasn't even close. The Cavs were defeated and just couldn't stop the monstrous Warriors. Steph Curry dropped 41 and 11, while KD had 32, 13, and 9 en route to an absolute blowout win, 149 to 91. The 58-point victory tied the Nuggets and Hornets in 2009 for the biggest playoff loss of all-time, and it happened in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Unbelievable. Is this the start of a dynasty for Golden State? Many seem to think so.

[JazzMan]

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NBA MVP: Russell Westbrook, OKC
81 GP, 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 42.5% FG, 34.3% 3PT

Russell Westbrook had an absolutely historic year. While he was battling James Harden all season long for the award, by the end of the season there really wasn't much doubt about whose award it was. Westbrook drug the Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs yet again, despite fellow superstar Kevin Durant skipping town to join up with the Golden State Warriors. Although his Thunder were eliminated in the 1st round by Harden and the Rockets, it shouldn't put a mark on an otherwise phenomenal year for Westbrook, as he averaged a triple-double this season, something that hasn't happened since Oscar Robinson in 1962. Well deserved.




NBA Rookie of the Year: Dario Saric, PHI
81 GP, 26.3 MPG, 12.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 41.1% FG, 31.1% 3PT

Not a whole lot was expected of Dario Saric this year, finally making his way to the NBA after being drafted in 2014. Saric quietly entered the league at 22, but the spotlight was actually on his teammate Joel Embiid, who was making his NBA debut as well after 2 seasons of injuries. Though Embiid was phenomenal and arguably should have been Rookie of the Year, he only played 31 games this season. Saric on the otherhand played 81 games for the Sixers and was far and away their best player when Embiid wasn't suiting up. With his only other real competition being Milwaukee's Malcolm Brogdon, who had an excellent year as a 2nd round pick, it was Saric's award to lose.



NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, UTA
81 GP, 33.9 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 2.6 BPG

Gobert was in an absolute dogfight for this award with Golden State's Draymond Green, and to an extent, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard. Rudy locked down the paint for a very good Utah team that finished 3rd in the league in DRTG per 100 possessions, and he was arguably Utah's most important player, even including Gordon Hayward. Gobert led the league in blocks per game by a wide-margin with 2.6 per game, with a total of 214 blocks on the year. 2nd on that list? Myles Turner with 173. Gobert's dominance inside the paint willed Utah to the 5th seed in the tough Western Conference, but this award could have gone to Draymond just as easily.



NBA 6th Man of the Year: James Johnson, MIA
76 GP, 27.4 MPG, 12.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 47.9% FG, 34.0% 3PT

Heat forward James Johnson somehow snuck away with the award, beating out Houston's Lou Williams and Eric Gordon for the award. Johnson put up some very impressive numbers in his 8th season in the NBA, putting up career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, and three-point percentage. He was a versatile two-way forward for Miami and really was one of the key players in Miami's second half turnaround, as they fell just short of the playoffs. Although I think Houston's Gordon should have gotten this one, I'm not mad about this one at all.




NBA Most Improved Player: Nikola Jokic, DEN
73 GP, 27.9 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 57.8% FG, 32.4% 3PT

Jokic was an absolute machine once he hit his stride this season. Playing time at the start of the season was tough to come by, with Jusuf Nurkic still in town and the two being unplayable together due to their defensive limitations at the four spot. But once Nurkic was traded to Portland for Mason Plumlee, Jokic cranked up the hype and started to deliver some insane performances that we haven't seen from a big man... ever. A truly rare talent, Jokic is a threat to drop a triple-double on any given night. His passing makes it a necessity for Denver to build around him in the future.




NBA Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, GSW

All-NBA 1st Team:
G Russell Westbrook, OKC
G James Harden, HOU
F LeBron James, CLE
F Anthony Davis, NOP
C DeMarcus Cousins, NOP

All-NBA 2nd Team:
G Stephen Curry, GSW
G Jimmy Butler, CHI
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
F Kevin Durant, GSW
C Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN

All-NBA 3rd Team:
G Damian Lillard, POR
G Isaiah Thomas, BOS
F Kawhi Leonard, SAS
F Blake Griffin, LAC
C Hassan Whiteside, C

All-Defensive 1st Team:
G Russell Westbrook, OKC
G Jimmy Butler, CHI
F Draymond Green, GSW
F Anthony Davis, NOP
C Rudy Gobert, UTA

All-Defensive 2nd Team:
G John Wall, WAS
G Tony Allen, MEM
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
F Kristaps Porzingis, NYK
C Hassan Whiteside, MIA

All-Rookie 1st Team:
G Jamal Murray, DEN
G Malcolm Brogdon, MIL
F Brandon Ingram, LAL
F Dario Saric, PHI
F Marquese Chriss, PHX

All-Rookie 2nd Team:
G Caris LeVert, BKN
G Tyler Ulis, PHX
G Buddy Hield, SAC
G Andrew Harrison, MEM
G Isaiah Whitehead, BKN

[JazzMan]

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Pierce, Bosh Headline 2017 Retirement List

Paul Pierce, LAC, F - 39 Years Old, 18 Year Pro
1343 GP, 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 44.5% FG, 36.8% 3PT
NBA Champion (2008)
10x All-Star (2002-2006, 2008-2012)
2nd Team All-NBA (2009)
3x 3rd Team All-NBA (2002, 2003, 2008)
1st Team All-Rookie (1999)
#34 Retired By The Boston Celtics
*Hall of Famer

Chris Bosh, MIA, F - 33 Years Old, 13 Year Pro
893 GP, 19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 49.4% FG, 33.5% 3PT
2x NBA Champion (2012, 2013)
11x All-Star (2006-2016)
2nd Team All-NBA (2007)
1st Team All-Rookie (2004)
*Hall of Famer

Jason Terry, MIL, G - 39 Years Old, 17 Year Pro
1359 GP, 13.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44.4% FG, 38.0% 3PT
NBA Champion (2011)
Sixth-Man of the Year (2009)
2nd Team All-Rookie (2000)

Tayshaun Prince, FA, F - 37 Years Old, 14 Year Pro
1017 GP, 11.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 45.5% FG, 36.7% 3PT
NBA Champion (2004)
4x 2nd Team All-Defense (2005-2008)

Udonis Haslem, MIA, F - 37 Years Old, 13 Year Pro
831 GP, 7.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 49.1% FG, 0.86% 3PT, 75.6% FT
3x NBA Champion (2006, 2012, 2013)
2nd Team All-Rookie (2004)

Andre Miller, FA, G - 41 Years Old, 17 Year Pro
1304 GP, 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 46.1% FG, 21.7% 3PT
1st Team All-Rookie (2000)

Nazr Mohammad, FA, C - 39 Years Old, 18 Year Pro
1005 GP, 5.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 48.6% FG, 64.0% FT
NBA Champion (2005)

Matt Barnes, GSW, F - 37 Years Old, 13 Year Pro
929 GP, 8.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 43.6% FG, 33.5% 3PT
NBA Champion (2017)

Pablo Prigioni, FA, G - 40 Years Old, 4 Year Pro
270 GP, 3.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 42.5% FG, 37.9% 3PT

[JazzMan]

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2017 Offseason Coaching Carousel




Philadelphia 76ers
Fire Assistant Coach Lloyd Pierce
Hire Assistant Coach Andre Miller




Chicago Bulls
Fire Head Coach Fred Hoiberg
Hire Head Coach Ime Udoka (SAS Assistant)
Fire Assistant Coach Jim Boylen
Hire Assistant Coach Alexander Gordon



Los Angeles Clippers
Hire Assistant Coach Paul Pierce (Lost Sam Cassell to UTA)


Utah Jazz
Fire Assistant Coach John Smith
Hire Assistant Coach Sam Cassell



Sacramento Kings
Fire Assistant Coach Elston Turner
Hire Assistant Coach Jacob Eddie



New York Knicks
Fire Assistant Coach Kurt Rambis
Hire Assistant Coach Landon Hamilton



Orlando Magic
Fire Assistant Coach Corliss Williamson
Hire Assistant Coach Michael Hunt


San Antonio Spurs
Hire Assistant Coach Benjamin Walker (Lost Udoka to CHI)

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No major changes this offseason for coaches, aside from the Bulls firing Fred Hoiberg, perhaps prematurely. Hoiberg did his job and got Chicago to the postseason, despite a roster that clearly had chemistry issues as soon as it was assembled. Filling in is Popovich's understudy, Ime Udoka. Udoka will be tasked with keeping the Bulls competitive, while at the same time, trying to rebuild the team around star swingman Jimmy Butler.

Paul Pierce joins Doc Rivers' staff in Los Angeles after retiring as a Clipper, while Andre Miller joins the staff in Philadelphia.

[JazzMan]

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2017 NBA Draft Preview

The 2017 NBA Draft is nearly here! Teams are finishing out their pre-draft workouts, getting a final look at prospects, debating on who to pick over whom. However, there are certainly some big storylines heading into the draft this year. While it's nearly a lock that Markelle Fultz is going to be the 1st overall pick, will he be heading to Boston? Or will Danny Ainge trade away the pick for a star player to join his Celtics, who made the Eastern Conference Finals this year? In truth, it all depends on how confident the Celtics are in landing free agent forward Gordon Hayward. Hayward has declined his player option for next season, making him a free agent this summer. Surely, the Jazz will be pushing and pushing to retain him, and it was never a foregone conclusion that Hayward would be leaving for Boston in the first place. But if they strike out on Hayward, will they have regretted not making a move for, say, Paul George or Jimmy Butler?

The Los Angeles Lakers hold the #2 overall pick, and team president Magic Johnson is still tight-lipped about the situation. Obviously, Lonzo Ball, the talented point guard out of UCLA, should be there at #2, but how much of a risk would the Lakers be taking if they select Ball? While Ball is clearly a talented player, his father can't seem to keep himself out of the media, which could be a huge distraction not only for Lonzo, but for the entire Lakers organization as well. The Lakers are rebuilding, and simply cannot afford to have their team get taken over by a player's father.

Philadelphia remains in a tough spot. They have a fantastic young frontcourt, consisting of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and 2017 rookie of the year Dario Saric, plus Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes. So, frontcourt isn't a priority. The team is in desperate need of a point guard, as T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez ran the show the majority of the year. But with Fultz and Ball seemingly looking to go 1-2 in the draft, the next top guard in the draft seems to be Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox. Fox, while a great talent, might not be the best fit for the Sixers, as they already have spacing issues in the starting five. Adding Fox to the mix would only clog things up further. Could Philly possibly trade down, or maybe even draft a wing to pair with Simmons?

The Timberwolves are reported to be interested in trading away the 7th overall pick to acquire a veteran forward to start in the frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns. With them seemingly being set at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and center, power forward seems to be really the main focus moving forward, and this class is definitely a guard-oriented class.

Detroit also is looking to trade away their first rounder, the 12th overall pick, to acquire a "win-now" veteran to help them make a splash in the Eastern Conference. After having a promising 2015-2016 season, the Pistons took a big step back this season and are looking to immediately move forward and bounce back in a big way.

[JazzMan]

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Utah Jazz 2017 Offseason Preview

Free Agents: F Gordon Hayward (UFA), G George Hill (UFA), Joe Ingles (RFA) G Shelvin Mack (UFA), C Jeff Withey (UFA)
Draft Picks: #23, #30, #43, #57

The Jazz head into this offseason riding a high from their 2016-2017 campaign. It was the first time that the team had made the postseason since 2012, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. This year, they won 51 games, got themselves the 5th seed in a tough Western Conference, and took out Chris Paul and the Clippers in Round 1 before dropping to the NBA Champion Warriors in Round 2. Not many expected the Jazz to be able to make it to the 2nd round this season, but they did, and the team is very visibly proud of the steps they have made.

But for some, it's not enough. Star forward Gordon Hayward, who made his first All-Star appearance this season, has championship aspirations. He wants to be known as an NBA champion at some point in his NBA career. No doubt, the Jazz are making some serious strides towards championship contention, but with the Golden State Warriors lurking in the Western Conference, it will be tough for awhile for Utah to be a serious title contender, as long as they have to go through Steph, KD, and crew. Though many consider Hayward to be loyal to the Jazz, it may actually be his loyalty to his college coach and current Celtics head coach Brad Stevens that prevails this summer. Hayward is a hand-in-glove fit with Stevens' system, and Boston adding him makes them a serious contender to take on LeBron James' Cavaliers.

What does Utah have over the Celtics? A 7'1" shot-blocking, paint-protecting, rim-destroying French monster by the name of Rudy Gobert. Gobert put up strong numbers in his 4th NBA season, upping his averages to 14.0 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 2.6 BPG while shooting a ridiculous 66.1% from the floor. Boston does not have anybody who can protect the paint, grab rebounds, and score inside as efficiently as Gobert does. He is truly a defensive superstar level talent, and it shows, as he was the recipient of the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year award, over Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard. Gobert makes the game even easier for Hayward, and I think Hayward will miss that if he goes to Boston.

Point guard George Hill was phenomenal for the Jazz this season... when he played. Hill played just 49 games this season for Utah in his first year with the Jazz, and it could wind up being the only 49 games he'll play for the organization; he is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Hill put up career numbers in Utah; 17 PPG, 4 APG, and 47.7% shooting from the floor. He could very easily command a lot of money this summer, and there could just be a team or two looking to acquire his services for a pretty hefty contract. With Utah needing to lock up Hayward, as well as the standout Joe Ingles, the Jazz might have to let Hill walk.

Speaking of Ingles, the 29-year-old Aussie had a breakout year this season. Ingles scored 7 points per game, grabbed 3 rebounds, and had nearly 3 assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the floor and 44.1% from three, third-best in the NBA. He was the only Jazz player to play all 82 games this season for Utah, and he was a significant factor in their 1st Round victory over the Clippers. With Ingles specifically stating he wants to stay in Utah, being that he is a new father of twins, the Jazz might be able to lock him up fairly cheap.

Those three free agents aren't the only thing the Jazz have to decide on this summer; they also have two first round draft picks (23 and 30), and they have a few roster decisions to make as well. With Derrick Favors and Alec Burks both having injury issues the past two seasons, would it be wise for the Jazz to shop one (or both) of the two to try and free up some cap space for Hayward/Hill/Ingles/free agent? Favors is set to make $12M next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2018, while Alec Burks is locked up through 2019 for $22.5M. Both are 25-years-old, so while they are fairly young, they should be entering their primes soon... but they are unfortunately still developing their games due to injuries that they've suffered.

Overall, it's going to be an interesting summer for the Jazz.

[trekfan]

Tough choices for the Jazz this summer. I think Hayward walks -- the Warriors are just too damn good to reasonably assume they'll fall in the next few seasons.

I think Utah will need to let Hill walk, bet on Exum developing (sign a vet behind him, of course), and trade Favors. I'm a big believer in Trey Lyles and think Utah should give him some big minutes next year.

With the money the Jazz will have free, I think they should take a crack at a former Jazzman, Paul Millsap -- maybe they can convince him to come back and finish his career where it started, be the All-Star four that stretches the floor.