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Preseason Game 1 Jazz player grades:
Donovan: A-
Engaged early, great passing with 4 assists in 17 min. Got the the FT line at will. Missed a few 3s but that's fine. Didn't show lockdown defense, but that's NBD in a preseason game. Solid start. 1/
Donovan: A-
Engaged early, great passing with 4 assists in 17 min. Got the the FT line at will. Missed a few 3s but that's fine. Didn't show lockdown defense, but that's NBD in a preseason game. Solid start. 1/
Rudy: B+
A force defensively as usual. Ayton is a "matchup difficulty" because of his height and midrange skill, but Rudy was a plus against him because that's what Rudy does. Rebounded with force. Got to the line and made his FT. Didn't have tons of plays run for him on O.
A force defensively as usual. Ayton is a "matchup difficulty" because of his height and midrange skill, but Rudy was a plus against him because that's what Rudy does. Rebounded with force. Got to the line and made his FT. Didn't have tons of plays run for him on O.
Bojan: C
Looked like he's still finding his shot, because of course he is, this is his 1st game after wrist surgery. Hustled on D but was a liability on that end today. Did have a nice post up or two. Also got some rebs. He will be fine.
Looked like he's still finding his shot, because of course he is, this is his 1st game after wrist surgery. Hustled on D but was a liability on that end today. Did have a nice post up or two. Also got some rebs. He will be fine.
Joe: C-
I still wish he shot more, but he missed what he took today, so
. He was an awesome distributer tho, and I jumped up and clapped after his first assist to Favs. Got a little foul happy on defense, which didn't help his +/-.
I still wish he shot more, but he missed what he took today, so
. He was an awesome distributer tho, and I jumped up and clapped after his first assist to Favs. Got a little foul happy on defense, which didn't help his +/-.
Georges: B-
Shot as well as he needs to to counter his perceived defensive weakness. Also had some nice back down baby hooks! Rebounded well, and really put in effort on D, but still got beat on that end.
Shot as well as he needs to to counter his perceived defensive weakness. Also had some nice back down baby hooks! Rebounded well, and really put in effort on D, but still got beat on that end.
Jordan: A-
Clarkson chucks so much, but when he's making 50% of his threes, it's hard to fault. He had some real highlights. Also a little turnover prone and still gets lost on D occasionally, but I don't like nitpicking when he does what he is asked to do so well.
Clarkson chucks so much, but when he's making 50% of his threes, it's hard to fault. He had some real highlights. Also a little turnover prone and still gets lost on D occasionally, but I don't like nitpicking when he does what he is asked to do so well.
Juwan: A
This guy. In 21 minutes he scored 11 pts on 6 shots and 3/4 from 3, 7 rebs, 2nd best +/- of the game and you hardly realize he's doing it. His defense is rock solid. I can see why the Jazz are high on him, he's going to outplay his expectations and then some.
This guy. In 21 minutes he scored 11 pts on 6 shots and 3/4 from 3, 7 rebs, 2nd best +/- of the game and you hardly realize he's doing it. His defense is rock solid. I can see why the Jazz are high on him, he's going to outplay his expectations and then some.
Derrick: A+
Mostly because I'm so happy to see him wearing the uniform he belongs in. But also he was 4/5 in 13 minutes and his interior defense was spot on. This is a huge upgrade at backup center, which may end up being a bigger deal than most national pundits think.
Mostly because I'm so happy to see him wearing the uniform he belongs in. But also he was 4/5 in 13 minutes and his interior defense was spot on. This is a huge upgrade at backup center, which may end up being a bigger deal than most national pundits think.
Udoka: B+
Grading on skill & size alone, he gets an A+ from me. He just looked a little lost at times on D switches (to be expected) and missed his FTs. But holy crap! His 3 blocks were lookers! And that baby hook! He could be a genuine force
. Just make those FTs.
Grading on skill & size alone, he gets an A+ from me. He just looked a little lost at times on D switches (to be expected) and missed his FTs. But holy crap! His 3 blocks were lookers! And that baby hook! He could be a genuine force
. Just make those FTs.
Elijah: B-
He looked very skilled. He's quick off the dribble and can get to the basket. My first impression, he reminds me a lot of Alec Burks. That's pretty nice for pick #39. Still finding his way on the defensive end (of course), but I can see his potential value.
He looked very skilled. He's quick off the dribble and can get to the basket. My first impression, he reminds me a lot of Alec Burks. That's pretty nice for pick #39. Still finding his way on the defensive end (of course), but I can see his potential value.
Nigel: A-
Had a really solid game that was basically ignored by all the game summaries and write-ups because he isn't projected to play. Such is the struggle. 15 pts in 14 minutes, 2 steals, didn't miss from 3, and got to the line at will. Great showing.
Had a really solid game that was basically ignored by all the game summaries and write-ups because he isn't projected to play. Such is the struggle. 15 pts in 14 minutes, 2 steals, didn't miss from 3, and got to the line at will. Great showing.
Miye: C+
He was the +/- king today, but honestly I'm not sure how much of that was him. He didn't shoot well at all, going 1/6 and missed a fair number of open 3s. He hustles on D, maybe that's why the team did well while he was on the floor.
He was the +/- king today, but honestly I'm not sure how much of that was him. He didn't shoot well at all, going 1/6 and missed a fair number of open 3s. He hustles on D, maybe that's why the team did well while he was on the floor.
Trent: C
Trent Forrest. I had to look up his first name. For an unknown, he looked pretty athletic, worked hard, made both his shots and looked lost on D. I'm fine with all of those things.
Trent Forrest. I had to look up his first name. For an unknown, he looked pretty athletic, worked hard, made both his shots and looked lost on D. I'm fine with all of those things.
Jake: D
He got on the floor! This is more of an incomplete than anything, he played 3 minutes and missed his only shot, but he will get his chance to show out in the D league.
He got on the floor! This is more of an incomplete than anything, he played 3 minutes and missed his only shot, but he will get his chance to show out in the D league.
