[Salt Lake Tribune] Ask the Expert: Could Utah make it past Houston in a first-round

I think it would be nice to play someone else in the first round.

 

I think this is a pretty objective answer, if you ask me. Deron Williams, along with Chris Paul, is one of the better young poing guards in the league. Rafer had a great season last year, but can he really be a point for a championship team? Of course one could argue that our Hakeem/Clyde led teams didn't have a strong point starting point guard to counter Stockton, but in the end it didn't matter. I ultimately think the Rox would win this series because the Jazz really have no one to stop Yao, just like they couldn't stop Hakeem the two times we won our championships. Is Yao vulnerable on defense against the Jazz? Yes. But if you compare Yao's playoff scoring average (21ppg) to Mehmet Okur's (8ppg), there is no contest -- Yao wins hands down.

 

The question is, could Utah make it past Houston in the SECOND round?

I project a 55-60 win season , which would grant us at least a 2nd seed. Granted of course, if health is not an issue. Utah will most likely get 4th seed again, their division simply blows.

 

I noticed the only reason the writer thinks the Jazz could beat Houston again is if the Houston Rockets implode under the pressure. Banking on Artest to implode and Mcgrady to get nervous in the playoffs is absurd. For one, Mcgrady has been one of the best playoff performers stat wise there has ever been. I think he will be fine. Artest wants a big contract next year. I think he will behave if I had to put money on it. The bigger problem for the Jazz is whose going to stop Yao, not who is Yao going to guard. Good read though, but it sounds to me like the writer has his doubts this year about beating us. Its ok, not many teams think they could take us right now either.

 

the jazz now will suck! because, we have BIG three. we all know big three is > big two

 

Are you sure he is not talking about last years playoff. Because the way i see it, with the addition of Artes and Barry and Landry signed with the Rockets i don't think the Jazz has the shot on beating the Rockets. No way Jose!!! Not this season!

 

The only problem of us always is keeping healthy,so if we meet again and both teams are healthy,there is no problem for us to go past Utah in the playoffs.
I can't agree with the writer's opinion(stupid).

 

Absolutely on the court we have big three,off court we have deeper bench,we win anywhere.

 

'Nuff said.

 

So are you saying that TMac will hit his FTs even if he gets the D-Wade calls? Because we all know Miami wouldn't have won without having the D-Wade 3 ft rule.

 

Nothing you just said is relevant to the point I was making.

 

Yes it did.

Jason Williams, nor the rest of the Miami Heat, would have won the ring without D-Wade and the no touch rule on him during that playoffs.

If you put that kind of handicap on any team, then sure someone like Rafer Alston can be your starting PG and win a championship.

It's as simple as that.

 

Don't worry, we have Yao to make FTs, he'll be the one slashing to the basket.

 

The question was whether or not Rafer Alston could be the point guard on a championship team. I presented evidence that a point guard with very comparable talent, skill set, and playing style started on a championship team just 2 years ago. Not to mention he used to be a lot more undisciplined on the court than Rafer ever has been. Therefore, it stands to reason that it's possible for Rafer to be the starter on a championship team as well.

It really has nothing to do with any of the other variables you're talking about. Have you ever taken a logic class?

 

Houston will crush Utah

 

When the other 4 players in the starting line-up are as good as they are, does it really matter than we have a weakness at PG? If we had 2 weaknesses in the starting line-up like we used to, then you have a point. But as long as Rafer forces his man to stay on him, and considering he shoots in the high 30s from 3 you have to at least pretend to guard him, we should be fine.

People like to bring up that we have no one to shutdown Williams or Boozer. But that street works two ways. They aren't going to shutdown Yao or Tmac.

 

If you think the variables that I mentioned has nothing to do with Jason Williams being the point guard for a championship team, then you're in serious denial just so you can prove a point.

Yeah, let's ignore one of the main reasons why the Miami Heat won just so I can plug my Rafer = Jason Williams therefore Rafer = potential championship PG material. That really makes sense.

So in essence, a bad shooting pg with playground And1 style is potential championship pg material. Well we've already got Francis, we could sign Marbury, and how about The Professor from And1? Does he fit your criteria?

Your argument is flawed and asterisk laden. End of story.

 

I'm not trying to say that Jason Williams team winning the championship had nothing to do with Dwyane Wade or any of his other teammates. That would be asinine. I'm saying that the performance of his teammates is irrelevant to my point. If Rafer were ever a championship point guard, you could say the same things about Tracy, Ron, Yao, etc that you say about Wade. So what's the point of citing it? It's moot. Championship teams get great performances from their star players, or they don't win. Period.

The bottom line (and my point) is that Jason Williams, who is extremely similar to Rafer Alston, was a championship point guard. Put whatever stipulations or qualifications you want on it, but it's a fact, and it leads me to believe that Rafer possesses the qualities (like taking care of the ball) to do the same.

I really didn't think it would be so hard to understand.

 

I understand that you're trying to make a blank comparison argument and ignoring other facts so that your logic sticks. It's not the first time you've been corrected. Get over it.

And if we are depending on the notion that Miami Heat won with JWill therefore we have a good chance with Rafer then I'm a bit worried. Because the stars and the moons (not to mention the refs) aligned for D-Wade...I mean the Heat that playoff run.

And let's get this straight, I'm not arguing about player performance, I'm talking about the refs blowing the whistle for DWade. If we got those calls, hell yeah Rafer is a championship PG. Otherwise we'd be struggling to get out of the first round, which by the way (if you haven't noticed), we haven't (with Rafer as our starting PG.)

I wish I could be as oblivious as you on when making arguments for the Rockets, but I'm a bit more pragmatic.

 

Miami wasn't the only team with questionable starters to win a championship, I'm sure you could find a few in the history of the NBA. But the point is the same... the team ISN'T as strong as its weakest link. You can afford to have one questionable starter when the other 4 guys are solid (or 1 other guy is solid and the other 3 are exceptional). Boston had Kendrick Perkins as their starting center. Perkins is nothing special, but he played his role and it worked for them. They only needed a guy that could rebound and defend. We only need a PG that can dish the ball and keep the defense honest (which, despite the low FG% he still keeps the defense honest from behind the arc).