Can the Jazz get to the NBA Finals this year?
They finished so well the last couple of years, I think a lot of us Jazz fans were thinking that his was going to be our year.
Oh, how wrong we were.
In case you are in a bubble for the last month, let me recap why the Utah Jazz are in trouble.
- The Jazz play horribly against the Los Angeles Lakers, at least they have recently.
- The Jazz allow top players to score at will. Kobe Bryant will score at will.
- Boozer still has not fully recovered from his injury. He is well enough to play some time. The result is a hobbled Boozer taking valuable minutes from players who currently are playing better than he is. The Jazz aren’t about to make Booz mad as they hope to sign him for a long-term contract, so he’s sure to play and he’s sure to be a step slower on defense.
- The Jazz limped into the playoffs, losing a whole bunch of games — all of which were important for them to stay out of the 8 spot.
- The Jazz are not indestructible at home. Just ask the Warriors.
- The Jazz won’t beat you on the road, unless Deron Williams has a vendetta against you because your name is Chris Paul.
- The Jazz don’t do well against top three point shooting teams. The Lakers are very good three point shooters.
- The Jazz don’t do well against big, strong post men. They don’t have a good shotblocker in the post, and their center and power forward are a bit undersized — especially for the defensive end. The Lakers have a big, strong center and a tall and versatile power forward.
- Is Deron Williams going to improve his turnovers? Not this year.
Do the Jazz have a chance?
Their only chance was to play well enough in the final 10 games to squeak into a 6 or 7 spot and allow someone else the opportunity to take out the Lakers.
Where they sit now, the Jazz, sorrowfully, are going to be hard-pressed to win more than one game.
