Does anyone really fear the Utah Jazz?

Intensity · Post #1 » by **Intensity** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:35 pm

I was talking with my buddy yesterday and we were talking about possible match ups and what teams we thought we needed to stay away from in the playoffs. But one thing we agreed upon was that we don't really see Utah as a team that can do legit damage in the playoffs. They're an ok team, but a 17-23 road record won't get it done in the playoffs. I'd rather play Utah than the eighth seeded Denver, or Dallas. What do you guys think? Does Utah really scare anyone?

Chris435 · Post #2 » by **Chris435** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:38 pm

Like you said, they just don't seem to get it done on the road. I think they are a great team though... if only they could play better on the road.

Crooked-I · Post #3 » by **Crooked-I** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:41 pm

They probably won't get it done in the playoffs, but i'd definetly rather play Dallas or Denver then them. They are almost impossible to beat at home, so one bad game at home for my Lakers and the series just gets turned upside down. Not to mention a Boozer - Deron combo owns us everytime.

Chubby Chaser · Post #4 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:45 pm

I fear one legged kick boxers and green-eyed monsters. I do not fear the Utah Jazz.

HarlemHeat37 · Post #5 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:46 pm

the Jazz are a solid team..

home/road won't make a huge difference IMO..the key with the Jazz is whether or not they play consistent defense..everybody knows that they have legit offensive weapons, not to mention the 2nd best PG in the NBA IMO and one of the best PF's in Boozer..

hoops4life · Post #6 » by **hoops4life** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:49 pm

Look at their home record. They really only need to steal one of four on the road to be really dangerous.

You could really say it for almost any team... the only team I worry about playing in the west is LA and to a smaller degree San Antonio. I don't worry about any of the other teams.

tracey_nice · Post #7 » by **tracey_nice** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:49 pm

The New Orleans Hornets fear them

Nate505 · Post #8 » by **Nate505** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:53 pm

Intensity wrote:I was talking with my buddy yesterday and we were talking about possible match ups and what teams we thought we needed to stay away from in the playoffs. But one thing we agreed upon was that we don't really see Utah as a team that can do legit damage in the playoffs. They're an ok team, but a 17-23 road record won't get it done in the playoffs. I'd rather play Utah than the eighth seeded Denver, or Dallas. What do you guys think? Does Utah really scare anyone?

What should be scary about Utah is that they have an extremely formidable home record and they have been known to win games on the road against good competition.

They have won in Boston (the only Western Conference team to do so), Detroit, Golden State, Orlando, Denver, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Houston. And it's not like they got killed in Dallas yesterday.

In a playoff series this means that if Utah goes and steals one in the first two games a team has to come into Salt Lake and win one. Winning in Salt Lake hasn't been easy for teams.

And if you would rather play Utah than Denver you're out of your f'ing mind. Utah is a more superior team in every aspect, except maybe defense. Then again, Denver is the team that gave up 150+ points to the Sonics.

carrottop12 · Post #9 » by **carrottop12** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:05 pm

Yeah, the Jazz have just played miserably against the likes of the Hawks, the Pacers, the Bobcats, the Knicks and the Clippers on the road.

However they have been exceptional against the likes of Boston, Detriot Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Orlando, New Orleans, and Golden State.

The Jazz beat the good teams on the road, it's the immaturity of the team that they can't get up for the bad teams in the league, has nothing to do with an inability to win on the road.

Also, the Jazz are 11-10 on the road since trading for Kyle Korver and getting Mehmet Okur healthy again. And they are a completely different team since that happened in January, and that record is above .500.

But I am sure the Jazz love being overlooked, same thing happened last year and they made the Western Conference Finals.

Basileus777 · Post #10 » by **Basileus777** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:12 pm

With parity so widespread in the west, the playoffs are going to come down to matchups, and the Utah Jazz pose matchup problems for several of the western conference playoff teams. I don't know if they can advance to the finals, but they are still a dangerous team.

Milkdud · Post #11 » by **Milkdud** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:16 pm

I think you gotta give the Jazz as much respect as any team in the west. They are great at home, have lots of offensive fire power and one of the best coaches in the game.

Master Shake · Post #12 » by **Master Shake** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:17 pm

Not that it matters until the finals, but if the Pistons were to make the finals, the LAST team we'd want to play is Utah.

They own us.

Intensity · Post #13 » by **Intensity** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:18 pm

Utah's a soft team. They need to raise their defensive efforts if they want to do anything in the playoffs.

Nate505 · Post #14 » by **Nate505** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:19 pm

Intensity wrote:Utah's a soft team. They need to raise their defensive efforts if they want to do anything in the playoffs.

Heh.

Utah is a soft team that every fan in the leagues whines about being dirty and physical.

Utah doesn't play good defense but they are hardly soft.

Basileus777 · Post #15 » by **Basileus777** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:20 pm

Utah might be too hard, because they don't play good defense they foul way too much.

RoyceDa59 · Post #16 » by **RoyceDa59** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:34 pm

The Utah Jazz are a Tyson Chandler / Marcus Camby type player away from being an elite team in the West. They simply lack the interior presence needed to compete against the likes of Shaq, Duncan, Gasol, or Chandler/West.

xstockholmsyndromex · Post #17 » by **xstockholmsyndromex** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:38 pm

Basileus777 wrote:Utah might be too hard, because they don't play good defense they foul way too much.

Its called wearing you down and not giving away easy buckets. If you dont think guys get worn down from getting pummeled by the likes of Boozer and Millsap, guess again. The jazz playing physical usual works out in their favor towards the end of the game, when other teams are tired and beat up.

Not only that but the Jazz can play good defense. Look at the San Antonio and New Orleans games..you dont hold those teams 64 and 66 points without playing some defense....The Jazz played failry good defense in the first two playoff series last year...and I think they will only be better.

People dont fear us, but they should...but Im okay with our team being overlooked.

HawaiianJazzFan · Post #18 » by **HawaiianJazzFan** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:47 pm

They have the best record in the west against the top 11 teams (western teams and Det/Boston) in the NBA. They are 19-11 against top 11 in the NBA... next in west conf. is NOH and LAL with records of 18-14. In fact they are the only western team to have at least 2 wins against Boston and Detroit and in fact they are 3-1 against them. They also have the best record against the western conference playoff teams (including GSW) 16-10. They have wins @GSW @ PHX (w/ Shaq) @Denver @Houston @ Boston @ Detroit @ New Orleans @ Orlando. That is road wins against 7 of the top 11 teams... the only other team that matches that is the Lakers who have 8 wins against 7 teams on the road.

All the Jazz have to do is win one road game and it is done. They are unbeatable at home for the most part. 4 Losses the ENTIRE season (35-4) at home.... Hou, LAL, Bos, and Portland.

The only reason that their road record looks bad is because they dogged it against crap teams with losses...
@ NY
@ ATL
@ CHA
@ CLips
@ Minny TWICE
@ Chicago
@ New Jersey
@ Sacramento TWICE

Ten of their 23 losses on the road are against teams that are TERRIBLE. That means against the rest of the league they are 17-13 away from home.

They are also only one of two (Boston the other) teams in the entire NBA to have a win against EVERY team in the NBA. Not only are they beating teams in Utah they are DESTROYING them... at home they have an average win margin of greater than +14.... when they lose they lose close games... when they win they destroy other teams.

Duiz · Post #19 » by **Duiz** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:52 pm

As much as I hate and despise John Hollinger check this out...

http://query-origin.andohs.net/8000A6/c ... 080410.mp3

Go until minute 13, and he starts speaking about a Utah Jazz/Boston Celtics final.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Under the playoff odds, which I think is a bit flawed, but gives a bland idea of the record of the team, if they are hot, and grades them depending the quality of wins, has the Utah Jazz second in percentage to win the the championship, and at least twice as much odds as anyone else on the Western Conference.

Also, the Jazz are 15-10 against the West Top teams which is the highest winning percentage(%.667). Also the Jazz are also 18-4 against the East's Top 9. The only 4 losses have come to Cleveland, Indiana, and the Hawks, and Boston at Home (Only East team to beat Utah at home).

Combined, that is 23-14 record against the Elite team. Of those 14 losses, only three have been defeats at home (Lakers, Boston, and Houston)

Post #20 » by **studcrackers** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:02 pm

hell yea i fear them, as a mavs fan id rather play the spurs over them. i hate when the mavs play in utah mainly b/c the game always seems to be a foul fest and there fans bitch and moan at every call

i think they're better then they were last year, they overachieved last year mainly due to a draw in the 2nd round that they matched up w/perfectly. but once they got to the WCF the spurs manhandled them, this year could possibly be different