I'd first like to tell everyone that I picked the Jazz to do great things this year, including winning their division. I was the first to say anything about Utah on this board, during the off-season.But, onto the real reason for the thread, do the Jazz have any real chance at winning the title? They aren't the Mavs, but I could see them making the Western Conference Finals. No further though.
They'd have to beat the Mavs to get that far, so when you say they are no Mavs but could make the WCF....I don't see them doing too much except for maybe giving the Mavs a scare in 7 gamees, maybe, if they beat the Rockets.
I picked the Jazz to win the division too, and to be good as well. but my predictions were all written off as homerisms. The Jazz are hard to figure out even for someone who watches them every game. they either have one of the best benches in the NBA, or one of the worst it depends on the game. they also get inconsistant games from guys like Derek Fisher, Ronnie Brewer, Jarron Collins, Matt Harpring, and Andrei Kirilenko. but they have played very well against the best teams in the NBA, especially at home. they're 1-1 against Dallas right now with one game left to play, they would be 2-0 had they not had a complete meltdown in the last 2 minutes of their game in January. The Jazz biggest problem has been at the two guard, they run Derek Fisher there and he gets beaten like a rug nightly. Honestly I don't think the Jazz survive Houston, I hate to say it. but the Rockets are playing really good right now and the Jazz have just collapsed. The Jazz had the 4th seed all but locked up a few weeks ago, but have lost 6 straight on the road, and only 2 of those road loses have even been close. For any team to have a change to go deep into the playoffs they must win on the road. If the Jazz can hold T-Mac to 30 a game, and keep Yao from the paint, and get AK to have decent games than they will beat Houston. They must have home court as well.
Well, they just beat the Rockets.. thanks to Alston.. everyone else on my other forum is blaming TMac for passing it to Yao at the last second because he was trapped in the corner.. They wanted to him to shoot a fadeway 3 from the baseline with like 3 Jazz players on him.. crazy people
If T-Mac would have taken the shot from half court it would have gone in, thats the Jazz's luck this year. The time out is what killed you. The Jazz-Rockets game was a very gritty game, I don't know if both teams played exceptional defense or if both teams just sucked an egg.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Apr 1 2007, 04:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd first like to tell everyone that I picked the Jazz to do great things this year, including winning their division. I was the first to say anything about Utah on this board, during the off-season.But, onto the real reason for the thread, do the Jazz have any real chance at winning the title? They aren't the Mavs, but I could see them making the Western Conference Finals. No further though.</div>They're a great defensive squad with a powerful front court. I believe that Boozer and Williams could attempt to replicate what Malone and Stockton had under Jerry Sloan (Although not to the same effect). However they don't have the experience and on-court chemistry that the Spurs do or even close to the offense that the Mavs and the Suns do.Imagine if Utah beats Houston in the first round which I personally don't believe they will due to T-mac's scoring ability and Yao's prescence. However if they did, they would have to face Dallas in the first round who would pretty much dominate that series.Jazz don't have a powerful guard he can put up points on the table very quicly which will slow them down. Derek Fisher can not cut it scoring at the 2. AK47 has had a mediocre offensive year putting up career lows in points while still playing aggressive defense. Not to mention that their bench, although not horrible, does not compare to the other West powerhouses. It has talent in guys like Paul Milsap and Ronnie Brewer as well as smart veteran role players but not nearly to the extent that Dallas or San Antonio have.There is a very small chance that they beat Dallas in the second round and end up playing in the WCF. They just don't have the perimeter offense to matchup with Dallas or Pheonix.
f*cking Alston.But at the end, What the F*ck was the point of that timeout if you were going to give it to TMac anyways? Is that the best play JVG can do at times like this? It was so predictible. Goddamn.We shoulda had that game.
I don't think the Jazz have a chance. The Mavs have been one of the better teams in recent history and they are going to be almost impossible to beat. Now I know last year most people thought that the Pistons would win the chip but they didn't but this Mavs team is much more consistant and versatile than last year's Pistons. The Jazz have a pretty good chance of making the Western Cofernece Finals. I'd call it a 50/50 between them and the Suns.
LMAO Jazz are so overrated even though good it's not even funny.Cause they are not close to Dallas, Suns, and Spurs.And Rockets, and Denver are also better I think.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Apr 1 2007, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd first like to tell everyone that I picked the Jazz to do great things this year, including winning their division. I was the first to say anything about Utah on this board, during the off-season.</div> I was on the Jazz bandwagon and said they would win the division as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Apr 2 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>LMAO Jazz are so overrated even though good it's not even funny.Cause they are not close to Dallas, Suns, and Spurs.And Rockets, and Denver are also better I think.</div>...Enough about Denver. In no way shape or form is Denver better than Utah. Utah plays tough nosed defense every night while Denver never plays defense. Utah can impose a pace much bettter than Denver can. They are not over-rated either, they have a ton of talent on that squad who have really bought into Jerry Sloan's philosophy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 2 2007, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>...Enough about Denver. In no way shape or form is Denver better than Utah. Utah plays tough nosed defense every night while Denver never plays defense. Utah can impose a pace much bettter than Denver can. They are not over-rated either, they have a ton of talent on that squad who have really bought into Jerry Sloan's philosophy.</div>They actually show periods were they play D so watch the game even though I agree they don't play much D. But Suns don't play to much D either. Marion and Bell are good on D, but that is all really. Nash is awful on D.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Apr 2 2007, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Serge is an idiot, don't take anything he says seriously...I stopped a long time ago.</div>WTF Why?I am a great member of this board I am very active and know ball.
Serge have you even watched the Jazz this year? if you had you'd know that they play very well against the other top 5 teams in the west(8-4 vs DAL, PHO, SA,HOU). Denver is in no way even close to to Utah, Utah has demolished Denver in two of their three meetings, including a game in Denver were the Nuggets had both melo and AI healthy; and the Jazz just got Boozer back, had an injured Deron Williams and no Mehmet Okur, and Ak47 got hurt in the first half. Utah would have a lot better record if it wasn't for their youth; sometimes the young guys get behind and think that they can just come roaring back at any time, they often do succeed in this. Once Utah gets more experience they will become a very good team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Serge have you even watched the Jazz this year? if you had you'd know that they play very well against the other top 5 teams in the west(8-4 vs DAL, PHO, SA,HOU). Denver is in no way even close to to Utah, Utah has demolished Denver in two of their three meetings, including a game in Denver were the Nuggets had both melo and AI healthy; and the Jazz just got Boozer back, had an injured Deron Williams and no Mehmet Okur, and Ak47 got hurt in the first half. Utah would have a lot better record if it wasn't for their youth; sometimes the young guys get behind and think that they can just come roaring back at any time, they often do succeed in this. Once Utah gets more experience they will become a very good team.</div>I am not saying Jazz are not good. GeezDenver is close to Jazz yes.And yes I agree they will be a good team Deron, Boozer is a nice combo. AK47 is my top 15 players he is great his D is awsome. They deep with Okur, Harping, ect........... Yeah I know all that I still think Denver beat them in a 7 game series.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Apr 2 2007, 07:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They actually show periods were they play D so watch the game even though I agree they don't play much D. But Suns don't play to much D either. Marion and Bell are good on D, but that is all really. Nash is awful on D.</div>Nuggets don't run the floor nearly as well as Pheonix. Nuggets don't have a point guard with great court vision like the Suns do. Nuggets don't play with consistency which the Suns do. Nuggets haven't built the same offensive powerhouse the Suns have to make up for the defense. The Nuggets, when they do play D, which is not often becuase they run the transition game do not do it as a team. They may have Camby and Nene both great post defenders but it won't help them the least bit if team defense isn't where it should be. Denver isn't even near where Utah is right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Apr 2 2007, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I am not saying Jazz are not good. GeezDenver is close to Jazz yes.And yes I agree they will be a good team Deron, Boozer is a nice combo. AK47 is my top 15 players he is great his D is awsome. They deep with Okur, Harping, ect........... Yeah I know all that I still think Denver beat them in a 7 game series.</div>Not with Denvers D, or lack there of. the Nuggets give up way to many points, especially inside. George Karl doesn't help either, he's got to be one of the biggest morons who still coach in the NBA, he will stick AI and Melo out there for three quarters than they break down in the 4th. The Nuggets to have a huge advantage at the two if they run AI there, but thats it. AK can cause Melo enough problems that it takes melo out of his comfort zone, and for some reason Ronnie Brewer fusterated Melo as well. Boozer punishes Nene on the low block, Okur takes Camby outside so his shot blocking presence is lost and the Jazz have wide open paths to the basket. All utah, or any team, needs to do to beat Denver is limit turnovers, and take good shots. Denver, especially AI, thrives on stupid passes which lead to easy points.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 2 2007, 08:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nuggets don't run the floor nearly as well as Pheonix. Nuggets don't have a point guard with great court vision like the Suns do. Nuggets don't play with consistency which the Suns do. Nuggets haven't built the same offensive powerhouse the Suns have to make up for the defense. The Nuggets, when they do play D, which is not often becuase they run the transition game do not do it as a team. They may have Camby and Nene both great post defenders but it won't help them the least bit if team defense isn't where it should be. Denver isn't even near where Utah is right now.</div>They can though let AI run it. JR would not only do better on D cause he is bigger and has active hands but also do better on offense even more. They can run way more also.I agree Denver is not as good on offense, but not to far from Suns either.And Camby is good, but he also needs to learn to step out and guard his dude.And AI really is trying like crazy on D Melo needs to follow now. And have JR start I think he do better then Blake for sure on D, and offense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not with Denvers D, or lack there of. the Nuggets give up way to many points, especially inside. George Karl doesn't help either, he's got to be one of the biggest morons who still coach in the NBA, he will stick AI and Melo out there for three quarters than they break down in the 4th. The Nuggets to have a huge advantage at the two if they run AI there, but thats it. AK can cause Melo enough problems that it takes melo out of his comfort zone, and for some reason Ronnie Brewer fusterated Melo as well. Boozer punishes Nene on the low block, Okur takes Camby outside so his shot blocking presence is lost and the Jazz have wide open paths to the basket. All utah, or any team, needs to do to beat Denver is limit turnovers, and take good shots. Denver, especially AI, thrives on stupid passes which lead to easy points.</div>Actually no they do that with Blake at PG and that is not good they both 2 small taking advantage of easy. They need to take out Blaker from starting have AI at PG, and JR at SG not as much taking advantage on D and better running and offense.
From what I have seen Blake seems to run the offense pretty proficiantly, now on defense he is a huge liability. I wouldn't try running your offense through AI unless you want him to be your #1 scorer; I think thats a huge problem of Denvers right now is when they run it through AI. that also seems to be like when their opponent goes on a run. Melo won't play D, he's a one dimentional player and always has been.
