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With tonight's win, the Jazz are in 7th place in the West, and just 1/2 game out of 4th.

Houston and Dallas play tomorrow, and Memphis takes on the Clippers.

It's an exciting time to be a Jazz fan. I'll go on record as saying I would rather make the playoffs than get an extra lottery pick.

The59Sound wrote:With tonight's win, the Jazz are in 7th place in the West, and just 1/2 game out of 4th.

Houston and Dallas play tomorrow, and Memphis takes on the Clippers.

It's an exciting time to be a Jazz fan. I'll go on record as saying I would rather make the playoffs than get an extra lottery pick.

Oh yeah, playoffs over lottery any day of the week. I love our core right now, and unless we had a high to mid lottery pick, I really don't care for it. A 13-14 pick would of been a waste next to what some playoff experience will give us. I think with GS's pick we will fill any other holes we have, but with the way our guys have been playing lately, we don't really have a glarring hole:

Jefferson/Kanter
Millsap/Favors/Evans
Miles/Carroll
Hayward/Burks/Bell
Harris/Tinsley/Watson

Kirilenko COULD be a nice addition to help the SF depth. Is it to late to sign a player and still have him be part of the playoff roster? I guess next year we better use GS pick on a SF or go after a FA. Miles has been playing solid defense lately though. Can't complain.

Agree with you that there's no glaring holes. I'm actually liking Carroll as a limited-time bench guy. I feel comfortable that he's going to be competent when we're buying minutes for Gordon or CJ (can't believe how the latter has been contributing on D of late).

If I'm not mistaken, I think today was the last day of playoff eligibility for free agents. I love Kirilenko, but actually think it was probably time for both parties to move on. Hayward's proving he can excel in the Jack of All Trades role (fewer blocks/steals, but better shooting).

Loving this team so much. Honestly, I'm starting to feel like we don't need to rush on finding the "point guard of the future." I think Harris has some gas left in the tank; he's starting to play like the guy we all hoped he was, and he seems to genuinely like being here.

With the caveat that I'm probably just feeling over-optimistic based on how exciting and heartening these recent games have been, I feel like we've got a chance to build something special over the next year or two.

I'm dreading Bell's return, though. Most likely event to break up our mojo. Watson's less likely to do that, but I do prefer Tinsley now; it's nice having the fast-break look with Devin, and the half-court look with Jamal.

so right now in the west, the teams with 22 losses are jazz, nuggets, mavericks and rockets. the clippers have 21 losses and the grizzlies have 20. (then comes lakers-18, spurs-14, thunder-12)

below the jazz are suns with 24 losses, then wolves, blazers and warriors at 26 losses each.

IMO the jazz need at least a 6 seed to not get embarrassed in the playoffs. 4 would be gravy, and absolutely obtainable.

this win tonight was great not only for moral, but also for playoff standings.

MeestR wrote:so right now in the west, the teams with 22 losses are jazz, nuggets, mavericks and rockets. the clippers have 21 losses and the grizzlies have 20. (then comes lakers-18, spurs-14, thunder-12)

below the jazz are suns with 24 losses, then wolves, blazers and warriors at 26 losses each.

IMO the jazz need at least a 6 seed to not get embarrassed in the playoffs. 4 would be gravy, and absolutely obtainable.

this win tonight was great not only for moral, but also for playoff standings.

Actually I don't think we'd be embarassed by OKC. I think we lose, they're clearly the best team in the West, but we don't fit that bad against them since we have great inside presence. Even losing I don't think games would be an embarassment! Even tough of course... if we can get a higher seed, get it! I'm excited at some point of this season I stopped believing our PO chances!

maybe embarrassed was a wrong word. but i dont see much advantage of getting into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, especially in this conference, this year, with this draft. i think the team needs at least a 6 seed to make the playoffs worthwhile.

the lakers this year dont scare me as much as years past, and the other teams,4-10 jazz COULD beat in a 7 game series. but the spurs and thunder, i don't see much hope. entertaining, maybe. but i think i would have preferred the draft pick, than to match up with one of them.

but IF the jazz DO match up with either of them, i'll be hoping and expecting my team to, at the very least, provide a very good series, if not win it.

Updated standings after Memphis' and Houston's losses tonight:

MeestR wrote:maybe embarrassed was a wrong word. but i dont see much advantage of getting into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, especially in this conference, this year, with this draft. i think the team needs at least a 6 seed to make the playoffs worthwhile.

the lakers this year dont scare me as much as years past, and the other teams,4-10 jazz COULD beat in a 7 game series. but the spurs and thunder, i don't see much hope. entertaining, maybe. but i think i would have preferred the draft pick, than to match up with one of them.

but IF the jazz DO match up with either of them, i'll be hoping and expecting my team to, at the very least, provide a very good series, if not win it.

I think making the playoffs this year helps make this team dangerous next year. Harris hasn't made the playoffs in a long while, Jefferson hasn't been there, our young guys haven't been there. I think it makes the team hungry. If we get the 7th or 8th spot and lose Corbin can come in to training camp with loftier goals to really push these guys.

I think that's a good point about next year; the hunger will definitely be there next year if we've got this year's playoffs under our belts. These guys want it, and genuinely believe in the team.

On a personal level, I really want to make the post-season just because of how much it would probably mean for Devin and Al.

Soul Patch wrote:

MeestR wrote:maybe embarrassed was a wrong word. but i dont see much advantage of getting into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, especially in this conference, this year, with this draft. i think the team needs at least a 6 seed to make the playoffs worthwhile.

the lakers this year dont scare me as much as years past, and the other teams,4-10 jazz COULD beat in a 7 game series. but the spurs and thunder, i don't see much hope. entertaining, maybe. but i think i would have preferred the draft pick, than to match up with one of them.

but IF the jazz DO match up with either of them, i'll be hoping and expecting my team to, at the very least, provide a very good series, if not win it.

I think making the playoffs this year helps make this team dangerous next year. Harris hasn't made the playoffs in a long while, Jefferson hasn't been there, our young guys haven't been there. I think it makes the team hungry. If we get the 7th or 8th spot and lose Corbin can come in to training camp with loftier goals to really push these guys.

a month or 2 ago, i might have agreed. but seeing how close the jazz are to a 4 seed and home court in the first round, a 7 or 8 will be a disappointment to me. i think id rather them just claim their draft pick then for that to happen now.

5 or 6 is fine with me because i believe the way this team is playing and is capable of playing, home court is not necessary to win the first round.

We need a playoffs that's 100%. We need it for our guys Al, Sap, Devin and Hayward and for other bunch of young players Burks, Favors and Kanter.
Coach Corbin also needs that type of experience.

Race for a playoff spot

Sunday, 25th March:
Games to watch:

Phoenix Suns (24-24) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (17-28)
Utah Jazz (26-22) @ Atlanta Hawks (29-20)
Denver Nuggets (26-22) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (23-26)
Memphis Grizzlies (25-21) @ Los Angeles Lakers (30-18)

I think really the only teams that worry me are OKC, San Antonio, and Dallas. The Jazz would have a good chance of advancing against any other team.

Seems like Phoenix is gonna win (+20 in the 3rd) and Denver is going to lose (-21 in the 2nd quarter)

FJS wrote:Seems like Phoenix is gonna win (+20 in the 3rd) and Denver is going to lose (-21 in the 2nd quarter)

Hard to see Phoenix making the push they need to qualify, but you never say never. Denver is looking really rough lately. Wonder what's going on with them.

phrizzo wrote:I think really the only teams that worry me are OKC, San Antonio, and Dallas. The Jazz would have a good chance of advancing against any other team.

It's really wonderful to project a series against the Lakers and not be filled with dread. Odds would still be in their favor, but I don't have an "oh, ****..." feeling about them, like I did during the Deron/Boozer days.

Phoenix with this win is 25-24. We are 26-22. It's not a great difference.

Timberwolves are killing the Nuggets right now, up by 25 at halftime..... Perfect for us.....

FJS wrote:Phoenix with this win is 25-24. We are 26-22. It's not a great difference.

I feel fairly confident they'll fade down the stretch. Only "easy" games they have left are against New Orleans and Sacramento.

But maybe I'm wrong; we'll find out.

I'm predicting we get 5th seed and play 4th seed Mavericks.