The Downbeat - 30 July 2010 - #283 - The Season Can't Get Here Fast Enough
by Basketball John on Jul 30, 2010 10:04 AM MDT
in The Downbeat
32 comments
NBC Sports has their off-season power rankings up where the Jazz are #11,
11. Jazz (30/1) They lost Carlos Boozer, they replaced him with Al Jefferson. They lost Wesley Mathews and replaced him with Raja Bell. Goodbye Kyle Korver, hello Gordon Hayward. This was really a fantastic offseason by the Jazz -- it could have been a disaster but they replaced key losses and may have even upgraded a little. The Jazz remain in that tough middle ground of good (52 wins last season, probably just a few less this season) but not good enough to challenge the elite. Still, fantastic offseason to replace those that bolted.
It's just a power ranking and an off-season one at that, but it's something to talk about. Last season the Jazz were predicted to win around 46-48 games and did better than that. I don't think they're going to be worse this season. They're going to be right around 52 wins again.
The two teams above them, the Blazers and Rockets, are filled with a lot of ifs, mainly health questions. Once again though, the West is going to be like the last few seasons with no little separation between teams. You could order the teams in the West in any order you want and make a good argument for any of them.
As you may or may not know, Ross Siler, the Jazz beat reporter for the Jazz, will be leaving his position. I was lucky enough to do a Q&A with him. That should be going up at about 12.
Because it's a Friday and it's the off-season and because I need some ninja
For some weird reason, everyone wants to play for the Jazz. Chris Sheridan from ESPN tweeted last night that Mike James wants to play with the Jazz. He's a combo guard that's been hurt the past few seasons. He's 34 and wouldn't cost much, but is he an upgrade over Gaines? As AllthatAmar pointed out, he does make his free-throws unlike Sundiata.
Who knew that the P in P_Dizzle stood for poll? Thanks for the excellent poll questions. My favorite up first,
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1. 11 seems lower than what I would put them at. I would think somewhere around 6, but they always project the Jazz lower. Remember when Malone and Stockton retired/left they said the Jazz would battle for the worst record of all-time and they busted out a 40 win season.
2. Siler was/is the best beat writer. Hate to see him go. Hopefully he still tweets.
8. Sweet video. What I loved best were 4 of those 20 were against the Lakers. That pass in #5 is crazy. If Boozer thinks Rose is going to be the passer Williams is he is just as crazy as he is loyal.
4. on Mike James ehhhh….
5. I was hoping you would wait a while to do this one so I could look it up. But I have absolutely no idea and am not going to cheat so I will go with Yanukovych.
1, If Al does not improve his defense, passing, screening, and general team-play smarts, if Raja’s nastiness and leadership don’t rub off on anyone else, if Gordon doesn’t do much, if the Jazz gunk things up for several long stretches, if dumb CJ shows up more than smart CJ, if Millsap starts out playing terribly — if all this happens they are exactly as good as they were last year.
So ranking Jazz somewhere betwen 8-11 seems fair.
But … how likely is it Al improves under his first decent coach and team? How likely is it Raja’s leadership makes a difference? How likely is it Millsap, happy to be starting, starts the season strongly? How likely is it smart CJ finally is here to stay? How likely is it the Jazz go through a two-month stretch with no chemistry, fire, or decent play?
We’re dealing with a lot of maybe’s here, but there’s a lot to like about how this team develops. As it is right now, they are the same as last year. But there’s a lot of potential and likelihood for serious growth.
2. Siler has been so, so, so good. Best beat writer I’ve ever read, by far.
3. At work, can’t see the vid.
4. Let’s put it this way: if Deron gets injured and we have to rely on the 3rd-string PG for an serious stretches, then the Jazz are doomed anyway.
5. I’m not cheating. I really have no idea, but I love saying Isznottwheak out loud (even if that gives it away as totally bogus).
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
watching that vid
When the Lakers are in town I cant believe that there are so many Laker fans here in Utah. I see alot of Laker jersheys in the Stands. I havent been to a Utah Jazz game in over 10 years (I hate going downtown) but Im getting my season tickets for nxt year. Id probably get kicked out of the Stadium for trying to Rip somebodies FAKER jershey off.
1. The Jazz are going to be better next year. Just think about how happy Big Al is to be out of Basketball Prison. I didn’t see the rankings but I would rank the teams as such:
1. Miami
2. Lakers
3. Orlando
4. Boston
5. Dallas
6. Jazz
7. OKC
8. Chicago
9. Spurs
10. Portland
I think the Jazz will be fighting with Dallas for the 2 seed in the West. OKC is close too, but I don’t know if they are there yet. Spurs will be tough if Splitter is as good as advertised.
2. Siler is the Man
8. I could watch that all day
4. I would rather have Gordon Hayward as the emergency PG.
5. No clue, but these polls have been very fun. We should get Basketball John and P Dizzle to host a sports nation type show.
4 - Mike James
As long as you want a PG who only looks to score, why not go with Earl Boykins over Mike James. He’s a more explosive scorer with less mileage on him.
8. I LOVE our PG
That is all.
I was just talking with moni the other day about how their is no doubt that he is the best Point Guard in the league. This video just re-emphasized that. =]
5. Yanukovych (I like saying this one in a Dracula voice)
by i_am_pure_barbarian on Jul 30, 2010 11:49 AM MDT reply actions
#5
Just showed your poll to my Ukrainian wife. She’s still laughing.
I used some names from Wikipedia, some from google maps, and made one up.
by Basketball John on Jul 30, 2010 1:55 PM MDT up reply actions
I'm guessing
Is not weak is the made up one? lol
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
1) Preseason rankings dont mean jack
but I’m OK with where NBC Sports has us. No big expectations and no target on our backs. That way we can sneak up on the teams like the Blazers and Rockets who are supposed to be “better” than us.
2) I hope whoever takes Siler’s place is as invested as he was at his job. Good luck, Siler. Cant wait to read the Q&A.
3) I needed some ninja too and I think everybody does
4) Please no. He hasnt played a full season since 2006. I’d rather have Sundiata’s horrible free throw shooting.
5) Fes wasn’t born…he was народився.
For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!
4. add al harrington to that list
Is that really Al's twitter???
His most recent tweets have been about moving to Denver and practice with coach Karl???
For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!
maybe because he signed with denver :)
those tweets were from about three weeks ago before he signed (and before we signed raja)
Crap I need to read better
When I saw Al I immediately figured you were talking about Al Jefferson not Al Harrington. Im an idiot. Sorry.
For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!
i'm ashamed
i’m so used to how amazing deron is night in and night out, that i forgot how amazing he is.
nah, it's just been a couple of months...
we * never * forget… and let’s get this season goin’. I miss game threads lol
Twitter: rxmike12
Wooooord
And I know what you mean moni. We get used to him being so spectacular that it takes a highlight video once in a while to go “Oh daaaaang, this guy really is the best.”
by i_am_pure_barbarian on Jul 30, 2010 12:23 PM MDT up reply actions
1. They don’t even KNOW what kind of animal the Jazz are going to unleash this season. It’s going to big. It’s going to be nasty. It’s even going to quietly sneak up on them because there won’t be an “AND ONE!!!!” howl. The West better watch out and lakers have a big fat target on their throat! Right where Raja is going to closeline em!
2. Best of luck to Ross. Appreciated all he’s done.
8. Ice cold.
4. No thank you on Mike James, there is a huge list of other PGs i’d rather pick up ahead of him. 3rd string PGs are a dime a dozen.
5. Fes wasn’t concieved. The Koof sneezed and from the debries Fes was born.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Wheatie_87
and I were at number 3 on that video. It was one of the best moments of my life. Watching a game winner against the Lakers, IN the playoffs. It was awesome.
I still think my favorite move is on 9. D-will drops 2 crossovers on Fisher and goes around him. Fish was so turned around he thought he was still in Golden State.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Aye
:)
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Basketball John
1. I take the NBC offseason power rankings about as seriously as I take the Rockets new imaginary big man, rookie Fredrick Patterson.
“This summer the Rockets picked up some people to help keep Yao’s minutes down — Brad Miller and rookie Fredrick Paterson.”
"I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure."
Louisiana Jazz fan
ha ha. Its HERBIE Hancock.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on Jul 31, 2010 9:05 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
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