Western Conference playoff opponents - Least to most scary?

[sendai91]

List who scares you the least in the playoffs to who scares you the most and why..

Least scary - Rockets - We beat them with Ming last year, we can beat them without him this year, with or without hc advantage. Deron would destroy Rafer, the rest of the team just doesn't scare me at all. They are playing exceptionally well since Ming went down but I see the Jazz winning in 6 regardless of hc.

Dallas - A gimpy Dirk, Kidd can't keep up with Deron, and we beat them without AK here a month ago. As long as Howard doesn't go off for 35 a game, we should be fine.

Toss-up between Denver and Phoenix - Both scare me about the same, I like our matchups against Denver a little better, but Shaq can be a liability in the playoffs, particularly at the line. I think I'd rather play Denver than Phoenix, but it's close

Hornets - Deron pretty much owns Chris Paul head to head, but West and Chandler are equal to or better than our front line. AK and Peja are a wash from different perspectives (defense and offense), I like our bench a lot more than NO though as long as Pargo doesn't run around and drill us for 20 pts a game

Spurs - We'll see how it goes tonight. They own us in San Antonio, but are slightly less formidable than LA.

Lakers - They have made us look like the jr. jazz three times this year, most recently on our home court. We can't figure out anything they are doing defensively, and Kobe bears a grudge against us anyway. We need to find someone else to take them out in the playoffs.

[carrottop12]

Rockets - We were the last team to beat them before they went on their hot streak, since the end of the streak I believe they are playing .500 ball which is nothing to write home about.

Hornets - Not that they aren't a good team, they are. But Deron would absolutely thrive in this match up. Paul is good, but Deron would take it. One other thing I like in this match up is the rest of the Jazz feel the rivalry.

Denver - I'm really not scared of Denver at all, the Jazz just seem to be able to out last them in any close game and I don't think their defense could handle the Jazz.

Dallas - They looked good against GS, I was curious to see if Dirk going down would force Kidd to adapt to the rest of the team and I believe it may have just happened. They are either going to be a quick out, or a dangerous dark horse.

Phoenix - Even though the Jazz have their number these guys are playoff tested, and Shaq could either be their savior or their downfall. Either way I would rather pass on seeing them.

San Antonio - I think the Jazz' confidence is higher against these guys then ever before, tonight is a big game.

Lakers - Kobe just hates the Jazz and does whatever he can to take it out on them.

[kebutah]

Most: Lakers-very ahletic who seems to have our number
Spurs-very experienced and we have not won there in forever

Mod: Suns-Amare will score at will
Hornets-winning consistently but no playoff experience

Least: Mavs-not the same team without Harris
Rockets-good matchup and no first round wins
Nuggets-very talented but undisciplined
Warriors-no decent big man

[loserX]

From least to most:

Golden State. We beat them last year because Kirilenko could keep up with them defensively, and they didn't have anyone to handle Boozer down low. Nothing's changed in those regards, so I'd like our chances best here.

Denver. I don't see it being a walkover by any means, but for some reason I see Sloan's systems prevailing over Karl's somewhat random offence.

Houston. A good team, but not the same without Yao to make us work inside defensively. I also read that post-streak, 3 of their losses have been by 20 points or more. They're still adjusting...so playing consecutive games against a tough opponent like the Jazz might cause them some trouble.

Dallas. Some great starters, but their bench is awfully thin. That might be our advantage there.

New Orleans. From this level on, I start to get more worried. Deron loves playing against Paul...but these guys have a good smart coach and a great PG. Seeing us game in and game out may work in their favour if they can adjust to us.

Phoenix. Another team without much depth, but that's hardly slowed them down before. Deron struggles against quicker PGs like Nash, Nash can't defend big PGs like Deron. There'd be a LOT of points scored in this series before it was done.

San Antonio. Older, yes...but too smart, too efficient, too experienced. Little reason to believe they can't handle us again.

Los Angeles. They've just looked so good...and yeah, Kobe seems to climb to another level when given a chance to destroy us.

There are no gimmes here...these are all good-to-great teams. And no disrespect intended to any one of them, this list just reflects my own thoughts about our possible matchups.

[troy]

LEAST

Warriors (if they're in)
Rockets
Mavericks
Nuggets
Suns
Hornets
Lakers
Spurs


The San Antonio are still the Jazz Killers.

[DelaneyRudd]

Any opponent not staying a hotel that night.

[d-will8]

(From Least Scary To Most Scary)
Golden State-
After winning the series against them last year, and handily winning all three games against them this year, it's safe to say that we have their number
Houston-
They're very tough defensively and T-Mac's a great player, but they just don't have the talent to match up with the other teams in the West
Dallas-
Not that scary anymore. J-Kidd gives them a playmaker, but he can't shoot and he can't guard Deron. After their last two playoff collapses, they just don't seem very tough and they'd have no answer for Boozer, either.
Denver-
AI and Melo are one hell of a 1-2 punch and if Nene's close to fully healthy, they've got an excellent 3 man frontcourt rotation. Throw in guys like Smith and Kleiza and you've got an extremely talented team.
New Orleans-
They've had a great year, but there's just not anything about them that really scares me. CP3 is amazing, but Deron more than holds his own against him and we match up very well against them overall. I know they don't want to face us.
Phoenix-
I think the trade for Shaq makes them a better playoff team. It'd be interesting to see how they'd deal with guarding Memo and Boozer, and I think we could beat them, but it would be very tough. Amare's been an absolute beast lately and we all now Nash will come to play.
San Antonio-
They're still very scary, even if they're getting old. We'd probably do better against them than we did last year, but it's hard to beat a team that plays a similar style, but has more experience doing it, a better third option and better defense.
Los Angeles-
If you've watched the last two games against them, or ever watched the Jazz try to guard Kobe, you know why.

[jazzdude]

The only 2 teams that scare me are the Spurs and the Lakers (only if they are healthy). They seem to have our number lately.

Maybe it's arrogance on my part, but I think the Jazz would beat everyone else: Houston is weak without Yao, DWill has repeatedly made Chris Paul his bitch, Phoenix hasn't played well against the Jazz this year, Dallas just hasn't clicked with Jason Kidd. As for Denver or Golden State, they would be lucky to win one game against the Jazz in a playoff series.

[Sloanfeld]

Least to Most:

Warriors
Nuggets
Rockets
Mavs
Hornets
Suns
Spurs
Lakers

Suns are looking a little more scary since they've actually been winning with Shaq. Don't know what to think of Dallas since they've been so poor against .500 teams with Kidd. I'd like to avoid the Lakers at all costs, I think we have a shot at SA.

[El Turco]

Warriors
Rockets
Nuggets
Hornets
Mavs
Suns
Spurs
Lakers

[erudite23]

DIVISION A: BRING IT ON

Denver: We own these guys at home, they wouldn't come close to stealing one at our house, and we would win at least 1 at their house. I'm thinking an easy 5 win series

GS: Last year, followed by 3 blowouts this season, has confirmed that this team is built for us to beat up on. Easily in 5.

HOU: With Yao out, they've been forced to rely on smoke and mirrors to get Ws. Rafer Alston can only catch fire for so long before the well runs dry. Jazz in 5.

DAL: I respect this team a lot, actually, but they just strike me as a team having a nightmare season, and those type of years don't suddenly turn around in the playoffs. They are the only team in the mix I am 100% confident will not make it past the first round. 5 or 6 games.

DIVISION B: SLIGHTLY NERVOUS

NO: This team is an excellent squad in a lot of ways, but they've been squeaking wins by all season, and their margin of victory is not quite in line with a team winning the conference. They are a tough out, but I'm sure we'd win in 6, at the most.

PHO: A very good, but fatally flawed team. I'm just not seeing much here to stop us from taking this one. It might go 7, but more likely a win in 6.

DIVISION C: UM...DO WE HAVE TO?

LA: Kobe is a complete unknown. He can take over a series or a game without any warning. The only worry they should have is how the Bynum/Pau frontcourt will work on the fly. Tossup here.

SA: The scariest team in the west for me. They have a psychological advantage over us that cannot be overstated. Duncan is the most bankable player in the game. Ginobili is just a notch below Kobe in his ability to dominate any given game. Parker can be lethal. Then they have an unbelievably solid group of support players that can all make a game altering play.


Overall, I see us, LA and SA as a toss-up for the favorites to win the conference. Though I would give significant consideration to both Phoenix and NO as longer shot types.

[GP]

This is easy:

the most formidable team (for the jazz) are the spurs, why? we haven't won in SA since 1999. 1999 guys, thats nearly 10 years ago. So unless the jazz get homecourt against them (even if they do) they won't win the series. Look at last year, the jazz looked pretty solid in the playoffs, until the spurs DESTROYED them. Lakers I feel we have a shot against, it would be a tough series, but more favorable than the spurs.

[Sloanfeld]

This is easy:

the most formidable team (for the jazz) are the spurs, why? we haven't won in SA since 1999. 1999 guys, thats nearly 10 years ago. So unless the jazz get homecourt against them (even if they do) they won't win the series. Look at last year, the jazz looked pretty solid in the playoffs, until the spurs DESTROYED them. Lakers I feel we have a shot against, it would be a tough series, but more favorable than the spurs.

It's not exactly a fair assessment to base this season on something from 99+.

[GP]

-= original quote snipped =-



It's not exactly a fair assessment to base this season on something from 99+.

you're right, my bad. It isn't a fair assessment to base this possible playoff match up on last years playoff outcome. In case you missed that part of my post, the jazz were DESTROYED by the spurs last year. That plus their ineptitude in SA was why, IMO, the spurs are the team they want to avoid.

[Duiz]

-= original quote snipped =-



you're right, my bad. It isn't a fair assessment to base this possible playoff match up on last years playoff outcome. In case you missed that part of my post, the jazz were DESTROYED by the spurs last year. That plus their ineptitude in SA was why, IMO, the spurs are the team they want to avoid.

They get over the Spurs, and the championship is the limit.

I just don't get why we still have these knuckleheads who just don't get it that stocks and momentum are changing, and the Jazz are much better than last year.

[Sloanfeld]

-= original quote snipped =-



They get over the Spurs, and the championship is the limit.

I just don't get why we still have these knuckleheads who just don't get it that stocks and momentum are changing, and the Jazz are much better than last year.

Not only that, but the Spurs aren't exactly playing better than last season. 20-21 Against teams .500 or better. I doubt they were that poor against good teams last season. And clearly Parker isn't playing at a Finals MVP level, yet.

I'm honestly suprised that Oberto didn't get more touches on Friday night. Man, I'll never forget how he abused Boozer last May.