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Hoopsworld Ranks the Western Conference

orangello

orangello

Well-Known Member
https://www.hoopsworld.com/ranking-the-nba-western-conference/

Interesting read. Here is what they had to say about the Jazz:

10. Utah Jazz (2012: 8th – 36-30)

Key Additions: Mo Williams, Marvin Williams, Randy Foye

Key Subtractions: Devin Harris, C.J. Miles

Key Draft Additions: N/A

Like the team before them on this list, it’s easy to see the Jazz finishing the 2012-2013 NBA season with more wins than losses. However, even after securing the final playoff spot last year and upgrading the roster this offseason it’s tough to see Utah competing in the 2013 postseason.

The trio of Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors give the Jazz great size, scoring and rebounding inside but, even with the addition of Mo Williams, point guard remains a question mark. Every other addition the Jazz have made this summer have made them stronger, except for substituting Williams for Devin Harris at the point.

For the most part, there’s little doubt that Utah has gotten better this offseason. Unfortunately for the Jazz, so has the rest of the Western Conference.
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Good news for everyone here though, the GST are positioned after the Jazz.
 
Weezur said:
The Mavericks are 6th after they lost Kidd and Terry......
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They added better players in their spots though. Kidd is running on fumes now shooting 36% from the field last year and only 5 APG. He's creeping on Fisher territory. Terry was a perfect complimentary player for Dirk, but I do think that OJ Mayo can pick up some of the slack. Brand & Kaman are nice additions as well. Mavericks should be a safe bet for the playoffs.

Now his assessment about us was okay until the part where he said all the moves have made us better except swapping Mo for Devin. It without a doubt made us better.
 
Ridiculous that Blazers are ranked ahead of Jazz and Wolves. No way they make playoffs this year. Nuggets are overrated as well. Any team from 5-10 spot can end up anywhere... but there will be no Blazers, heck Rockets have better chances to make playoffs then Blazers.
 
As much as I hate OKC this guy is doing them a tremendous disservice flipping them in his language with LA, talking about how OKC has a chance to "knock off" the L's.

The Thunder are the WC champs and will be until somebody else earns it. He's underrating the Mavs too. Their acquisitions will fit very well and that team will be significantly better. Kidd is so overrated by fans it's not even funny anymore.
 
If I had to guess right now I'd say it goes down like this:

Thunder
Lakers
Spurs
Clippers
Grizzlies
Mavs
Jazz
Nuggets
T'Wolves
Blazers
Warriors
Suns
Rockets
Hornets
Kings
 
I agree with the above that Portland is really overrated.

If Dan Gadzuric is your starting Center even if your power forward is Aldridge your are going to get owned in the paint. And they don't have a lot of depth behind Aldridge either.

IMO

Thunder, Spurs and Lakers (now with Howard) are a cut above the rest of the conference.

The 2nd tier includes the Clippers, Nuggets, T-Wolves, Grizzles, Mavs and Jazz.

If you like depth pick the Nuggets or Jazz. If you like to pick the best player's team its the Clippers. If you believe in coaching and Vets pick the Mavs. If you want the best front line take the Grizzles.

I see the Warriors, Suns and Trailblazers with an outside chance at the playoffs if some teams in the 2nd tier have major injuries.

Houston, Sacramento and New Orleans are just bad.
 
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AKMVP said:
Ridiculous that Blazers are ranked ahead of Jazz and Wolves. No way they make playoffs this year. Nuggets are overrated as well. Any team from 5-10 spot can end up anywhere... but there will be no Blazers, heck Rockets have better chances to make playoffs then Blazers.
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I agree that the Blazers are a bit overrated. I'm guessing that's because of Lillard's summer league performance. I disagree that the Nuggets are overrated. 5th sounds about right to me. I think you're way off on your last statement. LaMarcus Aldrige puts the Blazers ahead of the Rockets.
 
Qman said:
I agree with the above that Portland is really overrated.

If Dan Gadzuric is your starting Center even if your power forward is Aldridge your are going to get owned in the paint. And they don't have a lot of depth behind Aldridge either.

IMO

Thunder, Spurs and Lakers (now with Howard) are a cut above the rest of the conference.

The 2nd tier includes the Clippers, Nuggets, T-Wolves, Grizzles, Mavs and Jazz.

If you like depth pick the Nuggets or Jazz. If you like to pick the best player's team its the Clippers. If you believe in coaching and Vets pick the Mavs. If you want the best front take the Grizzles.

I see the Warriors, Suns and Trailblazers with an outside chance at the playoffs if some teams in the 2nd tier have major injuries.

Houston, Sacramento and New Orleans are just bad.
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I like this analysis. I would like to add that if you believe in running like a young deer, pick the T-Wolves in that 2nd tier.
 
Can someone with ESPN Insider post the future power rankings done by Hollinger and Ford?

For those that don't know, it is a ranking for every team and a guesstimate on where they will rank in 3 years from this upcoming season.
 
I hate to be a downer, but unless you can see the jazz as the fifth best team in the west (or better), then you are pitting them against a hardly beatable foe in the playoffs, so what does it matter?

Another reason to trade Jeff and get with the future.

^ ****, does this sound familiar? ^
 
NAOS said:
^ ****, does this sound familiar? ^
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Yes, I feel like most of the offseason I am having deja vu because I am still saying the same things that I said last offseason. The only difference is we have a better understanding of what Burks and Kanter can bring to this team in the future.
 
This guy is an idiot. I don't know if Harris is more talented then Mo, but Mo fits what Corbin wants to do on offense a lot better then Harris does. Harris looked like a fish out of water with the jazz. For that alone Mo is an upgrade.
 
Agree with Qman and dipship.
Portland and Minny are overrated by Hoopsworld, IMO. Lillard will make an impact, yes, but so will Utah having decent wings. Rubio back for the entire year changes that team, but I predict Roy won't have a huge impact. We all know how much time it takes for players to regain their game after an injury. And Roy is not completely healthy; he never will be. AK-47 is a good addition (a great one according to some in this forum). Will he be content as the third fiddle behind Love and Rubio? Will he continue to fire up wild 3's and get benched for Buddinger?

Utah and Denver both have very good depth. Some playoff spots will come down to injuries, just as the loss of Rubio killed the Wolves last season.
 
orangello said:
Yes, I feel like most of the offseason I am having deja vu because I am still saying the same things that I said last offseason. The only difference is we have a better understanding of what Burks and Kanter can bring to this team in the future.
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I'm not really saying the same things I said last offseason.
I see the Jazz as being the sneaky 5th seed.

1. The Jazz ALWAYS match up well with the Lakers nowdays, because of our size and big man line up (just watch out for Nash obviously).
2. OKC usually has a tough time with the Jazz because of length on defense (which is why Marvin was traded for).
3. The Jazz obviously know a lot about San Antonio now, so I see those match ups as being very close to maybe.... split.
4. The Clippers should not even be an issue, as the Jazz have just as much athleticism as they do. Favors should shut down Blake completely.
5. As far as Memphis goes, they're essentially the same team they were last year. As long as our shooters are shooting as well as they have their entire careers, Memphis won't be too much of an issue.
6. This is where Minnesota comes in, because I see the Jazz having a major problem with that team.

All in all.... this puts the Jazz at the 4-6th seed.
I don't expect much less.
 
TheSilencer1313 said:
I'm not really saying the same things I said last offseason.
I see the Jazz as being the sneaky 5th seed.

1. The Jazz ALWAYS match up well with the Lakers nowdays, because of our size and big man line up (just watch out for Nash obviously).
2. OKC usually has a tough time with the Jazz because of length on defense (which is why Marvin was traded for).
3. The Jazz obviously know a lot about San Antonio now, so I see those match ups as being very close to maybe.... split.
4. The Clippers should not even be an issue, as the Jazz have just as much athleticism as they do. Favors should shut down Blake completely.
5. As far as Memphis goes, they're essentially the same team they were last year. As long as our shooters are shooting as well as they have their entire careers, Memphis won't be too much of an issue.
6. This is where Minnesota comes in, because I see the Jazz having a major problem with that team.

All in all.... this puts the Jazz at the 4-6th seed.
I don't expect much less.
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I was talking more along the lines of minute distribution and who should be traded etc.
 
orangello said:
I was talking more along the lines of minute distribution and who should be traded etc.
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Oh yeah I got ya.

I used to be a "please trade Jefferson" guy... but after a lot of teams got much better during the offseason, I'm pretty much on the fence.
I wanted Al for Iguadala as soon as the Deron Williams trade happened, but obviously that's improbable now.

Also with the Dwight trade, and players like Ibaka and Mcgee getting a lot better. It's looking like we'll need Jefferson.
He's obviously a weak defender.... but we're going to need his threat offensively in the post, in order to space the floor for the shooters.
Just my take.

Oh btw, I have a buddy that keeps insisting trading Kanter and Hayward for mucho assets or a great pick.

Just a thought.
 
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