Just going to put this out once. I see no reason to try to argue the point. Many of you will surely think differently; I understand why, and that's OK by me:
I'm going to try to adjust my attitude toward the Jazz a bit and enjoy the experience of being a fan of this team more, mainly because I think what this team is accomplishing is mighty impressive and should be acknowledged and enjoyed.
Unlike the other contenders, we don't have:
We're vulnerable to the wrong matchups in playoffs (though we're surely not alone in this among contenders). We tend to lose confidence for uncomfortably long periods. Our defense can be exposed because our role players' skills tend more toward offense than defense, just as our offense was exposed when we had better defensive role players.
I don't think any of this is fundamentally changing by shuffling the deck with our role players. Even Jerami Grant doesn't get us there, I don't think, unless, perhaps, we miraculously acquire him without losing any of our offensive firepower. I don't even think that drafting Desmond Bane instead of Udoka would have done the trick, though it wouldn't have hurt, obviously. We're almost great now because our offense is so good, and that's largely because our team's stitching maximizes the contributions from each of our role players. We have to be great offensively if we want to have a chance. Sacrificing our offense a bit to strengthen our defense will likely only shift, not eliminate, our vulnerabilities.
So I'm going to try to enjoy more of what we're accomplishing. Maybe we come upon some magical trade or signing that propels us beyond any reasonable expectations. The chances of that should be recognized as the longshot it is, however. In any case still have a chance to get lucky in the playoffs. A hot streak here, a little luck with injuries or matchups there, could send us further than we've been in a long time.
(At least this is what I'm telling myself; I don't know if I can emotionally go there.)
I'm going to try to adjust my attitude toward the Jazz a bit and enjoy the experience of being a fan of this team more, mainly because I think what this team is accomplishing is mighty impressive and should be acknowledged and enjoyed.
Unlike the other contenders, we don't have:
- one of the two best players in league history, plus a clear top-five talent (Lakers)
- a perennial MVP talent playing at the height of his powers (Milwaukee, Denver, GSW)
- a top 3-5 point guard in NBA history, plus a number-one pick who's turned into a serious two-way threat (Phoenix)
- three of the most efficient (not to mention prolific) offensive talents at their position in NBA history (Nets)
- two of the better two-way wing talents the league has ever seen still in their theoretical prime (if they can ever stay healthy) (Clippers)
- heck, we don't even have a bunch of solid two-way role players
We're vulnerable to the wrong matchups in playoffs (though we're surely not alone in this among contenders). We tend to lose confidence for uncomfortably long periods. Our defense can be exposed because our role players' skills tend more toward offense than defense, just as our offense was exposed when we had better defensive role players.
I don't think any of this is fundamentally changing by shuffling the deck with our role players. Even Jerami Grant doesn't get us there, I don't think, unless, perhaps, we miraculously acquire him without losing any of our offensive firepower. I don't even think that drafting Desmond Bane instead of Udoka would have done the trick, though it wouldn't have hurt, obviously. We're almost great now because our offense is so good, and that's largely because our team's stitching maximizes the contributions from each of our role players. We have to be great offensively if we want to have a chance. Sacrificing our offense a bit to strengthen our defense will likely only shift, not eliminate, our vulnerabilities.
So I'm going to try to enjoy more of what we're accomplishing. Maybe we come upon some magical trade or signing that propels us beyond any reasonable expectations. The chances of that should be recognized as the longshot it is, however. In any case still have a chance to get lucky in the playoffs. A hot streak here, a little luck with injuries or matchups there, could send us further than we've been in a long time.
(At least this is what I'm telling myself; I don't know if I can emotionally go there.)
