WCSF GM Interview Series: DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jun 12, 2017 16:43:43 GMT -5
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Post by Adrian Wojnarowski on Jun 12, 2017 16:43:43 GMT -5
Shortly after meeting with Justin, I knew there was no better time than now to discuss the same series with the GM of the Suns WCSF opponent - DJ Jazzy Jeff of the Utah Jazz. Potentially one of the hardest hitting underdogs in the playoffs so far, they've taken it to the Suns in their series, grabbing a couple close games to give them a 3-1 lead over the Suns. I wanted to get DJ Jazzy Jeff's insights into the series before they had the possibility of closing out the series, so I sat down with him to talk it over.
Woj: You don't have the deepest or the most top-heavy team, but with PG13 leading the charge and a solid group around him, you've had a great run this year. Describe to me the year you've had. What kind of plans did you have for the season, and how much of those plans did you accomplish?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: Nothing went according to plan, actually. Before the season started, I envisioned a reenergized Joakim Noah leading the defensive charge and providing strong interior D to slow down high-scoring teams in the West like OKC, Seattle, and Phoenix. I also envisioned Brandon Ingram coming into the league ready to compete, and Monta Ellis to be a key piece in my offense with his strong shooting and fast break skills. None of my key acquisitions played the way I expected them to, making it is easy to admit that my offseason last year was a complete and utter flop. However, one bright spot was Willy Hernangomez, who stepped into our starting lineup after we traded away Robin Lopez. We hope to see some more improvement out of him leading into next season. Although we remained one of the most dangerous teams in D720 in the beginning of the season, we did not have enough to compete for the title. The competitive side in me knew I needed to give Paul George the pieces to make a playoff run, so I came to the conclusion that I needed to be the most active team at the deadline. Bringing in established veterans like Eric Gordon, Marvin Williams, and Evan Turner gave us some reliable weapons on offense. Both Williams and Gordon fit into the system from day 1 and I could not be any happier with their production. Gordon became everything I wanted Ellis to be and more (and for half the price). Ever since the deadline, we have been a much better team and our lineup is one of the most balanced in the league. If these moves were not made, we might be off golfing in the Florida Keys right now.
Woj: With perhaps a bit of luck, you made it past the Rockets in 7 games, but now you are up 3-1 on the favored 2-seed Phoenix Suns, going back to their court for a crucial game 5. What is your strategy from here on out? Do you feel confident about your chances through the rest of the playoffs? What are your thoughts on the Suns and other teams you might encounter going forward?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: The Rockets were a worthy opponent in round 1. It was tough for us to match up against their big men, but I told my guys that I did not want to see a repeat of last year. I give Paul George a ton of credit. You can tell by the way he is playing that he isn't planning on going home any time soon, and he is instilling that mindset on his teammates as well. The Game 3 & 4 wins against Phoenix were a good indicator of this team's fight and desire. I don't think we are overmatched by any of the teams left in the West, and I expect great things the rest of the playoffs from the Jazz"
Woj: What goals do you hope to accomplish this offseason? Active in free agency, active with trades, or both? Who are some players you might be interested in? In other words, how do you plan to improve between now and then?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: "We have a busy offseason ahead of us here in Utah. As long as Paul George is here, we will be contending for the title; that's just the kind of player he is. We expect to keep the same core next year, keeping George, Williams, Gordon, and Rubio together seems like a solid plan based on their stellar play this season and reasonable salaries. We learned our lesson last year that free agency isn't the best place to find the right players. Keeping a core together and watching the players improve around one another is a more efficient way to become a better team. Losing Robin Lopez was tough for us this year, and we do wish to find a talented big man to start at the center position next year, letting us take more time to groom Willy Hernangomez into the player we think he can become."
As a team with an admitted failure of an offseason and lowered expectations for the playoffs, it is amazing to see the resilience of this Jazz team, and I believe that might start with the GM. Safe to say, I'll be watching out for what this team can accomplish through the rest of the playoffs, because as DJ Jazzy Jeff's Jazz show, anything can happen when a team has enough desire.
Woj: You don't have the deepest or the most top-heavy team, but with PG13 leading the charge and a solid group around him, you've had a great run this year. Describe to me the year you've had. What kind of plans did you have for the season, and how much of those plans did you accomplish?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: Nothing went according to plan, actually. Before the season started, I envisioned a reenergized Joakim Noah leading the defensive charge and providing strong interior D to slow down high-scoring teams in the West like OKC, Seattle, and Phoenix. I also envisioned Brandon Ingram coming into the league ready to compete, and Monta Ellis to be a key piece in my offense with his strong shooting and fast break skills. None of my key acquisitions played the way I expected them to, making it is easy to admit that my offseason last year was a complete and utter flop. However, one bright spot was Willy Hernangomez, who stepped into our starting lineup after we traded away Robin Lopez. We hope to see some more improvement out of him leading into next season. Although we remained one of the most dangerous teams in D720 in the beginning of the season, we did not have enough to compete for the title. The competitive side in me knew I needed to give Paul George the pieces to make a playoff run, so I came to the conclusion that I needed to be the most active team at the deadline. Bringing in established veterans like Eric Gordon, Marvin Williams, and Evan Turner gave us some reliable weapons on offense. Both Williams and Gordon fit into the system from day 1 and I could not be any happier with their production. Gordon became everything I wanted Ellis to be and more (and for half the price). Ever since the deadline, we have been a much better team and our lineup is one of the most balanced in the league. If these moves were not made, we might be off golfing in the Florida Keys right now.
Woj: With perhaps a bit of luck, you made it past the Rockets in 7 games, but now you are up 3-1 on the favored 2-seed Phoenix Suns, going back to their court for a crucial game 5. What is your strategy from here on out? Do you feel confident about your chances through the rest of the playoffs? What are your thoughts on the Suns and other teams you might encounter going forward?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: The Rockets were a worthy opponent in round 1. It was tough for us to match up against their big men, but I told my guys that I did not want to see a repeat of last year. I give Paul George a ton of credit. You can tell by the way he is playing that he isn't planning on going home any time soon, and he is instilling that mindset on his teammates as well. The Game 3 & 4 wins against Phoenix were a good indicator of this team's fight and desire. I don't think we are overmatched by any of the teams left in the West, and I expect great things the rest of the playoffs from the Jazz"
Woj: What goals do you hope to accomplish this offseason? Active in free agency, active with trades, or both? Who are some players you might be interested in? In other words, how do you plan to improve between now and then?
DJ JAZZY JEFF: "We have a busy offseason ahead of us here in Utah. As long as Paul George is here, we will be contending for the title; that's just the kind of player he is. We expect to keep the same core next year, keeping George, Williams, Gordon, and Rubio together seems like a solid plan based on their stellar play this season and reasonable salaries. We learned our lesson last year that free agency isn't the best place to find the right players. Keeping a core together and watching the players improve around one another is a more efficient way to become a better team. Losing Robin Lopez was tough for us this year, and we do wish to find a talented big man to start at the center position next year, letting us take more time to groom Willy Hernangomez into the player we think he can become."
As a team with an admitted failure of an offseason and lowered expectations for the playoffs, it is amazing to see the resilience of this Jazz team, and I believe that might start with the GM. Safe to say, I'll be watching out for what this team can accomplish through the rest of the playoffs, because as DJ Jazzy Jeff's Jazz show, anything can happen when a team has enough desire.
Miami Heat