Comments about ‘Nice ensemble, but Jazz will be lucky to make playoffs’

Jazz arent making the playoffs...

Here is how it will play out in the West:

1. OKC
2. Clippers
3. Lakers
4. Mavs
5. Memphis
6. Spurs
7. Portland
8. Denver

I agree with the rock monster. I'm not expecting the Jazz to make the playoffs for a year or 2, but they are going to be a riot to watch mature. I think we can add a piece or 2 and become a great team. My biggest concern is will we be able to keep our players when their contracts expire. It seems like players all want to go to the bright lights of New York and LA. And the small market teams have to start over when their good players move on. The best chance to keep them is to become a playoff team ASAP and then players will stay if they feel they can compete for the championship.

Guess we'll see whether the agreement between players and owners ends up helping or hurting small market teams like the Jazz.

Obviously, if the Jazz want to retain good talent, they'll need to show that they can not only make, but advance in the playoffs--be a contender.

With a team as young and new as this one, it'll be a stretch, but could be a fun stretch.

Let's hope the Jazz surprise a lot of naysayers, including many of its fans.

This will be an interesting but unpredictable year, I feel. Because of probable injuries (unfortunately)due to the tight schedules, there is no telling who will be sidelined and for how long. I wish that wouldn't happen, but I think it will and give unexpected opportunities to any number of players who will step up to the challenge. This will be so fun to watch all of the NBA teams to see what happens and who surprises. I hope it will be our Jazzboys! I'm there for the duration!!!

If Favors, Milsap, Hayward and Evans get through the year without a major injury, the Jazz will make the playoffs. I want Evans to play a lot of 3 minutes, because I don't see him getting much time at the PF position. I think all of these guys are going to be in the + column matchup-wise, as long as you sit Milsap against some of the bigger post opponents. If Jefferson plays better D and passes more, well, of course, that would help, too. Then, by the latter stages of the season, I look to see Kanter and Burks start to play more. This team could wear out other teams in the playoffs. Just got to get there first.

The Jazz has more raw, athletic talent than many teams that will make the playoffs from the West, but given the massive changes in the past year, they will not be a consensus favorite to make the playoffs.

But there is definitely a significant chance the Jazz make it this year. I think the Spurs, Blazers, and Nuggets could be ripe for the taking.

The average age of the Spurs is 85.3 years. Although the Jazz haven't been able to defeat them, lately, head-to-head, the Spurs will take a beating from everyone else out west.

The Blazers have some great talent, but nobody to really move the ball around. Are they really putting all of their eggs in the Raymond Felton basket? He delivered at UNC, but has been below average in the NBA. If Felton rises, we don't catch the Blazers.

The Nuggets are becoming likable without Martin and JR Smith, but are in danger of becoming a nice-guy team. Jazz does well head-to-head with Nuggets, and could do well against this year's Nuggets team.

If the Jazz youth reach for their potential this season, they could steal a low seed. Go Jazz!

The Jazz make the playoffs if they can do one thing better, play defense. There is potential in that area with the addition of athletic, long players. Burks at the 2 and Evans at the 3 should improve perimeter d while Favors at the 4 should improve interior d. Kanter could also have an impact but I personally believe he is much further off than Milsap, Al, or Favors. I'm still worried about the point but believe the additions of Tinsley while retaining Watson gives us some depth there. I also like the addition of Howard.

I do believe several teams from last year were more an aberation than a mainstay as playoff teams. Sevaeral of the mainstays have gotten older and will have to get through the short season grind while younger teams (like the Jazz) will suffer to come together as a unit. Kobe is already injured and the season has not even started yet! Bottom line is it is up for grabs and who knows, maybe the Jazz suprise everyone! So how will the west be won?

1. OKC
2. Clippers
3. Lakers
4. Mavs
5. Spurs
6. Jazz
7. Denver
8. Memphis

I think this team has potential to make the playoffs. To me there are areas of concern though.
1-Corbin? ( Can he coach? Will he use and develop the players that need to be? Alot remains to be seen. )
2-Bell ( Is he going to start? How many minutes will he be using up? )
3-Harris ( He's not the ideal point guard to run an offense and get team mates involed in the play on the offensive end. Should he be included in a trade?)

I hope we see Favors, Howard, Burks, Kanter and Evans all get plenty of playing time so they can develop sooner rather than later.

The Jazz won't make the playoffs until two things happen........

Harris and Jefferson are traded. Neither one of them are Jazz-type players.

After watching the Christmas day games, it's clear that Lakers and Mavs have been given much more credit than their due.

I predict:
1. OKC
2. Spurs
3. Clippers
4. Memphis
5. Portland
6. Lakers
7. Denver
8. Jazz

I don't think Mavs are going to make it. They have way too many new faces and too much age in this short season.

I really think the Jazz will make it 8th because of their depth and age. They'll have awful December/January, but post-All-Star, this will be a better team.

lets all hope that golden state gets the 8th pick of the 2012 draft....that would be sweet

I say the Jazz will be in a mix with 4 or 5 teams for the Final 2 Playoff Spots. Burks will likely be the one inactive most game nights or go to the D League...The Jazz have to get off with a decent start. A tough First week in particular. If they go 2-2 after 4 games it will be encouraging. We have good talent here now. I still wish and feel the Jazz need another big post presence. Yes Fes would be a good cheap option. At least he can control the paint and teams do not drive so freely in the lane. I also have said repeatedly, we have no proven scorer off the bench. Someone needs to replace Korver's role. A good alternative would be the recently released Eddie House...

I think this team as it is right now could fight for 8th. Don't forget that Wilson Chandler and JR Smith are still stuck in China for now, that hurts Denver a lot (minus a starter and their 6th man). Having said that, I think we'll have a huge trade before the deadline and acquire some guys that will put us in the playoffs. I think it's better to wait and predict playoff births after the trade deadline.. too many possibilities right now. KOC could pull the trigger any day with the trade exception money + trade bait (harris, CJ, millsap) and get someone that makes us instant playoff contenders. you never know this early in the season.

My bold prediction for this year is: the Lakers implode and possibly don't make the playoffs. They ran out of gas last night and that was game ONE of the season! Plus Pau wants out, Kobe will eventually want out. They lost Odom and replaced him with Troy Murphy... nuff said.