Most disappointing regular season ever?

[carrottop12]

I thinking back on my history of following the Jazz and I really can't think of a more frustrating and disappointing season I've experienced as a Jazz fan.

1) I went into the season thinking that the Jazz were really going to contend for a top playoff spot, would have HCA for the first time in what seems like forever, and would be one of the most talented and deep teams in the playoffs.

2) I thought the Jazz would finally break some of their terrible traits like not winning on the road and actually winning a game in San Antonio, neither happened.

3) I thought someone else in the Jazz supporting cast would really emerge and while Millsap and Brewer had solid years, neither are that second piece to put next to Deron that a championship team needs.

4) I thought the Jazz were going to establish themselves as one of the top teams of the future who would build on past success and look to take even that next step. Now they look like they have more questions then ever.

5) I thought that if something wasn't working the Jazz would have used one of their large expiring contracts in a trade to take on another all-star who could help to change the culture... Nothing happened.

Basically this season has been a complete disappointment. Not only do I think the team underachieved, I don't think they learned anything that they didn't know at the end of the year last year. Seems like all this did was make the team one year older instead of one year wiser.

Obviously if something drastic happens in the playoffs this season could be saved, but as for the regular season I give the Jazz a great big F for what has happened.

[Reckless]

It is the most disappointing season because we thought this team was going to compete with the Lakers for homecourt not face the Lakers in the first round!! Season started bad with D-Will's injury, but even then we went 5-0 to start the season w/o D-will so we are looking like we can survive it and we think D-will come back as strong as ever but the injury is worse than everyone expected and we go 1-4 on the eastern roadie and we are looking like last year's team. We go 10-7 in November, that month pretty much sums up how the rest of our year would go. In November we lost home games to teams have no business beating us(Chicago & New Jersey), and we couldn't win on the road..sound familiar?

[idajazz]

This was by far the most disappointing season. Had very high hopes.

I started watching the jazz when Ricky Green was the point.
Faces have changed, but that is about it.

I am really looking forward and hoping that Greg Miller will make some big changes.
I liked LHM, but always thought that he was to loyal/soft.

I wouldn't mind if the team took a step back next season if the right changes are made, and the future after said changes looks bright.

[gojazzgo]

For a regular season, this one is definitely up there.

Blowing a 17pt lead and losing to dallas at home in the 2001 playoffs still bugs me though.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Yes. I cant think of another year where I actually missed games or stopped watching them because I was so frustrated with the team.

[kebutah]

It seems like once this year's team gets behind we collapse. In the past we had the reputation of being able to work our way back in. At times it has seemed that no lead we have is safe because we are only a few minutes away from sloppy uninspired play.

[JDubJazz]

In the 25 years I've watched this team, I've never been more dissapointed in a regular season performance. If the Jazz don't make significant changes to this heartless pile of of steaming crap we call the Jazz, then I'm done with the NBA for a while.

[seejaydeja]

I agree. I can't ever remember being this dissapointed with a Jazz team in my life. You can use all the excuses you want, but when it comes down to it, this team just didn't come together, or try hard enough to fulfill their potential.

At least we got nothing to lose going in 8th seed. Just forget all your frustrations and cheer em on.

[BiggMann]

Cant remember a season in where i turned the TV off in the 4th quarter this many times. Deron seems frustrated that no one else is stepping up (Boozer, AK).

[erudite23]

Um....2005, anyone? I think this season is so bitter because of the last two weeks or so.

Well, really since that Miami game. That game destroyed our will to win and made us completely reverse course. Before that game, we were doing extremely well considering the burden of injuries and other issues that the team had faced. This last two or three weeks, though.....it has been devastating, I will hand you that, but the entire season doesn't qualify.

Here are strides that have been made in ascending order of import:

3.

We have developed into an elite steals team who creates a ton of TOs and gets out to score easy points. This is a devastating weapon to an opponent that can really create a lot of momentum and start runs. Ronnie Brewer, AK, Millsap, CJ even Boozer have done it as a team. It isn't just one or two guys that do it all. Its become a team mindset and it could be huge somewhere down the road for us.

2.

We have discovered some young guys.

Kosta Koufos is going to be a player, you can write that down somewheres. We could be looking back in 3 years and saying that Koufos was the steal of an incredibly deep draft class. How often do you find a 7 foot center who is athletic, skilled, has a good frame and has an incredible work ethic...WITH THE 23RD PICK IN THE DRAFT? This is flying under the radar because of a) his struggles to think the game in a complex NBA offense and b) the way that Jerry treats his rookies. But I've seen enough from him to know that he will at least be a solid starter in the league. His ceiling? I don't even know. I see no limit to what he could become (which is not to say he WILL become that, mind) if everything falls into place. For me, a big lightening of the doom-and-gloom pervading this board exists because of him on our team. I can easily see how this kid could solve a lot of the problems with our team next year.

CJ, as bad as he's been for stretches, has blossomed into a real NBA player who deserves burn because of his production rather than his promise. He still struggles with figuring out how aggressive to be and his decision making, but I think he took a big step towards becoming a real solid player for us for years.

Millsap showed an ability to be a real force in the paint. Who knows if he can be a 19 and 11 guy for an entire season, but we have seen it for a month and a half, so we know its in him. Most would have doubted that before the year began. He's still young, he's a hard worker, and he's a scrappy and tough defender. The kind of player we need on our team.

1.

D-Will.

Say what you want, but he took another big step this year. Think about it. He started the season with extreme physical limitations that prevented him from being himself for, essentially, the entire 1st half of the season. Since Jan 1 he's been averaging 20.8/11.0/3.2 TOs on 48.1% FGs and has gotten his FT% up into the 85ish% range he belongs in. All this with his 3 point shot (at times during his rookie and 3rd seasons his best weapon) almost completely deserting him.

Most importantly, though, he has begun to wear the mantle of "the man". Last night in LA was a great example. On the road versus a championship caliber squad, on a team that has lost its spirit, he was going to send a message that "Hey, I know your a foot taller than me and 70lbs heavier, but I'm not taking your ****" *elbow in the chest*

The guy is starting to get it. We need to get another few pieces around him that have the same intensity, drive and mindset, and we'll be right back in title contention.

[JDubJazz]

Um....2005, anyone? I think this season is so bitter because of the last two weeks or so.

Well, really since that Miami game. That game destroyed our will to win and made us completely reverse course. Before that game, we were doing extremely well considering the burden of injuries and other issues that the team had faced. This last two or three weeks, though.....it has been devastating, I will hand you that, but the entire season doesn't qualify.

Here are strides that have been made in ascending order of import:

3.

We have developed into an elite steals team who creates a ton of TOs and gets out to score easy points. This is a devastating weapon to an opponent that can really create a lot of momentum and start runs. Ronnie Brewer, AK, Millsap, CJ even Boozer have done it as a team. It isn't just one or two guys that do it all. Its become a team mindset and it could be huge somewhere down the road for us.

Agreed, though the gambling for steals does lead to a lot of layups for the other team as well, because if the guy gets out of position going for the steal, he has no safety-net big man to back him up and protect the rim. That Miami game really was the beginning of the end for the 08-09 Jazz. It literaaly crushed the spirit right out of them.

2.

We have discovered some young guys.

Kosta Koufos is going to be a player, you can write that down somewheres. We could be looking back in 3 years and saying that Koufos was the steal of an incredibly deep draft class. How often do you find a 7 foot center who is athletic, skilled, has a good frame and has an incredible work ethic...WITH THE 23RD PICK IN THE DRAFT? This is flying under the radar because of a) his struggles to think the game in a complex NBA offense and b) the way that Jerry treats his rookies. But I've seen enough from him to know that he will at least be a solid starter in the league. His ceiling? I don't even know. I see no limit to what he could become (which is not to say he WILL become that, mind) if everything falls into place. For me, a big lightening of the doom-and-gloom pervading this board exists because of him on our team. I can easily see how this kid could solve a lot of the problems with our team next year.

CJ, as bad as he's been for stretches, has blossomed into a real NBA player who deserves burn because of his production rather than his promise. He still struggles with figuring out how aggressive to be and his decision making, but I think he took a big step towards becoming a real solid player for us for years.

Millsap showed an ability to be a real force in the paint. Who knows if he can be a 19 and 11 guy for an entire season, but we have seen it for a month and a half, so we know its in him. Most would have doubted that before the year began. He's still young, he's a hard worker, and he's a scrappy and tough defender. The kind of player we need on our team.

I agree about Koufous. He could end up being our Andrew Bynum (though hopefully without the injuries). I disagree about CJ. I don't think he's proven himself to be a legitimate NBA player, because he makes so many dumb lapses on defense that his offense doesn't justify any significant court time. And, sadly, I think Paul Milsap will be playing for another team next year.

1.

D-Will.

Say what you want, but he took another big step this year. Think about it. He started the season with extreme physical limitations that prevented him from being himself for, essentially, the entire 1st half of the season. Since Jan 1 he's been averaging 20.8/11.0/3.2 TOs on 48.1% FGs and has gotten his FT% up into the 85ish% range he belongs in. All this with his 3 point shot (at times during his rookie and 3rd seasons his best weapon) almost completely deserting him.

Most importantly, though, he has begun to wear the mantle of "the man". Last night in LA was a great example. On the road versus a championship caliber squad, on a team that has lost its spirit, he was going to send a message that "Hey, I know your a foot taller than me and 70lbs heavier, but I'm not taking your ****" *elbow in the chest*

The guy is starting to get it. We need to get another few pieces around him that have the same intensity, drive and mindset, and we'll be right back in title contention.

Agreed. Deron is the light at the end of what seems like a very dark tunnel. A guy like him who can create for others and still dominate the game, is bound to lure a couple of other guys here who will want to play with him. That is our real hope for the future.

[Bradford]

Who cares about the regular season anyways? haha....But really, I think the Jazz will elevate their level of effort in the playoffs, as will the other teams. But I think Utah will have the biggest jump in the effort/energy department because they show lower amounts of that in the regular season than most or all playoff teams. That is how they will surprise some people.

[FJS]

Still was worse 2004-05 season... after 41-41 seasona year before with a few no names, we add Boozer and Okur and... we finished 26-56---

[Sloanfeld]

It was a disappointment. I hated this season during all the injuries, When CB came back I figured we'd be able to make a run at the division. Then we went to Miami...

Let's hope the Knicks win the lottery next season. Man, that could be the break that the franchise finally needs.

[Racer X]

Yes this has been the most disappointing regular season ever. We should have been championship contenders. Instead we never got into a good groove and now are the 8 seed.

Deron going down in the preseason was an omen. He was looking so dominant, he had such command of the team, but I think his absence and subsequent poor return completely put this team in a never ending funk.

DAMN YOU DERICK ROSE!!!!! DAMN YOU!!!!!!!

[erudite23]

You couldn't be more right, Sloanfeld. So much rides on the fortunes of New York next season. If we can get some like an Ed Davis, DeMarcus Cousins or (my personal favorite and hopeful) Derrick Favors, this team could be right back in the mix at the top of the league.

I don't know...I am extremely unhappy to see the Jazz where they are right this second, but you can't be unhappy with how they've positioned themselves from an asset standpoint. If Boozer and Okur pick up their options, we go into next year with about 30 mil in expiring contracts, a future lottery pick--potentially top 5, even--coming down the pike, a young stud at one of the two hardest positions in the league to fill, and a cupboard full of young talent. Most franchises would kill to be where we're at right now.

We will have extreme flexibility next year to make moves, and we will have a lot of ammo to do it with. Things turn so fast in the NBA, you can never count yourself out. Just last year at this time Cleveland was a 45 win team with one superstar and a bunch of seemingly horrible peices around him. They were being laughed at around the league for the bunch of misfits they put together. Big Ben was a Big Bust. Z was old and getting older, overpaid and diminishing in talent. Delonte West was being treated for depression and had just finished a horrible season. They couldn't seem to find a PG to take some of the ball handling away from LBJ...at least not one that could hit an open J to save his soul. Varejao was unhappy (contract) and struggling with injuries. They had the wildly overpaid Larry Hughes on their payroll for max money, hell THEY HAD A NEGATIVE POINT DIFFERENTIAL.....but they still had LeBron.

Now? They get a (mildly) overpaid Moe Williams in basically a cost cutting move for nothing in return, Big Z has a Big Year. Varejao gets back to his pre-contract form. Delonte comes in from the ledge. Big Ben suddenly doesn't look so bad because he's able to play a role more suited to his declining abilities....oh, and LeBron takes it up even ANOTHER notch, and suddenly they are among one of the best (regular season) teams ever and look poised to make a strong championship run.

The Lakers. At the end of the 07 playoffs they were an after thought. A joke. Kobe was selfish, he couldn't win at a high level without Shaq, the kids were suffocated and overwhelmed by his ego, Phil was washed up and just collecting a paycheck, Bynum was a gangly, overweight and lazy kid who had had the nerve to compare himself to Shaq (except with the ability to make FTs). THEY WERE STARTING SMUSH FREAKIN PARKER. I mean, what more do you want.

Now, granted, in their case they were gifted an extremely good, and vastly underrated, player in exchange for next to nothing. But even before the trade, they were chugging along with the other powers in the West and pulling it off pretty well with just the kids.

These things happen all the time. Two franchises that seemed stuck in the mud one year were championship contenders the next.

I know no one wants to hear anything like this, and--truth be told--I'm trying not to throw up in my own mouth as I type it. But the reality is that things are never as good or as bad as they seem in this league. Much of what happens is just a matter of circumstance, of things falling into place at the right moment. Right now, this team is a f**king joke. Tomorrow, the joke could be on everyone else.

Little comfort, but true.

[ColdBlue]

^ Nice post E23.

The only problem is that those franchises have a certain risk taking flexibility that our Utah Jazz franchise has yet to even remotely approach.

[commander]

Let's go Jazz!

[Denizfeital]

I cant say if its the most disappoinint ever, but for me, who follows The Jazz since 1997, is no question about, the most disappointing regular season I ve ever seen.

I really, really thought we were a serious contender. My only worry was beating SA at their home, if we had to. Other than that, I was very confident that we could win it all.

Looking now, may be Cleveland would be a serious match against us, and of course, The Lakers played pretty well. May be we couldnt win it all, but eighth spot, heading to be swept in the first round, that s something I wasnt expecting at all.

Really disappointing.

Regards

[Ming Kong!]

For a regular season, this one is definitely up there.

Blowing a 17pt lead and losing to dallas at home in the 2001 playoffs still bugs me though.

How about 1999? Best record in the NBA, we were labeled favorites to win it all at the start of the season, and we blew it bad.