Are we actually good or is it the schedule?

[NAOS]

Weird to see dudes around here selling OKC short. Sure, they are currently in 8th, and the schedule has stiffened on them, but Russ lost a game to suspension and PG hasn't been at full health.

In just 10 minutes of game time I can see multiple ways they are better than last year's OKC team.

 

[carolinajazz]

They lack the firepower and flexibility on the court to be a real dark horse and that’s okay for right now.

Right now, our "flexibility" and "firepower" are both peaking at the right time and at the same time! It's true, we still screwball around some possessions, but they are becoming few and far between! We stay focus and serious.....we will be going places in this years playoffs!

 

[Ron Mexico]

Weird to see dudes around here selling OKC short. Sure, they are currently in 8th, and the schedule has stiffened on them, but Russ lost a game to suspension and PG hasn't been at full health.

In just 10 minutes of game time I can see multiple ways they are better than last year's OKC team.

Well, I think the playoffs matter more. But they beat us the first time in the middle of our brutal December Schedule on a back end of a back to back 122-113. Then they got us again in December on the back end of a back to back 107-106. They beat us in the 3rd game in Double OT. The last game we sucked and lost 98-89.

So the last one is legit loss. But losing in double OT is luck at that point. The first 2 were back to back during the hardest stretch of any team of any month in the NBA and we still kept it close.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Weird to see dudes around here selling OKC short. Sure, they are currently in 8th, and the schedule has stiffened on them, but Russ lost a game to suspension and PG hasn't been at full health.

In just 10 minutes of game time I can see multiple ways they are better than last year's OKC team.

They will probably end up with a worse record than last year. While the Jazz will end up with a better one than last year.

So we are a better team and they are worse by that standard. We beat them in 6 last year. They will still be a hard team to beat due to Paul George. But Westbrook is getting worse and I like our matchup with him.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

Both. Tonight could be a trap game. We don't match up all that well and Alex Len has always given the Jazz headaches.

Uh Rudy has always made it a point to DESTROY Alex Len .... coz he got drafted before him.

 

[fishonjazz]

They will probably end up with a worse record than last year. While the Jazz will end up with a better one than last year.

So we are a better team and they are worse by that standard. We beat them in 6 last year. They will still be a hard team to beat due to Paul George. But Westbrook is getting worse and I like our matchup with him.

What about net rating for us this year vs last year and for OKC this year vs last year?

I kinda like net rating better than win loss record for determining how good a team is.

(I honestly want to know but don't know how to look it up)

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[NAOS]

Well, I think the playoffs matter more. But they beat us the first time in the middle of our brutal December Schedule on a back end of a back to back 122-113. Then they got us again in December on the back end of a back to back 107-106. They beat us in the 3rd game in Double OT. The last game we sucked and lost 98-89.

So the last one is legit loss. But losing in double OT is luck at that point. The first 2 were back to back during the hardest stretch of any team of any month in the NBA and we still kept it close.

In four games, there have been plenty of opportunities to see how the Jazz and OKC would fair in a game or a series, all things being equal. I saw OKC get the better of almost every volley of punches. There's no way anybody around here should be slighting them.... unless their homer goggles are surgically implanted.

 

[carolinajazz]

The Thunder have lost 10 of there last 14 games! I use to like watching the Thunder as well as Westbrook.....but recently they have played like diddly squat and have become unwatchable! I don't think they'd win one game against us right now in a 7 game series!

 

[SCS]

I expected during the preseason...

- 54 wins
- A top 4 seed and homecourt in the first round
- Likely second round appearance
- Competitive enough to possibly make a WCF appearance.

We are...

- A 48-ish win team
- Very possibly a 5-8 seed
- More likely a first round exit than not. We need a certain few matchups to succeed in the first round

 

[Gameface]

I expected during the preseason...

- 54 wins
- A top 4 seed and homecourt in the first round
- Likely second round appearance
- Competitive enough to possibly make a WCF appearance.

We are...

- A 48-ish win team
- Very possibly a 5-8 seed
- More likely a first round exit than not. We need a certain few matchups to succeed in the first round

 

[Sean]

The Jazz are what they've been for the last 20 years - a probable playoff team with a ceiling that likely keeps them below home court most every season. It'll generally be good for some first round series wins but they're just not at the level of good to really ever make the conference finals. It'll likely always be this way because, on the whole, Utah is content with just being okay, and never really great.

I mean, you see it in this thread. How can anyone expect more from such a small market team? Jazz fans will always be happy with a playoff berth and a ceiling of being absolutely demolished in the second round when they actually advance out of the first.

Since 1999, the Jazz is just 10-24 in second round games...and over half those wins came over a decade ago. I doubt that changes.

 

[carolinajazz]

The PERFECT missed free throw attempt that would have tied this game! I thought the Jazz executed the perfect intentionally missed free throw attempt, grabbed the miss and had a great look in the corner for the tying 3 pointer last night! As well executed as you could possible get! Korvers high arching shot bounced high off the rim, was grabbed by Donavan and he barely missed that 3 pointer which would have kept our winning streak alive!