Why the Jazz will match up well with Western teams

by clarkpojo on Aug 26, 2008 10:23 PM MDT Comment 11 comments

There are a couple things working in favor of the Jazz during the upcoming season. For one, they could play for one of the best records in the West and rely on their superior home court advantage to carry them through the playoffs. But secondly and maybe most importantly, the Jazz match up really well with teams in the West now. I know what you are thinking: "The Jazz are an inside defender away from being true contenders." But the truth of the matter is, that the Jazz will only have to beat 3 of the best Western (not the hotel) teams to get to the finals, which means that 2 of the next 5 teams that are in the way of the Jazz won't ever be in the way. But here is how it plays out in my mind.

1. The Houston Rockets- A pretty scary team on paper, but you have to think that the Jazz have the upper hand psychologically on this team. And if the Jazz have homecourt advantage in this one, it is a no brainer. If the Rockets and Jazz meet, then Artest will either have to primarily play the 3 and take away minutes from a productive Battier, or else play power forward and get demolished by Boozer on both sides of the ball. Yao is really good down low, but Okur is a good interior defender one on one. He can't block a shot, but he knows how to make Yao work. Add the fact that T-Mac has issues and I think we match up well with Houston. I am not saying we would win it easily, but we would three peat against them if we met them.

2. The Spurs- This is one of the teams that worries me most because they have our number. But with their age issues and health concerns, we should have a better record than they have and we would beat them with the home court advantage. But I am not counting on Manu to be healthy all season and if he isn't, they won't pose a threat. Plus, if the Jazz get over the mental block by beating the Spurs in San Antonio during the regular season, we will be okay.

3. The Hornets- Not a lot has to be said. We have played really well against the Hornets the last few seasons. Deron Williams matches up really well with Chris Paul. Williams can guard Paul better than Paul can guard Williams and Paul can't switch over and guard Brewer, because he is so much bigger. I think the Hornets will be very good this year, but it is one team that D Will thrives against.

4. The Blazers- Believe it or not, the Blazers probably pose the biggest problem for the Jazz. The Jazz like to pound it inside and get high percentage shots. The Blazers have a plethora of defensive bigs, even without Oden. They forct teams to shoot over them and pre-Korver era, it killed us. They also have streaky shooters, which tend to thrive against the Jazz. But the Jazz would have a major experience advantage over the Baby Blazers and that would probably carry them through.

5. The Lakers- Call me crazy for thinking we match up well with the Lakers, but if Bynum comes back healthy, I actually think it betters our chances against them. What was the difference in the Lakers series last playoffs? Lamar Odom dominating Boozer on both ends thoroughly. Boozer couldn't guard Odom and Odom was quick enough and long enough to bother Boozer offensively. When Bynum comes back, Okur can guard him pretty well and Boozer would match up more effectively with Gasol. Even if Gasol scored a lot, he wouldn't be able to contain Boozer. And Kirilenko would be able to force Odom into jumpers. Don't get me wrong. The Lakers would be the favorite in this series, unless Utah had the better seed. But if Bynum had have played in the last playoffs, the Jazz might have very well won.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.

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I'm with you...

The only teams that scare me in the West are the Blazers and the Fakers

Whitewater In The Morning

by neff on Aug 27, 2008 1:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The best thing that could happen this year

is beating the Spurs in San Antonio. That alone will build the mental toughness we need to get over the hump and win a title. And while I do think we could beat the Rockets again in the playoffs, I sure hope we don’t 3-peat playing them in the first round. I’ve run out of signs to make.

by pmannion on Aug 27, 2008 2:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

i just hope...

they don’t beat the spurs in SA and then turn around and lose to Minnie at home the next nite…

by moni on Aug 27, 2008 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right.

the best thing might be to just not lose to sub 500 teams. Sounds doable, doesn’t it?

by pmannion on Aug 27, 2008 7:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

recycle?

(our) great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit, our system of of credit is privately concentrated, the growth of our nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men... who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.

We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world - no government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Spurs are declining. I’m a Spurs fan, and I thought they had a terrible draft and an even worse offseason, and I think the Jazz will pass them this season. My top 3 teams in the West are the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz.

It's never just a game when you're winning. - George Carlin

by DennardC on Aug 29, 2008 6:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the blazers...

They also have streaky shooters, which tend to thrive against the Jazz.

When did that ever happen??? Oh wait, I remember now:)

Most common reaction to that video: Martell who???

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Aug 27, 2008 3:18 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

now that was just mean;-)

great video though, thanx

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

if they wanted to

the lakers could just not play bynum as many minutes to provide the matchup that you said was better for them. and who guards kobe in a 7 game series? do you have to hide kyle korver in the stands?

other than that, i’m with you on this post, the jazz have an excellent chance to make it out of the west, probably the 2nd most likely finals rep. behind the lakers, unless chris paul can shake his deron williams demons. and he very well could. if that happens, the hornets move up a notch.

heart of a champion, will of the warrior.

by cap'n hack on Aug 28, 2008 1:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

regardless of history

the jazz make me nervous too

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 9:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Jazz need a top defender on the wing more so than anything else. That would make them a true contender. Until then someone like Kobe Bryant will find a way to collapse Utah’s D single handedly.

by Dave W on Aug 29, 2008 1:39 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs