Does the Jazz' fast start this year take anything away from these two chumps? I don't have specific numbers, but am pretty sure that Utah is doing better at the start of this year than they have the past two or three years. Sure they both have stellar career numbers (and by the grace of God no rings) but were they holding Utah back? Maybe I'm just a fan of the Rockets who would love to see something taken away from these two. Opinions?
The Jazz won't win 30 games this year. They'll be at least 19-47 the rest of the way. The hot start means nothing.
If they keep playing like this, I think they will make the playoff My prediction of the seeding: 1. Lakers (It doesn't matter even if Kobe goes to jail!) 2. Mavs (Walker fits in well. Jamison is the leading Sixth Man) 3. Kings (Brad Miller is awesome! Imagine when CWebb is back) 4. Spurs (Gotta give the champ some love) 5. T-wolves (All those high profile off-season acquisition must mean sth?) 6. Rox (JVG magic?) 7. Nuggets (Solid in every position with sparks from Boykins!) 8. Jazz (Sloan is the CoY!) (Kings will have the 2nd best record but Mavs are the division champ) Wow! Six teams from our division. That's sick. Next year NO with join us, our division will be even more scary.
I don't know think so. You can''t compare this year jazz to last two years jazz with stockton and malone. stockton and malone were like thousands years old for the last few years. When they were at their prime, the jazzs were really good, they executed extremely well and constantly got easy baskets. They went all the way to the finals and lost to the jordan's bulls twice, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Jordan's talent level was just above everyone else, AND he also got the supreme work ethics to go with it. I think the jazzs did the best they could, jordan and the bulls were just too good.
Obvioulsy the Jazz were staying competitive for alot more reasons then the presence of Stockton and Malone. They hustle and execute extremely well. They appear to be a well coached team the doesn't shot themselves in the foot too often. Ostertag is a servicable center (wouldn't he work great playing beside Yao?) The best thing to happen to the Jazz may have been the Stockton and Malone leaving. It allowed Kirilenko and Harpring to showcase there talent better. I love Kirilenko's game. They certainly have the foundation for a very good team.
I'm not as optimistic as ZRB regarding the demise of the Jazz. I think they were overlooked by a lot of teams early, and it won't continue to happen. As it turns out, they're pretty solid, but I doubt playoff material. Still, I can see them playing close to .500 ball -- much like the star-less Magic of a couple of years back. Their success doesn't reduce my regard for Stockton and Malone, but it does give me a whole lot of respect for Jerry Sloan. I've always considered him a good coach, but the teamwork and chemistry he's built so quickly with a whole new team is ridiculous.
Jazz will make the playoffs. I figured they'd win 45 games this yaer because their offense is the most structured in the NBA, meaning that losing a go-to guy like Malone doesn't really hurt. Lately Malone just shot open jumpers. Utah's motion offense can get anyone open shots. Credit Sloan for being the only coach in the NBA with any kind of offensive structure whatsoever. This is difficult to defend because you have to accout for all 5 guys moving at once, rather than stopping one primary handler.
Ray Allen is just a slightly better version of Ron Murray. They play the same position. If Sonics trade Ray for a quality big man, they can make the play-off.
The Jazz have won 11 games (counting their blowout win against the Clips tonight), you're saying the rest of the season they'll only win 8 more games?
I'm sorry, I read that wrong. Anyway, I doubt the Jazz will only win 19 games the rest of the way, why? Because they've played some tough teams already - infact they have one of the hardest schedules in the league right now. I think Utah will at least win 40 games and compete for the 8th seed.
Utah is also way deeper than people think. Arroyo is out but Lopez fill in nicely. They now even have a rookie in Pavlovic that burned the Rox badly. I think Rox, Jazz, Nuggets and Grizz will compete for the 6th,7th,8th seed.
I don't know what the deal is, but all of those dreams of a 20-62 Jazz team are fading rather quickly... It bothers me so much because if it was any other team, I would be applauding the effort. I went to the Jazz/Clipper game last night and it's a LOT funner watching basketball when you really don't care who wins. That painful tension in my stomach when I watch Rockets games wasn't there anymore. But I couldn't believe how well-coached this team is. I've never seen better off-the-ball movement; I've never seen a team work SO hard for rebounds; and with the exception of possibly Stevenson, I don't see much of an ego anywhere on that lineup. I think I've been most impressed with Lopez, though. That kid is fast and works harder than the lot of them. I hate to admit it, but this team doesn't suck. And THAT is what sucks the worst.
SLCRocket, I was at that game too last night, what do ya' think of AK's hair? Anyway the Jazz-Clips game started out badly, both teams couldn't hit a brick wall with their shooting. BUT again the Jazz pulled it together and stormed their way through the second half. You might not have enjoyed the Jazz massacre the Clips, but I sure did!
I don't know about that. I think the lack of talent argument is a little misguided. Perhaps unknown talent is more like it. How do I mean? Well, many of Utah's key players now were international stars who were absolutely unknown to ppl in the US. For instance: 1. Andrei K - Man, I had no idea how good he was until I saw him with his Russian team. He dominated the competition in the European championships. And these were not scrubs that they were playing. He dominated to a greater extent than Pau Gasol was doing and was doing better than Stojakovic and Dirk. that says a lot. And he was doing this under constant double teaming. In Utah, he is dominating the offense to a much lesser extent but playing with tremendous efficiency (look at his defensive stats and FG%). 2. Raul Lopez - He was as highly acclaimed, if not more so, than Tony Parker at one stage in Europe. He has been under wraps because he chose not to come immediately to the states when drafted a few years ago as stockton was still here and he did not want to sit on the bench. Look at his stats... look at him play. He's a keeper. The only thing keeping him on the bench right now is Carlos Arroyo's incredible play. 3. Aleksandar Pavlovic - a budding star for the all star serbia-montenegro team. making the national team and contributing at the age of 20 says a lot. This is a team whose coach does not believe he needs the NBA players to play (peja, vlade, romanovic)to excel. Of course, there are the proven contributors such as Matt Harpring and effective role players such as Ostertag and Raja Bell, whose stats have not changed much. The surprise has been Carlos Arroyo (I suspect his confidence soared after starring for Puerto Rico in the recent championships). Stevenson? All I can say is - about time he contributed. I don't know if they can keep this up but certainly, I don't think they will collapse. reason? 1. They play hard and they play right thanks to Jerry Sloan. 2. They have talent - see A.K., R. Lopez 3. They play a team game, because of the European influence. this is much harder to stop than an iso type game, personified by Boston and Orlando w/ Pierce and T-Mac. Predictions? 40-42, as teams figure them out.
