Rank the Jazz's rivals in the Western Conference

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

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.

The Warriors also had surprisingly rugged interior play with guys like David West, Javale McGee one year, and even Festus Ezeli. Plus they had Harrison Barnes to fill out their death lineup before they picked up KD. Now they're going to be playing their rookies and jourenymen like Glenn Robinson III and Alfonzo McKinnie at forward.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

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.

Klay has already said his best case is post AS break. He won't be 100% when he comes back.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

The Warriors also had surprisingly rugged interior play with guys like David West, Javale McGee one year, and even Festus Ezeli. Plus they had Harrison Barnes to fill out their death lineup before they picked up KD. Now they're going to be playing their rookies and jourenymen like Glenn Robinson III and Alfonzo McKinnie at forward.

McKinnie is solid. The other guys aren’t great but their the types that Steph can make look good.

The have WCS, Looney, Spellman at center which isn’t great but Spellman has lost weight and could be a contributor. If WCS is healthy he’s similar to JaVale in some ways.

AB, GRIII, or Evans need to give them something. They picked up Paschall and Poole in the draft... one could contribute.

Those teams with Barnes etc were seen as “loaded” so this warriors team isn’t as “loaded” as those teams but still very dangerous. Klay may not be completely healthy at any point this year but if he plays 2/3 months before the playoffs he could be good enough.

I just think you can’t write me off yet.

 

[jom2003]

Clippers and maybe the Nuggets

 

[Jazz Spazz]

Looking at how teams' rosters are shaking out, here are the Jazz's rivals in the WC. How do you think the Jazz stack up against these teams? I'll hold my comments for now..

Utah Jazz Starters:
1 Mike Conley
2 Donovan Mitchell
3 Bojan Bogdanovic
4 Jeff Green
5 Rudy Gobert

Bench:
6 Emanuel Mudiay
7 Dante Exum
8 Joe Ingles

TBH, I stopped reading right here. First of all with Ingles out of the starting 5, but putting him after Mudiay and Exum. I can't take this seriously.
Who can compete with a team that has Mudiay as their 6th man, right?

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

TBH, I stopped reading right here. First of all with Ingles out of the starting 5, but putting him after Mudiay and Exum. I can't take this seriously.
Who can compete with a team that has Mudiay as their 6th man, right?

That's not a ranking of the players, just a 10-man rotation with players sorted by position.

 

[MVP]

Lakers are vastly overrated. One semi serious injury to LBJ or Davis and they are not even making playoffs. The only solid complimentary piece they have is Green. Rest is pretty much junk scraps.

 

[campaignist]

I was afraid of Denver until I saw how fat Jokic got, yeeesh.

Houston downgraded at least in our matchup switching to Westbrook, I’d favor the Jazz.

The Lakers are scary but they have a lot to prove.

I see the Clippers as the clear #1. The next tier is us, the Lakers, and Denver. I don’t see any one as unbeatable.

 

[tleikheen]

LA Clippers
Denver
Houston
Jazz
Lakers
GS
Dallas
Portland



Jazz have nobody who can control or slowdown Kawhi or PG, both these guys can shred top defenses and put the clamps on opposing teams best players.
Denver has the same crew back and maybe the best rookie this year. They finished with a better record and went further in the playoffs than the Jazz did.
Despite what Jazz fans think of Westbrook ,he's still better than Conley or DM and paired up with Harden their the best guard tandem in BB
Jazz are too small ,they'll be dynamite on offense but theirs multiple teams in the West who will be dynamite on offense as well.
Lebron shows AD how to win they'll be very very tough ,except their just 2 man team and need a 3rd if Kuzma is hurt
As the Finals showed ,GS will have trouble against big tough teams and they'll miss Klay Thompsons shooting
Porzingas and Doncic are going to be monsters on offense and Porzingas will challenge Gobert for blocked shots ,like the Lakers their looking for a 3rd guy
Portland knows how to win ballgames with Dame and McCollum. Whiteside can be good but you never know which guy shows up with him.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

That's not a ranking of the players, just a 10-man rotation with players sorted by position.

Whew, ok I’ll go read it now. It just happened to have 4 surefire starters in the top 5 and the rest in a random order then. That threw me off, I thought it was in order.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I'm intrigued by the way the Jazz are becoming a more "positionless" team, with virtually anyone bringing the ball up the floor, and several of their guys being able to initiate. There's no doubt that Conley and Ingles will be primary initiators running screen/roll actions, but the Jazz were looking to create early offense and attack the rim with early breaks at every opportunity. Bojan, Royce, Jeff, Georges, Miye, and Brantley were all leading breaks last game.

The Warriors' formula for success basically consisted of a) having 2 or 3 of the best shooters in the league spacing the floor out to 28 feet, and b) having 4 or 5 wing-sized guys who could all dribble, pass and shoot to attack those open lanes and score at the rim. The Jazz have made strides in that direction. It makes them very difficult to defend.

Brad Stevens' Celtics teams have been trying to do this too, but their guys don't pass the ball, so it doesn't really work.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

Jazz have nobody who can control or slowdown Kawhi or PG, both these guys can shred top defenses and put the clamps on opposing teams best players.

How exactly are they going to put the clamps down on the jazz with those two defenders?

Neither of them is going to guard Conley, it will be Beverley. And as good as he is, he's not going to be able to stop the Jazz P'n'R by himself. Which begs the question: Who in the **** is going to guard Gobert for that team?

It's not like they signed PG and 5 Kawhi Leonards.

Denver has the same crew back and maybe the best rookie this year. They finished with a better record and went further in the playoffs than the Jazz did.

Yes, Denver is basically the same, and the Jazz improved their offense immensely. Explain more clearly, and more concise terms, why do you think Denver is going to be better than the Jazz. Because I don’t see it.

Jazz are too small ,they'll be dynamite on offense but theirs multiple teams in the West who will be dynamite on offense as well.

They (opposing teams) have to be dynamite to compete with the Jazz. You can’t even name a team that can stop the Jazz’ offense.

On the other side, every team has to go through man-to-man defense, and then Gobert. Plus, they have to deal with the fact that the Jazz are going to be making more buckets, forcing them into a half course set more times down the floor. The Jazz’s defense just got better by virtue of getting better shooters to replace Rubio, Favors, and Crowder.