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Brad Rock: Look for the Jazz to move up the chart
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Let's hope | 6:54 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Let's hope David Stern forgets the Jazz own New York's pick and fixes
the lotto again to give them the number 1 pick...
up in the night? | 7:58 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Dear Jazz have the option: I don't know which planet you are from but the Lakers are more potent this year than last. That is from the players who have been playing against them in the preseason, not from a silly fan. Ron Artest adds lost of experience, depth and big time defense which allows Kobe to roam and be increasingly more dangerous.
You talk about a midseason trade like it is as difficult as going to the grocery store. do you know any big time names that are waiting in line to come to down home Utah?
For Utah to win this year they have to pull it together with this team, this team was picked last year to finish 2nd in the west before Deron and Boozer and Harpring injuries. Perhaps this year they can recognize potential but the league is tougher this year at least the top teams including the Lakers.
Comments continue below
Untill the jazs gets a new | 8:07 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
coach, don't count on it.
@up in the night | 9:10 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
It is debatable if Artest makes the Lakers better or worse. However, the bench
is weaker in my opinion. Fish is also 1 year older.
The Jazz have both Boozer and Harp that they can use in trade. They also have Korver, Fez and other expiring contracts. They have enough flexibility that they can trade expiring contracts for the player or players that they need.
They would have 1/2 a season to get ready for a playoff run.
Millers are paying for a top 3 team. They are not getting it. Either produce or make a move.
No excuses. And especially no lame excuses. We have heard all of them before.
The Jazz have both Boozer and Harp that they can use in trade. They also have Korver, Fez and other expiring contracts. They have enough flexibility that they can trade expiring contracts for the player or players that they need.
They would have 1/2 a season to get ready for a playoff run.
Millers are paying for a top 3 team. They are not getting it. Either produce or make a move.
No excuses. And especially no lame excuses. We have heard all of them before.
joe | 9:24 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I thought it was Jimmy Conners and Chrissy Evert.
@Up further | 9:39 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Battier and Ariza are redundant. Houston may be willing to trade Battier, who
plays defense well and who also can hit the 3. I am not saying the Jazz should
do that but he is an example of the type of player who may be available as the
year progresses.
Besides defense the biggest problem the Jazz have is that both Boozer and Millsap are too short to guard Odom/Gasol. That problem does not fix as easily as the right 2/3 player.
The continuity philosophy has trapped the Jazz at the second most important position in Sloan's system.
The system is flexible enough to put emphasis on other positions but FEZ is not a "real" center yet (maybe ever) and Koufos is not ready to play PF against the best in the NBA. They both are big enough but not ready and may never become ready.
AK could be played at PF part of the time in an LA match up, and Millsap might be able to match with Artest? However, that does not sound like a big improvement to me.
Besides defense the biggest problem the Jazz have is that both Boozer and Millsap are too short to guard Odom/Gasol. That problem does not fix as easily as the right 2/3 player.
The continuity philosophy has trapped the Jazz at the second most important position in Sloan's system.
The system is flexible enough to put emphasis on other positions but FEZ is not a "real" center yet (maybe ever) and Koufos is not ready to play PF against the best in the NBA. They both are big enough but not ready and may never become ready.
AK could be played at PF part of the time in an LA match up, and Millsap might be able to match with Artest? However, that does not sound like a big improvement to me.
Sokol | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
You can all laugh at me, call me a crazy Czech if you want,but I think the key
to improvement is Fessenko...If he could give them some good defensive minutes,
block shots, get rebounds...I predict the Jazz would be as good as the soft
Lakers.
Sneaky Jimmy | 12:19 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
If healthy the Jazz can go to the Western Conference finals. I agree, Fesenko
may be the guy that puts them there if he can keep his head strait and his fouls
under control. Artest is a time bomb.
jumpinjax | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
How can the Jazz go to the western conference finals? Fesenko cares as much
about basketball as Ostertag did so if that is our hope we are doomed!! Up in
the night is right, it is totally fair to put the pressure on management to get
something done.Yes it will be hard to get a super star back in a trade
especially for a guy that cant spell(D) lol, but the Jazz could go at this 2
ways. We could trade Boozer for a solid role player and draft pick. If you sent
him to a bad team the draft pick could go with the Knicks pick we already have
and if they do there homework on draft night we could have a couple stars to go
with Williams,Brewer,Miles,and Okur in three years. The best part would be
watching the young talent get better every year!! The other route is say Toronto
suckzz and Bosh promises to leave,of course boozer isn't a fair trade but
what if we throw in the knicks pick(should be a top 5) somrthing like that might
be possible.
I'm Tired!!! | 2:15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Why does everyone equate roster "changes" with impending success?
How many teams make trades every year?
How many teams win it all?
How many even get appreciably better in their respective division/conference?
Most of these trades are just charades to placate fans or (idiotic owners--see Cuban) who clearly do not know near as much as they think they do.
Did the Lakers win the year they traded and got Gasol (for Kwame Brown--see NBA collusion/corruption for how this was done). No they won the year AFTER the trade AFTER the players had time to get better chemistry and their younger role players emerged (see Ariza).
TALENT combined with CONTINUITY is what wins championships.
Last season many believed it was the JAZZ's year BUT we all know injuries and chemistry issues secondary to the injuries caused that to fail but we still make the playoffs despite all that.
The organization simply wants to see what this group of guys with younger/improving role players can do if they are healthy.
Look around the league at all the "BIG" trades that were done.
Does anyone really believe they will beat the Lakers?
Didnt think so.
How many teams make trades every year?
How many teams win it all?
How many even get appreciably better in their respective division/conference?
Most of these trades are just charades to placate fans or (idiotic owners--see Cuban) who clearly do not know near as much as they think they do.
Did the Lakers win the year they traded and got Gasol (for Kwame Brown--see NBA collusion/corruption for how this was done). No they won the year AFTER the trade AFTER the players had time to get better chemistry and their younger role players emerged (see Ariza).
TALENT combined with CONTINUITY is what wins championships.
Last season many believed it was the JAZZ's year BUT we all know injuries and chemistry issues secondary to the injuries caused that to fail but we still make the playoffs despite all that.
The organization simply wants to see what this group of guys with younger/improving role players can do if they are healthy.
Look around the league at all the "BIG" trades that were done.
Does anyone really believe they will beat the Lakers?
Didnt think so.
re:@ up in the night | 2:18 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
If the Jazz make any moves it will be to unload payroll which will more than
likely make the team worse.
I do not understand why people believe that other teams are lined up to take our trash and give us their treasured big men or prize outside shooter in return.
You sir are up in the night.
I do not understand why people believe that other teams are lined up to take our trash and give us their treasured big men or prize outside shooter in return.
You sir are up in the night.
Ak Fan | 4:27 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
This is it. This roster going to final or tear apart. Sloan will not return
anyway after this season. His last chance too. Go AK.
Realist | 4:40 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Good stuff Rockster!! But until the Jazz get some help...they are going to
slide through another year only to get knocked out in the first round...trade
Kirilenko, Brewer and take what you can get.....even if its just another draft
pick...this team is going sideways!
T | 6:52 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I think you overestimate the Jazz's capabilities, and make short shrift of
the Jazz's opponents.
Frankly, I think the Jazz will be lucky to finish 3rd in the division this year. The Jazz are bringing people back, yes. But so are the Blazers, who finished higher than the Jazz last year. And they added a significant player in Andre Miller and have Martell Webster back from injury. You mentioned Oden's injury-proneness, but even if he goes down, the success of the team doesn't rest on him (note: he had 2 whole points against Houston in Portland's victory last night).
Likewise, the Nuggets are bringing most of their players back, and with Billups running the show, they have looked as sharp as ever.
I agree the Jazz are catching up/passing the Spurs, Mavs, Suns etc., but they have major hurdles to overcome, and are not one of the league's best teams.
Frankly, I think the Jazz will be lucky to finish 3rd in the division this year. The Jazz are bringing people back, yes. But so are the Blazers, who finished higher than the Jazz last year. And they added a significant player in Andre Miller and have Martell Webster back from injury. You mentioned Oden's injury-proneness, but even if he goes down, the success of the team doesn't rest on him (note: he had 2 whole points against Houston in Portland's victory last night).
Likewise, the Nuggets are bringing most of their players back, and with Billups running the show, they have looked as sharp as ever.
I agree the Jazz are catching up/passing the Spurs, Mavs, Suns etc., but they have major hurdles to overcome, and are not one of the league's best teams.
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The Jazz will know if they can win on the road by the 1/2. They will know if they are defending well enough.
The biggest problem that I see is that they can't beat long athletic teams like the Lakers/SA and maybe POR. I think LA is weaker than last year. It is hard to say how good SA is or how healthy they will be at playoff time.
The Jazz are going to have to abandon "continuity" and make a mid season trade to beat LA/SA. The fans and the Millers deserve that the problems of the last 2 seasons are fixed this year. There really is no excuse for a bad road record, bad defense and a lack of outside shooting. Jazz management has had more than enough time to fix these problems.
This luxury tax team has to perform by the 1/2 or the Jazz need to take the risk that is necessary to go for a ring. It is not enough to make the playoffs.