We are playing well, but....

[babyjax13]

I am really happy with the way that this team is moving the ball on offense and playing defense, but I think that we have gotten pretty lucky on this winning streak.

Philadelphia: Good Win
____________________
New Orleans: Missing Eric Gordon (best player)
Milwaukee: Missing Andrew Bogut (best player)
Memphis: Missing Zach Randolph (best player)
Golden State: Missing Steph Curry (2nd best player)

They've all been enjoyable wins and it was good to get a lucky streak going - it's helped us find an identity. This doesn't, however, mean that we are a "good" team. I think we've got a chance at the playoffs, but it is going to take luck and improvements from certain players.

[The59Sound]

Yeah, a point they made on the radio post-game. We've been fortunate to have those guys out and a very favorable schedule with respect to rest, home games, etc.

[seejaydeja]

good thread

[mjvile]

IMO games that are missing their best player are the games that are easiest to lose because other players step up when stars are out. The fact that this young team is finding ways to win games are encouraging. Specially the circumstance with the shortened training camp and preseason.

[DiscoLives4ever]

Nobody likes a buzzkill....

[edfmx86]

Dont care, still celebrating these wins like they mean everything.

[Xsy]

Utah's been looking better and better each game.

[erudite23]

This is a very good point. I'm confused at calling Stephen Curry GS's 2nd best player, though. In what world, exactly, does Monta Ellis's low efficiency, high volume scoring-and-nothing-else act qualify him as a better player than one of the most efficient young guards in NBA history?

But I agree. I would like for the Jazz to take a step into the lower-tier of contention this year if that is possible. But failing that, we need to get as high a pick as we can, and if that's ultimately where this is going, these wins are counter-productive.

[Reckless]

tonight was a lucky win against a bad team missing it's best player(curry). but thanks to ellis the loser who blew a layup, made a piss poor decision on a pass leading to hayward ft's and than went for a all or nothing last second shot to try to get on ESPN in a 1 point game instead of giving his team a chance for a o-rebound or a foul and chance to tie it later.

[The59Sound]

Yeah, purposefully running the clock down to shoot at the buzzer when you're down is pretty brain-dead basketball.

[woodstock17]

Yeah, purposefully running the clock down to shoot at the buzzer when you're down is pretty brain-dead basketball.

Arrogant player playing for an arrogant coach? Seemed like they thought Ellis would make or go to the line.

[DeadlyTreeStump]

I think we should get used to playing injury-riddled teams this season in particular. It could happen to us too. If we're going to downplay each victory against a team that's missing a key player...

[eLo]

And what about all that players which we are missing: Matthews; Korver; Josh Smith;DWont, i dont care injures bad GM

[FJS]

Still our offense is raw.
We're playing better deffense every night, but sometimes we don't know what to do in offense. Simply put the ball to Al when there's 4 or 5 seconds in the clock.

[Jazz_Man_86]

Still our offense is raw.
We're playing better deffense every night, but sometimes we don't know what to do in offense. Simply put the ball to Al when there's 4 or 5 seconds in the clock.

And this a bad option?
In fact it was 3-4 times during whole 3 and 4 quaters combined.
As AL our "go to guy" at the offensive and. So i am OK. To give the ball to Big Al.

[FJS]

No, it's not a bad option.... but this make me think... what we have done in the other 20 seconds?

I've been watching in those games we pass the halfcourt with 17 seconds in a lot of possesions.
Then, you watch some movement, but when the pass is clear, some guys have afraid to make a bad pass.
So, whe finally took a bad shot, then, suddenly we are shooting the ball around the 40% but we have cut the TO a lot.

In Sloan era, Jazz always shot around 50% thanks to the great looks. But, we TO the ball too much trying some difficult passes like Deron or specially AK.

[Jazz_Man_86]

Yes, but think about this. How many seconds were holding the ball in the post masters of the low post scoring? Hakeem or even Shaq (not talking about Jabbbar)
Don't get me wrong i not telling that Al is compared to these great players. But the all spent to much time in the post. So this is a bread and butter of Jefferson.
Kanter looking at him and doing the same thing.

[carrottop12]

Getting into the habit of winning with a team that is just learning to play isn't a bad thing, not matter how you do it.

At the very least we are beating teams that we should be beating. That is a good mentality to have. If you are losing to these teams, you are in trouble.

[MeestR]

at the OP, most wins by most teams will be that kind of quality. i think very rarely this year are you ever going to play a team at their full strength.

i think the way this season is, 4, 5, 6 games a week will leave most teams a little weaker on paper than they should be. jazz aren't any different from any other team this year. you take each win when you can get them. that is a quality team.

having depth, or lack of it, (blaming injuries) is all part of the equation for every team, especially this year.

[Cappsy11]

who cares a win is a win.. no one cared when we had all the injuries in the previous year's .. Beat up on them i say