Can the Jazz be the 2010-2011 Dallas Mavericks?

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Meaning, can the Jazz win a ring?

That year the Mavs had a pretty star-less roster outside of Dirk, and Dirk didnt really have a super-star type season. He averaged 23-7, about what Lauri is averaging. Plus the Mike Conley/Jason Kidd aging HOF PG leaders thing. A lot of role players on both teams who play near equalish minutes.

Plus Jason Terry is on both teams.

 

[fishonjazz]

Meaning, can the Jazz win a ring?

That year the Mavs had a pretty star-less roster outside of Dirk, and Dirk didnt really have a super-star type season. He averaged 23-7, about what Lauri is averaging. Plus the Mike Conley/Jason Kidd aging HOF PG leaders thing. A lot of role players on both teams who play near equalish minutes.

Plus Jason Terry is on both teams.

Probably not. Im hoping to win a playoff series. I will be totally content with that.

 

[HermanG]

Can they? Yes, I think they can. The chemistry, depth and talent is just too good to think they dont stand a chance.

How likely is it? Best part about being a sports fan is I have no idea.

 

[Jazzmix]

It would be cool if the playoffs started now. I could see us going on a deep run.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Probably not. Im hoping to win a playoff series. I will be totally content with that.

Never say never, but I would be completely happy with this season and it would go down as one of my favorites if we made the playoffs and won the first round. Combine that with the **** ton of picks we have and I'm stoked about our future.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

Of course it’s possible, we’re the best team in the west right now and still working out the kinks of being together such a short amount of time. The refs ain’t gonna stop us, the superstar model has run it’s course, and the league is sick and tired of the prima donnas dictating terms and the blatant tanking to acquire said superstars! We should be the darling of the league! This is our year and it’s only the beginning!

 

[LogGrad98]

Of course it’s possible, we’re the best team in the west right now and still working out the kinks of being together such a short amount of time. The refs ain’t gonna stop us, the superstar model has run it’s course, and the league is sick and tired of the prima donnas dictating terms and the blatant tanking to acquire said superstars! We should be the darling of the league! This is our year and it’s only the beginning!

We would be if we were anywhere but Utahr. The mormon/white/Utah hate is real, and strong. We could win a ring this year in stunning fashion and next year we will still have the fewest nationally televised games. It isn't in the league's best interest to promote the Jazz, nor for them to win much of anything. They make a lot more money when the big markets win and have the best and biggest names in the game.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The biggest difference between the two teams is experience from the best player. Dirk wasn't at his peak, but he had a ton of experience in the playoffs. But overall play level, they are about equal. We also don't have an elite defender like Shawn Marion. If we could somehow fuse Vando and THT, that would give us some form of Shawn Marion.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

We would be if we were anywhere but Utahr. The mormon/white/Utah hate is real, and strong. We could win a ring this year in stunning fashion and next year we will still have the fewest nationally televised games. It isn't in the league's best interest to promote the Jazz, nor for them to win much of anything. They make a lot more money when the big markets win and have the best and biggest names in the game.

Well I’m not suggesting that the bias you speak of doesn’t exist but that didn’t stop the Duncan led Spurs dynasty. Milwaukee is not a big market either. I’m not suggesting we’re going to be a dynasty, I mean all I really care about is that first ring.

Look, the NBA does have a bit of a checkered past so I’m not going to call you on your conspiracy theory assumptions cause yeah been there done that. However, I now firmly believe that Silver is doing everything in his power to eradicate those tendencies and improve the integrity of the league - cause that’s good business too.

Anyway, you’re completely ignoring the underdog effect! Little guy beats the odds and wins the prize - go the movies much? American dream stuff you know? I think that Jazz bandwagon might be getting a lot fuller than you realize. NBA tv is starting to schedule us again. And come playoff time, a David vs Goliath script may be revenue gold! Go 49ers er I mean Jazz!!!

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Nah. Dirk was MVP level in those playoffs. We don’t have a guy that has that top end gear. We are maybe more like the conference finals Hawks team.

It’s still pretty awesome. So many teams would kill to have this type of start… we did it while collecting a **** ton of firsts and young players.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Nah. Dirk was MVP level in those playoffs. We don’t have a guy that has that top end gear. We are maybe more like the conference finals Hawks team.

It’s still pretty awesome. So many teams would kill to have this type of start… we did it while collecting a **** ton of firsts and young players.

28-8. Lauri probalby cant do that in throughout an entire playoffs because of his lack of experience, but it would be tight.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Lauri is a rich mans Dirk.

 

[LogGrad98]

Well I’m not suggesting that the bias you speak of doesn’t exist but that didn’t stop the Duncan led Spurs dynasty. Milwaukee is not a big market either. I’m not suggesting we’re going to be a dynasty, I mean all I really care about is that first ring.

Look, the NBA does have a bit of a checkered past so I’m not going to call you on your conspiracy theory assumptions cause yeah been there done that. However, I now firmly believe that Silver is doing everything in his power to eradicate those tendencies and improve the integrity of the league - cause that’s good business too.

Anyway, you’re completely ignoring the underdog effect! Little guy beats the odds and wins the prize - go the movies much? American dream stuff you know? I think that Jazz bandwagon might be getting a lot fuller than you realize. NBA tv is starting to schedule us again. And come playoff time, a David vs Goliath script may be revenue gold! Go 49ers er I mean Jazz!!!

Nah, I am not really espousing a conspiracy. But there is a persistent belief that Utah is white, racist, and mormon. I hear it here among Lakers fans (and Clippers fans). They still harp on the Westbrook stuff with that fan that got ejected. There is a stigma about Utah that is undeniable. That is why we aren't the darlings of the league. We will be viewed as the darlings by some sports writers, but not by the public in general. The bigger fan-bases especially, who often don't even know where the city of Utah is. Did you hear the ref in one of the recent games, after a challenge, when talking to the camera about the call said something like "Challenge unseccessful....and so...uh... Salt Lake...uh... has the ball side out", and he hesitated on Salt Lake like he didn't have a clue where he was? So yeah I like to play around with the conspiracy stuff, but the stigma of Utah is very real and pervasive. We are white, weird, and racist cultists in so many people's eyes. That isn't changing anytime soon.

But yeah I do think Silver is doing a better job of encouraging parity, no doubt. And frankly we are taking the league simultaneously by surprise and by storm. It will be fun to end up in the top 4 in the west and see how stunned everyone is where we end up.

 

[framer]

Nah, I am not really espousing a conspiracy. But there is a persistent belief that Utah is white, racist, and mormon. I hear it here among Lakers fans (and Clippers fans). They still harp on the Westbrook stuff with that fan that got ejected. There is a stigma about Utah that is undeniable. That is why we aren't the darlings of the league. We will be viewed as the darlings by some sports writers, but not by the public in general. The bigger fan-bases especially, who often don't even know where the city of Utah is. Did you hear the ref in one of the recent games, after a challenge, when talking to the camera about the call said something like "Challenge unseccessful....and so...uh... Salt Lake...uh... has the ball side out", and he hesitated on Salt Lake like he didn't have a clue where he was? So yeah I like to play around with the conspiracy stuff, but the stigma of Utah is very real and pervasive. We are white, weird, and racist cultists in so many people's eyes. That isn't changing anytime soon.

But yeah I do think Silver is doing a better job of encouraging parity, no doubt. And frankly we are taking the league simultaneously by surprise and by storm. It will be fun to end up in the top 4 in the west and see how stunned everyone is where we end up.

I mean r/nba on reddit is pretty in love with the Jazz right now. You just gotta win.

Last year when the Wizards started hot I didn't care. Not because I doubted them, I just didn't care anything about their team, because why would I? I don't know about the "hate" for Utah around the league (I actually think we get more of that from actual Jazz fans who hate Utah society and are more than happy to tell other markets how oppressive it is to live there and love to criticize the state.) I just think most people don't care because they don't have to because we haven't threatened anything in decades. We were getting plenty of respect 2 years ago going into the playoffs even though we had laid a huge egg in the bubble, then pissed away all that goodwill against the Clippers.

I mean I respect the Pacers and what they have done with what they have. I'm glad that they have some up and coming players. I'm not going to cross the street to watch one of their games because they don't matter to my Jazz Fandom, nor are they at all relevant.

29 other teams feel that way about the Jazz until we make them care.

 

[HeatCheck]

Right now it's looking more likely that 4 of the 5 current starters will need to be replaced before they are a serious contending team again.

 

[sip]

Right now it's looking more likely that 4 of the 5 current starters will need to be replaced before they are a serious contending team again.

We always knew that was the case. Some people were just getting a little to excited. This is still a couple year process of remaking this roster.

 

[HermanG]

Tbh. I still want the hyperbolism trending up and the usage of the word "tank" trending down.

I know we wont win a championship with this roster (unless all of our tryhards are secretly clutch playoff performers), but its not like we have been outclassed so far (except by Denver with 45% vs 25% shooting disparity from 3pt).

Lets put dents in Suns and Blazers shields and get the bliss back.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

My brain definitely agrees that we seem to be a middling team which isn't a good thing. On the other hand this year has been really fun, and I think we'll continue to have some really fun wins, so maybe I can't be too upset.

At this point I think becoming a bottom 3 team is out of reach. It's better to hope for the fun miracle upset season. Like I've said the trade deadline will be interesting. My guess at this point is we will be close to a .500 team. Because of league parity we will likely be within a reasonable amount of games from a top 6 seed or a top 8 pick. It will be interesting to see which direction the front office chooses at that point.

 

[Elizah Huge]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

I think the OKC team with Chris Paul that made the playoffs as the 5 seed is our comp currently. They came within a game 7 of winning a playoff series.

I think our ceiling is a playoff series win which isn’t bad at all.