OFFICIAL Postseason race thread *Sticky*

[silesian]

26% of remaining games are against bottom 5 teams
61% of remaining games are against bottom 15 teams
Last 7 games are against the Spurs plus six other teams with average ranking of 23/30: Lakers (2), Suns, Nuggets, Mavs, TWolves. So if we are within 1-2 games before that time, we’d still have a shot

(Sagarin Rankings)

 

[MT Steve]

I've been gone for a month, but I'm back and it seems like Houston is just as lost as Utah is right now. If the Jazz can go 2-1 in these next three road games then they should be back in the drivers seat for the 8 seed. For the record, I still would rather have the 8 seed and play GS then the 7 and play the Spurs. Anyone else feel like the Jazz have a much better chance against the Warriors then the Spurs? Assuming the wheels don't fall off and the Jazz miss the playoffs that is.

I don't think they have a chance against either team, but I think they are more likely to win a game against Golden State.

 

[colton]

I don't think they have a chance against either team, but I think they are more likely to win a game against Golden State.

I'm the opposite, I think the are more likely to win a game against the Spurs. But most likely scenario seems like 4 and out against either one.

I'd still take it!

 

[JazzForLifee]

recent games were really frustrating. i still believe in jazz tho. let's make the playoffs!


Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[Coach Ellis]

This is about how they were playing before the 7 game winning streak. Do that again, and they're comfortably in position for a winning record and z playoff spot.

 

[Stifle Tower]

This is about how they were playing before the 7 game winning streak. Do that again, and they're comfortably in position for a winning record and z playoff spot.

Just need a stretch of games against teams under .500.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Rockets won.
Now they go on a 5-game road trip.

 

[Douchebag K]

don't really care anymore. Still have full confidence we'll take a big jump next year.

 

[Just Ted]

Jazz will make the playoffs. It will help propel them next year as they find a new carrot to chase. This team will improve. I'm overcompensating right now.

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

Rough stretch. Let's turn it back around tomorrow in Memphis.

 

[Gameface]

This is about how they were playing before the 7 game winning streak. Do that again, and they're comfortably in position for a winning record and z playoff spot.

 

[Coach Ellis]

One game at a time. Think the focus needs to be slowing things down and grinding teams out. Keep teams under 90 points. Let the defense be the strength again and force teams to play our style. Neto should start. The Mack experiment was interesting, but this team needs to win games and I think Neto starting gets them there. Shelvin can come in off the bench and offer a defensive presence and faster pace of play. Neto is a little slower, more deliberate and can shoot better. Don't get into a running shootout - the Jazz struggle with that - and get rid of the turnovers.

Jazz have been starting strong, fade in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and then storm back to finish the game. I'd like to see them hold their first quarter lead through the whole contest.

 

[Stifle Tower]

One game at a time. Think the focus needs to be slowing things down and grinding teams out. Keep teams under 90 points. Let the defense be the strength again and force teams to play our style.

The problem is the defense is no longer our strength. Something is wrong with Rudy and Neto/Mack is not Exum. Opposing guards are torching the Jazz. And that was true even before the big Mack acquisition (see what I did there?). Jazz have shown they can't get stops in the 4th quarter. They've shot horribly even when the pace is slow.

 

[Miggs]

Just need a stretch of games against teams under .500.

I hope this was a joke.

 

[Stifle Tower]

I hope this was a joke.

Well, it wasn't originally intended to be. That 7 game winning streak (which seems so long ago) came mostly at home against pretty weak teams. The thriller at Dallas was the only "signature" win.

If you go back and consider strength of opponent and Home vs. Road, the only shocker in the games after the all-star break was losing to Brooklyn. And I guess a minor surprise losing to Houston, since during the win streak Utah had won home games against Charlotte and Chicago.

Utah is just terrible on the road (9-21) so count on any away win being a pleasant surprise. At home, Utah is fairly good against teams that are below or just slightly above .500. There are the few exceptions, of course.

 

[Sneakers]

If we go 12-8 and Houston goes 11-10 for the reason of the season, we'll be tied. We have a game @ Houston later this month that we need to knot up the tie breaker (I'm not sure what it goes to when head to head is tied). Doing so would require a bit of a step up in our level of play, and might be underestimating Houston a little bit, but both options are reasonable enough looking at the schedule. Stupid Nets game

 

[MT Steve]

If the Jazz win in Houston later this month, the tiebreaker would go to conference records. Which Houston would win.

 

[Sneakers]

KD aint kiddin -- we're 16-21 in conference, Houston is 22-19. Good news is then that that our game against Houston doesn't mean anymore than any other game (despite "tiebreaker" headlines you might hear from Jazz media around then. Bad news is that we basically neat to beat Houston out by a game. As far as Houston goes, they have a very difficult schedule, until their last 5 games which include Lakers, Phoenix, Minnesota and the Kings who all should be tanking by then. In other words, if we aren't up on Houston enough to brave a 5 game end-of-season win streak, we might be outta luck. Here's to hoping.


In other news -- Jordan Clarkson this summer!?!?!?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

KD aint kiddin -- we're 16-21 in conference, Houston is 22-19. Good news is then that that our game against Houston doesn't mean anymore than any other game (despite "tiebreaker" headlines you might hear from Jazz media around then. Bad news is that we basically neat to beat Houston out by a game. As far as Houston goes, they have a very difficult schedule, until their last 5 games which include Lakers, Phoenix, Minnesota and the Kings who all should be tanking by then. In other words, if we aren't up on Houston enough to brave a 5 game end-of-season win streak, we might be outta luck. Here's to hoping.


In other news -- Jordan Clarkson this summer!?!?!?

So only a 2 game difference in the loss column? Seems kind of foolish to say it's a certainty that Houston finishes with a better conference record than us.

 

[Sneakers]

So only a 2 game difference in the loss column? Seems kind of foolish to say it's a certainty that Houston finishes with a better conference record than us.

That's definitely a fair point. The terribly weak Western Conference end of season schedule for Houston is probably what would seal that for them in my mind. What the Jazz need to do is a) not lose the Nets game, b) beat Atlanta on Tuesday, c) win the games they "should" and get one miracle game, for example the other upcoming home game against SA.