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Where Do The Jazz Fit in the NBA layout?
Posted by: Ryan Martinez on July 20th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.The way I look at the NBA there are 3 tiers of talent: Bad, Good & Better for each conference. Lets figure out, if the season started today, where the Jazz would fit.
East:
Let’s start with the Bad group: These are teams that likely won’t make playoffs or even be in consideration.
Bobcats, Wizards, Pistons, Raptors.
The Bobcats will improve, but not nearly enough for playoff hopes. The Wizards will need a while for their backcourt to solidify. The Pistons could make a run for the playoffs in a few years, depending on development. Toronto, could likely make some noise this year, but I’m not sure what they’ll be able to do with the players they have right away.
The Good: Teams that will fight for a lower playoff seed.
Hawks, Magic, Cavaliers, Bucks, 76ers, Celtics, Bulls.
The Hawks blew their team up too much to recover. The Magic can only go so far with a disgruntled Howard. The Cavs could be stepping up to the challenge, but their mostly young guys so, it’s questionable. The Bucks can make some noise if they’re healthy and able to play to full potential. The Sixers hurt themselves by essentially swapping Elton Brand for Kwame Brown. The Celtics will find it hard to win as their players are one year older, and they lost their sharpshooter. The Bulls will be in a tough spot with Derrick Rose on the mend, and possibly out until February.
The Better: Teams that have a chance to get a top-3 seed.
Heat, Pacers, Nets, Knicks
The Heat add two more 3-point threats to a championship team. The Pacers brought back their starting Point and Center, and for the most part, kept their team intact. The Nets added players that made D-Will want to stay, and made themselves a legit team. The Knicks let Linsanity walk, but they also added some good pieces that could help Melo and Amare actually play together.
My prediction:
1- Miami
2- Indiana
3- Brooklyn
4- Knicks
5- Boston
6- Chicago
7- Milwaukee
8- Cleveland
Now let’s get to the west:
The Bad:
Hornets, Suns, Kings
The Hornets have potential, but I think it will take time. The Suns can’t replace Steve Nash and couldn’t even make it with him. The Kings are too log jammed at the guards, and too preoccupied with possible relocation discussions to be able to focus on trying to make the playoffs this year.
The Good:
Trailblazers, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Mavericks.
The Blazers have pieces, but if Lillard doesn’t perform right, they’ll be out of luck. The Wolves are in a really good position, and if Love and Rubio can lead them all year, they’ll be fighting for a spot. The Nuggets are only being held back by the fact that they don’t have a leader, something that hurt them in the playoffs. The Warriors have a lineup with the potential of cracking the postseason. The Rockets have tried hard for Dwight, and came away with Lin, maybe not enough. The Mavericks let their team implode thinking they’d get Howard, Williams or both, they got neither, they did add nice pieces, but was it enough?
The better:
Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Jazz
The Thunder come back with a finals-tested team that puts them in position to win-now the only question is how do they keep everyone after this season? The Spurs kept their team intact, and their unique fusion of youth and experience spells trouble for the rest of the conference. The Lakers added a much needed point-guard, but with Nash, Kobe, and Gasol all in their 30’s how long will they stay on top? The Clippers added a helpful piece in Odom as long as he performs better than he did in Dallas, with CP3 and Griffin playing well, they’ll be in a good position. The Grizzlies lost some momentum letting Mayo walk, but they’ll still be in the playoffs. The Jazz will be in a good position as long as our young guys progress, but that will only happen if they play, meaning we can’t be worried about the veterans feelings, we have to be concerned with trying to get better, even if that means benching Millsap.
My prediction:
1- Oklahoma City
2- Los Angeles Lakers
3- San Antonio
4- Los Angeles Clippers
5- Utah
6- Memphis
7- Minnesota
8- Golden State
With that being said, I think the east will only have 5 maybe 6 winning records, while the west has up to 12. I feel like something may end up being discussed to alter this.
Replies: 25
Views: 747
25 Responses
No way Brooklyn gets a 4 seed and I think the Jazz will be better than the lakers
If Brooklyn stays healthy they will be there. And the Jazz will not be better then Lakers as currently constructed. I still do not see any higher the. An 8th seed for us. You do not even have Denver in there and they are young and will improve from last year.
Denver got luckey last year and yes the Jazz are better than the lakers because we are a lot younger If the lakers don’t get Dwight Howard we will take the season series 3-1 as for Denver they will be lucky to make the playoffs this season everybody in the west is better they will have to battle minnasota for the 3 seed in our divison
@ Jake – There is no way the Jazz will have a better record than the Lakers. I also don’t understand how you can say Denver got lucky. They had injuries to some good players and still managed to win. They have a good young core and will only get better.
There isn’t anybody in the east besides Miami and Indiana that has a better team than Brooklyn.
I like your optimism Jake, but I think you need to come back down to earth a bit.
East Rankings: 15.Charlotte Bobcats, 14.Toronto Raptors, 13.Orlando Magic, 12.Detroit Pistons, 11.Washington Wizards, 10.Cleveland Cavaliers,9.Milwaukee Bucks, 8.Chicago Bulls, 7.Atlanta Hawks, 6.New York Knicks, 5. Philadelphia Sixers, 4.Indiana Pacers, 3.Boston Celtics 2.Brooklyn Nets 1.Miami Heat
West Rankings: 15.Houston Rockets 14. Portland Trailblazers 13.Phoenix Suns, 12. Golden-state Warriors,11. Sacramento Kings, 10. New Orleans Hornets, 9.Dallas Mavericks, 8.Memphis Grizzlies, 7. Minnesota Timber-wolves, 6.Utah Jazz, 5.Denver Nuggets, 4. L.A. Clippers, 3.San Antonio Spurs, 2. L.A. Lakers 1.OKC Thunder
This is obviously easily debatable just my opinion based off what I`ve seen last year and the trades that have gone down so far.
What makes Denver so good?
The Lakers will beat us 4-0 because they now have the two things that Al can not handle. Pick and Roll and Size. He all ready could not handle the Lakers and now you add Nash to that? Come on now Jake!! Denver got better just by having young players. Minnesota has to wait and see on Rubio who will not be 100% all of next season.
The Brooklyn Nets added Joe Johnson (who’s already overpaid) and Jerry Stackhouse, then overpaid Humphries and Lopez (who averages 6 rebounds a game).
You really think that puts them in the top tier of the East??
Jazz are extremely underrated this season just like last season. Everywhere I read around everyone has them out of the playoffs again.
As of today, I’d put the Jazz in the ‘Good’ group rather than the ‘Better’ group. The ‘Better’ teams will P&R the Jazz to death unless KOC finds a way to move Al. It’s still questionable whether we have the shooters to open up the floor; and doubtful that we have an offense to get the shooters good looks, anyway. P&R on both sides of the floor is pitiful when Al is on the floor. The book is out—the Spurs made it loud & clear how to handle the Jazz.
If Al plays 30+ mpg, I see another 7 or 8 seed & quick playoff exit (beating the bad teams should be enough to make the playoffs). If Al is traded prior to the start of training camp, I see the Jazz as a 7 or 8 seed in a competitive series (Defining roles will take some time). If Al is traded mid-season, I don’t see the Jazz making the playoffs (Re-defining roles mid-season could derail any playoff hopes).
I know playoff experience is important, but I want a team that’s in the fight for Western Conference supremacy, not fighting for the 7 or 8 seed every year. I don’t know why the Jazz always try to do things with one arm tied behind their backs. If your starting SG can’t shoot (Ronnie Brewer), you’re not a contender. If your starting C can’t play the P&R on either side of the floor & is an inefficient offensive player (Al), you’re not a contender.
Sorry Al, you’re a nice guy; but……
Watch for Toronto to make a run at the playoffs in the east. They are improving. They brought in Lowry, Valanciunas, Landry Fields, and Terrence Ross this year. Dont forget that DeRozan is still getting better as well. I think the 7 and 8 seeds go to Washington and Toronto with Milwaukee right there at 9. I think Cleveland is still one more good player away from the playoffs. If they get Bynum then they will be really good. The Raps have some underrated talent in the Frontcourt with Barngani, Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, and Valanciunas. Gray isnt terrible either. Super young but very talented. On the wing they have some good talent in Fields, DeRozan, James Johnson, and Linas Kleiza. I think Ross can be a solid rotation guy this year also. They have potential. Almost as much as we do if not the same.
I would put Jazz in the “Good” group as well. We just dont really have the offensive firepower to contend with the other teams in the west imo. I think a lot of it is that we get bogged down in the paint because of a lack of outside shooting. Hopefully that improves this year. Other teams have defensive and offensive advantages over us. Our athleticism is only in our young guys and Marvin. There is consistency issues with all of those guys.
I gotta agree with Disco here about Denver. They are a really good team and they are scary deep. They must have gotten lucky 2 yrs in a row then. Every since they traded Melo they have played great. Watch out for Kenneth Faried. That guy goes beast mode in the post. Last year he was a poor mans Millsap. By the time I get off the mission Millsap will be a poor mans Faried. I think they are much better than we are right now.
The Jazz really didnt improve as much as other west teams did.
Lakers: Steve Nash, Antwan Jamison
Clips: Grant Hill, Jamal Crawford, Lamar Odom
Mavs: Darren Collison, OJ Mayo, Chris Kaveman, Elton Brand
Warriors: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut
All those teams netted a better catch than Mo and Marvin. San Antonio, OKC, Memphis and Denver are still better than we are even without improving much. I think we can top GS and maybe Dallas but not any others of those teams.
Marty: Bravo my good man Bravo!!
@JRN I think James Johnson got traded not sure though. I think Faries has athleticism Millsap has only dreamed about I think he is more a poor mans Barkley then Millsap. I think GS is going to be tough IF and this is a big IF everyone stays healthy. I also think the Mavs will be another 50 win team. Last year a lot of players did not come in to camp in shape including Dirk. He will this year cause it is like a regular off season. He will actually know what to do. No one knew what to do with the lockout. If they would not have started out so bad they would have won 5-10 more games last year. Depending on the people they beat that puts them in the 3-5 range instead of the 6-8 range.
JRN you act as if the Mavs improved. I woudlnt say they improved, maybe stayed about the same if anything. A new core group of players that have to learn to play together. They lost Kidd and Terry, Collison and Mayo are great pick ups especially since Collison has youth on his side. Kaveman is a step up to Brendan.
They may have improved slightly but I think you give them too much credit.
Matt I would say Collison is a huge upgrade from Kidd. He has not been that effective the last two years. Not sure why New York gave him a three year deal! Mayo is not a step down from Terry. Also Kaman is a ton better the. Haywood they improved a good deal. Plus there young guy Jones is playing really well right now.
PERFECTLY SAID MARTY!
As long as Nuggets have Karl, Id book them in the playoffs, Karl like Pop pulls the best out of players, so they play beyond their talent. Maybe Corbin is taking notes.
Nets will have a really good record because the East is weak with a ton of sorry teams. Theyll play a lot of bad teams 4 times and rack up Ws.
Nash averaged 12 assists per game against Utah, had a 16 assist game, and that was with less talent, Al would get killed by Nash, and Bynum will negate Al’s offensive. Will Al Jazz have no chance against OKC, Spurs, Lakers. At best 2nd round exit.
I also think the Jazz are in the good group not the better group but they could move up to the better group. Many things will have to happen before that will occur. Big Al needs to play good defense, block more shots and make others afraid to come into the paint. That has not happened and I do not think it will happen this year. 2. Alex Burks needs to come on strong and inprove his scoring. He has gotten much better on defense and still has room to improve. 2. Hayward needs to be more consistant. His defense is very good. Now here comes the hard part. Do the Jazz start Milsap or Favors. Then what about the 5 position do the coaches start Jefferson (high money man) or Kanter? It the Jazz trade Big Al what would you want back for him? Would that help the Jazz or would they take a step back? Some questions and comments to think about.
@Dallan
You are correct about James Johnson. He is on the Kings now. My bad.
@Matt
You forget that they added Mayo. He has the potential to be a 20 point a game type of guy. He oozes potential. He was a big step up from Terry. Dont underestimate Elton Brand as a 3rd big either. He will tear up young guys like Kanter off the bench. He is a seasoned pro that can still start for a lot of teams. I think his issue is that he lost some athleticism after the knee injury. Mavs upgraded 3 starters and their 6th man. They did improve.
I forgot to mention that Mayo is the same age as collison.
Wow, not many posts here. I think that the Jazz could finish from 4 to 8. It depends on how the players jell together. Will Burks play like he did in the summer league, will Favors and Hayward take that big step forward, Will Mo Williams be a step up from Harris and will M. Williams help the Jazz. Right now it is all a guessing game but a very fun guessing game to write your throughts down on the subject.
I maintain that the Jazz will not finish below the 6th seed.
There are some things that have to happen for this to happen.
1. Favors MUST be in the starting lineup.
2. The Jazz must implement an actual offensive system, in which the 3 pointer plays a much, much larger role.
3. That system should NOT conform to the players. The players should
conform to the system.
This was Jerry’s strategy, and Pop’s as well. This is how small market teams like the Jazz and Spurs have been constant fixtures in the playoffs. Some might say that Jerry was too rigid. Corbin is entirely too willing to stroke players’ egos. Pick 10 guys. There is your team. Everyone else should be happy to even be on the bench.
I put the Jazz in the good group amongst the teams in the West. A good team can end up anywhere in the 3rd (if they don’t have silly losses to bad teams that is a blow to momentum) to 10th slot (shouldn’t fall that low with Houston’s reconstruction and the Sun’s Nash loss).
The Jazz do need a new offensive system that makes more of Hayward, Favors, The Williams’s and for Burks to play more of a team game. If Al sticks around he may have to be dropped to the bench against better teams, despite his contract suggesting otherwise. He could dominate weaker teams week in week out and destroy those second units of teams like the Lakers whereas he just plain struggles against the the likes of Bynum and Gasol.
not sure i would add the jazz to the “the better” category. i’m not sure they even make the playoffs next season.