The fact that you're arguing this just shows how unbelievable desperate you are. Yes, an upset happens every once in a while. a 4 seed vs a 5 seed. Got that. That matchup is a crapshoot.
But the point of this pathetic thread is to avoid the Lakers so we can keep advancing to the championship. Which is pathetic, I'll explain to you in elementary terms:
A. We should want to play the toughest teams. I remember in 96-98, I wanted the Lakers, Rockets, Sonics, Pacers, and Bulls. Jazz fans were confident that we could beat them. Especially in the 2nd finals. We wanted revenge. We didn't jackpot around with... "well maybe the lakers can tank or we can go 82-0 so we can avoid playing the lakers." Bullship. Kick their asses. I sure as hell don't want to avoid the Lakers. I want to spank Kobe. I want to beat LA. I hate LA. I want to shove the championship trophy up Phil's arrogant youknowwhat. I want to shut Jack up. Tear down staples. Destroy their dynasty.
But only if we have a chance. We don't. Not as our roster and coach is presently constituted.
Championship teams don't look for the easy way out like this pathetic thread is suggesting.
B. This team sucks. They'll be lucky to get a 6 seed.
C. I think most Jazz fans would be satisfied if they saw management making an effort to improve and win the championship. Instead, it's the status quo. As long as we're mediocre and people are buying tickets, it's all good baby.
D. Jazz fans like max-a-million seem to feel slighted if fellow fans destroy them in arguments over this topic. We've been a playoff team for 30 years now. Bring me a championship or lets tank. Roll the dice. Trading away Farve was a risk. But it paid off. They could have kept him. They would have made the playoffs the past few years too probably. Yet they wouldn't have won the big one. Their defense needed a game changer (like Clay Matthews). Trading a hall of famer for a draft pick was risky. Trading yoru franchise QB for an unproven was crazy. Yet it worked.
Likewise, trading AK or Booz a few years back would have been considered nuts. Today, what move is waiting that could easily pay dividends in 1-2 more years? Millsap? CJ? Heck, even Deron?
Screw the avoiding the Lakers crap. Lets get after them.
Screw the... Well maybe upsets can happen... Screw that. Lets draft sign, and hire the coach that will get us the #1 seed.
Screw the... Well, maybe we can make the playoffs and anything can happen nonsense.
Lets get into the playoffs with the best roster, best coach, and best team with the only goal being to win the big one.