Play-offs for the Jazz, Lottery for the Warriors?

beyonder · Post #1 » by **beyonder** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:10 am

I know that there was a topic - "How many games will the Jazz win?" and in my opinion Bat's predicion of 27 is fairly realistic. But is there a chance of making the playoffs (Haven't really gone through the schedule).
The teams that will probably make the postseason (and out of reach for the Jazz):
OKC, DAL, SA, LAL, MEM, LAC (even without Paul, some good additions), POR (have some good pieces).

So there's the 8th spot - who do you see there? What team will be better than the Jazz (GS - without serious signings, new coach, HOU - basically the same roster, new coach, NO - will they trade Paul?, DEN - where does NENE go? PHO - how Nash,Hill gonna handle this heavily packed season?, SAC, MIN - noone rather envisions them in the playoffs).
I know that if the Jazz make the playoffs, they will lose their draft pick but still, I would view it as a success (sign of quick development and good pieces around)

And the other part of this topic: Where do you see Warriors after this season? Will they make 7 bottom spots and take back their draft pick from the Jazz?
I think there are 6 teams much worse than GS: SAC,MIN,CLE,TOR,CHA,DET,WAS.
Can they make bottom 8th spot or better? They tried to sign a big - no success.

red4hf · Post #2 » by **red4hf** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:46 pm

I don't see us making the playoffs, I think the Suns take that 8th spot...... Maybe Houston, especially, if they can get a legit Center......

Ming Kong! · Post #3 » by **Ming Kong!** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:10 pm

I don't think GS has a chance at the playoffs.

First off are they better than any of the following?

z - San Antonio
y - LA Lakers
x - Dallas
y - Oklahoma City
x - Denver
x - Portland
x - New Orleans
x - Memphis

No right?

Ok now lets look at the teams that missed the playoffs, and determine which team they are better than.

Houston
Phoenix
Utah
LA Clippers

Milwaukee
Charlotte
Detroit
New Jersey
Washington
Toronto
Cleveland

I think Utah and the Clippers will be better. I also think Houston will be better team as well. NJ is much in the air but if they sign Nene or get Howard, it's almost certain that they finish ahead of them. While Nash is still around, they are almost certain to hover around .500.

As of now, GS pick looks like a top 10 IMO.

HolyToledo · Post #4 » by **HolyToledo** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:40 pm

If Harris plays well (allstar caliber PG) the Jazz will make the playoffs. Harris is the key to the season as he has to stay healthy and play well.

Post #5 » by **StocktonShorts** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:32 pm

Ming Kong! wrote:I don't think GS has a chance at the playoffs.

First off are they better than any of the following?

z - San Antonio
y - LA Lakers
x - Dallas
y - Oklahoma City
x - Denver
x - Portland
x - New Orleans
x - Memphis

No right?

Ok now lets look at the teams that missed the playoffs, and determine which team they are better than.

Houston
Phoenix
Utah
LA Clippers

Milwaukee
Charlotte
Detroit
New Jersey
Washington
Toronto
Cleveland

I think Utah and the Clippers will be better. I also think Houston will be better team as well. NJ is much in the air but if they sign Nene or get Howard, it's almost certain that they finish ahead of them. While Nash is still around, they are almost certain to hover around .500.

As of now, GS pick looks like a top 10 IMO.

New Orleans has five guys on its roster. How is that a playoff team?

MeestR · Post #6 » by **MeestR** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:38 pm

i think it is still too early still to make predictions about other teams. jazz are one of few who actually have a decent sized roster.

we already know how al, devin, sap, cj, bell, and watson will do.
hayward, favors, burks, kanter, okur, and other potentially big pieces, will dictate how the season goes.

Getjazz · Post #7 » by **Getjazz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:55 pm

Not only does GS have to end up outside the bottom 7, but they need to not move up in the lotto. I have a feeling that the Jazz look to battle for the 6-7 seeds for a while then fade to fight for the 8th spot. Then just miss the playoffs by a few games and happen to get the #3 pick in the lotto with the GS Warriors getting the 8th pick. Then the Jazz will select Barnes at 3 adn Quincy Miller at 8...

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #8 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:57 pm

The Suns aren't making the playoffs... that team is terrible.

If Mark Jackson can somehow manage not to be the worst coach in NBA history then I think the Warriors have a fair shot at making the playoffs this year.

Call me crazy but I'm not so sure that the Spurs make the playoffs this year. I have a hard time imagining them staying healthy enough or having the legs to compete every night. I think this could be the year that they really slide in a bad way.

Portland is just too banged up right now to see them making the playoffs. They have a great coach and a solid team but they're going to need LMA playing at an all-star level to make a playoff run and I'm skeptical about how fast he comes back from his heart procedure.

I can certainly see the Jazz making the playoffs this year though. We have a lot of great young talent but we also have a core group of veteran players who are hungry to prove the doubters wrong. I can see us really surprising a lot of people this year. We're stacked with talent, hungry to win and have a nice combination of veteran leadership and youthful energy; and that combo can be very dangerous.

Jazzfan12 · Post #9 » by **Jazzfan12** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:17 pm

The Spurs won 61 games last year.

Post #10 » by **StocktonShorts** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:31 pm

I will, in fact, call you crazy for suggesting the Spurs won't make the playoffs.

In no particular order, I think the following are locks to make the playoffs:

Lakers
Spurs
Thunder
Mavs
Grizzlies

After that it gets really muddy:
Blazers -- they did it least year w/o significant contributions from Roy/Oden; key here is the LMA's heart condition
Rockets -- loss of Adelman could be huge; don't know what to expect here
Clippers -- a lock if they get CP3, still pretty good odds without him
Suns -- Not sure they have a better shot than the Jazz, actually
Kings -- Do they have enough basketballs for Cousins, Evans, Jimmer?
Wolves -- Don't sleep on this team. I could see Adelman getting these guys into the playoffs
Hornets -- Could end up being the worst team in the league given CP3's situation
Warriors -- Kwame Brown?!? That's all I have to say. Glad we have their pick.
Nuggets -- Depends on what happens with Nene, JR Smith, Wilson Chandler. This team could be significantly worse than last year.
Jazz -- If the Jazz make the playoffs, I think it will happen because A) Burks plays above his years; B) Corbin turns out to be a really good head coach.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #11 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:04 am

Keep in mind just how old the Spurs are and how terrible of a schedule they have. They lost in the first round last year to Memphis for a good reason. Just keep an eye on them... that's all I'm saying.