Much of the excitement for this team and for the season is a result of the added dimensions the new players bring along with the improvements we're seeing in some of the others.  Seeing the potential that everyone brings to the table has made the preseason all the more fun to watch as we anticipate how everyone will contribute.

Once the regular season gets underway, if history is an indicator of things to come, perhaps no more than 8 or 9 players will figure into the regular rotation.  There may be exceptions depending on who we're playing, match-ups, and injuries, but for the foreseeable future, who are we not going to see much of?

If the starters are Deron, Raja, AK, Milsap, and Al, that leaves 8 others for 3-4 spots of playing time.  CJ for sure.  Then we have (in alphabetical order) Elson, Evans, Fesenko, Hayward, Okur (eventually), Price, and Watson.  Certainly Memo when he's back.  Will the eighth spot be Watson so that Deron can get a couple of breathers?  One more?  

Maybe we can put Ronnie down on the list to sit.  But who else gets added to that list?  Elson?  What about the defensive presence he's supposed to bring?  Evans?  What about the athleticism we're looking forward to seeing?  Fes? Not when he's turning things around!  Hayward?  Ah, come on--we're liking him more and more.

Maybe Sloan will play more than 8 or 9.  Maybe it will be situational, with some getting a DNP Coach's Decision some games and others in other games.  I wonder what insights Sloan may have gained from this preseason that would affect his decisions on whom to play.

Here's looking forward to the excitement of the season and to seeing as much as we can of the players we're growing to appreciate for what they can contribute!

Jeremy Evans is becoming quite the popular guy in Jazz blogs for his gravity-defying jumps, boards, and dunks. It's a bird!  It's a plane!  No, it's Super Evans!

Often, in the same breath, there's the proverbial "but".  "But, he needs to gain weight."  "He'll be pushed around." "He won't be able to maintain position against heavier and stronger opponents."

CJ and even AK have put on weight and most would agree that it has or should really add to their game.  I am unconvinced that the same is necessarily the case for Jeremy.

Think about what role we need him to play on this team, not just about assumptions that every player needs to be as close as possible to average body mass.  Would his jumping ability suffer even slightly with additional pounds?  It's not just how high he can jump, but also how quickly.   Would there be a trade-off, and if so, in what way would a heavier, yet slightly less agile Evans add value in various roles, both as a sub and as a potential starter?

It should be intriguing to continue watching him show his stuff in various situations and try to assess what he'd be doing (or not doing) differently with an additional 10, 20, 30 pounds.

Food for thought.  Pardon the pun.