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Causa latet, vis est notissima.The cause is hidden, but the result is well known.
Who are these guys?
I don't recognize the jersey. There's a ton of fresh faces. There's crazy lineups. What happened to the Jazz that I've grown up watching?
On Monday, the Jazz brought the Bucks into town. Agreed, with all the injuries the Bucks are terrible, but watching the Jazz accumulate a season high 10 blocked shots I started thinking "Wow, It's been a long time since I've seen the Jazz block shots." So I did a little research.
Of course, in the Mark Eaton years, the Jazz were a great shot blocking team. But in the last several years the Jazz have taken a big downturn on blocks. In fact since 2004 the Jazz have only been in the top 10 in blocks once. Usually hanging around the late teens to early twenties in a 30 team league.
This year, the Jazz rank 8th. Al Jefferson, Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap lead the way blocking close to four a game between the three of the them. Not gaudy numbers, but every little bit helps. Al Jefferson has been a nice addition in the post. He blocked his 29th shot on Monday... Boozer didn't block his 29th until February.
"I knew size was a problem last season," said Al Jefferson who blocked a season high four shots, "it showed against the Lakers, so when you get some size, I'm pretty sure blocks follow."
Kirilenko had four blocks as well and coach Sloan noticed, "Andrei had a great second half... he was able to block some shots and get a couple of baskets."
Perhaps the most shocking stat is not the blocked shots, but something that has plagued Jazz teams for as long as anyone can remember.
For decades, the Jazz have watched opposing teams rain three-pointer after three-pointer on their heads. This is not a big surprise since Jerry's defensive philosophy says pack it in and give up the three because "it's easier to hit a layup than a three."
This year's team is different. The 2010 Jazz defend the three better than anyone else in the league. That's right. You read it correctly. The Jazz are the best at defending the three. Opposing teams shoot just 29% against the Jazz. And with a quarter of the season in the books, that's a pretty fair sampling.
Another thing I don't get... the Jazz are a terrible rebounding team. Only the Grizzlies, Pistons and Suns are out-rebounded by more than Utah. In the past five years the Jazz have been #1 in rebounding differential twice, third and fifth. Jerry says it's just effort.
Jerry has also been accused for years of being an immovable object, stuck in his coaching ways with an inability to show creativity in his lineups.
Let's tackle the criticism, ignoring the fact that he radically changed the offense in 2004, when Stockton and Malone left, to win 42 games with a two guard set, when most thought the Jazz would be the worst team of all-time.
I present to you the lineup of Earl Watson, Ronnie Price, C.J. Miles, Francisco Elson and Kyrylo Fesenko. One of the most dynamic and unlikely second units in the NBA.
Not a starter on the floor. Two point guards, an inconsistent scorer, a defender and a giant. Together they are like a bolt of lightning. It's like five Ronnie Prices on the floor. It's exhausting to watch, I can't imagine what it's like to play.
Crazy lineup #2, takes the best point guard in the league (sorry Russell Westbrook, do it for more than 20 games and then come talk to me) and moves him to the 2-Guard position.
" Deron is great coming off the baseline." says Sloan, " He gets open and he can really make shots coming off that (Harpring curl). Of course, they know that he can pass as well, so it's a tremendous asset for us at times. And Earl does a terrific job of getting us in our offense. Executing... he's done a great job for us."
So what you have is a non-rebounding, shot-blocking, three-point defending, lineup changing Jazz team that is completely unfamiliar... except for the fact that they keep winning.
Causa latet, vis est notissima.
