Jadoogar wrote:jazzfan1971 wrote:Iwasawitness wrote:I'm not really getting Utah's plan here.
The whole point of getting all of these first round picks were to rebuild quickly through the draft. Keeping Lauri stops them from at the very least being a bottom feeder team, so they can't get higher draft picks through themselves. They'll get the lottery, but I doubt they manage anything in the top five. Minnesota has found their groove and looks like they'll be a top team for years to come. And Cleveland locked up their core four on long term deals. Baring any unforeseen circumstances, I don't see a path for Utah to truly build themselves through the draft in the same matter that OKC did.
I think that the Jazz believe that they can tank with Lauri.
The West is crazy strong this year. I doubt we will be favored in any matchup besides home games vs. Portland. So, that's only 2 of 41 games in the West we would expect to win. (with Lauri)
The East is a different story. I would imagine that we'll be favored to win vs. all of the East's bottom feeders. But, we only play them 2x which means maybe two wins each. They have to play each other 4 times so they also can expect 2 wins each. I think with questionable PG play and shutting things down after the all-star break that the Jazz will be on pretty even footing with the other tanking teams, largely by virtue of the strength of the West.
Jazz are essentially bringing back the same team as last year and i would hope to see some growth from Kessler and George. Yea the west is tough but there is always injuries (see Memphis last year). They are definitely better than the true bottom feeders (Wizards, Pistons, Nets and Blazers). I don't think they'll be in the mix for a bottom 4 seed.
Well, yes. Ish. We don't have Olynyk who was pretty good for us. And we don't have Dunn who really stabilized our PG position. I think a lot of losing in the NBA comes down to poor PG play. It can really lower your floor. The Jazz can be expected to really run the young guys this year.
C - Kessler, Filipowski
PF - Lauri, Collins
SF - Hendricks, Williams
SG - Clarkson, Sexton
PG - George, Collier
I would expect that to be the Jazz 10 man depth chart as of now. I could easily see any of Collins, Sexton, or Clarkson moved before the trade deadline in a very Jazz like move.
Even in that lineup, I have 1 3rd year guy, 2 second year guy and 3 rookies as rotation players. Lets say that the Jazz pay a couple 2nds to send Clarkson out to the Lakers or something similar and put Sensebaugh in the rotation.
C - Kessler, Filipowski
PF - Lauri, Collins
SF - Hendricks, Williams
SG - Sexton, Sensebaugh
PG - George, Collier
Now you are extremely young. I think you might look at that roster and see a team that could go into Detroit and come out with a loss.
"Thibs called back and wanted more picks," said Jorge Sedano. "And Pat Riley, literally, I was told, called him a mother-bleeper and hung up the phone."
