Jeff Green – Heightened focus and motivation
Let’s face it, Jeff Green is a skilled player but also happens to in all reality be a very flawed one. There are several items he could improve in order to be more effective, from his shooting efficiency, to his rebounding, to his decision-making.
But for Green’s area of improvement to focus on, I want to move away from the box score a little bit. One of the most crucial aspects that has affected Green’s career has been ability to remain focused and play with motivation. He has jumped from team to team several times, and while some stops have been solid, others have been not so much.
Several familiar with Green and his game have pointed to his attitude being a determining factor to how beneficial he’s been. In a recent conversation on The J-Notes Podcast with Memphis Grizzlies expert Christian Dudley, he pointed out some concerns about Green’s mentality while on that once promising squad. Orlando Magic fans also found themselves frustrated with Green time and time again.
He’s had questions about his play follow him nearly everywhere he’s gone in recent seasons, some warranted some not. Nevertheless, when he’s been locked in such as he was in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ most recent run to the NBA Finals where he was truthfully one of the best players on the squad outside of LeBron James, he’s been highly effective.
Considering that he’ll be playing alongside a good friend in Mike Conley and that he’ll be competing on a team that should very well be one of the championship contenders in the West, his head ought to be in the right place. He should be focused, motivated and determined to fill the appropriate role for the Jazz to elevate them to the greatest of heights.
But a season has ups and downs. Things can change throughout the course of a long 82-game span. Nevertheless, come what may, for the sake of both Green and his newly-joined Jazz team, his ability to remain locked in and consistently contribute at a high level will be vital for the team’s success. Especially considering that he’s one of their bigger guys at a much downsized power forward position following the losses of Derrick Favors and Jae Crowder, his impact (or potential lack thereof) will be widely felt.