ESPN Jazz predictions

The Sheik · Post #1 » by **The Sheik** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:00 am

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview20 ... s0910-Jazz

I know everyone hates Hollinger, but he might be dead on, not on his predictions necessarily, but what we need to improve on to win. Road wins and wing play.

It seems like everyone coped out and choose the "Boozer Saga" as why we will not improve any.

Post #2 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:02 am

6 seems fair. 4-8, there's not much separation between teams.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #3 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:26 am

With the talent this team has we should be top 4 at least...

Doesn't take a genius to figure out what we need to improve in order to be successful this season.

HolyToledo · Post #4 » by **HolyToledo** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:53 am

A bunch of fluff and no meat. Basically, they are so called experts with no clue. Williams is going to play more minutes this year (Sloan has said so) and have an MVP type year. Jazz are very close to over taking the Lakers if they would simply make some small changes. The Jazz need a defensive shot blocking back up/starting center who would play 20 min per game or play AK-47 20 min per game at PF. The Jazz let players drive to the hoop without any fear of having their shot blocked. Post up players get good look at the basket. Another option which Sloan needs to do but would not do is play the matchups. Play AK-47 defensively on a big to get him close to the basket defensively. AK-47 chasing Kobe or Carmelo on the perimeter is not the best strategy. Put Brewer on those guys. When Millsap in with AK-47 play him on a Jefferson and have AK-47 guard their center or PF position. AK-47 needs to be in position to block shots and intimate shooters that drive on Jazz weak perimatere defenders.

I wish the Jazz either traded Boozer or didnt re-sign Millsap. I would be willing to give up their rebounding and scoring skills to help the Jazz shot blocking ability. Jazz can score without these guys, the problem is they cant defend when these guys are the last source of defense to the basket because they are not shot intimadors alongside Memo.

Racer X · Post #5 » by **Racer X** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:55 am

UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:With the talent this team has we should be top 4 at least...

Doesn't take a genius to figure out what we need to improve in order to be successful this season.

I am not convinced that we have Top 4 team in the west talent.

Deron is super talented. Make that ultra-talented. AK was once upon a time one of the most talented players in the league.

Most of the other guys on the team though I think are guys who maximize limited talents.

Not as much talent as Lakers, Spurs for sure. Arguments could be made for PHX, Portland, Mavs.

I just do not see the Jazz breaking into the Top 4 in the West this year. I will not be convinced until I see them win consistently on the road. They have not done that since Fisher was here.

Yung D-Will · Post #6 » by **Yung D-Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:05 am

See all our positioning soley depends on if we're able to win on the road. If we can win on the road this season I'd easily call us a top 4 team in the west. But if it's like last season when we struggled agienst even horible teams on the road we're gonna be a 6-8 seed.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #7 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:10 pm

The only teams in the West that can match the Jazz in talent is Lakers, Denver, Portland and maybe Dallas maybe Spurs. Jazz can easily be better than Portland and should be better than Dallas, Denver and the Spurs. Lakers are the only team that is as loaded with as much talent.

I really don't think the Spurs are going to be as great as advertised. They are getting old and I can't see them avoiding injury problems throughout the season.

outerspacefella · Post #8 » by **outerspacefella** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:03 pm

I don't think, talent wise, the Jazz can compete with Lakers, Nuggets.
Where's the thoughness? Where's the mental and physical harshness, the drive, the sense of urgency to win? Aren't such things talents?
Jazz roster's soft with the exception of Williams, Price, Fesenko, and may be Maynor now... and we know how many minutes Price will play... and we know Fesenko is not a coaching staff favorite (he just need to play...) I hope coaching staff surprise me here...
IMHO, we're not making a deep pllayoff run with a team of good blue-collar guys.

erudite23 · Post #9 » by **erudite23** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:10 pm

Yeah, I agree with the predictions there, sounds fair, although the reasons for their predictions are a little bit uninformed. I see 50 wins as the benchmark for this season.

However....I've had a nagging feeling that this team is ready to explode. They have that eye of the tiger look that they had at the beginning of last year until the injuries destroyed the team. I have my doubts, and I'm not going to start believing anything above 50 wins until I see consistent and extended proof that we can win in adverse conditions, but I see the ability there to do some great things. We just need everything to come together for us.

Montanajazz · Post #10 » by **Montanajazz** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:02 pm

Chad ford was the closest in predictions. The jazz have/had depth before all these freekish aches and pains and injurys. The Jazz 1 or 2 in North west and 3rd or 4th best team in west. If all these injuries don't come around soon(Korver, Price, Okur's back, Brewers muscles), Wes mathrews will be starting shooting guard and Milsap will be small forward. Kirlinko, Fesenko, Koufous, and rookie pg off the bench. Only 9 players healthy!! Better look at waiver wire for a player and trade Harprings contract somwhere to get another player1

The Sheik · Post #11 » by **The Sheik** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:01 pm

I thought it was funny that the two notoriously pro-jazz writers picked us the highest. Sheridan and Ford both have good relationships with KOC.

I dont see why Utah cant win 50-55 games. At worst we go 31-9 at home (likely better than this) and we just need to go 20-21 on the road or better.

DiscoLives4ever · Post #12 » by **DiscoLives4ever** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:31 pm

Jazz are the underdogs (to an extent) again this year, so that makes me think they'll have a surprisingly solid season. If we get a good chemistry going and win 55+ this season while hitting .500 on the road I think we can go deep in the playoffs.

Post #13 » by **StocktonShorts** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:53 pm

DiscoLives4ever wrote:Jazz are the underdogs (to an extent) again this year, so that makes me think they'll have a surprisingly solid season. If we get a good chemistry going and win 55+ this season while hitting .500 on the road I think we can go deep in the playoffs.

.500 on the road is almost necessary if you're going to win 55+ games.