2013-14 NBA Bench Power Rankings

Apr 17, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin reacts during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce DerdenUSA TODAY Sports

26. Utah Jazz

The Jazz had a pretty good bench last year. Unfortunately (for the purposes of this ranking), they’ve all been promoted to the starting lineup. That’s a good thing, as they need to play and Tyrone Corbin’s obsession with his vets was hindering their development (and possibly losing him games). With this young core of Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter, the Jazz are in an excellent position to grow this group into a kind of early 2000s Detroit Pistons squad. But who’s left sitting on the pine? Some Golden State trash in Andris Biedrins and Richard Jefferson, the diminutive gunner John Lucas III, and the perennially disappointing Marvin Williams (every year I think he’s going to put it altogether and every year I cry myself to sleep for Hawks fans dreaming of Chris Paul). Rudy Gobert is very tall and has a really great name (but only if you pronounce it incorrectly), but his stats from both professional ball in Europe and the French National team are noticeably unimpressive. A potential counter to the strum und drang is the possible re-emergence of Brandon Rush. Rush is a great two-way player who can play either wing position and can knock down threes with the best of them. So hope isn’t dead, it’s just bleeding out.