Can the Jazz be the 2010-2011 Dallas Mavericks?

[LogGrad98]

Well I’m not suggesting that the bias you speak of doesn’t exist but that didn’t stop the Duncan led Spurs dynasty. Milwaukee is not a big market either. I’m not suggesting we’re going to be a dynasty, I mean all I really care about is that first ring.

Look, the NBA does have a bit of a checkered past so I’m not going to call you on your conspiracy theory assumptions cause yeah been there done that. However, I now firmly believe that Silver is doing everything in his power to eradicate those tendencies and improve the integrity of the league - cause that’s good business too.

Anyway, you’re completely ignoring the underdog effect! Little guy beats the odds and wins the prize - go the movies much? American dream stuff you know? I think that Jazz bandwagon might be getting a lot fuller than you realize. NBA tv is starting to schedule us again. And come playoff time, a David vs Goliath script may be revenue gold! Go 49ers er I mean Jazz!!!

Nah, I am not really espousing a conspiracy. But there is a persistent belief that Utah is white, racist, and mormon. I hear it here among Lakers fans (and Clippers fans). They still harp on the Westbrook stuff with that fan that got ejected. There is a stigma about Utah that is undeniable. That is why we aren't the darlings of the league. We will be viewed as the darlings by some sports writers, but not by the public in general. The bigger fan-bases especially, who often don't even know where the city of Utah is. Did you hear the ref in one of the recent games, after a challenge, when talking to the camera about the call said something like "Challenge unseccessful....and so...uh... Salt Lake...uh... has the ball side out", and he hesitated on Salt Lake like he didn't have a clue where he was? So yeah I like to play around with the conspiracy stuff, but the stigma of Utah is very real and pervasive. We are white, weird, and racist cultists in so many people's eyes. That isn't changing anytime soon.

But yeah I do think Silver is doing a better job of encouraging parity, no doubt. And frankly we are taking the league simultaneously by surprise and by storm. It will be fun to end up in the top 4 in the west and see how stunned everyone is where we end up.

 

[framer]

Nah, I am not really espousing a conspiracy. But there is a persistent belief that Utah is white, racist, and mormon. I hear it here among Lakers fans (and Clippers fans). They still harp on the Westbrook stuff with that fan that got ejected. There is a stigma about Utah that is undeniable. That is why we aren't the darlings of the league. We will be viewed as the darlings by some sports writers, but not by the public in general. The bigger fan-bases especially, who often don't even know where the city of Utah is. Did you hear the ref in one of the recent games, after a challenge, when talking to the camera about the call said something like "Challenge unseccessful....and so...uh... Salt Lake...uh... has the ball side out", and he hesitated on Salt Lake like he didn't have a clue where he was? So yeah I like to play around with the conspiracy stuff, but the stigma of Utah is very real and pervasive. We are white, weird, and racist cultists in so many people's eyes. That isn't changing anytime soon.

But yeah I do think Silver is doing a better job of encouraging parity, no doubt. And frankly we are taking the league simultaneously by surprise and by storm. It will be fun to end up in the top 4 in the west and see how stunned everyone is where we end up.

I mean r/nba on reddit is pretty in love with the Jazz right now. You just gotta win.

Last year when the Wizards started hot I didn't care. Not because I doubted them, I just didn't care anything about their team, because why would I? I don't know about the "hate" for Utah around the league (I actually think we get more of that from actual Jazz fans who hate Utah society and are more than happy to tell other markets how oppressive it is to live there and love to criticize the state.) I just think most people don't care because they don't have to because we haven't threatened anything in decades. We were getting plenty of respect 2 years ago going into the playoffs even though we had laid a huge egg in the bubble, then pissed away all that goodwill against the Clippers.

I mean I respect the Pacers and what they have done with what they have. I'm glad that they have some up and coming players. I'm not going to cross the street to watch one of their games because they don't matter to my Jazz Fandom, nor are they at all relevant.

29 other teams feel that way about the Jazz until we make them care.

 

[HeatCheck]

Right now it's looking more likely that 4 of the 5 current starters will need to be replaced before they are a serious contending team again.

 

[sip]

Right now it's looking more likely that 4 of the 5 current starters will need to be replaced before they are a serious contending team again.

We always knew that was the case. Some people were just getting a little to excited. This is still a couple year process of remaking this roster.

 

[HermanG]

Tbh. I still want the hyperbolism trending up and the usage of the word "tank" trending down.

I know we wont win a championship with this roster (unless all of our tryhards are secretly clutch playoff performers), but its not like we have been outclassed so far (except by Denver with 45% vs 25% shooting disparity from 3pt).

Lets put dents in Suns and Blazers shields and get the bliss back.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

My brain definitely agrees that we seem to be a middling team which isn't a good thing. On the other hand this year has been really fun, and I think we'll continue to have some really fun wins, so maybe I can't be too upset.

At this point I think becoming a bottom 3 team is out of reach. It's better to hope for the fun miracle upset season. Like I've said the trade deadline will be interesting. My guess at this point is we will be close to a .500 team. Because of league parity we will likely be within a reasonable amount of games from a top 6 seed or a top 8 pick. It will be interesting to see which direction the front office chooses at that point.

 

[Elizah Huge]

We are much more likely to be the surprise Nuggets team or surprise Phoenix teams of the past than an actual contender. Those teams didn't really go far until they bottomed out again.

We could be the Houston team that treaded water until OKC gave em the deal of the century on Harden I guess.

Another comp is the post CP era Clips... they eventually moved Harris and did a mega deal for PG/Kawhi... has been disappointing but got them to a conference finals and may still work (prolly not though because Kawhi may be broken).

I don't love the in between path we have chosen... I'm not sure we meant to choose it. If we had swapped Bogie for draft stuff and not a useful starter we might be tankworthy... if we had swapped out a couple additional vet pieces we almost certainly are bottom 5 regardless of how good Lauri has been.

I think the OKC team with Chris Paul that made the playoffs as the 5 seed is our comp currently. They came within a game 7 of winning a playoff series.

I think our ceiling is a playoff series win which isn’t bad at all.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think the OKC team with Chris Paul that made the playoffs as the 5 seed is our comp currently. They came within a game 7 of winning a playoff series.

I think our ceiling is a playoff series win which isn’t bad at all.

I see some similarities there but CP was/is still a star when it comes to winning basketball... we don't have anyone on that level. I think without FO intervention we are like a 40 ish win team and likely face a tough 1st round opponent or lose in the play in. Without home court this team doesn't have a prayer.

I'm team tank at this point... its likely a little early to decide which path to take but that is where I am. If they want to play it out I understand... there is a lot that goes into basketball decisions that isn't purely on court... I do think it sets up a year or two of treadmill teams (which can become a repeating cycle... does not have to).

Eventually OKC had to go into the dumps... the CP year was not a particularly exciting draft so the opportunity costs weren't huge... this year there is a clear cost to the "be as good as possible" path.