I have to say...

[NotDeadYet]

The bottom line is GOOD TEAMS FIND A WAY TO WIN. We are doing that. There are obviously more seasoned teams like the Celtics and Lakers who "look good" simply because they have been together a few years. The Jazz and the Heat have many new, KEY components to their teams; give them a few more games before expecting them to look "as good" as the Celtics or Lakers.
The way I look at it is we ain't pretty yet, but we are gutting out some tough wins, which is a HUGE character-builder for the young guys. That will pay dividends down the road. I am very encouraged by our growth already this early season. If we stay healthy, this is gonna be a special ball club!!!

 

[carolinajazz]

it's been an exciting run and it's nice to see the jazz string together some wins on the road but these are weak victories against vulnerable (though better than average) teams, imo. again, it's encouraging that the jazz are taking advantage of those opportunities but they're a few made free throws away from 0-3 on this trip. top 4 potential! they're good! but i think this slate of games have been a little deceptive.

...it's true, some very unusual things seem to have gone our way. That being said, the Jazz are playing some very good defense, they are passing the ball well, shooting pretty good and keeping the turnovers way down! The later, the turnovers, was generally our undoing last year and in the past. I'm still going on the record saying it's the "minus Boozer factor!" He was a turnover machine just about every game last year, played pathetic defense and caused us to lose games we should or would have won otherwise! A missed shot by Jefferson is better than a turnover by Boozer! At least we are getting back on defense and not getting posterized by a fast break dunk! In the NBA the 24 second clock is the great equalizer. And the Jazz are using it to there advantage. Other teams get excited and start launching up shots when things go south. The Jazz just keep setting more picks and screens and end up with good looks all the way to the end!

 

[NUMBERICA]

maybe weak was the wrong word. fragile, perhaps? i just mean that, even if millsap missed his putback at the buzzer at miami, i'd be as impressed with that loss as i was with their win (maybe a little less impressed -- they played ot without williams, after all). i'm used to seeing them get blown out on the road, and it's nice that they're in these games. very encouraging, actually. but the difference between a win and a loss in all three of these games have been so slight. i mean the timberwolves probably lose these games by 50+ points combined, and it bodes well for the jazz (with their problems, like you said) that they are hanging with the best. i just hesitate to put too much stock in the sheer 'w' of it all.

There's a value in winning games you shouldn't. Previous versions of the Jazz were the opposite - had a mentality of outscoring opponents but couldn't get stops, would get huge leads then squander them - and that really got them nowhere. If I have to choose between a team that shows they close games strong and a team that starts hot and cannot put anyone away, I choose the team that closes games.

And this is all beside the fact that the Jazz have bench players that should get better and an Al Jefferson that has been very spotty. If they can get Hayward to be anything but a freaked out spazz and get Jefferson to play fluidly within the system, this team gets A LOT scarier.

 

[Hanginthere]

it's been really an exciting run, but i am glad that jerry sloan is the coach since i assume he won't let them think too good of themselves even with these victories. Watching these games (3 straight national tv appearances for the jazz, which is very unexpected), it's very obvious that they have so much work to do. Defensive rebounding is a big one; bench scoring is a concern when it's not a good day for cj, etc.

yeah, defensive rebounding is a problem, i agree... But i think it's due to jefferson being late on his rebounding rotations because he's still "thinking" on defense, he's getting better and better each game... I'll give that a little more time...

As i said the bench is a concern scoring wise, but defensively i think they're better than our front 5.... I think you can always generate offense somehow, especially in this offense, but if you can't play defense it will hurt you a lot more...

but the most encouraging sign, among others, is the way they obviously have been practicing an effective zone defense. We are still lacking a shut down defender at the 2 and a shot-blocking center, but playing the zone on and off throughout the game helps mitigate the weaknesses.

i think raja has fit the bill pretty okay defending the 2 spot... You can't win them all you know, but he's hung tough and been right on the guy for the most part... And what about fesenko as a shot blocker?? If these freaking refs weren't so whistle happy with this guy he would probably be averaging about 3 blocks a game (this guy has gotten some horrible calls against him which has negated at least 5 blocks that i can think of...

jmo