Official Round 1 Predictions: Jazz-V-Thunder

[LogGrad98]

Depends entirely on which Jazz team shows up. Is it the Jazz team that pounded GS 3 different times, or is it the Jazz team that threw the ball away almost more than they assisted against like Atlanta, or he Jazz team that were out of sync and flailing like against Portland.

If it is the former, I would call this Jazz in 6.

If the latter, I would not be surprised at a sweep or Thunder in 5.

But being optimistic, I am calling Jazz in 6. We shall see.

 

[Siro]

Siro vying for circle jerk leader.

I know, being optimistic about one of the best teams in the league on their own fan forums. Circle jerk!

You've always been one of this site's prime dumbasses.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Handlogten is right that we were tired, and it really showed. We didn't have the legs to shoot. But I agree that we are not mature enough yet to be a high-pressure team. If I'm wrong I'll be happy about it, but that's the way I see it right now.

Why does losing a meaningless game when they are tired dictate that? The Jazz won the games they had to convincingly and were very clutch and mature in those situations. We have been the 2nd best team in the NBA since the all-star break just behind Houston.

 

[David Stern]

This is how I view last night: we have 3 chances to get home court. We lost the first one. If we win one of the next two, we've got it back. Being the road team has way less pressure in a series like this.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

People are reading waaaaaay too much into the loss last night. Tough opponent... back end of a back-to-back and 3rd game in 4 nights. With flights from LA to Utah to Portland. These guys aren't robots... tired legs will miss shots.

I hoped we could win, but it shouldn't surprise anyone that we were flat.

I don’t think it’s that at all. I totally understand why the Jazz lost to Portland they way they did. It was a perfect storm for a Portland victory. I literally factor zero of last nights performance into how we will do vs OKC. However, the fact of the matter is that I don’t think we can win 2 games in OKC and I think that’s what it will take to win this series. Thus, losing HC cost us a chance to advance. (Again, I HOPE I’m wrong)

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Handlogten is right that we were tired, and it really showed. We didn't have the legs to shoot. But I agree that we are not mature enough yet to be a high-pressure team. If I'm wrong I'll be happy about it, but that's the way I see it right now.

We are young and inexperienced I’ll give you that. I just think last night was evidence of fatigue not lack of effort or dealing with pressure.

This likely does not go over well, but a relatively inexperienced Hayward was really good in the playoffs last year. DM will be put in a position to have success and I believe he can handle the spotlight.

I think it is either jazz in 6 or thunder in 7. I’ve doubted this team before and won’t do it again... so I’m going jazz in 6.

 

[str8line]

It comes down to PG13 to me.
If Jazz contain him and not let him break out of his sustained slump (let's hope the Memphis game was just a 'fluke'), I reckon Jazz win.
I think Jazz can survive heavy usage Westbrook triple doubles and the occasional shooting burst from Melo. But PG13 being a beast on both sides of the ball might be the difference.
I am hoping Ingles gets a chance to 'unsettle' him

I agree about PG. Westbrook will be brutal. Adams plays Rudy well. Melo will go off for one or two games. I'm not saying we can't win, but I think their experience will make it tough.

I know, being optimistic about one of the best teams in the league on their own fan forums. Circle jerk!

You've always been one of this site's prime dumbasses.

Siro you are a suck up. I'm sharing my opinion, backing it up with my reasoning, and you're trying to get a circle jerk together to **** on people.

 

[Siro]

I agree about PG. Westbrook will be brutal. Adams plays Rudy well. Melo will go off for one or two games.


Siro you are a suck up. I'm sharing my opinion, backing it up with my reasoning, and you're trying to get a circle jerk together to **** on people. **** off you twit.

I am expressing my opinion on your dumbassery as well. I can't neg or dislike, so if you predict OKC will win, I'm calling you a dumbass. I think it's fair.

 

[RJF]

People are reading waaaaaay too much into the loss last night. Tough opponent... back end of a back-to-back and 3rd game in 4 nights. With flights from LA to Utah to Portland. These guys aren't robots... tired legs will miss shots.

I hoped we could win, but it shouldn't surprise anyone that we were flat.

A voice of reason is not allowed here on JFZ...

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

So since Rudy has been back we are an amazing defense... we win the games we are mediocre on offense and some of the games where we are just plain bad. If we shoot well we win... flat out.

OKC allows the most corner threes... porty the least (or close to it). We will have a chance to make them pay and I think we have enough shooters to make it work.

 

[str8line]

We are young and inexperienced I’ll give you that. I just think last night was evidence of fatigue not lack of effort or dealing with pressure.

This likely does not go over well, but a relatively inexperienced Hayward was really good in the playoffs last year. DM will be put in a position to have success and I believe he can handle the spotlight.

I think it is either jazz in 6 or thunder in 7. I’ve doubted this team before and won’t do it again... so I’m going jazz in 6.

I think DM can handle it too. And our team chemistry has to count for a lot. We have a special comaraderie. It's not like I'm predicting them to blow us out. But we probably would need to get back to SLC for game 7 to take them and in a game 6 at home they will be tough. Then again there was last year...

 

[Avery]

What's funny is that two playoff prediction articles I've read now (from Sporting News and FiveThirtyEight, both of which have OKC as favorites) both wrongly claim that the Jazz would have played NOP if they would have won last night which we all know was never the case based on the tiebreaker shenanigans.

If you didn't know our scenario, you don't know **** about this team. Jazz in 6.