Jazz Playoff Watch
- Thread starter Stifle Tower
- Start date
The Thriller
Well-Known Member
Judging by what the Spurs have done to us over the past decade, why would they think much of us?
We haven't consistently beaten them since Dave Robinson was their center, Vince Carter could actually jump, Harpring played QB, Kobe had a fro, gas was under $2 a gallon, Big Country Reeves was in the league, Lebron was in diapers, The Sonics were still in Seattle, Shawn Kemp only had 40 illegitimate kids, m night shyamalan didn't make sucky movies, Warren Sapp was a millionaire, people were arguing whether to take Ryan Leaf or Petyon Manning, Jay Leno had dark hair, The Utes dominated in hoops (but hadn't done anything in Football), BYU was complete suck in hoops, AOL was still cool, Napster thrived, Apple sucked, Orange Barrels covered I-15 in preparation for some Olympic thing, ZIP drives were hip, Mel Gibson wasn't crazy, Independence Day (welcome to earth!) was brand new, Eminem had just begun, Orrin Hatch was entering his 100th term, no one had heard of Tom Brady, and Pam Anderson was the tool girl on one of my favorite shows of all time..............
At least a few differences:
*SA was at home. One benefit of them missing the Utah game was they didn't even have to travel.
*Not a back-to-back.
*After they sat out against the Jazz, the plan kind of backfired when they lost to the Jazz and then to the Lakers (one of the games they were theoretically resting for). Maybe they didn't feel like they could take chances sitting guys any more.
After one day off, they have a back-to-back-to-back @GS, @LAL, @Sac. I imagine you might see them rest some guys in either the first or third games (unless they don't want to take any more chances, like I said above).
*SA was at home. One benefit of them missing the Utah game was they didn't even have to travel.
*Not a back-to-back.
*After they sat out against the Jazz, the plan kind of backfired when they lost to the Jazz and then to the Lakers (one of the games they were theoretically resting for). Maybe they didn't feel like they could take chances sitting guys any more.
After one day off, they have a back-to-back-to-back @GS, @LAL, @Sac. I imagine you might see them rest some guys in either the first or third games (unless they don't want to take any more chances, like I said above).
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
It has nothing to do with respect. The Big 3 were resting on the last day of a road trip against us. Spurs will rest them if they've played a bunch of games in a short time.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
after the weekend, here are where teams are headed in terms of projected records. i have not CHANGED the projections, these are based on how i initially had those games projected out.
i have the rockets projected to go 4-2 for 36 wins.
i have the nuggets projected to go 3-3 for 36 wins.
i have the jazz projected to go 4-1 for 35 wins.
i have the suns projected to go 2-4 for 33 wins.
again, i haven't adjusted those based on how teams are playing... they're just a reflection of how tough teams' skeds are down the stretch.
so really all that would have to happen is for houston to lose one of their projected wins (denver, @new orleans, golden state, new orleans)... OR for denver to lose one of their projected wins (clippers, orlando, @minnesota)... OR for the jazz to win out.
not lost yet... but the window is closing.
i have the rockets projected to go 4-2 for 36 wins.
i have the nuggets projected to go 3-3 for 36 wins.
i have the jazz projected to go 4-1 for 35 wins.
i have the suns projected to go 2-4 for 33 wins.
again, i haven't adjusted those based on how teams are playing... they're just a reflection of how tough teams' skeds are down the stretch.
so really all that would have to happen is for houston to lose one of their projected wins (denver, @new orleans, golden state, new orleans)... OR for denver to lose one of their projected wins (clippers, orlando, @minnesota)... OR for the jazz to win out.
not lost yet... but the window is closing.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
yeah exactly... under normal circumstances those would be 2 of the 3 most difficult remaining games. now, they're very winnable.
if i had to rank our remaining sked from least difficult to most difficult:
- 4/26 portland: the second-worst road team in the WC, and without their best player
- 4/21 orlando: they're 2-4 in the 6 games dwight missed, with the only wins being det and @cle.
- 4/18 @portland: because it's on the road (por 20-12 at home) i'm not going to write porty off
- 4/24 phoenix: if phx isn't out of contention by then (they could be), this could have a playoff feel for both teams
- 4/16 dallas: champs are just 13-17 on the road and have played .500 ball over the last month... and yet this is still the game that makes me the most nervous.
Orton is the only ex-player in recent memory that .. well .. isn't on my Christmas card list.
trigg3r
Well-Known Member
It probably will be the same story just a different day. Dirk will go for at least 35.
Weezur
Well-Known Member
I was wrong and you were wrong. But you were more right than I was.
Jerry Lundegaard
Banned
Man.. Wednesday's game is GIGANTIC.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
after houston's loss, i have them projected at 35 wins now (L at dal, W at noh, W vs. gsw, L at mia, W vs. noh) so now we get in without a perfect finish.... but just in case houston surprises anybody, the jazz should go ahead and win all 4.
Brown Notes
Well-Known Member
Like before, Utah can win. F the doubters.
fishonjazz
Well-Known Member
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Just for clarification.... Utah can win a regular season home game?, or a first round playoff series against okc or san antonio?
I dont think anybody doubts that the jazz can win at home in regular season. Do they? Of course utah CAN win the game tonight.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
they don't have to win a playoff series for this season to be a success.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
DEN: 34-27, 2H/3R remaining, 4 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .572 (nerd projection: 37 wins)
DAL: 34-28, 2H/2R remaining, 3 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .560 (37)
PHX: 32-29, 4H/1R remaining, 5 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .628 (33)
HOU: 32-29, 2H/3R remaining, 2 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .451 (35)
UTA: 32-30, 3H/1R remaining, 2 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .504 (35)
if it plays out like that: 6) dallas, 7) denver, 8) utah, 9) houston, 10) phoenix.
DAL: 34-28, 2H/2R remaining, 3 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .560 (37)
PHX: 32-29, 4H/1R remaining, 5 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .628 (33)
HOU: 32-29, 2H/3R remaining, 2 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .451 (35)
UTA: 32-30, 3H/1R remaining, 2 against .500+ teams, combined OWP .504 (35)
if it plays out like that: 6) dallas, 7) denver, 8) utah, 9) houston, 10) phoenix.
Not that I do not like any projection that has the Jazz making the playoffs but why do you think the Suns will only win 1 out of next 5 games, despite having 4 home games?
Phoenix has OKC, LAC (back-to-back), DEN, @utah, and SA (back-to-back). I originally had them closing 1-4 as well, but I think they are playing better lately. They've only lost one home game in the last month (to the Spurs), plus they have recent road wins in Sac, Utah, Minn and Hou. I assume they will win 2 or 3 at this point.
Matthew Thomas Castleton
Well-Known Member
Of their four remaining home games, the only one that I will confidently say that Phoenix is most likely to win is against Denver and maybe OKC. I think their only chance against San Antonio is if the Spurs are resting players. I think that they lose to the Clippers too.