Jazz Fans, take a deep breath and relax.
Don't get me wrong, I completely understand. It has not been easy to watch this season unfold. Starting the year with high hopes, new players, and a Hall of Fame coach, Jazz fans had all the reason in the world to be excited about their team. They started the year with an undefeated preseason, and jumped out to a 15-5 record. Players were even looking at this season as being special for the team, and hoping that they finally had the pieces to dethrone the champion Lakers. Things were going well until mid-January when the wheels started coming off. Since that point, the Jazz have gotten one thing right, it has been a special season. Unfortunately it has been for all the wrong reasons.
Despite all of the negatives, and now that the Utah Jazz officially have a seat in the NBA draft lottery after being eliminated once again by the Los Angeles Lakers, there is still no reason to panic. Jazz fans need to back up from the ledge, put away the sharp objects and by all means don't jump onto the Lakers bandwagon.
Here are three reasons why the future is still bright for the Jazz
History is on the side of the Jazz
Even though this has been the strangest season in the history of the franchise, the Utah Jazz have had other struggles through their history, and have always found a way to bounce back.
After moving from New Orleans in the late seventies, trading away the draft pick that turned out to be Magic Johnson, and giving up the rights to Moses Malone and Dominique Wilkins, the Jazz took only four years in Utah before earning a spot in the playoffs. They then qualified for the NBA playoffs every year until 2004
At the end of the 2003 season, the Hall of Fame duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone both left the team. Stockton retired, and Malone played one season for the Lakers as he chased an NBA Championship. Most experts felt that the Jazz would be awful and would take a long time to ever get things back on track. The next season they surprised everyone by finishing the season with a 42-40 record and just missing the playoffs.
While they did miss the playoffs for the next few seasons, they made good moves such as signing Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur, and trading up in the draft to pick up Deron Williams.
The Jazz have shown that they can exceed expectations and turn around negative aspects of the franchise quickly. By some accounts at the time that Stockton and Malone left the team, the Jazz should have been in rebuilding mode since then. They have a good opportunity to make something happen in this off season.
The team is sill fighting
Even though they have been in the midst of a record setting collapse, the Utah Jazz have not given up. Many fans and media members have tried to create an issue out of them showing frustration on and off the court. The thing that many fail to realize is that the frustration is a normal, good process for the team because it shows that the players still care.
I like that Al Jefferson is upset about sitting on the bench, and clapping in the face of the official. It shows that he still has some fight left in him. This team is no where near trying to tank games to get a better draft position.
During a radio interview on the Hans and OC show on 1280 The Zone in Salt Lake City, Jazz assistant coach Jeff Hornacek was asked his thoughts on the team.
He stated, "Well you know the guys are trying, they are playing hard...These guys are trying and we're shorthanded with some injuries. That makes rotations a little different and different guys are playing maybe more minutes and we're right there (in games). But during this whole stretch there's probably about 5 or 6 games that we could have easily win if a couple things went right and it wouldn't be as bad. We could still be in the playoff picture."
The Jazz should be frustrated, they have lost their coach, traded away their All-Star point guard, endured more than their share of injuries, and dropped games that they could have won with a bounce here, or a missed or made free throw there. Despite the frustration, they are playing hard and still want to win.
One only needs to look at the fourth quarter, played primarily by the rookies, in the game against the Washington Wizards last week when they put themselves in position to win after being down by twelve.
The hustle and fight that they showed is a good indicator of what is to come for the Jazz. The young players, and new coaching staff will get better and make better decisions.
Current players, assets, and draft picks
For the first time in a long time, the Jazz have a lot of options with shaping their roster for next year. The most positive thing here is that the huge maximum contract of Andrei Kirilenko finally comes off of the books. Additionally, there are five other role players who are not committed for next season. According to Hoopsworld.com the salary commitment for next season drops about 19 million dollars.
The Jazz will have two lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft. They have their own pick which should be in the 12-14 range, and they will have the pick they acquired in the Deron Williams trade from the Nets. That pick is expected to be higher. Depending on how the ping pong balls bounce, the draft could be a very good thing for the Jazz.
In addition to the salary space and the draft possibilities, the Jazz also have a good problem brewing. For many years they have not had depth in the front court. After gaining Derrick Favors from the Nets, the Jazz are stockpiled with good front court players. If the situation presents itself, they have good assets in Jefferson, Millsap, and Favors that they could use in trades to acquire another player.
In addition to the players, the coaching staff will also have a full off season to prepare the team. This is a staff that was thrown into duty with the abrupt resignations of Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson. Having time this summer will help them to gain a better direction with the team.
Overall the future is bright for the Utah Jazz. Although this is a difficult time for Jazz fans who are not used to dealing with this much frustration in a season, things are going to get better. The Jazz have always found a way to work things out and stay competitive.
Besides, it could be worse. They could be Clippers, Cavs, or Timberwolves.
Amber Brkich Gretha Cavazzoni Marla Sokoloff Jennifer Love Hewitt Tina Fey
No comments:
Post a Comment