Why we can contend now w/defense

[Realjazz]

This Jazz team's window of opportunity for winning a championship will open up after the Kobe/Gasol Lakers window closes. With Kobe, Gasol, Odom, and Bynum playing at their highest levels they just have too many pieces, maybe for any team to overcome. Trying to match up with this incarnation of the Lakers will be an excercise in futility.

That being said, the Jazz have an excellent core in D-Will, AJ, and Sap. They need to add a couple more pieces to the puzzle, hopefully sooner rather than later, I would imagine it would involve moving AK and Memo. The Jazz are a stud shooting guard or small forward, and a defensive center away from being a real contender. If they can make that happen in the next 2 seasons then I imagine by 2012 the Laker's window will be closing or closed if Kobe or Gasol get injured and the Jazz will have an experienced core and will be able to make a serious run.

 

[InGameStrategy]

I usually agree with most everything you write, but this [Utah can handle Artest-Gasol-Bynum/Ratliff] is a bold statement. Bold.

It was proven game after game.

A big reason why I have continued to maintain that Fesenko (in all his rawness) had a net positive impact is that Fes played a lot of his minutes against Bynum--and Utah scored more points than the the Lakers did when Fes was on the floor in the playoffs.

Sloan probably didn't play Fes down the stretch because for some reason, he though that Millsap and Boozer matched up better against Odom and Gasol.

I respectfully disagree with this strategy. Fes sometimes followed the opposing big out to the perimeter--sometimes to a fault. I would've liked to see Fesenko out there twoard the end of the game because Millsap and Boozer DID NOT WORK. They can score, but they can't contain the paint. We already knew that before this year.

The nice thing about this year is that some combination of Jefferson, Millsap, and Okur can possibly contain the paint.

I'm possibly underestimating the impact of Bryant and the wings down the stretch. With a healthy AK and Bell, the Jazz might be better off in Q4 than with Matthews and Miles.

 

[vj_74]

Sloan did'nt play Fess because he is a disaster on offense and without Okur already, the Jazz were already fighting an uphill battle there. Millsap can atleast make a 15-ft jumper to keep the defenses honest. And on the defensive end, Fess didnt block a single shot for like 3 or 4 games in a row and looked gassed(and inexperienced) 15 mins into the game. Fesenko might have been a little better than Millsap or Okur on defense but he was'nt quite Mark Eaton.
Jazz needed to make the Lakers work a little bit on defense. Otherwise we did'nt stand a chance.

And I dont think this season is any different. We have just replaced a 6-9 guy who does'nt play dfeense much with a 6-10 guy who is not known for playing much defense either. That's why I find this thread amusing.
Contend with defense? The Celtics had several 7-footers and a couple of all-NBA defense team calibre players
None of our guys would make it to the all-NBA defense team anytime soon.
(Even Deron seems to be more concerned about making Al Jefferson "an all-star" rather than goading him into becoming an all-NBA first or second team defensive player.)
The only way we ever come close to contention is if AK, Bell and Jefferson play D like mad men and if Okur doesnt get worse from previous years. Millsap will be overwhelmed even if he plays mad. And lets not forget th erebounding which will take a hit with any smaller lineup.
This recent NBA finals was all won on the boards. Lakers won the 4 games where they won on the boards. And they did it with superior size and agility, despite having a lumbering Bynum.

 

[memo is money]

There are at most 2-3 teams that have better frontcourts than the Jazz. We are not getting any of promising bigs who can play BOTH SIDES of floor pretty effectively. Lakers have one of them, Bynum. Marc Gasol is not as good defensively as some fans consider. Moving on, there are players like Brook Lopez. No way in the hell Nets give up on him. I think we should expect our players to play their games, live up the the real expectations + hope that Fes will be more mature and improve his game. IMO, the only way the Jazz could improve this frontcourt by bringing Ante Tomic ,who is a way better prospect than Fes or Kosta. Okafor -"Shot blocking big man"- earns 13M per year. And he has not have a post game + just does not have any idea about how to shoot the ball. Yeah, and he is playing in the NBA. Stop this comedy. I have a hard time believing that Biedrins, Okafor etc. are upgrade over Okur. Just wowwww...