I Think I Am Aboard The Tank Train Now

[trickybilly]

I feel Joe got the memo about the tank.

I don't think Joe is a particularly good coach, but the players seem to like him. His weirdness if fun. Don't super love his bible bashing, but whatevs.

Let's see more Jordan Walsh.

[Goldstar88]

I feel Joe got the memo about the tank.

I don't think Joe is a particularly good coach, but the players seem to like him. His weirdness if fun. Don't super love his bible bashing, but whatevs.

Let's see more Jordan Walsh.

Any coach would tank with this roster. Bible bashing? He?s a devout Christian. 

[trickybilly]

I feel Joe got the memo about the tank.

I don't think Joe is a particularly good coach, but the players seem to like him. His weirdness if fun. Don't super love his bible bashing, but whatevs.

Let's see more Jordan Walsh.

Any coach would tank with this roster. Bible bashing? He?s a devout Christian. 

Oh I just mean that he takes every opportunity to talk about his love of Jesus. Just all religion bugs me.

The losing team in a 7 game series never seems to thank Jesus or God.

[slightly biased bias fan]

If zero defense continues the tank will take care of itself

Coach Joe should be on notice. After the blown leads and series loss to the knicks and allowing multiple 40 plus points a quarter here early, it?s evident a change will come..

Brown should have been traded at the Draft. Another player who doesn?t make any other player better while on the court..

Garbage roster even with Tatum..

Mazzulla just signed a contract extension.  I know this place hates the guy and blames him for everything they haven't already pinned to JB, but your hatred doesn't appear to be shared by the front office.

I saw a post recently by a reliable journalist that stated the reason for the Mazzulla extension was because the Knicks were preparing to making Mazzulla an offer to become their new head coach.

Personally I would have let Mazzulla go for multiple picks and then made an offer for Will Hardy. Hardy has extracted so much from a broken roster in Utah.

He probably was extended to keep him from the Knicks, yeah.  You still don't extend a coach you dislike.  I don't know what the insinuation is here but it doesn't make sense to me.

I think it's pretty clear that the front office likes the guy and believes in him.  Gonna be some unhappy people in game threads here about it, but it is what it is. 


Sidenote:  What has Will Hardy extracted from Utah, exactly?  They had the worst record in the league last season.

Yeah I understood what you are saying, it does not look impressive, but you have to look at the circumstances.

Danny Ainge has been trying to tank since Will Hardy became coach, unfortunately for Ainge, Hardy coached the Jazz out of a high draft pick every season.

2022-23 season Utah finished 37-45 (9th worst record)
2023-24 season Utah finished 31-52 (8th worst record)

Both seasons Utah overwhelmingly over performed their roster. Remember they are in the west, with a division that includes Minnesota, Denver & OKC.

2022 Utah Jazz

Conley Jr
Clarkson
Vanderbilt
Markkanen
Olynyk

2023 Utah Jazz

Dunn
Sexton
Fontecchio
Collins
Markkanen

The Jazz roster depth was atrocious too.

The reason that the Jazz did so poorly last season was because Ainge literally held back players to tank. Ainge tank job was so egregious the Jazz were fined by the NBA for faking injuries for better draft position.

[iadera]

I don't know what we all expected, but this is destined to be a battle for the worst team in the league.

The team is built in such a way that ? no rebounding, very limited offense, below-average defense. I know we had to go under the 2nd apron, but to end up with this... 

[Kernewek]

I don't know what we all expected, but this is destined to be a battle for the worst team in the league.

The team is built in such a way that ? no rebounding, very limited offense, below-average defense. I know we had to go under the 2nd apron, but to end up with this...  :-\

For what it's worth, I think this was largely dictated by Tatum's injury.

[Roy H.]

Any coach would tank with this roster.

Yeah.  This is the worst set of bigs I can remember having.  I don't know many coaches that would be making lemonade without any rebounding or interior defense.

[Celtics4ever]

I don't think Joe would ever tank, he is too competitive. He is no ML Carr.   The fast pace idea  and pushing the ball is not bad, but you have to be able to secure defensive rebounds to run the ball up the court.   Tatum was a Swiss Army for us and make us better in every area.

I think this roster will make it seem like it we are tanking with the big rotation. 

[gift]

it's been a strange experience so far this year. i've had zero expectations for the first time in a long time. i don't hate the team, despite fatal roster flaws. if there's ever a year to tank, this is it. strong lottery. roster that can be marginally improved, but not fixed this year. superstar is out. come back better next year with more flexibility and better assets. in the meantime, i'm happy to relax and just enjoy some oddities this season.

[Celtics4ever]

I may be critical of some stuff, but I am rooting for us to win when I am watching the games.   I say, this as a guy who wants a lottery pick, I can't root against the Celtics.  My head is logical and wants the great pick but when the game start my heart wins out and I root for the team.

I enjoying seeing guys grow on the team.

[slamtheking]

I may be critical of some stuff, but I am rooting for us to win when I am watching the games.   I say, this as a guy who wants a lottery pick, I can't root against the Celtics.  My head is logical and wants the great pick but when the game start my heart wins out and I root for the team.

I enjoying seeing guys grow on the team.

right there with you.  the thing I'd add to it is I'm hoping we actually get to see the younger players thrown into the mix to see if they can/do grow.  I've given up on Walsh and am getting there with Baylor but would love to be proven wrong in my assessment and have them show that they're solid players before long

[Moranis]

Any coach would tank with this roster.

Yeah.  This is the worst set of bigs I can remember having.  I don't know many coaches that would be making lemonade without any rebounding or interior defense.

the bigs are bad, but that doesn't mean the team couldn't be better.  The lineups and rotations don't make a lot of sense. 

[Vermont Green]

Any coach would tank with this roster.

Yeah.  This is the worst set of bigs I can remember having.  I don't know many coaches that would be making lemonade without any rebounding or interior defense.

the bigs are bad, but that doesn't mean the team couldn't be better.  The lineups and rotations don't make a lot of sense.

Yes, right now you have both a team that isn't that good and also a team that is underachieving.  Good shooters shooting poorly.  New players not fitting in yet.  The coach still trying to figure things out.  This all on top of the team lacking talent relative to most of the league.

I don't believe that the team will continue to be this bad.  I don't see the team having the horses to be good, but I think they can be better.  My only expectation is that they continue to play hard.  No diva'ing out.  No pouting.  Just be a pro and keep playing.  So far, the team has played hard.