Just so I cover my bases…I have been meaning to post my thoughts on this subject for some time.

The Jazz are off to a hot start, but that means little to nothing in the long run, if the Jazz don’t finish strong and make the playoffs. At this point, most fans expect the Jazz to not only make the playoffs, but to win their division and win at least one playoff series. Kevin O’Connor has a contract extension, Jerry Sloan can do no wrong and things are generally peachy keen in Jazz land.

That being said, it is not unreasonable to expect the Jazz to make the playoffs this year. Whether or not they are a top tier team in the west remains to be seen, but they at very east should be able to finish in the top eight teams in the conference and play in some postseason games for the first time in four years. That is my expectation…for this year at least.

If the Jazz fail to reach that bottom line expectation Larry Miller needs to get tough and fire everyone. O’Connor, Sloan and his staff, as well as several others. Mr. Miller has invested too much money and effort into building a winning team. If the team does not perform up to expectations, it will be time to clear out the pantry and start afresh.

I don’t think this will happen, but there is a long season in front of us and who knows what can happen in the next 74 games.

Yesterday everyone was questioning how the Jazz would respond to Kirilenko being sidelined with an ankle injury. I for one did not give them a great shot at continuing their hot streak against the Clippers without the glue that keeps the defense together. After all, since AK joined the team, the Jazz win fewer than 25% of their games when he injured. Can they keep it up this weekend against Seattle and Phoenix, who knows. But for one night, I was dead wrong.

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