I think Utah has been a bit overrated this year. They faced a Houston team that poorly executes on offense and a team that has never won on the playoffs. Then in the second round, instead of facing a Mavs team, got an easy series with the Warriors, who really know how to play well against the Mavs. Im not surprised they're down 2-0, and I wouldnt be surprised if they got swept 4-0. The Jazz IMO are not up there with the Mavs, Suns, Pistons, and Spurs.
The Jazz aren't an elite team yet, but they are on the cusp of becoming one. their biggest problem is inexperience and they really need a shooting guard. they have a couple of twos who should be good in the NBA in Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles, but both make a lot of mental mistakes. Give Utah a couple of years and they will be an elite team.I also don't count the Suns as an elite team, I'd replace them with the Heat and here is why. The Suns do nothing in the playoffs, other than get beat by the Spurs or Mavericks. the Spurs, Pistons and Heat all have NBA championships, thats what really matters and thats what makes an elite team. Dallas has made the NBA finals, so that counts a little more. five years down the road no body remembers who had the best record in the NBA, they will remember however who won the title. How many people remember a few years ago when Boston made the WCF? not many. but most people can tell you that Boston won the NBA title back in the 80s.
This is the first time they've been in the playoffs since 1998. Kirilenko, Boozer, and Williams do not have any playoff experience. They do have Jerry Sloan, however, and he is a very experienced NBA coach. Utah was never considered an 'elite' team, anyways.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ May 26 2007, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Jazz aren't an elite team yet, but they are on the cusp of becoming one. their biggest problem is inexperience and they really need a shooting guard. they have a couple of twos who should be good in the NBA in Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles, but both make a lot of mental mistakes. Give Utah a couple of years and they will be an elite team.I also don't count the Suns as an elite team, I'd replace them with the Heat and here is why. The Suns do nothing in the playoffs, other than get beat by the Spurs or Mavericks. the Spurs, Pistons and Heat all have NBA championships, thats what really matters and thats what makes an elite team. Dallas has made the NBA finals, so that counts a little more. five years down the road no body remembers who had the best record in the NBA, they will remember however who won the title. How many people remember a few years ago when Boston made the WCF? not many. but most people can tell you that Boston won the NBA title back in the 80s.</div>The Heat were a team built to function for one year, and one year only. Everyone on that team is eithier injured, aging, or not porducing anymore. To add, the Suns made it the WCF last year, and had a clear shot to the WCF this year. However, the Suns main problem is that having a 6-7 man playoff rotation for the playoffs is just absurd, what type of idiot coach does that? Anyways, I think the Jazz had a easy road to the WCF, when really it would have been harder than facing a 42 win team in the 2nd round. Its ridiculous.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DariusAli @ May 26 2007, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They are pretty damn good if they are in the WCF though.</div>It's about who you play dude. They played Rockets fair match there I give them props. But then they got lucky with facing the Warriors who only beat Dallas cause they match up great against them, and Nelson knows Dirk to well.
In all honesty I think the Jazz could have beaten Dallas this year. like the Warriors, the Jazz also created matchup problems with Dallas. though I don't think the Jazz would have won in 5, most likely they would have needed 7. Utah was also 3-1 against the Suns, including a win in Phoenix without Boozer comming off a game vs the Spurs. I don't know why everyone is bashing Houston, they are a very good team who is a consistant playoff team. they didnt make it last year because of the injuries they had.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ May 26 2007, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the first time they've been in the playoffs since 1998. Kirilenko, Boozer, and Williams do not have any playoff experience. They do have Jerry Sloan, however, and he is a very experienced NBA coach. Utah was never considered an 'elite' team, anyways.</div>Utah made the playoffs every year from 1984 until 2003, they won the midwest in 97,98,01 as well as in 84, 89, and 92. in the late 90s they were considered one of the elite teams, having made 3 consecutive WCF appearances and 2 finals appearences. they weren't the Bulls, but they were amongst the leagues best.
The Jazz certainly arent an elite team yet, but they deserve respect. People could whine and complain that up until San Antonio they hadnt faced any real competition (Which is BS. Houston is a good team, and Golden State was hot.) but they have improved heaps this year. How many teams go to the Conference Finals out of nowhere? If Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer continue to improve, they could defiently be a Finals contender soon. Hell, they are right now even. Dont count them out in the San Antonio series, like I know alot of people are.
Well the Jazz played like an elite team in the second half of tonights game. if they could only do this for the rest of the series and next, and there would be a next if they kept playing like this.
yup they are. they've been really good at home, but really bad on the road(2-6), with 4 of those losses being double digit.
While not an elite team, they have alot of elite peices. They have a big smart point guard, Boozer is a star forward in the league, Kirilenko is arguably the best defender in the league, and Okur can really stretch defenses. Not to mention their coaching is superb. Maybe they need to gel a bit more or maybe they need a missing peice. A good shooting guard with a good jumpshot could go a long ways. They defiantely have the core right now that could eventually be an elite team.
They just need a player who can slash and shoot as well. That would compliment Boozer and Okur's game perfectly. I think they could be contenders in the next 2 years.
I think they're a top 6 team in the League. Deron Williams is freaking amazing. At this point, I would rank him over Chris Paul...He can drive it, he creates shots for himself, he can nail midrange jumpers, he has excellent court vision, always makes really good decisions.Carlos Boozer is not a post up guy, he's a banger. He creates space, and then scores downlow off of D-Will feeds, etc... They've got a lot of vets who do a good job, they're good on both sides of the ball, and they've got an awesome coach.The Jazz are actually my 3rd favourite team in the League (besides Raps and Suns)...I love watching them play...I dont know why, I just do.
Who cares if they are elite or not, they only need to win three more games to get into the NBA Finals.
