The pick and roll plays an important part of the Utah Jazz’s offense.  According to Synergy Sports, they run it about 10.6% of the time on offense, and are pretty successful at it, especially when it came to finding the roll man in positions to score.  The Jazz ranked 3rd in the NBA in Synergy’s “Pick and Roll – Roll Man” category with 1.15 points per possession, however that was with Carlos Boozer as the screener (Carlos Boozer was fantastic working with Deron Williams on the pick and roll, ranking 11th individually in the NBA in Synergy’s “Pick and Roll – Roll Man” category with 1.27 points per possession).

The problem is that Carlos Boozer is now in Chicago, and there is a void in Utah’s pick and roll game.  In my opinion, Boozer’s replacement comes down to two guys, Paul Millsap and their newest acquisition Al Jefferson.  The answer should be pretty simple right?  Just look at who runs the pick and roll better, and use them to replace Boozer.  The problem with that is that both Millsap and Jefferson run the pick and roll with the same efficiency:

Jefferson and Millsap’s numbers are so similar that it is basically a toss up when trying to figure out who is better at running the pick and roll.  So when deciding who will replace Carlos Boozer as the main screener, the Jazz are going to have to look at some outside factors.

Who Would Run The Pick And Pop Better?

Being able to pop out after setting a screen and being able to hit a jumper from 10-23 feet is starting to turn into a necessary skill for a big man who wants to succeed when running the pick and roll.  This is because being able to both roll to the basket and popping out to hit the jumper keeps the defense guessing.  If you are able to hit that pick and pop jumper consistently, it is just one other thing the defensive big man showing on the screen needs to worry about.  So out of the two big men, who is the better shooter?  It’s Paul Millsap by wide margin:

Who Is Better In The Post?

This is an important question to ask, because in my opinion if you have someone who is really good/successful at working in the post, you don’t want to waste that post up skill by sticking him in the pick and roll over and over.  Just as Paul Millsap is far and away the better shooter of the two players, Al Jefferson is far and away the better post player:

Even though the field goal percentages are close, Al Jefferson’s points per possession are much higher because he doesn’t turn it over as much as Millsap in the post, and Jefferson is also able to finish with contact in the post.

Conclusion

Obviously looking at the evidence, Paul Millsap should be the man that runs the pick and roll with Deron Williams for the majority of the season.  This takes advantage of Millsap’s shooting ability (plus he is more mobile), and allows the Jazz to take advantage of one of the best back to the basket players in the NBA by sticking him in the post (rather than having him out at the foul line setting screens).

What To Run?

Now that we know who will run the pick and roll, we have to figure out how the two big men can share the court (and take advantage of their skills).  There is one set in particular that sticks out in my mind.  This is a set that when going through Synergy watching Paul Millsap screen and rolls I saw the Jazz run a fair amount of the time.  They ran this set when Boozer and Millsap were sharing the court and they wanted to try and get Boozer the ball in the post:

With Deron Williams bringing the basketball up, you have the Jazz’s three man on the same side as Al Jefferson (who will be playing the 5 spot).  You have Paul Millsap (the 4 man) setting up on the high post, while the 2 man sets up on that side’s corner.

As Williams crosses halfcourt, the 3 man cuts down and behind Al Jefferson.  He doesn’t cut all the way through to the basket, he is just getting level with Jefferson.

He then comes off of a downscreen set by Jefferson and as the 3 man pops out he receives the pass from Deron Williams.

The first look on this set is Al Jefferson posting up.  If they can get it to him, Jefferson now can get to work because of the great spacing this set produces.  If Jefferson in the post isn’t there, the 3 man quickly kicks it out to Deron Williams, who has shortened the passing distance between himself and the 3 man.

After Williams gets the pass, you now have a pick and roll situation with Williams and Millsap.

As Williams comes off the screen, he has three options.  1) Williams hits Millsap on the screen, this results in either an easy basket or it forces the defense to rotate to Millsap and then Jefferson is open for a post to post pass and an easy finish.  2) Williams can keep it and either take the jumper off the dribble (something he is very good at) or drive the basket for a lay-up or drive and kick. 3) The third option is Williams can hit the 2-man because for an open jumper (this happens if the 2-man’s defender gets sucked into helping on the pick and roll action).

The Jazz can even flip this around and run the pick and roll first, and if nothing is there, they can swing it around and post Jefferson.  This isn’t even considering all the high-low stuff Millsap and Jefferson can run.