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The Blazers, in what feels like another treadmill season for them, to Lillard's chagrin, are coming to SLC, where, hopefully, the Jazz will give him some reasons to ditch his current going-no-where team and demand a trade to the Jazz (who are currently also going no where, but are at least more competitive on a nightly basis).

In order to go somewhere this year, the Jazz need to beat the Warriors and Suns. Unless the Nuggets can resurrect themselves, I'm not sure who else is really competitive in the Western Conference.

I keep thinking and expecting that the Lakers will get their act together at some point. Denver (don't know why they've been so mediocre) and maybe the Clippers too. Is Kawhi supposed to come back this season?

Inigo Montoya wrote:I keep thinking and expecting that the Lakers will get their act together at some point. Denver (don't know why they've been so mediocre) and maybe the Clippers too. Is Kawhi supposed to come back this season?

Denver is missing half their roster. The Lakers have horrid roster construction, it might get better with Nunn but I'm not afraid of them at all. Kawhi wants to try and come back for the playoffs. Phoenix is the only team that really scares me in the West, I do think they are better than us.

babyjax13 wrote:

Inigo Montoya wrote:I keep thinking and expecting that the Lakers will get their act together at some point. Denver (don't know why they've been so mediocre) and maybe the Clippers too. Is Kawhi supposed to come back this season?

Denver is missing half their roster. The Lakers have horrid roster construction, it might get better with Nunn but I'm not afraid of them at all. Kawhi wants to try and come back for the playoffs. Phoenix is the only team that really scares me in the West, I do think they are better than us.

Phoenix is an interesting matchup because their three main scorers like to shoot from mid-range -- CP, Booker and Ayton. They also have long defenders on the perimeter in Bridges and Cam Johnson. That said, I think the Jazz are the better offensive team overall, and I think Rudy Gay and Jordan Clarkson might give the Jazz a slight edge in a series. I think Gay is a huge pick-up for the Jazz, and he can average 20 ppg in a series if he needs to.

Jazz may be headed for a 2nd-round matchup with the Warriors if the Jazz and Warriors finish as the #2 and #3 seeds. I think the Jazz will beat the Mavs, Clippers, Blazers and Grizzlies in a series if the Jazz are relatively healthy.

Ball movement is pathetic so far. None of Clarkson/Gay/Bogey/Whiteside create for others, and Mitchell is best creating for himself.

Remember when we all wanted the Jazz to draft Anfernee Simons and instead we drafted Grayson f'in Allen? At least we traded for Conley - that certainly worked out better than either option, but dang Simons is nice.

Forrest looks good out there. Under control

tugs wrote:Forrest looks good out there. Under control

Yup. Unfortunately I think it's time to release Miye Oni or Elijah Hughes to give Forrest a long-term contract. I think all three of them are NBA players long-term, but Forrest is the best by far.

babyjax13 wrote:

tugs wrote:Forrest looks good out there. Under control

Yup. Unfortunately I think it's time to release Miye Oni or Elijah Hughes to give Forrest a long-term contract. I think all three of them are NBA players long-term, but Forrest is the best by far.

He is. Bit undersized for a wing but he gets the job done. Could play that Fisher role who can facilitate and be the defensive stopper. Needs to work on his 3 though. This opens up opportunities for Butler as well

tugs wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

tugs wrote:Forrest looks good out there. Under control

Yup. Unfortunately I think it's time to release Miye Oni or Elijah Hughes to give Forrest a long-term contract. I think all three of them are NBA players long-term, but Forrest is the best by far.

He is. Bit undersized for a wing but he gets the job done. Could play that Fisher role who can facilitate and be the defensive stopper. Needs to work on his 3 though. This opens up opportunities for Butler as well

Forrest is more dynamic with the ball than Royce is. If the Jazz play a team that switches on defense and stifles the Jazz's ball movement, Jazz might be better off playing Forrest in that situation. The guy I want to see more of is Malik Fitts.