Tony Jones, one of The Tribune’s Utah Jazz beat reporters, will answer questions submitted on Twitter each week in his Jazz mailbag. Here are this week’s questions and answers.
Hi Tony, can we say Jazz have a much more all around team to face the coming playoffs? They look more healthy & i feel the guards (Rubio, Exum and Mitchell) are an upgrade vs Hill. Underrated backcourt and contribution of Ingles, Crowder and O'Neale defensively is also underated.
— Francis Gagne (@GagneMdx) April 9, 2018
A major difference is the Jazz are healthy this season. They are a better defensive team than last season, and they are tougher than they were last season. Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, Jae Crowder, Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert — those are tough guys. Those are guys opposing teams don’t want to mess with. Those are guys you want to walk down a dark alley with. The Jazz didn’t have an abundance of that last season, and that’s a major difference. Last year’s team may have been a bit more talented, but this year’s team is tougher, and it’s a closer-knit group as well.
Tony what are the odds that Rudy gets DPOY, Snyder gets COY, and Donovan gets ROY? Also what are your odds on Utah making it to the conference finals? #TonyTalks
— Jager1 (@TheAccountant90) April 9, 2018
Not very good on either one. Gobert is the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, so I expect him to get that. I expect Mitchell to come in second to Ben Simmons, and I expect Brad Stevens to win Coach of the Year. And I expect the Jazz’s ceiling on the season to be the second round. Utah may be a year away from truly being able to compete for the title.
#TonyTalks so the Nuggets will pick earlier than the Jazz this year. Do you think they will answer when DL calls them again on draft day?
— Lloyd Arsen (@courierfalcon) April 9, 2018
I expect them to run far, far away and to change their number. And for them to start speaking in a foreign language or start crinkling up a sheet of paper and screaming “I can’t hear you, you are breaking up!!!” before abruptly hanging up the phone if Dennis Lindsey somehow ends up on the phone.
Do Exums minutes/role get reduced at all in the playoffs? #TonyTalks
— Tayler/Jack (@highhoopscast) April 9, 2018
No, he will play a significant role. I expect Utah’s opponent to be either OKC or Portland, and Dante Exum’s perimeter defense is going to be sorely needed in either matchup. He’s going to play a big role off the bench.
Is this team better than last years team? They seem to be clicking more than we were last year. #TonyTalks
— x- Dapper Cardinal (@GobertOrGoHome) April 9, 2018
It’s a different team than last year. I’m not sure I’d say better, but it’s different. I think this team with a summer of growth certainly will be better by next season, but there is a chance for the Jazz to lose in the first round this season given what the matchup is starting to look like.
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