The Jazz will be playing in the playoffs

[doubledribble]

... as a 7th or 8th seed (barring major injuries). Yes, they will be destroyed by many good teams in the coming days and still make it. There is too much going for them.

- The Jazz showed that despite all of their problems they still can win at home. They will also win games on the road against the bad teams.

- The first and second-year Utah players will inevitably get significantly better over the course of the season. And Millsap, Jefferson and Howard seem to care.

- The compressed season is favoring teams with young legs and deep benches. Also, the compressed season greatly diminishes the distance between the teams in the standings: good teams cannot get enough separation from the bad ones. In 1998-99 6th-9th places in both conferences finished within 2 games.

- The Jazz do not rely anymore on injury-prone AK, Boozer and Memo. They have much lower chances of significant injuries than their competitors. They also do not seem to have any locker-room issues.

- Two main Jazz competitors for 7th-8th places are San Antonio and Memphis: they both already have long-term injuries to their major players.

- Finally, Utah has a favorable schedule: their last 4 games are against Portland (2), Phoenix and Orlando. Orlando and Portland will be resting their starters and Phoenix busily tanking.

The Jazz will finish with 33-35 wins. It will be a fun season and they will be a very different team in April.

 

[Stoked]

If the Jazz get to the playoffs I want it to be because the young guys are taking them there. otherwise I would prefer two draft picks.

 

[freakazoid]

Raja Bell has been starting for this team.

 

[BIGAL]

... as a 7th or 8th seed (barring major injuries). Yes, they will be destroyed by many good teams in the coming days and still make it. There is too much going for them.

- The Jazz showed that despite all of their problems they still can win at home. They will also win games on the road against the bad teams.

- The first and second-year Utah players will inevitably get significantly better over the course of the season. And Millsap, Jefferson and Howard seem to care.

- The compressed season is favoring teams with young legs and deep benches. Also, the compressed season greatly diminishes the distance between the teams in the standings: good teams cannot get enough separation from the bad ones. In 1998-99 6th-9th places in both conferences finished within 2 games.

- The Jazz do not rely anymore on injury-prone AK, Boozer and Memo. They have much lower chances of significant injuries than their competitors. They also do not seem to have any locker-room issues.

- Two main Jazz competitors for 7th-8th places are San Antonio and Memphis: they both already have long-term injuries to their major players.

- Finally, Utah has a favorable schedule: their last 4 games are against Portland (2), Phoenix and Orlando. Orlando and Portland will be resting their starters and Phoenix busily tanking.

The Jazz will finish with 33-35 wins. It will be a fun season and they will be a very different team in April.

These two statements contradict each other just a bit.

 

[spycam1]

Gordon goes out just before we play the Hornets; Bogut decides not to play against us for "personal reasons"; Randolph dies right before we play Memphis; and Curry likely won't be playing us Saturday. Clearly a Jazz fan has gotten their hands on a very valuable voodoo doll collection. So yeah, not only will we make the playoffs, we'll win it all.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Gordon goes out just before we play the Hornets; Bogut decides not to play against us for "personal reasons"; Randolph dies right before we play Memphis; and Curry likely won't be playing us Saturday. Clearly a Jazz fan has gotten their hands on a very valuable voodoo doll collection. So yeah, not only will we make the playoffs, we'll win it all.

If I had franklins MS paint wizardry, id totes-mcgots photoshop Ty's face onto some jamaican lady with a collection of voodoo dolls.

 

[Stifle Tower]

If the Jazz get to the playoffs I want it to be because the young guys are taking them there. otherwise I would prefer two draft picks.

Exactly. It's been disappointing to see the load being carried by Jefferson, Harris, Millsap and Howard. Favors and Hayward haven't shown much consistency. And Burks barely plays.

 

[akirac73]

Nothing says "playoff team" like wins over Philadelphia, New Orleans and Milwaukee. Where do I sign up to reserve playoff tickets?

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

If the Jazz get to the playoffs I want it to be because the young guys are taking them there. otherwise I would prefer two draft picks.

That's retarded! The goal should and always will be to make the playoffs no matter who gets them there, then win it all. We don't need anymore lotto picks. That's why the Clippers are the Clippers. As a 49er fan I was spoiled in the 80's and 90's I didn't ever worry about if they would win, it was a given. Over the last 10 years they were very bad I got no joy in watching games. Even when they got lucky and won a game it was because that team was even more pathetic than the 49ers. It was 10 years of hell and torture. I don't want that to happen to the Jazz. Lucky for us the Jazz have a win at all cost mentality.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Exactly. It's been disappointing to see the load being carried by Jefferson, Harris, Millsap and Howard. Favors and Hayward haven't shown much consistency. And Burks barely plays.

they will come along, plus it looks like Burks is starting to earn more minutes. Not worried about Hayward in the slightest.

 

[The Thriller]

Being swept by the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, or Spurs or getting my lotto picks?

Lotto picks please.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Gordon goes out just before we play the Hornets; Bogut decides not to play against us for "personal reasons"; Randolph dies right before we play Memphis; and Curry likely won't be playing us Saturday. Clearly a Jazz fan has gotten their hands on a very valuable voodoo doll collection. So yeah, not only will we make the playoffs, we'll win it all.

im googling the word voodoo right now. Any thing for a win

 

[freakazoid]

Lucky for us the Jazz have a win at all cost mentality.

This just isn't true. Utah is trying to maintain a competetive team, while at the same time building for the future. All the moves they have made this year have been very deliberate in not compromising the future for a few more wins in the short term.

The New York Knicks are always living for the now, future be damned. That hasn't seemed to have worked out all that well for them, and Utah doesn't have the advantages they do. KOC has to be much more strategic in managing this team, rather than just winning at all costs.

 

[Ron Mexico]

That's retarded! The goal should and always will be to make the playoffs no matter who gets them there, then win it all. We don't need anymore lotto picks. That's why the Clippers are the Clippers. As a 49er fan I was spoiled in the 80's and 90's I didn't ever worry about if they would win, it was a given. Over the last 10 years they were very bad I got no joy in watching games. Even when they got lucky and won a game it was because that team was even more pathetic than the 49ers. It was 10 years of hell and torture. I don't want that to happen to the Jazz. Lucky for us the Jazz have a win at all cost mentality.

Agreed, we should always strive to make the playoffs. If you want to develop young players the playoffs is where that will happen the most. Games are more intense and high level of play comes out. You want them to see what it is like and how it is different from the regular season. Then they know they have to work harder and what they need to improve in the off season. Anyone who would rather miss the playoffs for a late lottery draft pick is just plain stupid and does not understand building a team.

 

[freakazoid]

Anyone who would rather miss the playoffs for a late lottery draft pick is just plain stupid and does not understand building a team.

Depends. Having some success in the playoffs can be very valuable. However, if you think 4 losses to a #1 seed would be more valuable than keeping our pick in the next draft, then I would probably disagree.

Having said that, I think there needs to be a balance between building for the future, while still winning enough games so that losing doesn't get in the heads of the young guys. I don't buy into either extreme, when it comes to tanking or going all in on winning now.

 

[fallenchicken]

We'll be the 1 seed, you mean.

 

[bjunior]

The thing is that we can draft a very good player even if we make the playoffs.

There are a lot of good examples of top15-30 very solid players..

If we can make the playoffs this year - I say do it ))

 

[hgb]

The thing is that we can draft a very good player even if we make the playoffs.

There are a lot of good examples of top15-30 very solid players..

If we can make the playoffs this year - I say do it ))

If the Jazz don't make the playoffs, Minnesota will get their first-round pick, I believe.

 

[bjunior]

If the Jazz don't make the playoffs, Minnesota will get their first-round pick, I believe.

You're right

Damn it )))

 

[Stoked]

That's retarded! The goal should and always will be to make the playoffs no matter who gets them there, then win it all. We don't need anymore lotto picks. That's why the Clippers are the Clippers. As a 49er fan I was spoiled in the 80's and 90's I didn't ever worry about if they would win, it was a given. Over the last 10 years they were very bad I got no joy in watching games. Even when they got lucky and won a game it was because that team was even more pathetic than the 49ers. It was 10 years of hell and torture. I don't want that to happen to the Jazz. Lucky for us the Jazz have a win at all cost mentality.

It is not retarded at all. I would love the Jazz to make some noise in the playoffs. At the same time I want to finally know what we have in the young guys. Are we really set and PF and C for the future? Will Hayward really settle down and be a facilitator? How can we build an effective team going forward if we don't have those answers. If they are not we need to replace them and I would prefer to do it with younger players.