Barkley: Jazz and Lakers are the best in the West

[Duiz]

uhhh lakers.

[That Nicka]

Didnt the great John Hollinger use his all-knowing stats to predict that the Chicago Bulls would come out of the East this year?

[Duiz]

Didnt the great John Hollinger use his all-knowing stats to predict that the Chicago Bulls would come out of the East this year?

Different story, different situation. Not really relevant to the point that we have been making that the Jazz have been playing better than anyone on the West.

[Frosty]

All this debate over third best in the league...

[That Nicka]

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Different story, different situation. Not really relevant to the point that we have been making that the Jazz have been playing better than anyone on the West.

Keep telling yourself that... Hollinger's formula is flawed and quite frankly, basketball is not a formula... You cant just compare a few numbers and say one team is playing better than others.... Its a game of matchups, the Utah Jazz do not match up well with the Lakers

[semi-sentient]

Different story, different situation. Not really relevant to the point that we have been making that the Jazz have been playing better than anyone on the West.

I wouldn't say that.

Utah went 17-6 over the last 2 months, while the Lakers went 16-7 with Pau missing 10 of those games.

[Duiz]

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I wouldn't say that.

Utah went 17-6 over the last 2 months, while the Lakers went 16-7 with Pau missing 10 of those games.

Sure wins against New Orleans, Mavericks, San Antonio and some other teams highlight the stock you got from there. Utah beated the same teams in uber blowouts and defensively humiliated fashion, and also beated Boston and other elite teams. Take also into account, Utah lost to the t-wolves twice on the road, while Lakers lost to Bobcats, and Memphis at home.

Utah and Rockets both best two records in the NBA since 2008. Also Okur, Brewer, and Kirilenko have suffered injuries as of late.

I am not saying we should, cause the year is the year, but if we were to take December out of the equation for the Jazz, we would be talking right now about Celtics/Jazz run for the title.

[That Nicka]

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Sure wins against New Orleans, Mavericks, San Antonio and some other teams highlight the stock you got from there. Utah beated the same teams in uber blowouts and defensively humiliated fashion, and also beated Boston and other elite teams. Take also into account, Utah lost to the t-wolves twice on the road, while Lakers lost to Bobcats, and Memphis at home.

Utah and Rockets both best two records in the NBA since 2008. Also Okur, Brewer, and Kirilenko have suffered injuries as of late.

Lakers were obviously significantly worse without Pau Gasol.. Especially considering Bynum was already out.... Without those two guys the Lakers were basically the same .500 team that barely made the playoffs as a 7 seed the last 2 years.... Overall, the Lakers are 23-4 with Pau Gasol (excluding the loss to New Orleans where Gasol got injured 3 minutes into the game).... Had the Gasol never got injured, Lakers would easily have the best record in 2008

I am not saying we should, cause the year is the year, but if we were to take December out of the equation for the Jazz, we would be talking right now about Celtics/Jazz run for the title.

Take the Bynum/Gasol/Ariza injuries out of the equation and we would be talking right now about Lakers 15th championship run.... See how that works?

[Deuce33]

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Sure wins against New Orleans, Mavericks, San Antonio and some other teams highlight the stock you got from there. Utah beated the same teams in uber blowouts and defensively humiliated fashion, and also beated Boston and other elite teams. Take also into account, Utah lost to the t-wolves twice on the road, while Lakers lost to Bobcats, and Memphis at home.

Utah and Rockets both best two records in the NBA since 2008. Also Okur, Brewer, and Kirilenko have suffered injuries as of late.

I am not saying we should, cause the year is the year, but if we were to take December out of the equation for the Jazz, we would be talking right now about Celtics/Jazz run for the title.

Truth is this though, we can discuss all of that, or we can take into account WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

1. How both of these teams match-up against each other

2. The two teams overall record against one another

3. How both of these two teams perform at home and on the road.

4. Who has HCA..

Now when you take all of that into account, it equals an ass whoopin for the Jazz.

[RTM]

I rank LA number one, but certainly not Utah ast number 2. I think they're good, but here's how I rank the West:

1. Lakers
2. Hornets (They have a solid 8 man rotation, Good oaching, and Chris Paul - SO underrated)
3. San Antonio (been there, done that)
4. Utah (good team, but not convinced they're the second best. Sure, they're beating up on a depleted Rockets team who played way over thier heads earlier this year - I still think they're a weak road team with suspect D)

[Duiz]

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Truth is this though, we can discuss all of that, or we can take into account WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

1. How both of these teams match-up against each other

2. The two teams overall record against one another

3. How both of these two teams perform at home and on the road.

4. Who has HCA..

Now when you take all of that into account, it equals an ass whoopin for the Jazz.

The matchup, I think that most of the games have really been fluke games, even the win by Utah. I don't think we have been able to see a really good matchup. Like us with the Hornets, we have blown them out in three games by over 60 points combined, but they blew us out in one. It doesn't really give a fair comparison on how the teams are matched up.

The record is undeniably going to the Lakers. I think I agree it is sort of a factor, but just like the Suns have an upper hand on the head to head record against the Spurs, the Spurs are leading their series.

The Jazz perform great at home, but does that mean that there is no chance for the Lakers to win in Utah again? No. The Lakers haven't been necessarily saints at home, and Utah has been playing really well on the road and specially against good teams, do we count the Lakers to be unable to hold the Jazz at home? No. I think any team can win on the road on any given night. I don't really think ESA holds like a mental barrier, and neither does Staples center.

HCA for the Lakers, and I can see it going to 7 games. But again, it is all about mentality.

I think the biggest keys here is Odom for the Lakers, and Team Defense for the Jazz. If Odom comes big for the Lakers, and scores 20+ PPG during the series, I see the Jazz having difficulties. If the Jazz are able to do just a decent job defensively, just a decent job, their offense will carry them along.

[ILikeTheGrizz]

I only read the OP, but I vehemently disagree. In fact, I think Suns-Spurs is probably the 'real' WCF, although either the Lakers or Hornets could be in the running as well.

Jazz? Nah.

[Duiz]

2. Hornets (They have a solid 8 man rotation, Good oaching, and Chris Paul - SO underrated)

Utah has a solid 9 man rotation? Deron Williams is the one that is underated. I think you got a team swapped in there.

[edfmx86]

Cp3 underrated???

i cant watch one espn show without someone mentioning how great cp3 does!

He is not overrated, everyone knows how good he is and can be, trust me. that said, i doubt the Hornet can knock off the spurs in a 7 game series.

Lakers
Spurs
Jazz

Suns, Hornets, Mavs

Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors

[JStockLivesOn]

Chris Paul being underrated is hilarious. He's one of -- if not the -- best point guard(s) in the league, and that fact is acknowledged and discussed ad nauseum. Most sports journalists assert that he should be the MVP (rightfully so, probably). But how in the WORLD could anyone call him underrated?

[CB4MiamiHeat]

i dont get the Jazz pick..considering how much Barkley loves to criticize teams that dont play great D.

Lakers are sill somewhat decent on D..

[JStockLivesOn]

i dont get the Jazz pick..considering how much Barkley loves to criticize teams that dont play great D.

Lakers are sill somewhat decent on D..

A lot of analysts, Barkley included, regard Utah as a decent to very good defensive team. The accuracy of such an assertion is in reality quite questionable.

[Ming Kong!]

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You got to be a good road team to beat the Jazz. And the Lakers are. We beat them on the road without Bynum, but they beat us without Boozer. It's hard to say, but if we have Bynum we should beat them in 6. I don't see them having a chance of slowing down Pau and Bynum. Without Bynum it's a tossup. Kobe plays very well against the Jazz so i say we beat them in 7.

I'm of course biased though.

That wasn't a biased/homer post. I think it was well elaborated.

Anyways, I believe the series will go a minimum 6 or 7 games, and for the mean time I think LA has the edge. The only way Utah can win this series is by winning one of the first two games. If the Jazz are able to sweep the Rockets they will probably be pretty comfortable playing on the road and will challenge the Lakers even at Staples. Utah needs to finish the current series as fast as possible to rest Williams, and get a headstart on the Lakers. I feel if LA's series can go 5 or 6, then Utah has a shot at game 1 or 2. If LA sweeps Denver, then the Jazz could be in trouble.

That's just what I'm hoping for.

[erudite23]

i dont get the Jazz pick..considering how much Barkley loves to criticize teams that dont play great D.

Lakers are sill somewhat decent on D..

As much crap as our fans, and certain other teams fans, too, take on the subject, it actually isn't what you might think. The Jazz were slightly above average on defense throughout the season. On the road--especially against bad teams--we were pretty awful for stretches. But when we are locked in, we're easily a top 6 or 7 defensive team in the league, and we've defended very well the last 8-10 games of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs.

I wouldn't say we're a bad team on defense, just that we lack focus at certain times. This can crop up at the worst times and bite you in the ass, but as we are good enough offensively to make up for it, there isn't that much to worry about.

[Anticon]

I don't know about the Lakers, but the Jazz are top 2. Easily.