Barkley: Jazz and Lakers are the best in the West

tracey_nice · Post #81 » by **tracey_nice** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:42 pm

Well, that was still before the Suns started to gel and get use to playing with Shaq. I really can't see the Jazz beating the Suns in a 7 game series.

cjs55 · Post #82 » by **cjs55** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:45 pm

Meh, I'm much less scared of the Suns than Spurs or Lakers. I'd bet on the Jazz beating the Suns. Having Shaq doesn't really help them against us, especially with Okur running around the perimeter.

Typhoon20 · Post #83 » by **Typhoon20** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:51 pm

tracey_nice wrote:Do people believe the Jazz could actually beat the Suns?

Suns are overrated and will exit in the 1st round to a poor poor Spurs.

The winner of the Lakers Jazz series will win the West, and my money is on the Lakers. They almost beat the Suns without Gasol or a mature Bynum. This time they'll finish them off.

NBA finals Celtics vs Lakers, book it.

tracey_nice · Post #84 » by **tracey_nice** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:52 pm

poor poor Spurs?

erudite23 · Post #85 » by **erudite23** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:26 pm

I just have to lol @ some of the stupidity being spouted in this thread. As much as I like the Lakers, they are not a better team right now than the Jazz are, they just aren't. A series between the two would, literally, be a toss up, and I would only expect the Lakers to win due to home court advantage.

I like what the Suns are doing, and the Spurs are the champs and deserve the deference due to a team that has accomplished what they have. Hell, even the Hornets are an excellent team with a solid shot to win it all.....but people have a big wake up call coming from this Jazz team. Not only are they incredibly diverse and talented on offense, but they have an amazing collective will to win that has impressed me more than any other thing. We saw it last year in the playoffs, and then especially the last two games vs. the Rockets.

I would expect the Lakers to win in 7, but it wouldn't shock me at all to see the Jazz win in 6. I can't wait for all the bitching from the Lakers fans when it isn't the walk in the park that some/most expect, and they try to blame it on outside factors. Its going to be FAAANNNNNTASTIC!

Deuce33 · Post #86 » by **Deuce33** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:51 pm

erudite23 wrote:I just have to lol @ some of the stupidity being spouted in this thread. As much as I like the Lakers, they are not a better team right now than the Jazz are, they just aren't. A series between the two would, literally, be a toss up, and I would only expect the Lakers to win due to home court advantage.

I like what the Suns are doing, and the Spurs are the champs and deserve the deference due to a team that has accomplished what they have. Hell, even the Hornets are an excellent team with a solid shot to win it all.....but people have a big wake up call coming from this Jazz team. Not only are they incredibly diverse and talented on offense, but they have an amazing collective will to win that has impressed me more than any other thing. We saw it last year in the playoffs, and then especially the last two games vs. the Rockets.

I would expect the Lakers to win in 7, but it wouldn't shock me at all to see the Jazz win in 6. I can't wait for all the bitching from the Lakers fans when it isn't the walk in the park that some/most expect, and they try to blame it on outside factors. Its going to be FAAANNNNNTASTIC!

Let me get this straight, you think because you "barely" beat the rockets on their home court without Rafer and Yao ming that your team now has a shot against the Lakers? Have you lost your damn mind? The Lakers present soo many damn problems for the Jazz that it's ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I give your team props for doing something that you guys were SUPPOSE TO DO, but the Lakers are just another beast. Please tell me how the Jazz are better than the Lakers?

RIPskaterdude · Post #87 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:51 pm

Oh oops...I must have slept in for an extra week, because it seems like 95% of this thread is already planning for a LA-Jazz matchup in round 2. I can kinda understand Jazz fans already thinking about it but cmon...it's only 1-0 right now for the Lakers. They'll win the series, obviously, but wait a few games before making any predictions. What if someone from either team is injured before the next round?

Hard2dhole · Post #88 » by **Hard2dhole** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:18 pm

xx_skaterdude_xx wrote:Oh oops...I must have slept in for an extra week, because it seems like 95% of this thread is already planning for a LA-Jazz matchup in round 2. I can kinda understand Jazz fans already thinking about it but cmon...it's only 1-0 right now for the Lakers. They'll win the series, obviously, but wait a few games before making any predictions. What if someone from either team is injured before the next round?

Agreed. Lakrs fans need to chillax until they effectively put the "no D" Enver Nuggets to pasture before they start spouting about the next round. If any of Odom/Gasol/Kobe were to go down it may be the Nuggets advancing. Melo and AI have the tools around them to take this series if you sleep on them.

That Nicka · Post #89 » by **That Nicka** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:27 pm

semi-sentient wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Consider that a brain fart. Here are the results of all 4 meetings:

@LAL 119, UTA 109
LAL 96, @UTA 120
@LAL 123, UTA 109
LAL 106, @UTA 95

U-Borat wrote:
Someone I don't think so.

2007/08: Kobe vs Utah: 4 games
29.8 points, 5.5 boards, 5 assists. 56% from the field.

2006/07: 3 games
38 points, 5.7 boards, 3 assists,, 54% from the field.

edit:
more fun.

odom 2007/08 vs utah: 3 games
15/8/4.7 shooting 63%.

2006/07: 3 games
19/11/5 shooting53%

gasol: 2007/08 (1 game played vs utah, as a grizzly)
poor game, just 11/4
2006/07 vs utah:
20/5/9.5/4.8 shooting 53% 4 games.

I'm actually a lot more confident with Gasol on Boozer than Kwame...while Kwame was a better post defender...Booze is assisted on 71% of shots, and a lot of pick and roll stuff is his bread and butter...and Gasol is one of the smarter and higher bball iq players in the league. definitely smart compared to kwame. lol.

And looking at deron....vsLA:
23.3/3.5/6.5 shooting 54%. assists are down majorly from season avgs...

and 06/07....14/2.5/9.5 shooting 42%. with smushy defending him.

Lakers should have the clear advantage... People are also forgetting that Utah is the most foul prone team in the league

Rauxcee · Post #90 » by **Rauxcee** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:37 pm

I think the Lakers, Spurs, and possibly the Suns are better than the Jazz.

Maybe this makes me a bad Jazz fan, but I see two possible outcomes if/when the Jazz and Lakers meet up in the second round. Lakers in 5 or Lakers in 7. I'm leaning towards 5 though.

Lakers are the one team I don't think the Jazz stand any chance against. Mostly because Kobe owns the Jazz. I really wanted that third seed so the Jazz could have avoided the Lakers in the second round.

That Nicka · Post #91 » by **That Nicka** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:37 pm

erudite23 wrote:As much as I like the Lakers, they are not a better team right now than the Jazz are, they just aren't.

I must say, this is some great reasoning and evidence!

:thumbsup:

erudite23 wrote:they have an amazing collective will to win that has impressed me more than any other thing. We saw it last year in the playoffs, and then especially the last two games vs. the Rockets.

Kudos to you guys for beating the Rockets last year on their home court... But you then proceeded to get smashed by the Spurs in 5 games.... that is deinitely an amazing collective will to win... very impressive indeed

This year you guys are beating the Yao-less Rockets... they are missing Rafer as well who was arguably having the best season of his career... The Rockets 2nd best player right now is Battier or the rookie Scola... two road victories against this Rocket team is not very impressive

Post #92 » by **jazzfan1971** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:52 pm

I dont' want to play the Lakers or the Spurs. I don't see the Jazz with an advantage over either team.

I think if I had to choose I'd play the Lakers though. Anyone but the Spurs for the Jazz please.

Go PHoenix! I hope that gelling is working out for ya.

Blame Rasho · Post #93 » by **Blame Rasho** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:58 pm

Duiz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

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

Look at the odds for the Jazz to be in the finals. The Jazz have been playing much much much better than the Lakers.

Duiz · Post #94 » by **Duiz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:58 pm

That Nicka wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Kudos to you guys for beating the Rockets last year on their home court... But you then proceeded to get smashed by the Spurs in 5 games.... that is deinitely an amazing collective will to win... very impressive indeed

This year you guys are beating the Yao-less Rockets... they are missing Rafer as well who was arguably having the best season of his career... The Rockets 2nd best player right now is Battier or the rookie Scola... two road victories against this Rocket team is not very impressive

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

Look at the odds for the Jazz to be in the finals. The Jazz have been playing much much much better than the Lakers.

That Nicka · Post #95 » by **That Nicka** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:59 pm

Duiz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

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

Look at the odds for the Jazz to be in the finals. The Jazz have been playing much much much better than the Lakers.

OK.. You win

:rofl:

tracey_nice · Post #96 » by **tracey_nice** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:02 pm

Duiz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

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

Look at the odds for the Jazz to be in the finals. The Jazz have been playing much much much better than the Lakers.

wow

Duiz · Post #97 » by **Duiz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:04 pm

That Nicka wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

OK.. You win

The stats don't prove if they are truly better, but in games, wins against great teams, point differentials, etc. Utah has been playing much much better.

Deuce33 · Post #98 » by **Deuce33** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:12 pm

Duiz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

The stats don't prove if they are truly better, but in games, wins against great teams, point differentials, etc. Utah has been playing much much better.

At home...

Duiz · Post #99 » by **Duiz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:15 pm

Deuce33 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

At home...

In December, Utah went 1-9 with a string of losses to Bobcats, Knicks, Heat, Pacers, etc.

Since then, they have been 11-10. The road deficiency thing is a myth and honestly a fluke of a record when you consider the teams they have won against.

erudite23 · Post #100 » by **erudite23** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:19 pm

I guess people are just going to have to learn the hard way. Oh well.