Things could be worse for the Rockets. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/51541073-87/jazz-games-utah-lakers.html.csp
I remember thinking after those early-season comeback wins they could be a huge factor if Okur came back healthy. On Monday when they lost to the Wizards at home in OT with Corbin holding out Milsap and Big Al late in the game and OT, that took the cake. The Jazz look destined for a series of dates with the lottery.
When the Jazz were winning comeback win after comeback win, while some were marveling over their clutchnness, other writers like Dwyer observed that they couldn't keep this up and it would eventually bite them in the ass. HA-HA.
Al Jefferson is not happy in Utah. After the Wizards game he walked out without talking to the media. They say he's walked off without talking to the media a few times before that in March.
This Jazz team isn't your father's Jazz anymore. They lack the discipline, heart, and execution (along with some other "intangibles that we all know about) that the Sloan-led Utah teams were always known for. This team doesn't have a true leader, and they certainly don't have the talent to overcome an obstacle like that. Guys like Okur and Kirilenko were players who got under your skin, and made plays every now and then in games, but Boozer and Williams were always the heart and soul of the team. Now that both of them are gone, this team has no identity. It's a lot to expect this team to compete in the West, let alone make the playoffs. I think it is going to be a long time before the Jazz are relevant again.
I wasn't keeping up with Jazz mid season, But what went wrong, I remember they started great and was playing great, What caused the sudden ultra epic collapse, was it injuries?
It's not going to be delicious if they luck out again like they did with Williams and get a top pick in the draft.
I think they are going to really miss Sloan. One thing that always gets overlooked for great coaches is their ability to develop young guys like that. Not saying Dwill was developed by Sloan, but IMO Sloan's system made the NBA game come easier to him and gave him the confidence he needed to know that he was ready to ball at the very top level. Some players never get going because they never feel comfortable and get that confidence they need.
The Rockets are never respected when we fall out of the playoff picture for even more legitimate/uncontrollable reasons. Jazz are getting no sympathy from me. Instead, a big fat:
I admit the idea of that does bother me. Do they have their own pick plus the unprotected pick from NJ?
It's going to be delicious because they lucked out with Williams, got a top pick in the draft, and they fell flat on their face this season, when they let Boozer go, and when they let Sloan go, and when... Next year they will luck out with [insert name of top draft pick], they will fall flat on their face, they will let Kirilenko go, and they will... I HATE THE JAZZ.
Gotta love every time the j*zz fail. They could become the Clippers and I would still revel in their failures.