"We need to do it like OKC!"

[BluesRocker]

The Jazz were in a different position tank wise this year though with four young prospects already on the roster, Millsap as an anchor on a great contract, a draft with high potential through the top ten, and possibly an extra lottery draft pick. It's not like we're talking tanking for even two years here.

I don't see endless cycle destruction coming from one season of tanking with this particular team. Worst case, the Jazz develop Kanter and Burks more, Favors becomes more of a focus and builds confidence, and dropping into the bottom six pushes the GSW pick into KOC's hands. Now you have two top picks to deal if you don't want to take the chance of panning gold from the lottery. Lottery or trade market brings that one solidifying piece back and another winning season.

Good point. I've tried to make this case before. Our situation is unique. Tanking right now would have been a good thing.

 

[freakazoid]

T It's not like we're talking tanking for even two years here.

I don't see endless cycle destruction coming from one season of tanking with this particular team. .

Great point. I'm fine with where the Jazz are right now, but I probably would have prefered for them to swing for the fence. If they somehow put themselves in a position to make the second round, I will gladly eat my crow, but if they get smashed out of the first round in 4-5 games, losing that pick will really sting.

 

[northeast]

The word "tanking" is clearly offensive to some people.
The Jazz could have gone with more of a youth movement.
Now that they are where they are, if they want to give the vets a playoff experience, that is fine.
I still think that they will do better in the playoffs if they give the young talent as much experience as possible during the regular season so that they will be able to contribute more in the playoffs.

 

[mrob]

Putting aside the argument of whether or not to tank a season, the question is why we would want to. We have a lot of talent on this team already. We're actually to the point where salary could become a big issue in a few years when all these guys are up for a new contract. Seems to me it's now just an issue of developing that talent and then watching for some trades in the offseason to improve where we are weak. Now, I know that there are plenty of arguments on the board about HOW we are developing this talent. But even between those choices, all of them should involve getting as much as we can out of these players. Hopefully we'll give them a taste of success and leave them wanting more.

I think a lot of the feelings about this team and whether we should have tanked the season stems from everyone's opinion of this team before the season started. We were picked by everyone to be horrible if not the worst in the West. Even fans (including myself) didn't hold a strong expectation of the team. The thing is that all of them and many of us were dead wrong. The team has developed well. The team is well poised for a little success this year (which I think is accomplished even if they don't make the playoffs) and a lot more in the next few years.

 

[northeast]

This is an academic discussion. The team has not gone with a youth movement to the extent that I would have considered at the beginning of the season. I like all of the vets personally. I was a fan of Bell, Harris, and Howard before they ever came to the Jazz.

The question now is that , given that they probably will be in the playoffs, what can they do now that will maximize their success in the playoffs. I think one of the things they ought to do , to that end, is focus on getting the young talented players as much experience as possible during the regular season. This mean not only having them on the court, but also having them incorporated into the offense. This team will only compete in the playoffs using a full squad. Few teams get far relying on just 4 or 5 players.