You guys are aware that 54 games is the most wins a post Stockton/Malone team has ever won, right? Those Deron/Boozer teams were very good and sometimes great.
My point is it's not terribly likely that a team without a great ballhandler and whose current go-to option scores points at around the league average is going to be anywhere near as good. And the coach is very inexperienced.
Let's be reasonable. But I hope I'm wrong.
The problem with the Deron/Boozer teams is that the Jazz rarely had a full squad. Either Boozer or AK was usually hurt. And the Jazz had inconsistent play at SG and generally weak benches.
2005-06: Record 41-41
Deron's (and CJ's) rookie seasons, AK played 69 games, Boozer only 33. Jarron Collins started 41 games, Ostertag 22. Palacio and McLeod started in a combined 50 games. Enough said.
2006-07: Record 51-31
Pretty healthy team with AK only missing 12 games and Boozer just 8. Collins still had a big role as a backup. And our starting SG was Derek Fisher. Remember how many times the opposing SG would go off for 30 or 40 pts?
2007-08: Record 54-28
Also a healthy year in terms of the starters, with Okur and AK missing 10 games each. Bench of Millsap, Harpring, Korver (who arrived via trade for Giricek), Miles and Price/Hart. Obviously a weakness at backup PG and defensively challenged inside with the Boozer/Memo tandem. Easy to understand why Utah won 54 games before poor outside shooting eventually doomed the Jazz in the playoffs.
2008-09: Record 48-34
Back to injury problems: Boozer missed 45 games, AK 15, Deron 14 and Memo 10 and Harpring 19.
2009-10: Record 53-29
Boozer in a contract year, Wesley Matthews going from undrafted to starter. AK missed 24, but with Matthews at SG, RB was able to fill in at SF. Very good team, but again, weak interior D and poor outside shooting overall.