2017 NBA Playoffs

[FritzLn]

Absolutely; all year I've wanted the Warriors to run into a healthy Jazz team in the playoffs. After the Spurs they present the most formidable challenge because the way they're built is basically tailor-made to handle a team like the Warriors.

what's funny is the jazz aren't healthy either. lucky bastards

 

[-Akronite-]

They had a Big 3, and he broke it up!

At the time, not only was there the issue of money, but I think a lot of people still lived under the assumption that one of your top players needs to be a legit big man. The league got smaller soon after and jump-shooting became much more important to the game. So while it was the wrong decision at the time IMO, it was definitely a worse decision in hindsight.

 

[-Akronite-]

jazz might steal one, wouldn't bet a single dollar on it, but in the 4 they lose, they'll be blown out

still better than watching the warriors film a highlight tape while the world laughs at the clippers

YEP.

The Jazz has a shot at making a couple games competitive but the Warriors are gonna light them up just like they will anybody... Including us in multiple games even if we win the series.

 

[The Red Viper]

Can't really blame the franchise. Freak injuries.

Not that they could ever take the Warriors but at least they would have given them a run for their money.

TBH even then, they have done a poor job imo in terms of surrounding CP, Blake and DeAndre with good role players. I really thought they should have gone all in on Melo this season.

Melo is the perfect fit for them. They get a good SF which is their biggest hole. Could slide Melo to 4 and play a small-ball line-up if needed. More importantly, Melo addresses Clippers' biggest problem which is closing teams out in 4th quarter.

One of their major issues is, during 4th quarters, a lot of oppositions try to trap CP and send doubles to get the ball out of his hand. Blake is a good playmaker/player but he turns-over the ball a lot during crunch time and he still hasn't developed an offensive game where you can give him the ball and he would get you buckets in a half court offense late in the game. Say what you want to about Melo, the man is clutch and is one of the most skilled scorers in the modern era. He would have been perfect fit imo!

 

[PIP]

what do people think of Warriors Utah series. Can Jazz cause Golden State any problems?

Don't really think it will be much of a series. Kinda watching Utah play an older Clippers team without their 2nd best player and they're not really playing inspired ball... Maybe they get a home game against GSW if the Warriors have an off shooting night or Draymond goes off the deep end ?

But between their inexperience and lack of star play I'm not sure they're gonna be much of a challenge ? However, I do believe they can make the Warriors work and wear them down a bit...

 

[bigfoot5415]

TBH even then, they have done a poor job imo in terms of surrounding CP, Blake and DeAndre with good role players. I really thought they should have gone all in on Melo this season.

Melo is the perfect fit for them. They get a good SF which is their biggest hole. Could slide Melo to 4 and play a small-ball line-up if needed. More importantly, Melo addresses Clippers' biggest problem which is closing teams out in 4th quarter.

One of their major issues is, during 4th quarters, a lot of oppositions try to trap CP and send doubles to get the ball out of his hand. Blake is a good playmaker/player but he turns-over the ball a lot during crunch time and he still hasn't developed an offensive game where you can give him the ball and he would get you buckets in a half court offense late in the game. Say what you want to about Melo, the man is clutch and is one of the most skilled scorers in the modern era. He would have been perfect fit imo!

This is 100000% completely false. LAC has been stacked year after year with role players. The blame falls squarely on health, Doc, Blake, CP3 & Deandre. All payed like Superstars, but all disappear in the playoffs when healthy.

2011-2012
Chauncey Billups
Mo Williams
Eric Bledsoe
Caron Butler
Kenyon Martin

They squeaked by the superior Grizzlies team, and were swept by the Spurs. They were 100% healthy at the time.

2012-2013
Matt Barnes
Chauncey Billups
Caron Butler
Jamal Crawford
Grant Hill
Rony Turiaf
Lamar Odom

Lost in 6 to the Grizzlies. 90% certain they were healthy. Blake may have been banged up because he came off the bench 1 game.

2013-2014
Matt Barnes
Reggie Bullock
Darren Collison
Jamal Crawford
Glen Davis
Jared Dudley
Danny Granger
Ryan Hollins
Stephen Jackson
Antawn Jamison
BJ Mullens
JJ Riddick
Hedo Turkoglu

Lost to the Thunder in 6 in the CSF. Perfectly healthy.

2014-2015
Nate Robinson
JJ Riddick
Hedo Turkoglu
Austin Rivers
Spencer Hawes
Dahnty Jones
Jamal Crawford
CDR
Glen Davis
Jordan Farmar
Matt Barnes

Lost to the Rockets in 6 in the CSF. CP3 misses two games, and finally has somewhat of an excuse for not making it.

2015-2016
Jamal Crawford
Jeff Green
Wesley Johnson
Luc Mbah a Moute
Paul Pierce
Pablo Prigioni
JJ Riddick
Lance Stephenson
CJ Wilcox
Austin Rivers

Lost in 1st round to the Blazers. CP3 misses 2 games again.

2016-2017
JJ Reddick
Jamal Crawford
Paul Pierce
Austin Rivers
Wesley Johnson
Luc Mbah a Moute
Mareese Speights
Raymond Felton
Brandon Bass

Blake goes down, and they lose again in the 1st round.

I would much rather have 90% of the above players, at the state they were in over the last 3 guys on our bench, and atleast 2 other guys we started the year with.

The Clippers couldnt have even acquired Melo without moving one of their big 3 or gutting their role players. Not to mention, no way was Doc going to give up on the fraud he calls his son.

The players & Doc are to blame. Lets face it, Doc was a bad coach with one hell of a defensive assistant. Ainge is gifted 2 hall of famers, and they win one ring. None of that is Doc's doing.

Blake has no game outside of an iso jumper or dunking on people & Deandre is literally paid only to dunk & block shots.

The Clippers, for Balmer's sake, should blow it the hell up. The Clippers are the definition of insanity in the NBA.

 

[Los216]

The Jazz can beat GSW in the next round. I'm not even saying this for attention. I truly believe the Jazz can win that series. My pick to come out the West this year was The Rockets anyway. I'm on record as saying the Finals would be Cavs over Rockets in 5 games btw.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Lmao some of y'all are ridiculous

 

[ACisKING]

The Jazz can beat GSW in the next round. I'm not even saying this for attention. I truly believe the Jazz can win that series. My pick to come out the West this year was The Rockets anyway. I'm on record as saying the Finals would be Cavs over Rockets in 5 games btw.

Please let me know which basketball god to pray to make the above happen

 

[bigfoot5415]

Please let me know which basketball god to pray to make the above happen

Actually for that outcome you need to pray to Chutulu.

 

[bigfoot5415]

The Jazz can beat GSW in the next round. I'm not even saying this for attention. I truly believe the Jazz can win that series. My pick to come out the West this year was The Rockets anyway. I'm on record as saying the Finals would be Cavs over Rockets in 5 games btw.

I love the Jazz & I love the team they've built. 10 years ago they would have been a force.

Today, there will be so much PnR & 5 Out that Gobert will struggle to protect. He's great in the paint, but getting him moving may make things difficult.

Not to mention, how do they slow down GSW for a 7 game series? A game or two, anything can happen, but at the end of the day the Jazz do not have that kind of fire power. This is the same team that had 69 points with about 10 minutes to go last night. Stopping the interior game of LAC is far different than stopping the 3pt game of GSW.

 

[Los216]

I love the Jazz & I love the team they've built. 10 years ago they would have been a force.

Today, there will be so much PnR & 5 Out that Gobert will struggle to protect. He's great in the paint, but getting him moving may make things difficult.

Not to mention, how do they slow down GSW for a 7 game series? A game or two, anything can happen, but at the end of the day the Jazz do not have that kind of fire power. This is the same team that had 69 points with about 10 minutes to go last night. Stopping the interior game of LAC is far different than stopping the 3pt game of GSW.

Matchups and Coaching

 

[bigfoot5415]

Matchups and Coaching

Ill give you coaching, but the mismatches go both ways.

I could see this being one of those series where the underdog steals 2 games, or even 3 and everyone asks, "Can X really pull off the upset"?

At the end of the day, its the NBA, the better team almost always wins.

 

[billmac91]

Jazz can without a doubt create some issues for GS.

I don't expect them to win series but I think it goes 5 if not 6 games. I just do t see Utah getting blown out based on how physical their defense is.

I'd also submit, literally the worst team before playing Utah, would be Portland. Portland is soft as hell and an awful lead-in to what will be an insanely physical series.

Lastly, Utah's pace could create soMe fundamental challenges. I just don't see guys like Klay or Steph playing as free as they want when every possession is valued against a team like Utah. It constricts the freedom.

Ultimately how close the series actually ends up being likely hinges on how well Gordan Hayward plays.....I hope he gets hot and plays efficient. Would be fun to see GS squirm a bit....

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Oh my

Just keeps getting better