Comprehensive NBA Scouting Report

The Utah Jazz Note: The scouting report has been modtified slightly for use on the internet.

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~ Offensive Overview ~

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The Jazz prefer to play offense in a "semi-control" mode where they can control the game tempo. When in their early offense or disciplined half court game, they'll opt to go inside first with quick Malone post ups, or outside penetrations by Stockton, Malone, or Russell. The "Utah personality" utilizes the talents of their two perennial All-Star players, Stockton and Malone, who are the main focus in all of their offensive concepts. Utah also utilizes the talents of their three outstanding three point shooters, Starks, Russell, and Stockton. Stockton and Malone personify this team, however. This class act has been around forever and, together with Russell, could run their sets with their hands tied behind them!

Offensive Thumbs Up. Look for...

• Malone and Stockton, still two of the NBA top 50 players, to continue their amazing two man games with little signs of aging.

• Malone to continue to be the premier NBA power forward with the most effective post up scoring abilities in the league, second only to Shaquille O'Neal.
• a solid half court game due to years of experience utilizing the same offensive system with the same veteran players.
• great floor leadership by veteran guard, John Stockton, who has no peer in reading defenses and remains one of the top assist leaders in the NBA year after year.
• good three point shooting from Starks, Stockton, and Russell which complements their inside post up game of Malone.
• Russell to pick up most of the shooting slack created by Hornacek's retirement; even though Marshall was acquired for this purpose.
• excellent free throw shooting accuracy despite losing Hornacek, last year's #1 NBA free throw shooter.
• one of the best early offensive systems on missed shots due to consistent disciplined running of their transition routes.
• high team field goal percentage due to success of their inside game along with their fine 3 point shooting.
• excellent ball handling skills which keep their turnovers low and their assists high (finished 3rd in NBA last year).
• great physical screening off the ball to free up shooters.
• continued skillful one on one play by Malone, a "go to" player "par excellante."
• outstanding "crunch time" execution.

Offensive Thumbs Down. Look for...

• low bench scoring relative to their top position in the Western Division year after year.

• low scoring from center position, namely Polynice and Ostertag.
• streaky performances from Starks.
• very predictable offensive scenarios, leaving them vulnerable to disruptive pressure defenses.
• one of the lowest scoring NBA teams due to lack of consistent bench scoring.
• very little improvement in offensive rebounding, among the lowest in the NBA last year.

Jazz Playbook: Click to view play diagrams

1. Transition and Early Offense
2. Most Used Sets
3. Lesser Used Sets
4. Situations

NBA Offensive Guide Want to know more more about NBA offenses? Click here for a graphically illustrated analysis of the NBA's most commonly used set offenses.

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~ Defensive Overview ~

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The Utah Jazz are one of the better defensive teams in the NBA. They base their defensive execution on the standard NBA "pack it in" eastern style of defensive play. They depend on solid one on one defense and physical inside play against screens, cuts, and post ups. Disruptive pressure scenarios play a minimal role in their defensive system. Since their defensive rebounding abilities leave much to be desired, a more traditional approach to squelching opponent scoring options is required.

Defensive Thumbs Up. Look for....

• solid "Eastern" style physical defense, with emphasis on "packing it in."

• a low scoring average on the part of the opposition.

• steals in the three second area due to quick hands which create numerous inside deflections and turnovers.

• good individual one on one defenders who take pride in stopping their assigned opponent.

• consistent level of defensive intensity every night, unusual in a league playing so many games in a season.

• great improvement in Russell's defensive skills who is developing into a real NBA stopper.

• physical disruption of screens to minimize the scoring potential of a good offensive screening team.

Defensive Thumbs Down. Look for ...

• minimum use of any disruptive pressure defensive scenarios.

• low number of forced turnovers due to lack of innovative pressure "D" scenarios.

• average overall NBA defensive quickness which is the obvious reason for their lack of pressure defensive schemes.

• below average NBA defensive rebounding.

NBA Defensive Strategies Click here for to view the various defensive strategies being deployed against the most commonly used NBA offenses

SOS Defensive Basics For keys to playing and coaching disruptive pressure basketball, click here.

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~ Personnel Overview ~

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Utah has two proven veteran NBA All-Stars in Malone and Stockton, and have surrounded them with a solid complimentary mixture of young and veteran NBA players, all possessing a great work ethic. Utah personnel has been built on excellent drafting and development of their draftees over a period of years, Malone, Stockton and Russell being prime examples. Veteran Starks will takeover the off guard role for retired Hornacek, and Marshall will provide strong backup to Russell. Excellent draft selection and careful and consistent development of their young players over the years has enabled them to be at the top of the Western Division year after year. Look for high schooler, DeShawn Stevenson, to be added to this list and see some court time.

Jazz Player Profiles Want to know about the inside information on the Jazz players and how to play them? Click here for individual player scouting profiles.

Utah's Depth Chart Click here to check out Utah's Depth Chart.

Jazz Player Rankings Click here to view Utah's individual player rankings.

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~ Playing Them Smart ~

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The biggest challenge in setting up a game plan to conquer the Jazz is to disrupt their well disciplined and time tested half court game. Stopping Malone and the hand that feeds him, Stockton, is no easy task. Throw in Russell and their other three point shooters and opponents have their work cut out for them. Opponents must speed it up on the offensive end to take control of the tempo and deny the ball to the "awesome twosome" of Malone and Stockton.

On Offense:

1. force them to play a transitional tempo game to counter their control style of play, a big factor in their many successful seasons.
2. emphasize dribble penetrations to the basket as they are low percentage shot blockers with a lot of "reaching" by their outside defenders.
3. look to go inside with quick early offense post ups, wing drives, and sharp off ball cutting before settling for the perimeter shots.
4. make the extra pass using ball reversals to neutralize their physical "pack it in" style of defense.
5. set and hold physical screens to counter their physical "bump and grind" inside screen defenses.
6. force Stockton to play defense away from the ball to counter his excellent roaming abilities.

On Defense:

1. disrupt their disciplined half court offensive system components: Malone post ups, Stockton penetrations. screen and rolls, and guard rubs of the high post.
2. deny Malone post ups by fronting and trapping.
3. disrupt high post UCLA patterns with early half court and wing traps with ensuing rotations.
4. disrupt their screen and roll scenarios with early trap maneuvers.
5. switch out on shooters coming off screens to deny passing lanes.
6. keep Stockton away from the mid court on his penetration attempts, forcing him to side and corner areas.
7. stop their well executed early offense transitions off of missed shots by "smothering' their rebounder.
8. deny corner passes and front post ups.
9. emphasize position pressure defense on and off the ball to keep them away from the foul line where they are so accurate.
10. force their penetrators to the nearest corner away from the middle area.
11. concentrate on fronting the post players to limit their three point shot attempts off of their post feeds.

© 2005 Ernie Woods, HoopTactics

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