Are We Contenders yet?

[vj_74]

And that's where I want Miles to make huge strided this season- rebounding and hustle. He has better tools than Mathews to do it. When Kobe could'nt get going in game 7, he ended up grabbing 15 rebs. Miles has pretty good size for a SG, almost the same as Kobe if not even a little bigger. No reason why Miles cant become more consistent in that department. Rebounding out of wings is always welcome. You cant just dump it all on the big men. Miles, AK, Bell and Hayward have to really go after it.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

Offensively, yes. Defensively if you put Okur and Jefferson out there together it might be tough. And you NEED Okur out there to stretch defenses. If you put Millsap instead, we still have the same size issues as last year. And also on rebounding. It pays to remember that every game in the Finals last year was won by the team that won the rebounding battle in the game. And the Lakers won 4 out of that 7 battles, even with Bynum being indisposed. That's remarkably tough. Jefferson has to be a real beast on the boards. Okur is hopefully fully mobile , atleast when the playoffs come around.

Well, Millsap is the only one of the three that could guard Odom with any sort of success. I don't like doing the reactive match-up based on personnel alone, but it seems to be necessary in this case.

 

[vj_74]

Well, Millsap is the only one of the three that could guard Odom with any sort of success. I don't like doing the reactive match-up based on personnel alone, but it seems to be necessary in this case.

If Millsap is really the best option that we got to guard Odom, then we need loads of luck to win. You have seen what Odom does to Millsap I presume.

Also, if Millsap starts, then he'll be on Gasol which will be brutal too. I see a no-win situation for Millap defensively. He has to compensate it with his quickness on the offensive end.

Jazz dont have good transition defenders, save for AK. Thhey have to use their offense as their best weapon on defense. Get the Lakers as tired as possible so that they are'nt that fresh on offense.

If the Jazz put a lineup of Deron, Miles/Bell, AK, Jefferson, Okur out there the Lakers cant leave anyone alone. Maybe they'll sag a bit off AK. But if our wings improve their shooting this season, then I see that as the best weapon against them. We just dont have guys who can stop them.

 

[gregbroncs]

Well, Millsap is the only one of the three that could guard Odom with any sort of success. I don't like doing the reactive match-up based on personnel alone, but it seems to be necessary in this case.

He may be the only one of those 3 but AK could match up with Odom.

 

[Revolution 9]

Right now the Lakers and Thunder are clearly ahead of us.
We are closer to them today than we were a week ago though.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Health is still the most important thing. We where missing AK and Okur, arguably two of our top 5 players. If everyone can stay healthy, I think we can beat anyone.

 

[Chad Feldheimer]

Right now the Lakers and Thunder are clearly ahead of us.
We are closer to them today than we were a week ago though.

Thunder are clearly? How so?

 

[billyshelby]

Before this week, we were one of the flies buzzing around the 6-8 spots. Now we're Top 4 in the West. In my book, that makes us contenders. That's as deeply as I plan to think about it right now. But we obviously have ways we can improve going from Year 1 to Year 2 of the Al Experience.

 

[Jazzfannut83]

I think after the Lakers, it once again becomes kind of a tossup ...but just as of a week ago, this looked like a .500 team. As of now we're a 50+ win team IMO and once again it'll come down to how many games we blow against the garbage teams as to where we get seeded.

 

[Revolution 9]

Thunder are clearly? How so?

They have the best scorer in the league. Their superstar is better than ours. Durrant > Dwill.
They play better defense. The Thunder looked a lot better against the best team in the West in the playoffs than we did.
Their bench is deeper. They have a good PG in Westbrook, and a better back up than us in Maynor.
Morris Peterson, and Thabo Sefolosha mixed with Harden. Just added Adlrich. They have a rising player in Ibaka.

It's certainly up for debate, but clearly I think the Thunder have the edge right now. I think we'll see that too from the national press when the NBA predictions for
'10-11 come out. Most will have the Thunder ranked above us.

 

[gregbroncs]

They have the best scorer in the league. Their superstar is better than ours. Durrant > Dwill.
They play better defense. The Thunder looked a lot better against the best team in the West in the playoffs than we did.
Their bench is deeper. They have a good PG in Westbrook, and a better back up than us in Maynor.
Morris Peterson, and Thabo Sefolosha mixed with Harden. Just added Adlrich. They have a rising player in Ibaka.

It's certainly up for debate, but clearly I think the Thunder have the edge right now. I think we'll see that too from the national press when the NBA predictions for
'10-11 come out. Most will have the Thunder ranked above us.

They finished 8th in the west. Have they made any significant upgrades? I think the Jazz have and I think right now the Jazz are still better.

 

[Chad Feldheimer]

They have the best scorer in the league. Their superstar is better than ours. Durrant > Dwill.
They play better defense. The Thunder looked a lot better against the best team in the West in the playoffs than we did.
Their bench is deeper. They have a good PG in Westbrook, and a better back up than us in Maynor.
Morris Peterson, and Thabo Sefolosha mixed with Harden. Just added Adlrich. They have a rising player in Ibaka.

It's certainly up for debate, but clearly I think the Thunder have the edge right now. I think we'll see that too from the national press when the NBA predictions for
'10-11 come out. Most will have the Thunder ranked above us.

I think they are in the top 4 in the West. I don't think they are "clearly" better though. I think a Jazz/Thunder series would come down to who had home court advantage.