1983-84 Team

[homeytennis]

I saw the documentary on the 1983-84 team. On that team you had a collection of DLeague and undrafted players that eventually won the division championship. The cast: Mark Eaton undrafted (actually was a 4th bound pick but the NBA draft is only two rounds today.) Tom Boswell (jail and DLeague), John Drew 2nd round draft pick of the Hawks, AD 1st round pick, Darrell Griffith 1st round pick, Jerry Eaves undrafted actually a third round pick, Bobby Hansen undrafted another third round pick, Mitchell Anderson picked up on waivers, Ricky Green, DLeague, Jeff Wilkins DLeague and Rich Kelly 1st round pick. So on this team you have 3 first round picks, one second round pick and the rest undrafted free agents or signed off the street. This was the group just before Stockton and Malone were drafted. So with the right coaching the Core 5 might be able to succeed.

 

[Stoked]

That year:

Bailey was on the all rookie first team

Eaton lead the league in blocks

Dantley was the NBA scoring leader, All-star, All NBA second team

Green was an All-star

All that on top of a very uncertain year; Such as playing "home" games in Las Vegas and Salt lake City and relocation rumors.

Way to gloss all that over though. Clear D-League talent.

Bad arguement but yes, the Jazz need better coaching.

 

[candrew]

They ought to make a documenatary about the 1999-2000 Utah Jazz;

You had Stockton (38) Malone and a broken down Hornacek (both 37).

Rest of the squad:

Bryon Russell
Howard Eisley
Olden Polynice (36)
Armen Gilliam (36 - picked up off waivers)
Greg Ostertag
Quiincy Lewis
Jacques Vaughn
Adam Keefe
Scott Padgett
Pete Chillcut

Look at this squad - 5 though 13 is a collection of guys lucky to be in the league. This team is never talked about because it came right after the proverbial "window of opportunity" closed for Stockton and Malone. But how this team won the division, 55 games and made the conference semi-finals is nothing short of amazing.

 

[homeytennis]

That year:

Bailey was on the all rookie first team

Eaton lead the league in blocks

Dantley was the NBA scoring leader, All-star, All NBA second team

Green was an All-star

All that on top of a very uncertain year; Such as playing "home" games in Las Vegas and Salt lake City and relocation rumors.

Way to gloss all that over though. Clear D-League talent.

Bad arguement but yes, the Jazz need better coaching.

I forgot about Big T. Yes Eaton and Green were eventual all stars but where were they found? Not with lottery picks. Eaves and Hansen would not have been drafted today. Wilkins, Green, Anderson and Boswell had all been cut by someone and were in the minor leagues. I guess my point being is that there is talent out there to surround the core 5 and the two draft picks with assuming we have a new coach.

 

[DutchJazzer]

They ought to make a documenatary about the 1999-2000 Utah Jazz;

You had Stockton (38) Malone and a broken down Hornacek (both 37).

Rest of the squad:

Bryon Russell
Howard Eisley
Olden Polynice (36)
Armen Gilliam (36 - picked up off waivers)
Greg Ostertag
Quiincy Lewis
Jacques Vaughn
Adam Keefe
Scott Padgett
Pete Chillcut

Look at this squad - 5 though 13 is a collection of guys lucky to be in the league. This team is never talked about because it came right after the proverbial "window of opportunity" closed for Stockton and Malone. But how this team won the division, 55 games and made the conference semi-finals is nothing short of amazing.

Coaching!!!

 

[homeytennis]

Coaching!!!

Those teams had Old Man Layden and Sloan coaching them. This team has Ty. I have the sickening feeling that this team would have more wins if they had kept the guys the cut in camp and surrounded the Core 5 with them than with the guys currently on the roster. .

 

[Stoked]

I forgot about Big T. Yes Eaton and Green were eventual all stars but where were they found? Not with lottery picks. Eaves and Hansen would not have been drafted today. Wilkins, Green, Anderson and Boswell had all been cut by someone and were in the minor leagues. I guess my point being is that there is talent out there to surround the core 5 and the two draft picks with assuming we have a new coach.

Green was an All star that year. No an eventual all star. That list is what happened that year. Not a future resume. Then it would have been 5 times as long. Point is that the 1983-84 team had several good players playing at a high level that year.

 

[YB85]

Lost in your D-League fixation is the fact that since 1984, there have been seven teams added and roster requirements increased. There are over 100 players currently on NBA rosters that would have been elsewhere in 1984, 6 or 7 on the Jazz already. The NBA is full of no-talent players and they are still much better than anyone you drool over playing for the Fumbuck Kokes in the D-League. There aren't guys out there who can help the Jazz unless they are currently on other teams or yet to be drafted.

 

[homeytennis]

Lost in your D-League fixation is the fact that since 1984, there have been seven teams added and roster requirements increased. There are over 100 players currently on NBA rosters that would have been elsewhere in 1984, 6 or 7 on the Jazz already. The NBA is full of no-talent players and they are still much better than anyone you drool over playing for the Fumbuck Kokes in the D-League. There aren't guys out there who can help the Jazz unless they are currently on other teams or yet to be drafted.

Are you telling me that Jeremy Lin, Gerald Green or Shelvin Mack could not have helped the Jazz this year? They were in the DLeague not that long ago.

 

[Monte666]

Are you telling me that Jeremy Lin, Gerald Green or Shelvin Mack could not have helped the Jazz this year? They were in the DLeague not that long ago.

Check and mate

Sent from the JazzFanz app

 

[Kenwood]

Two thoughts:

As some have pointed out, the team wasn't bereft of talent. Dantley, Griffith and Bailey (although a rookie) were high draft picks. Eaton and Green, while they had taken the non-traditional path to the league, clearly belonged. Those five are the reason the Jazz won the division. Drew was a very good scorer off the bench and Kelley and Wilkins provided backup minutes, but the other guys simply didn't play much.

I'd also point out that while the Jazz won the division title, they did so with 45 wins. That's not a typo: 45 wins was better than the other 5 teams in the Midwest at the time. It's not like they set the world on fire; they were just the best of a subpar division. You know what 45 wins gets you in the West this season? A trip to Secaucus in May to watch ping pong balls.

 

[YB85]

Are you telling me that Jeremy Lin, Gerald Green or Shelvin Mack could not have helped the Jazz this year? They were in the DLeague not that long ago.

JL3, Clark, and Garrett were also in the D-League not that long ago. Now that I think about it, they are helping the Jazz this year.

 

[homeytennis]

JL3, Clark, and Garrett were also in the D-League not that long ago. Now that I think about it, they are helping the Jazz this year.

Garrett yes but JLIII and Ian are helping them win ping pong balls. I wish the coaches would give some of the fringe talent some run to see if they can be productive at this level for extended minutes. It appears that Rush and Beans are both done in the league and RJeff will sign with somone next year. It would be nice to know if Garrett, Ian and Thomas have what it takes.

 

[Getting Traded]

Stock and Malone were still All-Star caliber, and on one leg Horny was better than any of our wings right now.

 

[homeytennis]

All true. The Jazz players 6-11 need to be much, much better next year.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Two thoughts:

As some have pointed out, the team wasn't bereft of talent. Dantley, Griffith and Bailey (although a rookie) were high draft picks. Eaton and Green, while they had taken the non-traditional path to the league, clearly belonged. Those five are the reason the Jazz won the division. Drew was a very good scorer off the bench and Kelley and Wilkins provided backup minutes, but the other guys simply didn't play much.

I'd also point out that while the Jazz won the division title, they did so with 45 wins. That's not a typo: 45 wins was better than the other 5 teams in the Midwest at the time. It's not like they set the world on fire; they were just the best of a subpar division. You know what 45 wins gets you in the West this season? A trip to Secaucus in May to watch ping pong balls.

as usual, kenwood delivers the goods.

 

[Kenwood]

as usual, kenwood delivers the goods.

Stop it, I'm blushing.

As I read my own comment about how the 45-win Jazz weren't that great just because they won the division, they were still the team that won me over. If I ever finish my book you can read all about the season from my perspective, but at the time it felt like every single star was aligning:

Dantley & Green All Stars and Layden coaching
The first winning season
The first division title
Dantley NBA scoring leader and 2nd team All-NBA
Griffith led league in 3-point percentage
Green led league in steals
Eaton led the league in blocks
Bailey All-rookie team
Layden COY & Executive of the Year
Winning the first ever playoff series (Jazz have heart!)
Competitive in the second round (lost by 1 point in OT of game 4 and could have tied the series)

It was quite a run from January to May of 1984.