Why C.J. Miles Deserves to Start over Raja Bell for the Utah Jazz
C.J. Miles’ path to the cusp of NBA starterdom has been anything but conventional.
C.J. skipped college after being selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft. Since then, C.J.’s career has been an amalgamation of dazzling moves off the dribble, streaky shooting, a lack of continuity and a few head-scratching fouls.
Despite embarking on his sixth year as a member of the Jazz, C.J. Miles is still a very young and impressionable player. He has a unique combination of NBA experience and malleability. His improving consistency and superb scoring ability make the product of Skyline High School more than worthy of starting in place of Raja Bell.
C.J. Miles and Raja Bell are quite different players.
Miles is a 24-year-old scoring specialist with exceptional athletic ability. Bell is a gritty and savvy veteran in his 30s who is known for his intense defense and veteran leadership. Both players can be useful cogs in the Utah Jazz machine, but bring vastly different skills to the table.
The best and simplest argument in favor of C.J. taking Raja’s starting spot is that the additional scoring or even threat of scoring that C.J. brings to the table outweighs the downgrade in defense. While both players have had consistency issues this season, Miles is the more logical choice for starting at shooting guard because of his age and remaining upside.
I can include myself in the group of Jazz fans that have at some point been frustrated by the lack of C.J.’s progression. Miles’ observable level of improvement hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.
It’s at minimum worth seeing what effect increased trust and playing time will have on Miles. It’s not an unreasonable theory that more consistent minutes and trust will result in more consistent and confident play.
Without the benefit of sitting under the learning tree of Texas Longhorns head coach Rick Barnes, C.J. Miles is behind the curve from a basketball IQ standpoint. Miles started his NBA career without the valuable and informative experience of playing collegiate basketball. Had he gone to the University of Texas as he had planned and not come out early, Miles would have been drafted in 2009.
When Miles is thought of at the same level as a player with four years of college ball and two years of NBA experience, his inconsistencies are more tolerable and his remaining upside more evident. Miles still has plenty of room to grow; all he needs is the opportunity in the form of a consistent starting spot to do so.
Improved team defense and a revised defensive philosophy are a large part of the reason for Utah’s unexpected success. While there is no such thing as too much defense, the universal improvement of the Jazz on the defensive end has made benching Bell less of a problem.
While Bell has shaken off the poor shooting that plagued him early in the season, he is still not a particularly dangerous or dynamic offensive threat.
Miles, on the other hand can give teams fits with his long-distance shooting (albeit streaky) and knack for creating his own shot and getting to the rim. One of Utah’s most glaring issues thus far has been inconsistent and ineffective guard play. While some Jazz fans may scoff at the idea of C.J. Miles being a solution to inconsistency issues, he gives Utah the best immediate chance to improve their backcourt production.
Further complicating the Bell vs. Miles discussion is one Alec Burks.
The former Colorado Buffalo has shown more than a few flashes of brilliance in limited minutes this season. His controlled-frenzy style of play has created some highlight-reel moments. While his shooting percentage and decision making both need to increase in percentage points, his surprisingly effective defense and ability to get to the bucket have more than a few members of Jazz nation clamoring for No. 10 to get the starting nod.
While Burks seems likely to be a significant piece of Utah’s future, he’s not yet ready to be thrust into a starting spot. Burks has made the Jazz look good by drafting him with the 12th pick in the 2011 NBA draft, but it’s clear he still has much to learn.
Burks still appears to have trouble playing fluidly within Utah’s offense. Burks needs to work on taking a shot that a particular offensive set gives him. He is still far too reliant on simply taking his man one-on-one to the hole or hoisting up a shot that gives Jazz coach Ty Corbin a few more wrinkles. Considering his age, Burks holds a level of confidence that is uncommonly high. This confidence will make a slower transition from role player to starter more easily palatable for the rookie.
The Utah Jazz are blessed with swingmen that have a number of different skills. They have the luxury of tweaking their starting lineup to best match up with that night’s opponent. Though C.J. Miles has room for improvement, he’s clearly the best option to start going forward.
