How "In love" are you with this team?

[Jazzercise]

Hey all,

I've been a huge Jazz fan for quite some time now, and I was just wondering if my thoughts on this team parallel others on these boards. I personally am not all that "in love" with the team this year. I know it has been only two games, but it seems as though they seriously lack the talent, athleticism, and tenacity to become anything more than they are. I think it is seriously time to purge the roster (coach and gm included), in order to start this team in a different direction. I seriously get SOOOO tired of watching AK, Memo, and Boozer loaf their asses up and down the court. It is time get get things going in a new direction. When is the last time we've seriously had a capable two who could get things done on his own? Seriously? Brewer and co. look so inept and uncomfortable at even dribbling the ball on their own that every time I watch I cringe. I will always be a Jazz fan, but the moves that KOC, Sloan, and co. keep making (more importantly NOT making) seriously question my abilities to root for this team. I digress.

[FJS]

I don't have a lot of faith here... but yesterday I watched a few points of light.
Fessenko played solid in D and O, and Kosta did a good job (not great). The guy grabbed 5 offensive rebounds vs a tall frontcourt.
If we can play them and they can't produce we can take a next step. Brewer did almost eveything ok. His shot is falling. Williams didn't play his A game (altough he played really well in the first).
I would like to see Fess or Kosta in C with Okur at PF how it work.

[Jazzercise]

I want to believe in this team, I really do. However, no one currently on this team (positions 3-5) have shown me anything, even a small flash of brilliance, that has me optimistic for the future. That is the moniker of this team, they play within the "system" which gives them a chance of winning. However, the system particularly defensively has been broken for some time now. I'm just sick and tired of watching the opposition driving into the lane for a layup with no resistance from our front court.

[tankster]

I'm just sick and tired of watching the opposition driving into the lane for a layup with no resistance from our front court.

Then take the opportunity of talking to our BACKCOURT players and tell them it's time to get in front of their man and stay there!!

[ele.ven]

Here's what I'm thinking. If Koufos/Fesenko develop anywhere near their potential (which seems pretty high) then we would be able to draft a solid wing with the NY pick who can defend laterally, handle the ball and make big shots.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Does anyone see the Jazz not coming to terms on a deal with Brewer as a sign that they are goinf to be looking to trade Boozer for a wing? With the draft stacked with PFs I think it seems like all the pieces are coming together to reveal a new wing in Utah by the end of the year. I really like Brewer but his shot is a liability and if we can get a solid wing like Rudy Gay I'd do it. The way D-Will and the rest of our offense plays is dependent on players being able to shoot from the arc.

[loserX]

Does anyone see the Jazz not coming to terms on a deal with Brewer as a sign that they are goinf to be looking to trade Boozer for a wing? With the draft stacked with PFs I think it seems like all the pieces are coming together to reveal a new wing in Utah by the end of the year. I really like Brewer but his shot is a liability and if we can get a solid wing like Rudy Gay I'd do it. The way D-Will and the rest of our offense plays is dependent on players being able to shoot from the arc.

As much as I like Brewer and want him on this team, I don't blame the Jazz at all for playing it this way. He will be RFA next year...and look at how RFAs did this past offseason. For the most parts their incumbent teams got to have their way with them, contractwise. Not extending Brewer just leaves our options open; if we make a move and don't need him, fine. If we don't make a move and do need him, the odds are still pretty good that the market will dictate favourable terms on our part. I don't think it necessarily portends a specific Boozer trade.

[erudite23]

Yeah, just look at this year's RFA crop. It was a desert landscape for those guys, so next year when the cap drops 5-7m, it's likely going to be a LOT worse. I have no idea what Ronnie was accepting, but unless he blows up this year and puts up something in line with 18/5/3 with 55% FGs/30+% 3pts/80+% FTs, then he made a serious mistake. I'll bet the Jazz were offering somewhere in the neighborhood of 5m per, which would be a nice deal for him. I highly doubt he gets any attention in nexts years FA period. Unless he plans on playing for the QO, his agent made a mistake.


As for the OP, my answer would have to be "not a whole lot." Based on the way Deron has played for 6 of the first 8 quarters, and assuming that the 2nd half in which he only put up 4 and 2 was just a minor blip, it looks like we are about to waste one of the great PG seasons in NBA history on a good but not great season. There are definite issues with the team, and I have some serious problems with our lackadaisical attitude defensively, but the idea of "cleaning house" is so ludicrous as to be laughable. KOC and Sloan have both done an impressive job dealing with a very difficult situation. With the NYK pick and a few nice young, promising players in conjunction with a great player like DWill, this team just needs some tinkering. We have the type of roster where if we can just get that one piece, the guy that brings it all together, this team could make the leap. Unfortunately, it looks like that peice is a defensive big who can block shots and rebound, and those are few and far between.

[Soul Patch]

The idea of blowing this team up is ludicrous. From everything I've heard Miles was on track to be the missing piece in our backcourt. He played some PG in training camp so he's comfortable handling the rock, he's got a great shot, and has shown the ability to drive in the lane, though he does seem a bit reluctant to do so. Fes and Koufos are good bigmen prospects. We need a veteran presence to change the attitude in the locker room.

[CAE15]

I want to see this team when the shooters get back in Miles and korver then if were not doing what we need to then sure maybe think about moving some guys. Stick it out with AK for this year and then he is a huge expiring contract. I think the Jazz are doing what they did with millsap, let brewer find out what hes worth then match the offer unless its ridiculous.

[DelaneyRudd]

I have battered women syndrome.

[outerspacefella]

.... we would be able to draft a solid wing with the NY pick who can defend laterally, handle the ball and make big shots.

Not that such kind of dudes abound out there....

[outerspacefella]

...Williams didn't play his A game ...

IMHO he played his A game... he outplayed rival's PG position and he handled tha game in the fourth quarter with maturity, and that's what I want from him. Against Denver he put huge numbers, but he didn't handle the ballgame and wasn't able to outplay the rival's PG position (a thing that happens more than I really want to admit...)

[outerspacefella]

I have battered women syndrome.

That was a good one!

[outerspacefella]

I want to see this team when the shooters get back...

Gimme real shooters and real centers and I like Jazz chances to go all the way to WCF and may be, just may be, win the West. Without them the Jazz have no chance against Lakers, Nuggets, Mavs, Spurs, Blazers. That's how I see it.
I will enjoy every minute of it anyway...