Really. You mean the same Jazz team that had trouble beating the Rockets recently at home? Or the same Jazz team that needed 6 games to beat a Yao-less Rockets team that had two hobbled players (McGrady and Alston). My god people, stop being scared of Utah.
Yea, the same Jazz team (minus Boozer, Okur, and Milsap of course) that we needed two overtimes to beat at home. That one. Good try rhetorically shifting the circumstances tailoring towards your argument. The fact that we were 'Yao-less' has significance towards precisely the opposite premise. These are two completely different Rocket teams and you are well aware of this. Yao is our offense and he is at the same time our weakest link against the Jazz. It's completely justified to be scared of Utah given that they are the only team in the league that can completely neutralize our biggest strengths while exposing our biggest flaws.
I don't think anyone wants Utah--unless Williams is injured. This goes for the Lakers too. NO seems like the weakest link--I just think they don't have enough firepower. I actually think Den might be the 2nd weakest link in the WC despite their record. Utah and Dallas IMO are dangerous lower seeds--even slightly dangerous to a team as good as the Lakers. No draw is easy in the West, but for the Rockets catching NO/SA in round 1 is probably the best it could be, and Denver in round 2.
jazz still have the players, the coaches, the depth, and the discipline to beat anyone in a 7 game series, i'd love it if the lakers lost in the first and we face the jazz in the second. revenge mofo's