Opinions of Jazz fans

[Gyp Rosetti]

A part of our dysfunction, at least very recently, is Mo's absence. Tinsley running the 2nd unit would help a lot. And Mo's not terrible.

[Weezur]

Hey everyone I just started an NBA blog with my friends and I am covering the northwest. I feel that the best way to learn about a team is to talk to its fans (other than watching it). So I have some questions for you guys and if you would answer them it would help out a lot.

Do you think the Jazz are a playoff team this year?
Do you think the Jazz will make a trade?
If they make a trade what do you think they should target? Who should they deal?
Who has been the biggest pleasant surprise on your team and who has been worse than expected?

Thanks a ton in advance.

Question 1
We have the 7th easiest schedule in the NBA from here on out with plenty of home games but I think there are 2 cases-
Case 1-
We'll be out of a playoff spot if the starting lineup doesn't change. We're starting 3 below average defenders and 1 incapable defender in Tinsley. If these 4 guys get significant minutes, the Jazz at bottom 5 defensive team.
Case 2-
Hayward and Favors are put into the starting lineup with Foye and Milsap out. All of a sudden we're a top 15 defensive team and we get into the playoffs at the 6-8 spot easy.

Question 2
No. I think the Jazz have been actively shopping Milsap AND Jefferson but its a catch 22. On one hand, other teams know we want them gone so they offer less. On the other, the Jazz don't want a bad deal so they don't take the bad offers.

Question 3
Mo's injury is likely season ending. We trade for a PG if we do make one. Al and/or Milsap should be dealt. Due to Milsap's recent comments, it will be him.

Question 4
Biggest surprise? There's many.
1- I'm surprised at how much of a negative effect Foye has on the game. I wouldn't be surprised if it's historically bad.
2- Hayward, the elite defender. I'm amazed how Hayward is usually the go-to defender on this team and he always produces. He can guard the 1,2 or 3 and put up a hell of a fight against CP3 who is a dwarf compared to Hayward. Also, he's adding moves to his game. Floaters, hooks, post ups...it's coming along nicely.
3- Milsap, the terrible. Milsap has been unpleasant this season. He went from being the best player on this team to somewhere down below. His attitude is just terrible, he's got no offensive game anymore, his jumper looks flat. I really think he'll be making a squib wage next year and he made a huge mistake on the contract extension. I'm glad Ty is putting him on the bench in the 4th quarter.

[slc]

Have no proof but I'm beginning to think Jazz are just marking this down as a throw away season.
They have given Corbin an extension for next year because that is the big turnaround target.
If they can't swing a killer type trade this season they will let all contracts expire and be set up
for next season and long term.
They will have massive money to bring in or keep the players they want next season.
They have the core, Favors, Kanter, maybe Hayward and Burks, to build around.
Only reason I see they are keeping Corbin and seem to be in no rush to make changes this year.
Of course, I'm probably completely wrong on any of this.
I always am.

[Catchall]

1. I think the Jazz could be a playoff team, as high as a #6 seed, but losing their only player close to a starting point guard, bad coaching, and lingering trade rumors might make that impossible.

2. All five normal starters on the Jazz have the option to be somewhere else next year, and most know they aren't in the team's future plans. I think any of the following--Millsap, Foye and Marvin Williams--could be traded. I honestly don't know where the Jazz stand on Al Jefferson. He could be part of a 3-man front line with Favors and Kanter, or the Jazz could let him walk for being too expensive. I think several teams may go after Al in free agency, including the Knicks and Spurs. I think the Jazz will make some kind of trade and likely have a few options on the table. Looks like the Jazz held the GSW pick too long.

3. I honestly don't know who the Jazz would target, and don't really know who is available.

4. Biggest surprise has been Kanter's emerging IQ and offensive game. He still has a ways to go, but could be a difference maker, especially at PF, where he can overpower people down low and still step out to 15-18 feet. Burks is developing, but he's being given a short leash, and you can tell that the coaching staff is in his head over something they want him to do. Biggest disappointment has been Corbin's coaching. He doesn't seem to recognize mismatches in his favor or substitution patterns that build and keep the lead.

I agree with SLC that this season may get written off to development. There's been almost no continuity or identity in the offense. A number of players don't look like or play like they care that much. Several of the vets could be getting showcased in trades, and most know that they won't be here next year, leading them to play more selfishly and with less energy.

[bjunior]

I think the Jazz are a fringe playoff team. We are stuck between developing and competing, it worked last year, it isn't this year. I don't really know why, maybe the teams that were below us last year have caught up and surpassed us this year.

I don't think the Jazz will make a trade. I think they are probably better off letting the contracts leave the books and have cap space.

If they make a trade, they should target getting backup depth, namely a PG and big man. Maybe they get draft picks, but if they do, they will be traded in a package during the off-season because we already have enough picks.

Biggest surprise is Mo Williams. I think he is good enough to be are starting PG of the future. He adds shooting and gives the team speed.

Millsap has been the biggest disappointment. Just not playing like he usually does. He always has a slump, but this one is extended and he hasn't had one of his All-Star level runs.

Why you don't want to admit that Corbin sucks?

[NUMBERICA]

This has been a disappointing and frustrating season so far. I've seen the Jazz lose several close games because the players are not making good decisions in crunch time. I blame some of that on the players but also a lot of that on poor coaching. There just doesn't seem to be any sort of understanding of what needs to be done. I'm still completely baffled why the team doesn't seem to be aware of two-for-one opportunities at the ends of quarters. So often they get the ball with 35s left and run the clock to 21s and ultimately take some ill advised turn-around fade-away 18ft jump shot with a hand in their face. That's just dumb basketball and it's getting harder and harder to watch.

Big Al is our number one option. Even if this team was battling for a top-seed I wouldn't much enjoy watching him play basketball. As it is, I absolutely can't stand watching him play basketball. Winning is important, sure. But he is a boring player. He does the same thing damn near every time he gets the ball. Pump fake, pump fake, fade away jump shot or lean in for a floater. Almost never gets contact. Meanwhile the rest of the team might as well be given chairs so they could sit down and watch with the rest of us.

Millsap's in a funk of some sort. I love the guy but either he's not getting into a rhythm in his current role or he's already checked out. I've always felt he could make the Jazz a dangerous team if he was willing to come off the bench but I don't get the sense he's willing to do that. It's dissapointing, but I think he's the kind of player that needs to get his first and then see what he can do about getting the team some wins.

Hayward, ugh. I want to like this guy so bad. Sometimes he's the player I had hoped he was, but far too often he's the guy scared to shot the ball. I don't really get what his problem is. I keep thinking he'll put it all together, but we're at the point where he would have by now if he is ever going to.

Favors looks good, but I'm losing faith that he's going to be a great player. I think he'll be very good for a long time and the kind of player I absolutely want on the Jazz, but not a dominate guy. There's still time, though.

The good thing about Kanter is that he is looking more and more like a force to be reckoned with. There was a possibility he could have been a bust and I feel pretty safe saying he's not a bust, not by a long shot. I like the idea of him and Favors together. That's a big strong front-line that plays amazing defense. That's the key to Utah's future right there. We need both of these guys in a big way. If either Kanter or Favors develops into a top-tier player, even if the other one is only good, the Jazz are in a good spot.

I think at best the Jazz will be 7th or 8th seed this year. I don't see them getting out of the first round either way.

Maybe the Jazz will make a trade, but I think other teams will be looking for a steal and the Jazz FO doesn't do giveaways so I think they might sit on their hands. Ultimately it has more to do with what other teams are willing to give because I know the Jazz would be happy to move Al or Paul for the right price.

And thats what wrong with Jazz management and why I hate them. They will try to ask for too much for Al and Paul and in the end get nothing for them. They find more value in a one year rental than obtaining a pick or two that they could use to help facilitate a big trade. They think we are actually enjoying this crap and think making a sorry ass playoff run is more important than building for a realistic run in the future.

All of the above.

[Thee jazz fan]

Lots of the fans are overreacting. We were in bad shape last year after this many games and still made the playoffs. We had a road heavy schedule to start. The Jazz will work things out.

Biggest disappointment is Coach Ty Corbin. He runs a strict rotation and rarely deviates from it. This flaw many times has either killed runs or gotten us big deficits to start a ball game. There is a reason the Jazz lead the league in comeback victories the starters are constantly digging big holes for the team, and the bench gets us out of them. Another huge disappoint is Ty Corbin has no idea how to use Hayward in an offense. He should be the table setter for this team, and not spotting up. He's the best passer on the team, and great at getting to the foul line. He's the best at creAting for himself and others.

[PKM]

Lots of the fans are overreacting. We were in bad shape last year after this many games and still made the playoffs. We had a road heavy schedule to start. The Jazz will work things out.

Biggest disappointment is Coach Ty Corbin. He runs a strict rotation and rarely deviates from it. This flaw many times has either killed runs or gotten us big deficits to start a ball game. There is a reason the Jazz lead the league in comeback victories the starters are constantly digging big holes for the team, and the bench gets us out of them. Another huge disappoint is Ty Corbin has no idea how to use Hayward in an offense. He should be the table setter for this team, and not spotting up. He's the best passer on the team, and great at getting to the foul line. He's the best at creAting for himself and others.

That may be true. Sometimes it's difficult to know, until done with retrospect, whether some were overreacting .. or others were underreacting.

[NUMBERICA]

Whining about playing too many road games is something losers do. It's not becoming to fans that should be smarter and it's especially so if the organization starts making such lame excuses.

Good teams win on the road. Pretenders worry about the question.