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I have gone through the Jazz schedule four times and I came up with four different records. The first one was during training camp. I had the Jazz at 55-27. The second was during the middle of the pre –season then I had sixty wins. I did it again just after the final pre-season game against the Blazers and I got all the way up to 62 wins. After a brief review I decided 59 wins is more realistic and now I have come to a certain conclusion. So! Without further ado I give you the Jazz record for the 2008-09 season.

OCT-NOV: 15-3
The Jazz always start the season hot. I think this is because of the serious nature that Sloan treats training camp and the pre-season. If you don’t show up in shape you here about it. Fortunately it sounds as though most guys showed up in fantastic shape, most notably Brewer, Korver and Okur.

They do need to start hot because despite a 5 game eastern road swing and a game in San Antonio the Jazz have a pretty attractive schedule and it does not get easier at the end of the season.

DEC: 9-6
A loss in Sacramento to start the month and then a loss at home to Miami the next night. Back to backs killed the Jazz last year.

The Christmas trip beats them up with wins at Milwaukee and New Jersey but losses at Boston, Detroit and Chicago. Rose by the way looked fantastic in the pre-season. It will be a fun to watch Williams and Rose trade punches.

JAN: 10-5
Nothing to surprising. I have a loss in L.A. to start the month and losses to Houston and Portland on the road after playing the night before. But a big win against San Antonio.

FEB: 9-2
The two losses come to Sacramento on the road after playing Dallas the night before and it was tough but I picked the Celtics to beat the Jazz at home. They can’t win every game at home and if they are going to lose then it may as well be to the defending champs. Right? C’mon, Right? Back me up on this because that was a tough pick.

MARCH: 10-5
It’s another 10-5 month. It’s another tough eastern road trip with a win at Indiana (don’t sleep on Indiana I think T.J. Ford will do wonders minus Jermaine O’Neil) but losses at Atlanta (ouch), Miami, and Orlando.

APRIL: 4-4
This was really hard. Some really tough games to pick. Easy games at Denver (who should be eliminated by then) and at home against the Warriors and the Clippers (who should also be eliminated by then).
Two of the biggest game of the regular season will be at New Orleans and at L.A. (Lakers). I hope by then the Jazz have home court wrapped up and they can rest the starters but something tells me it wont be that easy.

*2008-09: 57-25

*Assuming there are no catastrophic injuries

Thoughts?

Sounds pretty accurate. But since the Jazz always manage to lose some very winnable games, I believe they'll end up with 55 or 56 wins.

It really could be somewhere between 55-60 wins. I stared at that schedule for a month. Back to backs of the Jazz and of the opposition. But looking at the schedule there is no reason they cant win 57-58 games.

I think that the Jazz will have developed the mental strength and experience to win alot more of those winnable games this year.

So what 5 games were iffy and you decided to change your mind on instead of a 62 win season a 57 win season?

I picked 62 btw about a month ago so I'm curious your thoughts.

West has become tougher than last year. I can see every top West team losng a couple more games than last season. I don't expect the Jazz to win more than 55; in fact I expect about 51-52 wins, and I would consider it a good campaign.
Anyway the real thing will be playoffs, and there no matter you just have to beat the other team.
In the same vein with fellow poster ele.ven, mental strenght, toughness, resiliency, are the keys. Talent wise we're there.

nghedman wrote:So what 5 games were iffy and you decided to change your mind on instead of a 62 win season a 57 win season?

I picked 62 btw about a month ago so I'm curious your thoughts.

NOV 11 @ Philadelphia (Boozer vs. Brand)

DEC 3 vs. MIAMI (We fly in that morning after losing to Sac)

FEB 6 @ Sacramento (Another back to back after a big win vs. Dallas)

APRIL 8 @ Dallas (They will be fighting for their playoff lives)

APRIL 10 @ San Antonio (I wanted to pick us at the Spurs but I just could not)

APRIL 14 @ L.A. Lakers (Another pick that hurt. Lakers are to good at home)

I just hope those April losses are because we have homecourt wrapped up!

Your name is Casey Sullivan?

No

Hahaha, I know your name. You lose.