While the Jazz may not have provided fans and bloggers with anything positive to blog about lately, the team recently clinched a playoff spot for this season. With a recent end to their 0-4 road trip, the Jazz’s seed will be no lower than the #4 if they win about 3-7 more games — clinching their first division title in several years.
Over the past 10 games, Jazz have only been winning games at a .500 clip. That’s decent enough that the Jazz need not worry heading into their matchup with the Houston Rockets, but the team has no guarantee of home-court advantage at the EnergySolutions Arena.
Meanwhile, Gordon Giricek continues to recover from his collision with Sam Dalembert. That game took place over a week ago, but Giricek is still listed as “doubtful”.
Though earlier this month the Jazz were on a roll, fans can now hope the Jazz have saved some gas in the tank come playoff time. The Jazz playoff slogan, apparently, is “It’s Electrifying”, but hopefully the team doesn’t need a shock to keep its pulse.
La287 is a contributing writer for UtahJazzBlog.net — while also maintaining Daily Basketball, a round-up of the latest NBA and NCAA sporting news.
March 26th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
The Jazz have looked just aweful lately. If they are going to make it out of the first round, wheich has become everyones expectation, they are going to have to step it up these last 13 games and secure home court.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
The Jazz did win there last two games but considering the success that they have had this season, 2 games is not a big deal. This team has shown us to much to go on four game losing streaks and lose to the clippers by 32. The Jazz have been so good, but so incosistent this year. I just hope the right team shows up come playoff time. If so the Jazz will win and probably have a decent chance second round. If they lose a close series in the second round to a top team then it will have been a successful season but If they lose in the first round; all the amazing and exciting things they’ve done this season will be pretty much pointless. Also the Jazz play the Rockets two time in April, including the last game of the season. It will be interesting to see how they face up against there most likely first round opponent.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hate to complaint, but where are the updates? We had a great W yesterday.
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Okay, here is my “update” :)
After the result in San Antonio last night’s game was by far and away the most important one for the Jazz so far this year. It was great to see them off to a good start to lead by 10 early on, but Yao pretty much pulled the Rockets level himself in the first half.
A couple of good runs when the chips were down, such as near the end of the third to get back within two were fantastic, and the bench really did provide a spark to get the Jazz back into the match when the Rockets really should have ran away with it.
While that is all fantastic, i think that what is starting to get more exciting is that AK47 seems to be running into a bit of form. No he isnt putting up 20 points a night, but he is starting to do the little things that can make all the difference. His first half in particular against Minnesota was fantastic!
With Boozer, Okur and Williams stepping more into the spotlight, we really need Kirilenko to step it up on the defensive end and to look to get most of his scoring by cutting for easy twos, Harpring style, rather than taking the long jumpers (I could not believe he took the shot against Houston!).
If the Jazz have him picking up a few steals and a few blocks every night, it isn’t going to be an issue if he is only scoring in single digits. he could really be the X-Factor come playoff time.
April 3rd, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Thanks for the update. Wish I could have seen that game and the many, many others that I have missed.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
AK is getting back into form and if he keeps progressing the way has, this entire slump of a season xhould be forgiven and forgotten. IF he can get anywhere near the level he was during his all-star year the JAzz will go deep into the playoffs, and have a chance at the title. WE’ve already proven this season that we can beat any of the top teams in the west, and if we are given 7 games to do it, are chances are even better.
By the way, what is up with this site? They need to get better at updating! does anybody know of any other good Jazz fan blog sites?
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Feel free to check out my blog, though it’s been slow there recently…
I’ll try to add another article soon on the Jazz’s upcoming series with the Rockets.
Hopefully, Andrei Kirilenko finds an acceptable role versus the Rockets. Defending McGrady would be one option, though I think Millsap and Harpring could do fine. Could Derek Fisher guard Tracy McGrady, as he’s 6″ shorter? It’s hard to say.
How do we stop Yao? Maybe we try Donovan’s “Oden Rules”, and try to break him down throughout the series? If he fouls out, all the better, but forcing him to play 45 minutes per night could wear him out in a potential 5-7 game series. If Yao guards Memo, Okur can easily pull him outside on the wing or he’ll drain three-pointers all night. More likely, he’ll bang with Boozer.
April 4th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Personally and this is just me,(far from Coach Sloan) but we stick AK on McGrady, (our best defender on their best shooter) then we rotate Arujo in to beat up on Yao down low. Arujuo has a mean streak he could easily pick on someone like Yao. Wear Yao down and by game 4 he’s not going to like being in the paint, allowing us to get more rebounds. We also up the tempo a bit, causing Yao to have to run the floor, something he cannot do. Its proven that if you can either get Yao or T-Mac out of the game than you can win, but as we learned from last Sunday’s game we can also win with both of them in.
On another subjuect i just read an article about KG and his plans for next year. HE hasn’t said he wants a trade, but he didn’t rule it out, and he for sure knows he wants a championship. If he decided to would it be smart for the Jazz to make a pley for the Big Ticket? Giving up say Memo? Can you imagine a line up that consists of KG, Boozer, AK and Deron Williams? Yes he’s old, but he can still play, and we would become major contenders. I’m not saying its a good idea or not, or if it is even a possability, but i want to know what the other Jazz fans out there think.