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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz General Manager Kevin O'Connor had three goals when the off-season began:
- Improve on-ball defense
- Add long-range shooting
- Increase the overall talent level of the Utah Jazz
Mo Williams. Marvin Williams. Randy Foye.
Done, done and done.
In a collection of surprising moves O'Connor has flown below the radar and changed at least two of the five starters and three of the main eight rotation players. In doing so he has transformed the look of the Utah Jazz.
In 2010-11 season the Jazz hit on just 273 three-pointers the third fewest of any team in the NBA. 18 teams hit over 400 threes last year while the Jazz didn't break 300. However, the 2012-13 Jazz will be different. Mo, Marvin and Randy combined to hit 279 by themselves, six more than the entire Jazz team.
Related:
Utah Jazz: Foye more than just a basketball player
Randy Foye is now a Jazzman that will be called upon to open up the offense with his three point shooting. But let's forget about Randy Foye the basketball player.More importantly, the Jazz best three-point shooter last year (with required attempts) was Devin Harris, ranking 76th in the NBA. Mo, Marvin and Randy were all Top 40 three-point shooters in the NBA in shooting percentage. They weren't bashful either. Foye hit the 7th most of anyone in the NBA, 127. Mo came in at 34th with 97 three's and Marvin hit 58.
More specifically, what all these players can do is hit a spot up jumper. Synergy Sports charts players on purely spot up shots- plays where the offense creates an opportunity and the ball is kicked to a player who catches and shoots. Last year, the Jazz ranked 26th in the NBA (out of 30) on spot ups hitting just 36 percent and 34 percent from three.
Mo Williams hit 44 percent of spot ups and 42 percent of spot up three pointers. Marvin Williams hit only 37 percent of his spot ups, but improved that from three at 40.2 percent. The latest addition Randy Foye, also hit just 37 percent of his spot ups, but also improved to 40 percent of his spot up threes.
All three of these players are above 40 percent on spot up three's.
Defensively, NBA players usually enter the NBA with no idea how to play. They gain experience and become better defenders and then as age kicks in they begin to struggle. The Jazz acquired three players who are all thought to be above-average defenders in the peak of their defense bell curve.
Related:
Breaking down the 2012-13 Jazz schedule
The NBA has released the schedule for the 2012- 13 season and in turn the Jazz now know the road they must take to get back into the playoffs. Here are some of the points of interest for the upcoming season.Mo is 29 years old; Marvin in 26, but already in his 7th year in the NBA and Randy Foye is squeezed in between the two Williams at 28 years old.
When I asked Mo Williams and Randy Foye why Jazz fans will like their games they both said they are "tough." The Jazz believe they have made major strides with their perimeter on-ball defense with these additions along with the Jazz's two best defensive players last year: Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors.
Finally, the overall talent level of the Jazz has sky rocketed. Players don't always perform to their draft position, but there is always a reason why players are drafted in the Top 10. The Jazz, which traditionally have had no Top 10 picks on their team (other than Deron Williams and Thurl Bailey), will have a former No. 2 overall pick in Marvin Williams, former No. 3 picks in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, a No. 7 pick in Randy Foye and a No. 9 pick in Gordon Hayward.
Done, done and done.
