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Utah Jazz's best yet to come?

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Joe | 6:34 a.m. April 24, 2008
If Jazz have any hopes of beating the Lakers they need to sweep Houston this would give the Jazz a huge confidence boost as well as a little rest to heal their bodies because i believe Denver will win one of their home games against the Lakers but that will be it so the Jazz need the sweep of this series
Todd, Norfolk, VA | 6:40 a.m. April 24, 2008
Does anyone in Utah believe the Jazz will win rings this year? I can't believe Utah isn't talking about this. This is Utah's year to break through. No team plays better or has more depth. I think it is time to start talking about only being satisfied with a championship. No excuses.
tharpey | 7:45 a.m. April 24, 2008
lol - "Utah's two prime-time players haven't come even close to showing the right stuff."

right, and most of the Rocket's prime-time players are injured. scary that they're still competing right?

i mean, imaging if the jazz would have lost DWill, their Backup PG, and either Boozer or Okur halfway through the season. there's NO WAY they'd be here today, and the Rockets would be owning them if that were the case.
Comments continue below
Tharpey | 8:09 a.m. April 24, 2008
Your comment makes sense, but it's completely random and totally out of context. Nothing was said in the article concerning the Rockets, only that Williams and Boozer are playing as good as they have all season. You may want to read the article again and then post a relevant comment...
One Away | 8:14 a.m. April 24, 2008
The Jazz are one defensive minded role-playing big man away from being in the finals for a while. One big man who can come in for either Booz or Memo and crash the boards, block shots and play sold defense. Other than that we have all the pieces in place.
Dear tharpey: | 8:17 a.m. April 24, 2008
The Jazz are owning the Rockets by being up 2-0 after the games in Houston. They beat the Rockets last year with all the stars healthy and ready to play. Injuries are part of the game. What if the Lakers lost Kobe, Hornets CP3, and so on. The NBA teams swing on the hinges of players injuries. That is how it goes. The true test to your assessment of "Houston is competing" is now that the series moves to Utah. Each team play better on their home court and Houston still lost both games. Competing is winning at home in the playoffs and stealing a win on the road in each series.
Re: tharpey | 8:23 a.m. April 24, 2008
What are you talking about? Since when are the Rockets competing? They are down 2-0. Both games were relatively close but that is because they were home games and the Jazz were in complete control of both games. As for the injuries, I think you're trying to say that if Yao was playing the Rockets would win. I think that happened last year and the results were the same.
tharpey up in the night | 8:28 a.m. April 24, 2008
You can't do what if's. Tracy McGrady is their team so it what if Houston would have lost McGrady and the other playesr where healthy. They wouldn't be even be in the playoffs. The Rockets are overated and we just went in and took two games from them. Stop your crying about the injuries and accept the fact that the Jazz is going to sweep.

By the way Alston is a considered a prime time player - LOL nice try!!!

@ tharpey | 8:49 a.m. April 24, 2008
Get over it.
jtm | 8:52 a.m. April 24, 2008
Enjoy it while you can, LA won't lay down for the Jazz like Houston has.
Market Street | 8:52 a.m. April 24, 2008
Me and Bruss will be at the Street before the game. We'll get Oystered up and go to the game and cheer on the NewJazz with Suds and Larry Miller. Sloan is looking better all the time and Phil Johnson may be the Best assistant coach in the league. Deron Williams is way better than Torrey Ellis. He and Chris Paul Keeler are the two best PG's in the leaugue......PERIOD. McCrybaby will be in earshot range of the boys. Hope he doesn't cry again.
Sam Darley | 8:53 a.m. April 24, 2008
You people forgot that the Houston Rockets had a 2-0 series lead and lost so therefore it is still anyone's series. I am a Rockets fan so I hate UTAH, they are lucky that I don't officiate otherwise I would throw Boozer, Williams, Okur, and Kirilenko out because they are a bunch of school girls. If I was playing point guard for Houston I would school D-FAKE ( Deron Williams).
re: Tharpey | 9:02 a.m. April 24, 2008
That you would even suggest that Rafer "the throat slicer" Alston or Francis is even in the same league as williams is ridiculous. Williams is McGrady with a Playoff killer instinct. And without Booz we would still be beating your team, might not sweep but be sure we would win
Anonymous | 9:07 a.m. April 24, 2008
Keep on Dreaming tharpey, The Jazz smoked them last year with YoYo the man made of glass!
Fun times ahead | 9:08 a.m. April 24, 2008
It is going to be fun watch the Jazz get smoked by the Lakers.
Eric to Tharpey | 9:14 a.m. April 24, 2008
To point out again, your comments are not relevant nor are they very logical. Mentioning that the Rockets are competing is not that big a deal. All NBA teams can put a few good players on the floor and maybe compete. However the columns that are recorded are not W-L-C. You only get credit for a W and competing (C) is forgotten. The article is not about imagining if Utah had lost its 2-3 best players. It is about their 2 best players not even shining and still they have recorded 2 Ws to the Rockets 2 Ls. Pretty straight-forward.
Blow Outs? | 9:15 a.m. April 24, 2008
Why aren't the Jazz blowing out the Rockets, Houston is already a so-so team when they have all their starters. Now, it's just T-Mac and a bunch of rookies, the Jazz should be winning by at least 15-20 even 30 points. These games are coming down to the wire when the series should be a piece of cake. They look like they're having a harder time this year than last year. This should be a major cause for concern when they finally play a team that is 100%.
can win with five | 9:32 a.m. April 24, 2008
The Jazz have done much better when the two big players havent done so well. I believe the rest of the team does better when there more involved.Its much more difficult to guard five men rather than only two
poorbenny | 9:37 a.m. April 24, 2008
Tharpey, as I have previously noted, the Rockets lost Yao, and had the playoffs started when they had them, they may not have even made it. Since they "Lost" Yao, they went on their little 22 game streak. That's pretty darn good I must say. The team that the Jazz are playing in the playoffs right now, is the Rockets that made the playoffs. The Rockets that earned the home court advantage over the Jazz. The Rockets that have a better record than the Jazz. You can blame it on injuries all you want, but these are the boys that were beating everybody. Deal with it, the Jazz are out playing the REAL Rockets team.
Sinan To Sam Darley | 9:45 a.m. April 24, 2008
You HATE Utah ??? What kind of saying is that ?!!
You better said "i jealous UTAH fans". I am sure it would be more polite which i invite.

GO MEMO , GO JAZZZZZZZ
ZEKE | 9:50 a.m. April 24, 2008
I think the JAZZ are going to come out on fire tonite and put the Rockets away. The JAZZ are deep if someone has an off game someone else will pick up the slack.JAZZ in 4.
Rob | 9:52 a.m. April 24, 2008
Both games were there for us to take as well, and that was without Yao and Rafer playing. Last year we went with a 2-0 advantage and lost the series, maybe this reversal of fortunes will help us out in the long run. Win one game at a time, and bring it back home. Hopefully we get a chance to play a game 7 at home and make up for the slip up we had last year.
Rob | 10:02 a.m. April 24, 2008
Rockets over rated. Man think again, your team had the worst records on the road all year of any western conference playoff team. They haven't won anything yet and already your thinking thsi team ia good enough to win a championship. Pleeeze! Your barely beat us in Houston, without out Yao and Rafer. Even your coach knew that game two could of gone either way. Rocket ain't done yet, they were a good road team, was one of the teams that handed you a loss at Utah. And if you think you are talking sh*T for being up 2-0, then look at last year. Better yet ask Barkley home many times he was up and couldn't close the deal. Man I hope you Utah fans eat your words, championship yeah right!!! Not even close, a team who is short handed almost beat you twice and let it slip away.
booz or looz | 10:12 a.m. April 24, 2008
If boozer was out with an injury, the Jazz could not win a playoff series. I find it interesting that nobody has mentioned the reason that Booz and D. Williams are having sub-par games. The reason is that the Rockets defense is better than their offense. The Rockets barely lost game two, and yet the Jazz talk as though it's a cake walk. As Yogi says, "it aint over till it's over."
To Sam Darley | 10:26 a.m. April 24, 2008
HAHA are you bein serious with your comment?!!! Utah goes up on you 2-0 on your own home court and you dare come comment our page? HAHA you might as well jump the band wagon and be a Lakers fan cuz this series is over!!! Who has the best record in the NBA at home Sam Darley will you please answer that for me?
What are you Talking About? | 10:30 a.m. April 24, 2008
Blow Outs? You need to wait till a team has home court for blow outs. And how could it possibly look like they are having a harder time this year than last when last year they lost the first two games, and this year the've won the first two on the road. I don't know if you've watched the playoffs very much, but a team winning the first two games on the road doesn't happen very often, only if one team is significantly better than the other. Sweeps usually occur when it's done by the team with home court advantage. Two road wins can be considered a blow out as well as the eventual sweep.
Hey Rob | 10:35 a.m. April 24, 2008
Last year the Rockets two wins were on the road with still three remaining home games for the Jazz. This year the first two wins were in houston again with three home games remaining to the Jazz. I will give you one win in Utah if the Rockets play the best game of their live (unlikely), but there is absolutely no way the Rockets win Two in Utah, which is why the Rockets are done.
Rockets Overrated? | 10:38 a.m. April 24, 2008
I don't think the Rockets are overrated, the've come out and done what everybody thought they would do... Lose
phil brandley | 10:39 a.m. April 24, 2008
the rockets will win the next 4 games. the jazz will not stop scola and battier. they are the x factors of the series. the first two games were close, the rockets are by far the better team. tmac is unstoppable in the fourth quarter and is so clutch. tmac= championship
Hey Rockets Fans | 10:46 a.m. April 24, 2008
When you have home court you're expected to win, not keep it close enough to where you have a chance, and then lose. Watch what the Jazz do tonight and you will see what a team should do on there home court in the play-offs.
Sam | 10:48 a.m. April 24, 2008
The Jazz need to get rid of Sloan, he is what is keeping this team from finally getting a Championship, yes he has gotten them to the finals twice, and can he can always be counted on to make the playoffs, but they will never make it all the way. I would think after so many years of not making it, the Jazz organization would figure it out. How many playoffs do they have to lose till they figure it out.Beating the under-manned Rockets is nothing to brag about. Sure the Jazz will sweep the Rockets, but only to get eliminated by a team who is proven.
GAME 3 | 10:52 a.m. April 24, 2008
LOL Jazz didnt beat the rockets, Rockets beat themselves, with a little help from tony brothers in GAME 2. Alston comes back today and we will see how the offense is oging to work now that he is back. DWILL and BOOZ had bad games because of ROX D. the offense has not been good but it will flow better now that alston is back, hopefully hes back. rockets in 6 ( tmac 45ppg over the next 4)
What Happened to Jimmys Sneakers | 10:54 a.m. April 24, 2008
I'm pretty sure Jimmy has duct taped them shut or something. They no longer inform us what Jimmy has to say.
Just me | 11:02 a.m. April 24, 2008
The Jazz have two teams they can't beat consistently. One being LA and the other the Spurs. The Jazz will be Houston in this series and then lose to the Lakers. No one can guard Koby. I think the Lakers will win it all this year.
Bi-Polar Wannabe | 11:11 a.m. April 24, 2008
HAAAAAAAAA!!! HAAAAAAA!!!! Phil Brandley, you're hilarious! HAAAHAAA! I thought you had a glimmer of sanity until you said TMac is unstoppable in the 4th quarter. I think you meant to say "Unstartable", or "Uninterested", or "Unawake", or "Under-rated"... You couldn't have meant "unstoppable".

Great point by the way all you HOU fans about last year HOU losing after being up 2-0. Of course, losing the first 2 on your home court is much different than losing the first 2 away from home.

I love how y'all keep crying about your injuries. Keep dreaming about how sweet things would have been if you had all of your starters (the same ones who lost in the 1st round last year too).

And to our little confused friend Sam Darley... If you can take Deron 1on1 then why aren't you playing for the Rockets? Cause not even your superstar Alston can take him.

Remember Houstonians, it's not the starters that are making the difference here. The Jazz bench is beating you. That's how bad you are. Sniffle Sniffle ya bunch of cry whining babies. See ya next year.
KG | 11:14 a.m. April 24, 2008
I think Sam Darley's comment is hilarious. I think he should come back more often.
Even though I am not a big NBA fan, it has been fun to watch the Jazz this year. Go Utah!
James | 11:20 a.m. April 24, 2008
Rockets fans since your team is missing pretty much the whole puzzle of a franchise championship contender help the jazz out Battier for Kirilenko straight up?
JazzFan8 | 11:48 a.m. April 24, 2008
I look forward to tonight's game. I have been a Jazz fan since I was 8 years old (I am now 32). I have seen the Jazz in the playoffs near every year I cheered for them. There have been years when they were beat up and mangled going into the playoffs and made an early exit. Some years just aren't "your" team's year. The worst thing the Rockets could do is implode next year and trade bunch of players. Yao, Scola, T-Mac, and Battier are fine. It is a PG that the Rockets need that will take them to the next level. Good luck y'all!
Re: What are you talking about | 11:50 a.m. April 24, 2008
Boozer in not exactly taking the game over like he did last year. He has Chuck Hays, Rambo Scola and an "old" man on him for crying out loud. I would expect more from him. D-Will and Boozer should be kicking back at the end of the game. There is no reason for these close games. If any of these last home games are close, the Jazz need to be worried.
There's other teams in the west and one in the east that won't give the Jazz any slack. Slack that they have been getting with these crypled Rockets.
DieHardRoxNBAFan | 11:50 a.m. April 24, 2008
Well from my name you can tell what team I support. I really don't think that the "Jazz's best yet to come?" (atleast offensively). The Jazz's bench has been incredible. Yeah, the superstars have not had "monster" games, but they have been impressive. Jazz's bench has been superb. So offensively I think the Jazz have just about maxed out. If the Jazz bench can maintain the production that they have shown, then I see Utah going deep in the playoffs. I think that's the difference in this series - the Bench (not Tmac, not Dwill, not Boozer, not Dolph Lundren). The Rox have been competetive in this series with horrible production from the bench. The reason they won 22 games in a row was everyone stepped up and good ball movement (25+ assists/game). They are no where near that level now. If anything I think the "Rox best yet to come". My thoughts - I think if the Jazz's bench has an off night or the Rox bench plays well then the Rox win tonight.
get ready | 12:01 p.m. April 24, 2008
ALL THIS HOUSTON TALK IS A 'TOTAL' WASTE OF TIME..THEY'RE GOIN DOWN...THE JAZZ KNOW IT, THE ROCKETS KNOW IT AND EVERYONE ELSE EXCEPT THE ROCKETS MOST DELUSIOAL DIE HARD FANS KNOW IT....

WITH THAT SAID.....

IT'S TIME TO START WORRYN' BOUT THE LAKERS...OUCH BABE....THIS IS A TEAM WITH A GREAT DEAL OF TALENT, A TEAM THE JAZZ HAVEN'T HAD MUCH LUCK WITH LATELY...WE HAVE NO ANSWER WHATSOEVER FOR KOBE...I THINK MEMO AND AK CAN AT LEAST 'CONTAIN' GASOL..ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT FISHER SHOOTS THE BALL LIKE HE DID THE 'MAJORITY' OF THE TIME HE PLAYED FOR UTAH..THIS WILL BE TOUGH ONE...I KNOW I'D MUCH RATHER SEE US PLAY THE HORNETS WHERE I COULD WATCH DWILL DISMANTLE CP3....
Sam | 12:03 p.m. April 24, 2008
James, The Rockets organization knows what it takes to be a franchise championship contender "and" win. Remember they've been there. Something the Jazz organization has yet to figure out.
To Sam Darley | 12:12 p.m. April 24, 2008
Dear Sam, you are absolutely right when you say that T-Mac is unstoppable in the forth quarter if what you are saying is that no one can stop him from shutting down. I'm sorry, one point in two consecutive fourth quarters is hardly unstoppable. Why did this happen, he has no support. He is trying to run the entire show by himself.

And ENOUGH of this "we didn't have Yao" crap. Do a little number crunching why don't you. You had a higher winning percentage without the man.

And also, enough of the Jazz, worst road team, blah, blah, blah. If you take a serious look at their wins and their losses you'll see that they actually had a winning road record since December, and many of those wins were HUGE, against big teams. They blew out both Boston and New Orleans on their home courts. PLUS, they just added two more road wins against Houston. They didn't have BAD road record, they just didn't have quite the road record that other teams in the west had, and everyone has exaggerated that into them guaranteed to lose on the road. So quit spouting off without first doing your reasearch.
mike | 12:15 p.m. April 24, 2008
Phil Brandley-
Are you serious? T-mac is unstoppable in the 4th? If Im thinking right, he has a combined 1 point in the 4th in the first two games. He = championship? Before he could equal that he would have to get past the 1st round. Be honest with yourself, you have never watched a game, but wanted to sound smart. Well your an idiot. Go Jazz. Look for Dwill to own Rafer tonight. To think otherwise is a joke.
"HOUSTON HATERS" | 12:20 p.m. April 24, 2008
JAZZ ALL THE WAY! TO ALL U HOUSTON FANS UNTIL U GET PAST THE FIRST ROUND W/T-MAC THAN U CAN TALK...! GET OVER IT U LITTLE WHINING TEXAS SCHOOL GIRLS........!
HA! | 12:32 p.m. April 24, 2008
"D-WILL dismantling CP3" is just as far off as Phil Brandley's claim about T-MAC. Now New Orleans knows how to close out a game. Kidd can't touch him, much less D-Will. CP3 is playing at a whole different level than anybody (besides Kobe) in the playoffs.
magnus | 1:03 p.m. April 24, 2008
@ HA!

You'd better check your facts. D-Will is pretty much the only person in the league who has consistently gotten the better of Paul. Both D-Will and CP3 have taken Kidd to the woodshed this season.

We'll get a better idea of Pauls dominance when they play the Spurs or Suns in the next round.
Anonymous | 1:21 p.m. April 24, 2008
I just don't see D-Willy playing with as much heart as CP3.

Jason Kidd has seen better days.

I don't see Alston making the Rockets any worse...then I could be wrong...

I wish the Jazz could play a healthy Rox team, then we could really see what the Jazz is really made of.

This is no contest.
Re: Tharpey | 1:24 p.m. April 24, 2008
If the Jazz had Kobe on this team, they'd be unbeatable. Sure, my comment's more out of whack than yours, but not by much.

Jazz can (and will if needed) win this series without great production from their starts...but that won't get them anywhere in the next round. They need to be on top of their game to beat the Lakers. Lakers pose serious matchup problems for the Jazz as it is.

Go home Houston. Maybe we'll see you again in the first round next year.
adam d | 1:51 p.m. April 24, 2008
I hope we will not see "the best" from Utah until they play the lakers.

To everybody responding to phil brandly,

That is obviously a mock post as nobody can really be that dumb. So quit responding.

Houston is a great team. They are very good defensively and capable of an explosive offense. If Alston, Battier, and T-mac get hot from 3 jazz are in trouble. I am sure the jazz will win the series but I would not be surprised if the rockets managed to win one at ESA. I also would not be surprised if the games were still close. With that said I think Houston deserves some credit. Even if they (and some of their fans) are the very definition of un-sportsmam like whinners they play ball very well.

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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Jazz guard Deron Williams is surrounded by the media and dwarfed by a Utah logo as he speaks prior to Wednesday practice. Williams suggested that the Rockets have yet to see him and teammate Carlos Boozer at their playoff best.

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