The Jazz Will Win This Many Games…

When I try to estimate how many games the Jazz will win, I like to take it month by month, and more accurately, week by week.  I think it is easier to say that in a 4 game stretch or a 5 game stretch, the Jazz will go 2 and 2 or 3 and 1 or 3 and 2, depending.  The law of averages usually helps me stay pretty close.  So let’s take a look at the season schedule and estimate how many games the Jazz are likely to win, shall we?

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Who Will Have the Most Productive Frontcourt?

I’m so excited to see these guys play together.

If I were a betting man, I would guess that the opening day starting lineup for the Utah Jazz is going to have Al Jefferson at the Center position and Paul Millsap as the Power Forward.  If this is the case and they play extended minutes together, what are realistic expectations for their production?

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Is Wesley Matthews the Best the Blazers Could Do?

A lot has been mentioned about the Portland Trailblazers stealing away former Jazzman Wesley Matthews in free agency the last couple weeks.  Maybe stealing isn’t the right word, but the Trailblazers, backed by a more wealthy owner, made Matthews an offer, the Jazz had to refuse (to match).  There have been articles about Matthews now being grossly overpaid, and there have been “he said, they said” articles documenting where the Jazz went wrong in not retaining their starting shooting guard.  Matthews and his agent claim that the Jazz never gave him an offer, other than his qualifying one, and the Jazz front office claims they were blown off for negotiating meetings or were told that it would take at least the full Mid-Level Exception to sign him.  There have been a lot of questions, but one question I haven’t heard asked enough by basketball writers is: “why were the Trailblazers so interested in Matthews in the first place?”

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Tags: Portland Trailblazers, Utah Jazz, Wesley Matthews

One Man’s Darko is Another Man’s Boozer

Just a little game of musical chairs with the Jazz, Wolves and Bulls.

This has been one “h” of an offseason so far, huh?  Players are moving all over the league and teams are bidding top, and often, ridiculous dollar to snag the free agent that will put them over the top…of the minimum players requirement, instead of the competitive edge, often.  I mean, does New Jersey really think Travis Outlaw will help their team greatly?  But one development I have been intrigued by is this idea that moving on without one of your “best players” is being so readily embraced by owners and GMs.  Click to the other side to see what I mean.

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Chicago Bulls may become the Utah Jazz East

Alright guys, I’m gonna set a pick for Deron.   Memo, you flash to the 3 point line right side.  Ak you set a screen for Kyle and then dive to the basket.  Then Kyle and I are gonna make a break for Chicago.

If you watch any type of sports show in the morning, you already know that Chris Bosh is going to join Dwyane Wade in South Beach and that Lebron James has set up what will be the most emotional moment of the Bachelor in television history on Thursday night. So from my checklist, we have Wade and Bosh committing to Miami, Lebron going to team x, Joe Johnson staying with Atlanta for too much money, Rudy Gay staying with Memphis for waaay too much money, and Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce back with their respective teams.  That leaves us with Carlos Boozer and David Lee being the best available free agents.  What does this mean for them?

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Orlando Summer League: Rash Observations

Gordon Hayward-  The kid is fascinating to watch play basketball.  He won’t blow you away with anything he does, but he does everything well.  He knows where to be on the court, he plays tough whether he is guarding the opposing point guard or center.  He plays team ball.  He is longer than you would expect.  And most importantly, you expect his shot or free throw to go in every time.  That’s a special quality.  Don’t get me wrong, the guy probably isn’t going to ever play in an all-star game or anything, but he will be a solid, solid NBA player.  And that’s better than drafting a guy who doesn’t ever make it in the league.

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Carlos Boozer isn’t worth a dime more than $10 million a year

If Carlos Boozer were played for pulling awesome faces, he would be worth 3 max contracts.

I just wanted to take a minute and share with my fellow Jazz fans, that I am not the only person on planet earth who thinks Carlos Boozer was overpaid this year.  Just a few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend who asked me how much the Jazz should be willing to pay to bring Carlos Boozer back.  I told him “not a dime over $10 million a year and probably more like 8 million.”  So you can figure out why I don’t really believe that Boozer should be back with the Jazz next season.  Someone else is going to be willing to pay Boozer $13-15 million/year.  And more than likely that team will be sorely disappointed.

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The Jazz don’t HAVE to draft a big man

If this guy has a good work ethic and a great outside shot, I have no problem with the Jazz using the 9th pick to draft him.

For the first few weeks of the offseason, the debate was whether the Jazz should draft Greg Monroe, Cole Aldrich, Ekpe Udoh, or Hassan Whiteside with the #9 pick.  The argument wasn’t whether the Jazz should take a big man with the 9th pick in the upcoming draft, but which big man should be drafted.  But the Jazz don’t HAVE to and in some instances, really shouldn’t draft a big man.

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NW Division: The Wrath of Kahn

Minnesota holding onto Rubio’s rights is a sign of David Kahn’s stubborness

If you asked the average Jazz fan, which young, up and coming team they fear, you will mostly hear about the Portland Trailblazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.  With the upsurge of these two young teams, four of the five teams in the Northwest Division made the playoffs this year, but I think a lot of people are sleeping on the team not in the playoff picture…the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Jazz and 76ers Should Hook Up Again

It’s time for the Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers to hook back up again, for a shameless one night stand.  One that will leave them feeling shaken and lacking confidence.  You know what I am talking about.  The Jazz  front office has been trying to move on for years, to a hotter girl.  But when they get shut down, they always come crawling back to the 76ers.  Just like an old girlfriend one can always fall back on.

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