OT: Jazz back to playoffs

[god shammgod]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

all of san antonio's good management would have meant nothing if they didn't tank for duncan.

[SelbyCobra]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

I'm not sure. They've already got a potentially terrific young core of lottery picks in place, with

C: Kanter (19)
PF: Favors (20)
SF: Hayward (21)
SG: Burks (20)

Plus they could have Golden State's 1st rounder this year if it's 8th or lower. I think, given the fact that they have 4 potentially impact players right around 20 years old, the team turning in a winning season and making the playoffs is better for them than adding yet another 20 year old lottery pick. Just my opinion, though.

[god shammgod]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

I'm not sure. They've already got a potentially terrific young core of lottery picks in place, with

C: Kanter (19)
PF: Favors (20)
SF: Hayward (21)
SG: Burks (20)

Plus they could have Golden State's 1st rounder this year if it's 8th or lower. I think, given the fact that they have 4 potentially impact players right around 20 years old, the team turning in a winning season and making the playoffs is better for them than adding yet another 20 year old lottery pick. Just my opinion, though.

it depends who that pick is. i'm of the opinion that you either have an impact player on your team or you don't. if you don't, getting one should be your top priority even over winning. because without one you're not really going anywhere. maybe they'll get lucky with the golden state pick, who knows.

[blueNorange]

gordon hayward is going to be a real good player in the nba

not a star, but a damn good player

[TKF]

What does this say about Deron Williams? Good player, very good player, but since the Nets we're once again irrelevant, and the Jazz made it without him, does this hurt his value?

GOOD question, but I don't think it will hurt it much.. He is still a good player, a top player at a premium position in his prime.... he will have a lot of value still.

[vdfebduderocks]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

I'm not sure. They've already got a potentially terrific young core of lottery picks in place, with

C: Kanter (19)
PF: Favors (20)
SF: Hayward (21)
SG: Burks (20)

Plus they could have Golden State's 1st rounder this year if it's 8th or lower. I think, given the fact that they have 4 potentially impact players right around 20 years old, the team turning in a winning season and making the playoffs is better for them than adding yet another 20 year old lottery pick. Just my opinion, though.

Yup, Utah will get a pick if GS does not get the first 3 picks. Had they lost and got knocked out of the playoffs, they'd probably have a second lottery pick too.

[SelbyCobra]

it depends who that pick is. i'm of the opinion that you either have an impact player on your team or you don't. if you don't, getting one should be your top priority even over winning. because without one you're not really going anywhere. maybe they'll get lucky with the golden state pick, who knows.

I agree with you there. You probably don't remember, but I started a thread/poll a couple of weeks ago asking if we would rather pull a 1st round upset of Chicago, or miss the playoffs but land Anthony Davis. When it comes to getting a legitimate impact player there is almost nothing I'd rather my team do.

For me, Davis is the only player I'd be comfortable exchanging the experience their young guys have gotten this season winning games, playing in a heated playoff chase, and partaking in the playoffs. The other guys (TRob, Beal, MKG, etc) are too much of a crapshoot in my opinion to give up the significant forward progress the Jazz franchise made this year as a basketball team, not just as a roster of talent.

[TKF]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

all of san antonio's good management would have meant nothing if they didn't tank for duncan.

good management doesn't tank. David Robinson got hurt and that killed their season.. Boston was even worse, they had just 15 wins as opposed to the spurs 20 wins.. they had the best chance to get duncan. It didn't work and it hurt that franchise for years....

Denver has a lot of good young assets under fairly reasonable deals.. I think they will be more than fine..... no need to tank... they can even increase their assets value more by doing well in the playoffs.... who knows..

edit: not sure if you were refering to denver or utah here, but I feel the same about both teams.. they have good young talent, and good moveable assets...

[Jay10]

guess the nets did favors a favor with the deron trade

[TKF]

it depends who that pick is. i'm of the opinion that you either have an impact player on your team or you don't. if you don't, getting one should be your top priority even over winning. because without one you're not really going anywhere. maybe they'll get lucky with the golden state pick, who knows.

I agree with you there. You probably don't remember, but I started a thread/poll a couple of weeks ago asking if we would rather pull a 1st round upset of Chicago, or miss the playoffs but land Anthony Davis. When it comes to getting a legitimate impact player there is almost nothing I'd rather my team do.

For me, Davis is the only player I'd be comfortable exchanging the experience their young guys have gotten this season winning games, playing in a heated playoff chase, and partaking in the playoffs. The other guys (TRob, Beal, MKG, etc) are too much of a crapshoot in my opinion to give up the significant forward progress the Jazz franchise made this year as a basketball team, not just as a roster of talent.

I am not really sold on that guy. I think he will be a good player.. but I don't see a franchise changer there... He has limited offensive ability... and it is no guarantee that he will get that.. we do know he will block shots, but does that make him any better of a prospect than marcus camby was?

[seren]

What does this say about Deron Williams? Good player, very good player, but since the Nets we're once again irrelevant, and the Jazz made it without him, does this hurt his value?

GOOD question, but I don't think it will hurt it much.. He is still a good player, a top player at a premium position in his prime.... he will have a lot of value still.

I don't think of PG as a premium position. Certainly Utah did not look that much worse going from Williams to Harris, not that Harris is terrible guy. Surely, you need a serviceable guy at the position, but do you need a max guy at PG when most contenders have only role players?

I also think that Dallas will be in a huge surprise if they really believe simply adding Deron would make them a top team again.

[god shammgod]

I don't give any special love to Denver this year. They were solid, but we're talking about a team that has been under .500 (22-23) for the last three months after their white-hot start. That's certainly admirable considering their injuries, but nothing special. The 6-7-8 spots in the playoffs were what was likely for them going into the season, as that's what their front office traded their franchise player for - solid but unspectacular "now" assets.

Utah on the other hand, was expected to not only be in the lottery, but potentially the HIGH lottery. They traded their franchise player to put multiple significant pieces in place for the future, but none were geared towards winning now. To see them put together a winning season in the West AND fight their own way out of a playoff race and into the postseason down the stretch is truly impressive.

it's an accomplishment but they would be better off getting a high lottery pick. they don't have enough talent to do anything in the playoffs. sometimes you win by losing.

all of san antonio's good management would have meant nothing if they didn't tank for duncan.

good management doesn't tank. David Robinson got hurt and that killed their season.. Boston was even worse, they had just 15 wins as opposed to the spurs 20 wins.. they had the best chance to get duncan. It didn't work and it hurt that franchise for years....

Denver has a lot of good young assets under fairly reasonable deals.. I think they will be more than fine..... no need to tank... they can even increase their assets value more by doing well in the playoffs.... who knows..

edit: not sure if you were refering to denver or utah here, but I feel the same about both teams.. they have good young talent, and good moveable assets...

the spurs tanked. everyone knows it. you're the one person who doesn't think so.

i was talking about utah but denver does not have good players under reasonable deals. gallo and chandler both were injured again and did not improve much. they're overpaid role players. they're doing nothing in the playoffs. they had a better team last year and did nothing.

[I_Love_NYK]

The Jazz proved having a good front court still pays off. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are both double double players. The Jazz do not have the best backcourt players, Devin Harris is their best guard. (He is not even that good).

Their draft picks didn't do much this year also in Enes Kanter and Alec Burks but Gordan Heyward took a big jump this year.

[Archerbro]

What does this say about Deron Williams? Good player, very good player, but since the Nets we're once again irrelevant, and the Jazz made it without him, does this hurt his value?

GOOD question, but I don't think it will hurt it much.. He is still a good player, a top player at a premium position in his prime.... he will have a lot of value still.

I don't think of PG as a premium position. Certainly Utah did not look that much worse going from Williams to Harris, not that Harris is terrible guy. Surely, you need a serviceable guy at the position, but do you need a max guy at PG when most contenders have only role players?

I also think that Dallas will be in a huge surprise if they really believe simply adding Deron would make them a top team again.

considering their problems associate more with offense this year (they're bottom 10 i believe),

I think you're in for a big surprise. their defense has held up-their offense has not.
they went from 8th to 21st in offensive efficiency, while holding the 8th defensive efficiency stat. Though it's just a ranking, their defense may not be as strong-but it's still good.

[taj2133]

Its great story and all but most of there 34 wins have been at home and of 16 playoffs team they have worst road records at 11 win and 22 losses.