Originally posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest
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I'll will post something similar about 10 times this season. Usually after a loss."Either evolution or intelligent design can account for the athlete, but neither can account for the sports fan." - Robert Brault
"Once I seen the trades go down and the other guys signed elsewhere," he said, "I knew it was my time now." - Derrick Favors -
ESPN predicts Jazz results.
Average predictions:
Jazz finish 2.7 in the Northwest and 5.3 in the West.
I can understand their not buying into the Jazz improving by replacing Booz with Jeff yet.
I can understand their hopping on the OKC bandwagon, but not to the extent that they have.
ESPN rankings:
1. Lakers
2. OKC
3. Dallas
4.Portland
5. SA
6.Jazz
7. Houston
8. Suns
9. Nuggets
My guess is that 2-7 will be really close. If I had to predict, I'd agree with Legler: 2nd in the NW and 4th in the West. But Jazz will be right there competing for 1st in the NW and 2nd in the West.
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Elson is just barely starting to play and has already taken Fess' spot?! I'm outraged!So Russell...what do you love about music? To begin with, everything.Comment
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Random thought: Steve Brown may be the worst play by play guy I've ever listened to, but even he knows what a skip pass is.I'm like LeBron James.
-mpfunkComment
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Just read about CJ going down. That's no good. He seemed to be building his solid postseason.So Russell...what do you love about music? To begin with, everything.Comment
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LeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) left their respective teams for a bigger market, more sun and a better chance at winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat. Carmelo Anthony(notes) wants to leave the Rocky Mountains for the bright lights of New York or Chicago. Chris Paul’s(notes) representatives told the New Orleans Hornets this summer that he, too, would prefer a trade.
The union of the Heat’s Big Three has spurred a handful of the league’s young All-Stars to think about trying to form their own super teams. So should the Utah Jazz worry about point guard Deron Williams(notes) eyeing greener pastures?
Not as long as they keep winning.
“I just want to win,” Williams said. “My team has been winning, for the most part. Last year we got eliminated early, but we just got to get better. We got some pieces to do that. I’m happy right now.
“I’m under contract. I honor that contract, respect that contract and just play basketball. I’m never going to say never. [But] I don’t see that happening.”
Williams is under contract through the 2011-12 season, and has a $17.8 million option for 2012-13 that could be difficult to turn down, particularly if maximum salaries are lowered under a new collective bargaining agreement. If Williams were to want to leave anytime soon, he’d have to try to force a trade.
To their credit, the Jazz have given him little reason to do so. Under the guidance of general manager Kevin O’Conner and coach Jerry Sloan, the Jazz have remained competitive in the tough Western Conference.
Because Salt Lake City ranks 25th among the league’s 30 teams in TV market size, Williams said he’d gain “15-20 million fans the minute you sign” with New York, Los Angeles or Chicago. But he also doesn’t seem consumed with wanting to play under a bigger spotlight.
“Say what you want about small markets,” Williams said. “They are what they are. They have their advantages just like big markets have their advantages and disadvantages.”
On the court, the Jazz have given Williams enough to like about playing in Utah. The team has reached the playoffs the past four seasons, highlighted by a trip to the West finals in 2007. Energy Solutions Arena is always packed and Williams has become the beloved face of the franchise. Utah lost power forward Carlos Boozer(notes), sharpshooter Kyle Korver(notes) and guard Wesley Matthews(notes) during free agency this summer, but replaced them with young big man Al Jefferson(notes), veteran guards Raja Bell(notes) and Earl Watson(notes) and rookie forward Gordon Hayward(notes).
“The biggest thing that we’ve had is continuity,” O’Connor said. “Our ownership has agreed to spend the money over the last couple of years whether it’s retaining Paul [Millsap], getting Al Jefferson. We didn’t have to do those things. That’s where it starts and almost where it ends.”
And with Sloan and Williams guiding the Jazz, few doubt they’ll remain competitive.
“I’m comfortable,” Williams said. “We did some things to make our team better and I’m happy with that.”
Utah’s big problem has been running into the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs each of the past three seasons. The Lakers are again heavy favorites to win the West, but it’s anyone’s guess which team will emerge as their top challenger.
The Jazz have the talent to do so, but they’ll also enter the season with a handful of questions that need answering. How long will it take Jefferson to adapt to playing in the Jazz’s system? How many games will center Mehmet Okur(notes) miss before returning from an Achilles injury that cut short last season? Can Hayward make an immediate impact? Will Andrei Kirilenko(notes), who is in the final year of his contract, finish the season with the Jazz?
So far, Williams has liked what he’s seen.
“People are sleeping on us and not including us in the mix,” he said. “That’s fine. We’ve been in that position before and that doesn’t bother us. I think we are better equipped to make a run this year. It’s just going to take some time.”
Williams gives the Jazz a good start. He’s averaged more than 18 points and 10 assists in each of the past three seasons, and declared himself the best point guard in the league during last season’s playoffs. With Paul injured last season, not many people could dispute the claim.
Williams has since tired of the who’s-best debate, knowing he will ultimately be judged on how much he wins.
“Who’s better? The next guy is going to be better,” he said. “We got long careers ahead of us to determine that. I just want to win, just want to help my team anyway I can. Where you are ranked, who thinks who’s better … none of that matters.”
And unlike some of his peers, Williams also isn’t spending much time fretting over his future. He has at least two years left on his contract. Who knows what happens after that?
“If we do all the right things and put a team around him that he can succeed with, then he has to look at [staying],” O’Connor said. “But that’s so far down the road that we don’t even think about it.”So Russell...what do you love about music? To begin with, everything.Comment
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MG's post has been up for almost 7 hours and neither DDD or Surfah have posted about how they can't wait for DWill to be a Laker?Get confident, stupid
-landpokeComment
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Shelden Williams to get the starting nod for Denver on Wednesday.
Brings back some nice memories...
http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=1915549
http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=1913375Comment
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Donut is a one trick pony when it comes to Sheldon, that's what I learned from your links.Originally posted by BGRTHNUMEGO View PostGet confident, stupid
-landpokeComment
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Originally posted by BGRTHNUMEGO View Post
Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est.Comment
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Those jokes would actually have been much funnier if BGR had waited the full 5 years before tooting his horn.Originally posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest View Post
Also, with Sheldon "Ackbar" Williams finally getting some legit burn this season in Denver, BGR might be guilty of some premature horn tootage.
Prepare to put mustard on those words, for you will soon be consuming them, along with this slice of humble pie that comes direct from the oven of shame set at gas mark “egg on your face”! -- Moss
There's three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who's got the same first name as a city; and never go near a lady's got a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, everything else is cream cheese. --Coach FinstockComment
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Seriously? No mention of Brian Johnson? Weak...Originally posted by Donuthole View PostThose jokes would actually have been much funnier if BGR had waited the full 5 years before tooting his horn.
Also, with Sheldon "Ackbar" Williams finally getting some legit burn this season in Denver, BGR might be guilty of some premature horn tootage.
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Prepare to put mustard on those words, for you will soon be consuming them, along with this slice of humble pie that comes direct from the oven of shame set at gas mark “egg on your face”! -- Moss
There's three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who's got the same first name as a city; and never go near a lady's got a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, everything else is cream cheese. --Coach FinstockComment
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That first post reminded me of the awesome avatars I used to make as animated GIFs. Bucko had one that was wicked awesome for the longest time until Jefe finally made him take it down.Originally posted by BGRTHNUMEGO View PostComment
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Over/under on Jefferson's ppg: 21.5
The last time the Jazz had someone average more than 22 ppg was 2001-02, when the 38 year old Karl Malone averaged 22.4. Since then the season high is 21.1 by Boozer.
Over/under on Deron's apg: 11.0
No Jazz guard has averaged 11+ apg since 95-96 when Stock was at 11.2. Can Bell and Miles replace the 3-point shooting? I do think Deron will be able to collect more assists off mid-range jumpers with this year's roster.
I'm going over on both, but just barely. I think Jefferson is a great fit for this scheme, following early career Malone's PF model more than Boozer's. He's motivated to be on a playoff team and to play with a great PG. I don't think Millsap's numbers increase as much as they have in the past when Boozer's gone out and he's been paired with Memo.
Deron is healthy and rested and I think he kills it this year. 19.2 ppg and 11.1 apg.Comment
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