"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Non Sequitur]

My guess is not much higher. Maybe two spots or so. And I'm not sure the 6-7 spot looks dramatically different from the 8-9 spot right now.

The good news in all this is that this is a great year to have high first round draft picks. This is one of the best draft classes I have seen in a long time.

[MarkGrace]

The good news in all this is that this is a great year to have high first round draft picks. This is one of the best draft classes I have seen in a long time.

I think this draft is a bit odd. It has long been touted as one of the best in several years, but I'm not sure it's as strong at the top-end as some have suggested. Right now most mocks have MKG going #2, and that just kind of floors me. I really like that kid a lot, but #2 pick in the draft? I don't know that I see that. But then you play the mock lotto and see guys like Lamb/Barnes/Jones turning up at 9 and 14 and start to see the real depth. All those guys have some question marks, but those types of talent levels at that point in the draft is pretty rare. In a lot of drafts you see a pretty distinct break at a certain point in the lotto, but this one seems to have some good talent distributed throughout. It seems less like the kind of draft that you'd want to turn two lotto picks into one unless you could make a really significant jump up.

[Non Sequitur]

I really like MKG. It's been a while since I've seen a kid that young who gets to the rim and finishes like him. And he plays defense and rebounds. If he ever gets a jump shot he'll be one of the best in the league.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I was on the fence about the playoffs, but after the last couple games, the Jazz don't have any business being there and I would like to see us with two picks. Would really like to see another wing with the GSW pick (assuming we hold onto it, and boy would it suck to lose) and a point with our own pick.

One-and-done playoffs and losing out on both picks is the worst case scenario right now.

The little run the Jazz had that put the media and team in a place where they were talking about the 5th seed was full of fool's gold.

They followed up a loss to non-playoff team Phoenix by barely beating a floundering Minnesota team in OT at home. Minnesota was 18-17 at one point, but Rubio going down and reality setting in has had them going 7-11 since then. Next was another home game that went into OT to beat the tanking Warriors.

It seemed like the momentum was legit with a road win at Staples, but Kobe was in full "punk Utah" mode and shot his team out of the game with a 3-20 night. A great home win against OKC followed. I know I probably got caught up in thinking the playoffs might be a good idea at that point.

But then it was a 1 point win against the awful Kings. They trashed Denver at home, but Denver was resting Gallinari and Birdman and Afflalo got booted in the 3rd. They played Atlanta on the 3rd night of Atlanta's b2b2b...and lost in 4OT. How do you lose to a team playing its 3rd night in a row when the game goes to 4OT?

They beat up on DWill and his band of d-leaguers, and now 3 straight losses including a home loss to Sacramento.

As MG said, this team doesn't even have any business being the 8 seed, and nobody on the team is going to gain any valuable experience from getting slapped by OKC in 4 games.

[jay santos]

Christofferson's a good one to handle these important topics. Smart guy.

He's the best option right now of the smart guys that are skilled speakers. Eyring's is little too zealous. Holland a little too emotional. Oaks a little too boring.

oops, wrong thread.

[MarkGrace]

Christofferson's a good one to handle these important topics. Smart guy.

He's the best option right now of the smart guys that are skilled speakers. Eyring's is little too zealous. Holland a little too emotional. Oaks a little too boring.

oops, wrong thread.

I would say Monson is the best option. He's the biggest Jazz fan of the bunch.

[Jacob]

I think this draft is a bit odd. It has long been touted as one of the best in several years, but I'm not sure it's as strong at the top-end as some have suggested. Right now most mocks have MKG going #2, and that just kind of floors me. I really like that kid a lot, but #2 pick in the draft? I don't know that I see that. But then you play the mock lotto and see guys like Lamb/Barnes/Jones turning up at 9 and 14 and start to see the real depth. All those guys have some question marks, but those types of talent levels at that point in the draft is pretty rare. In a lot of drafts you see a pretty distinct break at a certain point in the lotto, but this one seems to have some good talent distributed throughout. It seems less like the kind of draft that you'd want to turn two lotto picks into one unless you could make a really significant jump up.

I agree with this. The #1 pick is the best in years. After that there is a dropoff but with 5-14 looking better than it has in recent years. But GS really needs a win. Only 2.5 out of 7th, on a 5 game losing streak, and plenty of games left.

[SloanHater]

The little run the Jazz had that put the media and team in a place where they were talking about the 5th seed was full of fool's gold.

They followed up a loss to non-playoff team Phoenix by barely beating a floundering Minnesota team in OT at home. Minnesota was 18-17 at one point, but Rubio going down and reality setting in has had them going 7-11 since then. Next was another home game that went into OT to beat the tanking Warriors.

It seemed like the momentum was legit with a road win at Staples, but Kobe was in full "punk Utah" mode and shot his team out of the game with a 3-20 night. A great home win against OKC followed. I know I probably got caught up in thinking the playoffs might be a good idea at that point.

But then it was a 1 point win against the awful Kings. They trashed Denver at home, but Denver was resting Gallinari and Birdman and Afflalo got booted in the 3rd. They played Atlanta on the 3rd night of Atlanta's b2b2b...and lost in 4OT. How do you lose to a team playing its 3rd night in a row when the game goes to 4OT?

They beat up on DWill and his band of d-leaguers, and now 3 straight losses including a home loss to Sacramento.

As MG said, this team doesn't even have any business being the 8 seed, and nobody on the team is going to gain any valuable experience from getting slapped by OKC in 4 games.

How exactly then do you gain playoff experience?

I think making the playoffs is big for two reasons. It helps the Jazz financially, which in turn allows Greg to give the green light to keep on paying players.

Second, a playoff run, even a first round exit, gives guys like Jefferson a reason to stick around in Utah. There is a reason San Antonio attracts free agent talent.

I agree with Huskyfreenorthwest, which doesn't happen often, but what is the point of getting a late lottery pick that won't be developed by Corbin and most likely sit the bench. This will be especially true next season if the Jazz don't pick up Corbin's option. He'll be in a contract year coaching for his job. How many minutes do you see rookies getting in that scenario?

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

How exactly then do you gain playoff experience?

I think making the playoffs is big for two reasons. It helps the Jazz financially, which in turn allows Greg to give the green light to keep on paying players.

Second, a playoff run, even a first round exit, gives guys like Jefferson a reason to stick around in Utah. There is a reason San Antonio attracts free agent talent.

I agree with Huskyfreenorthwest, which doesn't happen often, but what is the point of getting a late lottery pick that won't be developed by Corbin and most likely sit the bench. This will be especially true next season if the Jazz don't pick up Corbin's option. He'll be in a contract year coaching for his job. How many minutes do you see rookies getting in that scenario?

The 14th pick is going to be traded along with Jefferson in the off-season. Problem solved.

[Jacob]

The 14th pick is going to be traded along with Jefferson in the off-season. Problem solved.

Not to mention that CJ won't be on the team next year and hopefully neither will Raja, so there is no reason to think that rookie wing drafted at 8 would get a little bit of playing time--assuming the front office does its job well. This summer will be the last time the Jazz are able to use the amnesty provision, so it would be wise for them to use it on one of the guys who nobody wants to trade a 2nd round pick for.

[SloanHater]

So where does Burks fit into all this nonsense of drafting a wing?

Why wouldn't the Jazz start Burks and go after Ray Allan?

It makes more sense than drafting one of the iffy wings available at 8, 9, or 10. Not to mention the Jazz will most likely draft a PG and based on Corbin's record, that PG will sit behind Harris and Watson.

[Jacob]

So where does Burks fit into all this nonsense of drafting a wing?

Why wouldn't the Jazz start Burks and go after Ray Allan?

It makes more sense than drafting one of the iffy wings available at 8, 9, or 10. Not to mention the Jazz will most likely draft a PG and based on Corbin's record, that PG will sit behind Harris and Watson.

There are 96 minutes available at the wing positions in every game. Burks will never play more than 35 of those minutes, leaving at least 61 to split between 3 other wing players. Still confused?

Of the "iffy" wings that will be available at 8-10, Burks and Hayward were drafted 12 and 10, respectively. You really don't think a pick at 8-10 is valuable? Go after Ray Allen? Set aside the fact that there is no way in hell Ray Allen is signing with Utah as a free agent, why would that preclude drafting a player early in the 1st round? Now I'm confused. Not to mention your previous assertion that San Antonio has a history of attracting free agents.

And most of us would be fine with the Jazz drafting the best player available, whether a wing or a PG, with the first pick. And do you really think that Devin Harris and Earl Watson will both be on the team after next year, taking time away from a talented PG, if he turns out to be a good pick? Harris and Watson play no part in the Jazz long-term plans. Yet they should cause us to question whether the Jazz should acquire a talented, young PG?

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

The future for Kanter and Favors just got a lot better.

Mark Eaton told Corbin he'd like to help coach the big men on the team. I bet Tomic even wants to come over now.

I wonder what kind of teacher Eaton would be. I'd be interested to know how intelligent he was as a player. Hard to gauge with how limited he was by his size and athletic ability. He wouldn't seem like the ideal guy to coach someone like Favors since he'd essentially just be getting a shot to do it because he's a tall ex-player and not because he's had anything to do w/the game in decades.

[Maximus]

Jazz are going to get zero picks. I can see it now.

[MarkGrace]

Jazz are going to get zero picks. I can see it now.