On Tuesday, January 30, 2018, the Jazz handed the Golden State Warriors their worst loss of the Durant era with a 30-point 129-99 defeat. This was followed up with a 19 point win in Golden State on March 21. The Jazz, not to be outdone by themselves, delivered the defending champs another demoralizing loss in a 40-point blow-out. 4-0.
With a win tonight, the Jazz move in to the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
A mighty impressive feat as the Jazz could move up two spots in the standings from where they ended last year. Gordon Hayward, in his last game, gave Utah and the Jazz his peace-out fairwell when the Jazz fell to the Warriors.
This year, with true warriors, I award the Jazz the official "Peace Out" trophy, as a symbol of moving on, moving up, and moving forward. They've earned it.
The Jazz arrive in Portland to finish out the season on a back-to-back against the Blazers. In a throwback to a game thread somewhere around 2010 or so, I'm going to repost this video:
The key match-up of the game? Damian Lillard and Shabazz Napier vs. Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio. Why? Let's go back in time...
In 2005, KOC traded three draft picks to the Blazers to move up to the #3 spot to take Deron Williams.
Those three draft picks became Linas Kleiza, Martell Webster, and Joel Freeland.
KOC, ecstatic with the move and thinking he'd win Executive of the Year, stripped down naked in his hotel room and invited TMZ to come photograph.
Follow with me on this one:
Portland ends up trading Kleiza to Denver for Jarrett Jack.
- Jarrett Jack gets traded for Ike Diogu and Jarryd Bayless.
- Ike Diogu is traded for Michael Ruffin.
- Jarryd Bayless is traded for a pick that becomes Tobias Harris.
- Tobias Harris is traded for a pick that becomes Shabazz Napier and Gerald Wallace.
- Gerald Wallace is traded for a pick that becomes Damian Lillard.
- Martell Wester is traded for Luke Babbit and Ryan Gomes.
Napier and Lillard are the only Portland remains of the Deron Williams deal.
The Jazz traded:
- Deron Williams to the Nets for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and the draft pick that became Enes Kanter.
- Jazz trade Devin Harris for Marvin Williams.
- Jazz trade Enes Kanter for Kendrick Perkins, Tibor Pleiss, and a future first-round draft pick.
- Jazz trade OKC pick to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio.
Favors and Rubio are the only Utah remains of the Deron Williams deal.
Portland, with a history of trying to steal things from Utah, looks to steal the third seed.
July 11, 2009
The Blazers, knowing the Jazz will match, sign Paul Millsap to a heavily front-loaded contract, hoping it would be toxic. The Jazz match.
July 2010
KOC tells Wesley Matthews to go find his offer. Portland again makes a large offer to Matthews and the Jazz do not match.
June 2012
A combination of the Jazz making the playoffs (and forfeiting their pick), in conjunction with being out-tanked by the Golden State Warriors, end up with no draft picks in the first round. They could have had the #8 pick and the #14 pick, arguably enough to move up and draft Damian Lillard, but Paul Allen snatches the home-town hero with the 6th pick in the draft.
April 2018
The Blazers, realizing they have a shortage of talent, seek to steal the third seed from the Jazz.
Above, Paul Allen assures season-ticket holders there's no shortage of talent.
Ultimately, Paul Allen, Terry Stotts, and Josuf Nurkic will be looking on as they see their season self-destruct.
The Jazz close out the regular season tonight, with other important games on the line.
With a win tonight, the Jazz move in to the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
A mighty impressive feat as the Jazz could move up two spots in the standings from where they ended last year. Gordon Hayward, in his last game, gave Utah and the Jazz his peace-out fairwell when the Jazz fell to the Warriors.
This year, with true warriors, I award the Jazz the official "Peace Out" trophy, as a symbol of moving on, moving up, and moving forward. They've earned it.
The Jazz arrive in Portland to finish out the season on a back-to-back against the Blazers. In a throwback to a game thread somewhere around 2010 or so, I'm going to repost this video:
The key match-up of the game? Damian Lillard and Shabazz Napier vs. Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio. Why? Let's go back in time...
In 2005, KOC traded three draft picks to the Blazers to move up to the #3 spot to take Deron Williams.
Those three draft picks became Linas Kleiza, Martell Webster, and Joel Freeland.
KOC, ecstatic with the move and thinking he'd win Executive of the Year, stripped down naked in his hotel room and invited TMZ to come photograph.
Follow with me on this one:
Portland ends up trading Kleiza to Denver for Jarrett Jack.
- Jarrett Jack gets traded for Ike Diogu and Jarryd Bayless.
- Ike Diogu is traded for Michael Ruffin.
- Jarryd Bayless is traded for a pick that becomes Tobias Harris.
- Tobias Harris is traded for a pick that becomes Shabazz Napier and Gerald Wallace.
- Gerald Wallace is traded for a pick that becomes Damian Lillard.
- Martell Wester is traded for Luke Babbit and Ryan Gomes.
Napier and Lillard are the only Portland remains of the Deron Williams deal.
The Jazz traded:
- Deron Williams to the Nets for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and the draft pick that became Enes Kanter.
- Jazz trade Devin Harris for Marvin Williams.
- Jazz trade Enes Kanter for Kendrick Perkins, Tibor Pleiss, and a future first-round draft pick.
- Jazz trade OKC pick to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio.
Favors and Rubio are the only Utah remains of the Deron Williams deal.
Portland, with a history of trying to steal things from Utah, looks to steal the third seed.
July 11, 2009
The Blazers, knowing the Jazz will match, sign Paul Millsap to a heavily front-loaded contract, hoping it would be toxic. The Jazz match.
July 2010
KOC tells Wesley Matthews to go find his offer. Portland again makes a large offer to Matthews and the Jazz do not match.
June 2012
A combination of the Jazz making the playoffs (and forfeiting their pick), in conjunction with being out-tanked by the Golden State Warriors, end up with no draft picks in the first round. They could have had the #8 pick and the #14 pick, arguably enough to move up and draft Damian Lillard, but Paul Allen snatches the home-town hero with the 6th pick in the draft.
April 2018
The Blazers, realizing they have a shortage of talent, seek to steal the third seed from the Jazz.
Above, Paul Allen assures season-ticket holders there's no shortage of talent.
Ultimately, Paul Allen, Terry Stotts, and Josuf Nurkic will be looking on as they see their season self-destruct.
The Jazz close out the regular season tonight, with other important games on the line.
