How much better are the jazz?

[Joncolton]

Think of it this way - the team that went to the 2nd round and was #3 in defense in the NBA is back. But, we've swapped out some players.

Clarkson > Exum
Conley > Rubio
Bogdanovic > Ingles

Ingles and Royce O'Neale are now further down on the depth chart. And while the Favors & Gobert tandem caused us a trouble offensively in the past - a lot of that had to do with a Joe Ingles who was too reluctant of a shooter, and Ricky Rubio who teams would DARE to shoot it from outside. I don't expect to see Favors + Gobert on the floor together much at all, but when we do see it - it's going to be a different story.

 

[prodigy]

After bombing in free agency last year I think we got back to our identity with interior defense and toughness while still not addressing other areas of defense. Think we have too many non defenders getting minutes. I wish Brantley would see more action.

 

[KqWIN]

The best argument as to why they might be better is because they played like absolute trash last season. I have never seen a team give up the way they did, where every player is publicly acknowledging that they don't care about winning and care more about individual stuff instead. It's hard to be that bad again

Seems like the chemistry is better this time around, but we might run into the same exact problems. Too many guys who want the ball and will mentally check out of games if they don't get it. We have very selfish players, and Quin lost them last year.

 

[idiot]

After bombing in free agency last year I think we got back to our identity with interior defense and toughness while still not addressing other areas of defense. Think we have too many non defenders getting minutes. I wish Brantley would see more action.

I wish Brantley was the kind of defender than we often imagine he is. Maybe he'll get there. I haven't totally lost hope. He could play a useful role if he gets there.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

The best argument as to why they might be better is because they played like absolute trash last season. I have never seen a team give up the way they did, where every player is publicly acknowledging that they don't care about winning and care more about individual stuff instead. It's hard to be that bad again

Seems like the chemistry is better this time around, but we might run into the same exact problems. Too many guys who want the ball and will mentally check out of games if they don't get it. We have very selfish players, and Quin lost them last year.

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[KqWIN]

What the hell are you talking about?

Late January early February. Bogey, Mitchell, Gobert, Quin etc all said something along the lines of “we’re not focused on the right things”.

Didn’t need interviews though. The team was checked out. Rudy wasn’t even pretending to play defense.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We definitely plugged one hole. Bojan's wrist and Rudy's extension are still major questions.

Assuming relative health I think we are anywhere from first to fifth in the West recordwise. I still think we are a second round playoff team unless DM takes a huge step forward or one of the young guys pops.

 

[NAOS]

I have a lot of confidence that we’ll finish the regular season in the top 4. But if we’re staring across the bracket in round 1 and seeing CP3+Booker, Dame+CJ, Jamal Murray, or Doncic, then I don’t know who in their right mind would feel confident in a series win.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

We definitely plugged one hole. Bojan's wrist and Rudy's extension are still major questions.

Assuming relative health I think we are anywhere from first to fifth in the West recordwise. I still think we are a second round playoff team unless DM takes a huge step forward or one of the young guys pops.

Is his extension a question for this season though? In a way, it might make Utah better if Rudy is extra motivated to go out there and prove himself.

 

[Joncolton]

I have a lot of confidence that we’ll finish the regular season in the top 4. But if we’re staring across the bracket in round 1 and seeing CP3+Booker, Dame+CJ, Jamal Murray, or Doncic, then I don’t know who in their right mind would feel confident in a series win.

Seriously, it's going to be tough, but if Donovan puts up numbers anything close to last year's playoffs - I like our chances vs anybody. That being said, the West is a gauntlet. I don't know who is the 8th seed. Phoenix? New Orleans? Memphis??? Rockets?

My guess is:
1. Lakers
2. Clippers
3. Jazz
4. Blazers
5. Warriors
6. Nuggets
7. Mavericks
8. ???

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Is his extension a question for this season though? In a way, it might make Utah better if Rudy is extra motivated to go out there and prove himself.

It is if it goes poorly and they end up trading him.

 

[NAOS]

Is his extension a question for this season though? In a way, it might make Utah better if Rudy is extra motivated to go out there and prove himself.

Is this serious? There’s no way around this being one of the three biggest issues on the team right now and until it’s resolved.

 

[fishonjazz]

We literally brought the entire team back and added Favors. We will be in contention for the top-3 teams in the West.

Not literally. Unless ed davis and Tony bradley etc are still in the roster.

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[Eminence]

Ehh, maybe a little, I'm not over the moon, we'll see how Bojan is doing when he gets back.

 

[LoPo]

Fully healthy, we struggled last year prior to the covid break. We add Favors. I don't know why we would be a top 4 team all of the sudden by adding him.

On the flip side, we did look amazing a few games in the playoffs without Bojan and Favors.

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[homeytennis]

The Jazz team that was down by 40 at the half to the Raptors needs to disappear forever and I believe it may have as Davis, Green, Bradley and Exum were giving it fatal cooties.

 

[campaignist]

They would have beaten Denver with Favors on the team, even with Bogie out. They're going to be significantly improved.

 

[KqWIN]

Is this serious? There’s no way around this being one of the three biggest issues on the team right now and until it’s resolved.

Yup...Rudy has nothing to prove. He's going to get a max from someone who strikes out on the main targets. He can't earn his way to a supermax by playing well either because that option is gone once the season starts.

We all saw what happened when Rudy decided to not care on defense. When your team is that dependent on one player, and that player might have eyes on another destination, it creates a very volatile situation for an already shaky locker room.

 

[dy47]

not gonna lie. really not much...... we got better at the backup C, but we still need a full time 4 and more perimeter defense to take the next step. not to mention Joe/Mike/Bojan that makes up nearly half of our rotation are reaching the stage where you just don't know when they gonna fall off

this

( Joe has a really solid all around game. He is very important to any Jazz success )

 

[jom2003]

this

( Joe has a really solid all around game. He is very important to any Jazz success )

people thought i was joking when i said bojan's injuries should not be taken lightly. now they don't even know if he's gonna be back before season kick-off. we are talking about a guy who's gonna turn 32 in four months.