Rank the Jazz's rivals in the Western Conference

[infection]

The only people we have to fear are the Clippers and Lakers in the post season. Like whoever said, hopefully they matchup in the first round.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I wonder how Houston will do. I think Chris Paul's midrange was more dangerous against us than Westbrook's game. Clips and Lakers will be tough in playoffs, I am not afraid of Nuggets and I don't believe that Klay will be 100 percent in shape in May (I think GSW will struggle to make playoffs).

I think Houston is a 4-6 seed. They're still very dependent upon Harden, which makes them higher variance.

 

[Jazz4ever]

I have a really hard time ranking the top 6 this year out west. 1-5 are pretty interchangeable. On paper Paul is a better fit in Houston than Westbrook, but that may be negated by the fact Westbrook is 3-4 years younger.

1. LA C
2. Utah
3. LA L
4. Denver
5. Houston
6. GS

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Not afraid of GSW at all. Any of those other teams can beat anyone on any given night. May be harder for Houston over the course of a series, though.

If Klay is healthy that is core of the team that has been to the finals for how many straight years? I am not afraid of them currently because I don’t think they are or will be healthy. If we got them in the first round and they were healthy I’d be not happy.

I also think Russell gets moved for the depth pieces they need at some point... if they are trending the right way.

They have the most variance of any team to me... could see them out of the playoffs or in the conference finals and wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[infection]

If Klay is healthy that is core of the team that has been to the finals for how many straight years? I am not afraid of them currently because I don’t think they are or will be healthy. If we got them in the first round and they were healthy I’d be not happy.

I also think Russell gets moved for the depth pieces they need at some point... if they are trending the right way.

They have the most variance of any team to me... could see them out of the playoffs or in the conference finals and wouldn’t be surprised.

1. Russell sucks.
2. Health is a huge question mark for them.
3. I believe them being amazing pre-Durant was due to a number of coalescing factors. A lot of those factors are gone. All the role players are gone. Is Green going to be what Green was? Are they all motivated and as hungry? Could argue they are post-Durant, but this is a different team. Yeah, Steph is amazing. But it's not one guy. I don't see this team as lethal on any level. With or without Klay.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

1. Russell sucks.
2. Health is a huge question mark for them.
3. I believe them being amazing pre-Durant was due to a number of coalescing factors. A lot of those factors are gone. All the role players are gone. Is Green going to be what Green was? Are they all motivated and as hungry? Could argue they are post-Durant, but this is a different team. Yeah, Steph is amazing. But it's not one guy. I don't see this team as lethal on any level. With or without Klay.

All valid criticisms. I think they can get something for Russell if they think they can compete for a title. Even if he sucks for them, which he likely will, I think teams will explain it as a bad fit and still consider him an All Star*

Steph, Klay, Green are so good I’m not gonna bury them yet. Supporting cast is weak AF but could be bolstered mid-season.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Ideally, the seeding would come out like this:

1) Utah
2) Clippers
3) Rockets
4) Nuggets
5) Blazers
6) Lakers
7) Warriors
8) Spurs

Jazz would beat the Spurs in the first round, beat the Nuggets or Blazers in the second round, and face a beat up Clippers or Rockets team in the WCF.

 

[infection]

Ideally, the seeding would come out like this:

1) Utah
2) Clippers
3) Rockets
4) Nuggets
5) Blazers
6) Lakers
7) Warriors
8) Spurs

Jazz would beat the Spurs in the first round, beat the Nuggets or Blazers in the second round, and face a beat up Clippers or Rockets team in the WCF.

Make it happen.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

All valid criticisms. I think they can get something for Russell if they think they can compete for a title. Even if he sucks for them, which he likely will, I think teams will explain it as a bad fit and still consider him an All Star*

Steph, Klay, Green are so good I’m not gonna bury them yet. Supporting cast is weak AF but could be bolstered mid-season.

Losing not only KD, but Iggy, Livingston and Cousins leaves them with very little depth. Their defense probably takes a step backward. I'm interested to see how Alec Burks plays for them and how many minutes he gets.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Losing not only KD, but Iggy, Livingston and Cousins leaves them with very little depth. Their defense probably takes a step backward. I'm interested to see how Alec Burks plays for them and how many minutes he gets.

KD obviously is huge... Klay's health is huge...

Livingston had taken a step back... Iggy wasn't good in the regular season (huge subtraction in the playoffs). Cousins sucked for them and sucks overall and didn't play much.

They didn't replace the Cook's and Bell's either... it could wear their guys out... just saying if they are healthy for the playoffs and Russell is either good or turns into multiple pieces to help depth then I wouldn't want to play them. Depth matters less in the playoffs... top end talent and fit matter more... The KD-less warriors beat the Rockets. They might have beat the Raps if Klay doesn't get hurt. People forget that Klay is a Serial Killer in the playoffs. He was the one that held them together back in the day to beat that OKC team that had them on the ropes.

Healthy Step, Klay, Green in the playoffs beats a lot of teams. I doubt they get that though...

 

[infection]

Livingston had taken a step back... Iggy wasn't good in the regular season (huge subtraction in the playoffs).

We don't need to compare them now to comparing them with Durant. We need to compare them now with pre-Durant GSW. What's Livingston now vs. pre-Durant? What's Iggy now vs. pre-Durant? Bogut was a huge part of their success, too.

You had young and healthy Klay, Steph, and Green, plus having Barnes, Livingston, Iggy, and Bogut. Now you have none of the latter guys, a 32 year old Steph, a (how motivated?) Green, and a Klay who, even if healthy, is a question mark as to how much he is of himself. They're a decent team. They're not a dangerous team.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We don't need to compare them now to comparing them with Durant. We need to compare them now with pre-Durant GSW. What's Livingston now vs. pre-Durant? What's Iggy now vs. pre-Durant? Bogut was a huge part of their success, too.

You had young and healthy Klay, Steph, and Green, plus having Barnes, Livingston, Iggy, and Bogut. Now you have none of the latter guys, a 32 year old Steph, a (how motivated?) Green, and a Klay who, even if healthy, is a question mark as to how much he is of himself. They're a decent team. They're not a dangerous team.

They might be more dangerous next year. The depth is an issue... if Evans or Spellman can contribute it'd go a long way to helping. This year the main issue I see if they can't sign anyone because of the hard cap... like they can't even offer a minimum deal right now... so they won't get any of the buyout action.

But let's say they are keeping their heads above water and Klay is on track to come back pre-AS break... Then some offers come in for Russell... Say Covington and stuff for Russell from Minny or Gordon for Russell from Orlando or Aminu/Ross/Isaac for Russell and cap fodder... all of a sudden the roster fills out a bit.

I just think that big 3 if healthy is really dangerous.