I made a promise to myself to not write anything basketball or Jazz for at least two weeks, but the jazz are breaking the hearts of fans.  Even though I've tried to separate myself from  the outrageous things I have read, I'd rather break a promise to myself than see this team continue to get worse.

First, I think so much success going forward will depend on Raja finding his shot.  He hasn't found a rhythm all year, but if he starts knocking down threes then we'll see the team start to recover.  Before Raja's injury, he was a more active player; he could make plays and splash the big threes. If Raja can get it done from downtown, boom!  So much of the woes are solved.  However,  I'm not the one to say if it's possible though it does seem probable.  It is Sloan's decision, but it is torture watching Bell miss shots.  I have to think he might have issues with the fact that after killing it with Charlotte, he was traded to Golden State, a crap team. He can't leave his trademark play behind.  He needs to come to terms and move on from that bad situation or he will never recover his form.

Second, I was never one to think that Millsap could be a primary option; he is best coming off the bench.  He doesn't have that chip on his shoulder and his demeanor is like he's an All-star.  He has moved away from doing what he does best.  His first year he was a beast down there.  The Jazz went to the WCF.  Every year he's moved further and further from being that guy.  He's improved his all-around game, but his game has been and should be: the guy in the paint sacrificing his body and making stuff happen in a backup role off the bench.

Third, I'm going to give Big Al a pass this year.  I want to see what he does in the offseason.  If he doesn't come back in better shape, carrying less weight, I will be the first one to call him out.  He is a good team guy.  He's not great in the system.  His screens and picks are WEAK, and it seems an easy fix, but he needs to get in the plan on offense.  It seems his plan is, "Hey, throw me the ball!"  Ughh. Don't blame him, he's probably justified having those intentions, but his intentions on offense are crap and have to change.

Fourth, Price should never be playing ahead of Hayward, if at all.  I can't stand Price, he is CRAP.  A big reason for the dysfunction is Sloan playing Price who is just creating dysfunction on both ends of the court. Price is the new Collins - a Sloan pet who shouldn't ever see the court, unless we're getting beat by 20 pts. Well, we are getting beat by 20 pts and we're on a steady diet of Price. Ughhh.

Fifth, as for putting Memo in the starting lineup, I'm on board with that even though I think Memo has been a sieve on defense the past two to three years.  Al is better on defense than Boozer.  And while Memo and Boozer together was a big no-no, Memo and Al might work, but I'm not convinced.  However, I do think the Jazz would improve if Sloan would just start Fesenko.  He hasn't been playing much so I wouldn't expect much. I think he would take long strides and improve with consistent playing time because when he has been given any consistent minutes he has improved. Take the minutes away, and he regresses. 

Bottom line, Fesenko can do one thing as well as anybody in the NBA, and that is keep big men out of the paint.  I read an article about Boykins, and Boykins credits coaches giving him a chance and putting their own reputations on the line because everyone says Boykins is too small. He needed coaches who didn't care what other people said.  Sloan cares WAY TOO MUCH about what people think of him playing Fesenko. Blah, whatever.  Fesenko can do one thing as well as anybody in the NBA and it helps the team.  He should probably be starting, but right now I'll give the nod to Memo, because it could be that Fesenko just doesn't have it. I'm not close enough to really know, but from what I've seen, he gets better with consistent minutes.

Sixth, I watch many games on TV and  I can't stand Harpring.  Listening to him makes my skin crawl, literally.  I started turning off the sound in the fourth quarter, then the third quarter, then the second quarter, and then the first quarter.  Now I don't even watch Jazz games with sound because it won't be but a few minutes before he says something so stupid.  I think he'd be ok as part of the half-time analysis where his off the wall comments would be entertaining.   Big T would be better doing the play-by-play with his always serious demenaor and conservative analysis.  However, both like to call games way before they are close to being finished. 

Also, Harpring can stop competing with AK-47 from behind the broadcast booth.  Is it just me, or is Harpring inclined to criticize AK-47 when he messes up?  When AK-47 makes a play, he does not really give him credit.  Instead, it's the "go-go-gadget" arms, not because AK-47 is a good player.  While"go-go-gadget" arms is Kindergarten, it is the pettiness that comes through when Harpring comments on AK-47 that makes him nauseating. 

As for Bolerjack, he never prepares for the games; why is he even getting paid?  Just to show up?  I couldn't care less about his broadcasting voice.  I don't see that he does anything to prepare, he is just showing up.  I'd love it if they could find a broadcasting team that will prepare for the games.  It is their jobs to inform us, which they don't do, unless it's Bolerjack bringing up the same non-relevant information like talking about the weather about five times a game.  Ughh.

In the end, I broke my promise, and I still don't think the Jazz are going to be pulling out of this slump anytime soon.  Too much is going wrong.  I will deal with the consequences of my Karma and try not to care about theirs.

As for me, I am going to make another promise not to write anymore, because unless it's to tell me how bad my ideas are, no one comments on anything I write anyway. I've been called a troll and worse, and I see the increasing negativity with DWill and its Karma and I don't want to be part of it.  While I hope the idea doesn't gain steam from SLC Dunk, I have no doubt the negative opinion makers are out there working to prove themselves right and anything written seems to add fuel to the fire.  It's not worth it.  I'm not going to be mad anymore.  Peace.

 I didn't get to watch the Jazz/Hawks game last night, but it sure sounded like a beat down I wouldn't want to watch either.  I did watch a little bit of the Hawks and Kings and the Hawks didn't strike me as a team about to explode.  Even though, the Hawks have been beating the Jazz pretty good the last couple of years and after taking a couple on the chin,  this one feels like a knock out punch...sleeping?  However, since I didn't watch I can't offer commentary on how anyone played, but I will say this...it seems like Dwill first and foremost is kind of standing around more and more, like he's waiting for Big Al to win a game or do something that will earn his respect.  I think that until that happens then Dwill will end up doing less and less for the team, because subconsciously,  this maybe how he's going to make his point, if he has one, which it sounds like he does. 

If there is somekind of subconscious motivation to make a point, i think it can be made differently and in a better way; for example, in the beginning of the year the Jazz were playing better as they would mostly ignore Big Al on the offensive end.  This is a course of action that actually allowed Big Al to be part of the offense more, rather than a focal point....Obviously, I think that Big Al is giving alot of effort and relishes the opportunity to win, his defense is an improvement to the front line but he plays with a different style on offense.  Naturally, if you make Big AL a focal point then you are also not giving him the chance to do the little things that would earn the respect of players, and it's not unreasonable for teammates and also fans, to want to see Big Al working himself into the offense by doing the little things that will help his teammates to better.  Setting screens, looking to pass--these are little things that we should see before we just give someone a boatload of respect, in Al's career there is not any reason to believe that he has a reputation for this kind of play.  I think what we see is what we could've expected, and and

Thinking ahead about it, you know, Big Al could look two or three steps down the road so that if he comes out to set a screen and pops, he will know where the open cutter will be and he can deliver the pass.  Obviously, the Jazz as a whole have been hesitant and the passes are coming too late, and the only time a guy gets a good look is on a jump shot they don't want to take, so he'll often pass up the shot hoping to drive but the only open pass off the drive would be back out to the perimeter,if any at all.  Then instead of having faith that someone is going to be open on a cut/screen, the sad truth is that everything breaks down and I think that any crappy offense can revert to alot of jump shooting and people getting looks they don't want, throwing it into a black hole and stepping back--u know, what do you expect, it's not really Big Al's fault if you throw him the ball and everyone steps back.  It's also not the teams fault if Big AL's not the first stepping out and setting screens and thinking ahead and looking to make a quick pass; I may be wrong about this, but I'm not wrong that hesitation is nauseating and black hole offense creates lethargy.

Give big Al a chance, but expect him to slowly work into the offense if u want him to have a chance to earn a winning reputation.  Making him a focal point on offense just tells us what we already knew, and I call this phase of the experiment over with.  No, the message is clear, the Jazz are not going to keep winning if they expect Big AL to do it alone.

I'm not going to recommend that the Jazz should make a trade, because the reality is the Jazz team is pretty good and trying to improve the team through a trade is a risky proposition.  However, for the sake of keeping things fresh and for the creation of ideas, the trade proposal I propose will aspire to be a steamy hotbed in which communal slop is gold in the eyes of the beholder.

One of the creeds of the Jazz is loyalty, however, loyalty and continuity can work against the very things these creeds are set out to establish.  These creeds have given the Jazz many gifts, such as much regular season success, golden; hall of fame players and coaches, golden; the slop, many to many early playoff exits, can a trade really change this?  Can a trade help this team retain the regular season power numbers, while improving their chances in the playoffs.

Right now, I'm not convinced there is a trade out there that will move this team forward.  Of all the players I've heard that may be available I've narrowed down my trade wish list to one player, dats right, Captain Jack.

One thing I respected about Jackson, since we played him and GS a few years ago, is how hard he 'competes'.  Bdavis was the leader of that GS team, but I don't think anyone wanted it more than Jacskon.  Afterall, Jackson was already a champion at the time, having won one with the spurs.  Since then, and since I live in the bay area, I was a SJackson fan, and while there was a SJackson fallout, and while I thought the anti-Jackson talk was wreckless, and a mistake for GS to trade him; I thought it was a mistake the Jazz didn't try to get his talents to the beaches of Salt Lake.  Ya, Cha went to the playoffs, GS got worse, for the trade, while the Jazz missed another opportunity.

On the other hand, I have doubts as to whether a trade for Jackson would ever work for the Jazz, I mean, will he fit in?  His history shows how much he contributes to teams, as well as the distraction he can be when he's playing with a group of losers.  GS blew up their team, as is CHa, and Jackson is kind of the bomb, so ya, you can say he's been a problem at those places.  However, at least if he were with the Jazz he's not looking at a bad managment situation, which seems to be the source of his gripes.  So, I guess there is the preception that he is a problem.  However, he's  been one of my favorite non-jazz players because he competes like the devil, I like watching him play, he's very tough.

I doubt the Jazz would risk taking a Captain Jackson into the locker room, is he going to blow things up?  Could he live in Utah??  Further, I argue he would make the team better, so what kind of trades could the Jazz propose to Cha to get Jackson.  They could do an Okur for Jackson, maybe do an Ak47.  To complicate things, both the Jazz and Cha would want to cut salary in any trade, making any trade seem unrealistic, it's not really worth thinking about, I don't know what the priorities of Cha or the Jazz really are.

However, I will leave with this recommendation, if there is a trade in the works, there is one player I hope the Jazz target, and this would be Jackson.  If the Jazz traded Ak47, which would be a heartbreaker, esp considering how he's playing this year, I argue they would improve with Jackson over Ak47.  WIth Ak47 and Jackson though, that's a team that will be tougher, and that's what I hope the Jazz can accomplish if they trade, keep ak47 and get Jackson.

Can this be possible?  The Jazz just won five games by  coming from behind to snatch victory from the cold grips of the early season woes that have plagued other 'promising' teams.  When it was at it's worst, somehow the Jazz found their brass and were able to muster a tune that was enough.  Then the OKC game, which was literally taken on the chin, which I guess you could expect after a road trip like that.  I don't think the punch in the mouth doesn't mean the Jazz weren't prepared, it just means they weren't prepared for that.  The Jazz, and everyone, wanted a better called game, we wanted our poetry in motion; and that was a sucker punch.

At least there is some hope as the five 'miracle' games point out.  There is promise this year that hasn't been there in years past.  We have Big Al, who is finding his spots...we have hayward, whose development seems to have been put on hold as situations settle.  Hayward is starting tonight, what should we expect from him.  I'd expect him to play off big Al if he wants to have more impact.  Big Al can help hayward find his spots, down the chain of command.  Not that this is a suggestion of a heirarchy of leadership as much as a team concept of good looking out.  When the good looking out happens on defense and we have smart players making choices on offense to create more offensive opportunity, we have our poetry.  What I mean is that within the system, each choice a player makes effects the outcome of the whole play; so being smart and being aggressive means making choices that the system dictates and what dictates the system is passing and screening, these things showcase each players unique skill set within a system, without a system we either have  a tyranny or a collection of isolated universes.  However, someone said that what we have here though is mashed potatoes.

The collective skill set of this team is above those of years past, and it doesn't really needed to be pointed out that those skill sets will take some time to mesh.  Those five miracle games point out the talent this teams has, while getting dropped by okc shows that there is some relearning to do in terms of toughness.  We have tough players out there in the floor, but getting dropped by OKC after a road trip like that was a problem of past Jazz teams, wait, a road trip like that would've never happened with past Jazz teams....there is some relearning to do in terms of toughness.

Mashed potatoes are fine,but they aren't tough like their inner potato spirit.  So, with our Jazz, they need to relearn what it means to be along side a steak.  What we know, and sloan knows, that you can't see on the floor right now...we see the steak and potatos, while sucker punches show we're still hooked on gerber.

The Decision...isn't that putting a little too much importance on one players "choice" of where he takes his "talent", or is it?  Lebron's reputation has been raked through the hot coals, ironically, he chose the heat and when he did, though he didn't realize it, he chose martyrdom and the fire his reputation is being put in is a fire he started himself.  One thing the decision does is it makes the statement that Lebron thinks he can handle the pressure of the meida, sure, but it also raises the question of whether he left Cleaveland because he couldn't handle the pressure of saving a franchise? 

Using some wisdom that has been picked up as a Jazz fan, it is sad that Lebron draws comparisons between his role on the heat and 'big game james'.  Antawn jamison and crew got abandoned because The King wants the sweet heart role, ya, I said it, why couldn't jamison be the big game james instead of the king.  Lebron James chose this, from the king, to this weak *&$(*!!!  Had Lebron stayed in Cle, he probably ends up known as the best player ever if he wins a championship or two, even if he doesn't win any, he's in the conversation still, now it looks like he's okay with role as the second fiddle, wait, Magic Kareem...worthy, wait that's third fiddle.

Karl Malone, in the conversation as best pwfd ever.  John Stockton, in the conversation for best pg ever.   Those two carried the Jazz franchise and it's hard to imagine either of their places in basketball being replaced by anyone else who thought they could've done less.  By the way, their records are legendary and whether or not they won a championship or whether a gold ring looks good,  nothing from their iconic influence is taken from this suddenly important fact about a person, that they win a championship.  Lebron James probably won't ever get the tag that he had saved a franchise, I have doubts whether its better to say I have championships or I have saved a franchise.

While the decision may have a beneficial impact on the popularity of basketball at the international level, I mean, it seems like it will be cool for people who don't know much about the players and the sport at this level to think about three really good players on one team.  However, it's hard to look at this and say the media heat is going to make them a tough team right now, or that the spotlight they are getting is an assumption with imminence, so while they have "sacrificed" or whatever that means to them, why should their lack of definition as a team include gold trophies while it doesn't preclude a media storm that benefits those players most directly.   That it doesn't  count the most where it should mean the most to these players, and for the franchises and fans who know the game the best, and at this level this is the best, the analysis that the heat aren't as tough as they are cool to think about right now, is the only correct way to opine.  This is why you can hope to expect the heat to have some problems; defining their roles.  As long as the season is and as tough as it to win, as even the monuments that established this sport have said likewise, rolling into gold trophies isn't as easy as rolling into NBA arenas like the basketball season is an episode of entourage, .

As I was checking up on some basketball news this morning, I felt there is alot to be proud of as a Jazz fan.  Sure, we don't have seventeen championship trophies laying around our coffee tables, but whatever they are doing in LA is working, how they are doing it is a different matter that many NBA fans feel is unfair.  I don't feel that way.  I'm still unsure how they finangalled the Jazz pick that would've been Magic Johnson, however, we ended up with Stockton to Malone for twenty years.  History is history and in Utah, some history got made.   IE, three hall of famers later...and a living tradition.

So, as I cast my gaze out on our NW division rivals while scanning the news, it's no secret how tough the NW division is and should be for years to come.  I wrote a satire on Carmelo a couple of days ago and shortly thereafter the trade rumor broke out.  Really, I can't believe the nuggets would trade Carmelo.  I like the competition they bring and as division rivals, there is a healthy amount of respect on my part for the Nuggets and the talent Carmelo brings to the NW.  Carmelo has said the right things about his contract, and believe it when he says it, what he does on the court will do his talking for him.  As a Jazz fan I must come to terms that he hasn't been that kind of person so far in his career, but I have to give him the respect that he can be that kind of leader for his team.  In my unsolicited opinion, this is the best thing that can happen for the Nuggets.  I'm not only a Jazz fan, I like watching good players and I don't have a problem watching Carmelo's antics when the nuggets lose.  However, as we saw with Boozer last year, winning clears up alot of hard feelings and the Nuggets and Carmelo need to clear anything up if anything is there because it's the best chances of both sides winning, offensive gestures aside, really.

In Portland, it was reported that Brandon Roy and Andre Miller have never really sat down and had a conversation.  What's missing in this picture besides a first round play off victory?  Conversation.  Maybe thats why Portland has  been after a Jazz guy, and finally got Mathews, someone who can create some dialougue between the players on that team if those connections don't exist.  Back at home,I guess you could say there's been a conversation since the malone to stockton years, and it's still going on.  As soon as Al was traded it was reported that Dwill initiated a conversation over the phone, a conversation that someone started with him.  As far as Portland is concerned,in my unsolicited opinion it isn't too late to make Miller part of the team by including him in the teams dialogue, many Jazz fans respect his game, most NBA fans respect Miller's game.

I actually read something like this in the Deseret News recently, it was one from Dwill mentioning the philosophies of the Jazz.  Philosophies that are conversations, philosophies are conversations that transcend time, they need carriers of the message too.  It's common knowledge that teams like the Celtics and Lakers, can take on players and the the recent Lakers and Celtics, are examples, as well as also having tradition they have conversation.  So ya, I don't complain when the Lakers get good players, because the conversations they have also make players good.  It doesn't mean they can't be beat.

As far as the Thunder.  The other contender in the division.  I hope that alot of the analysis I've read on them is more correct than in error.  Reports are they want to be the best defensive team in the league.  They have high hopes, and no matter what they do with their team from here on out, they do it with Durant having signed long term, when the truth is, the analysis out there is they don't have the players in the paint they need to really punish teams.  A problem that we as Jazz fans have been too familiar with the past few years only getting out in the playoffs because of this.  Oklahoma has high hopes, maybe their defensive goals will be enough to overcome the depth in the front court.  In my unsolicited opinion, front court depth is what you need to be the kind of defensive team that can be the best in the league, I guess we'll see?

On the same token, Jazz fans have high hopes.  Talk out of our camp is being a good defensive team.  As well as maintaining the high level of excellence on offense the last few years has produced, at least matching that is not a stretch of the imagination.  With Bell and the departure of el matador, it's not a stretch of the imagination to think the Jazz can be better defensively too, though it requires more of a comitment on a Jazz fan to believe.  In the NBA, great offense wins championships, but neither do teams that don't play great defense. 

Not to forget Minnesota, but in my unsolicited opinion, Koufus will not save you.

Haha.  Remember that commercial that aired during the Denver/Utah series last year.  In it, you get an image of the SLC skyline and floating above it is Carmelo's considerably sized melon, donning the Utah skies with his chubby grin and a head band that would have Sloan spitting.   According to this commercial, Carmelo is a great leader and not to overstate the matter but great leaders like him only come around every millienia or so.  The commercial actually was sponsored by the fans of Carmelo of Utah.  (paid for by Jordan brand, sponsored by Utah fans)  Still, my favorite Carmelo moment of last years playoffs,
"Fesenko....Fesenko" 

Since that time, I began to wonder if this fan club even exists.  Really,  these commandos of  the imminent champion should be laying the ground work necessary to land this chosen savior in the land of Zion.  And if this responsibility doesn't fall onto the shoulders of the fan club, then KOC, who has had a good offseaon, should make it even better.  I'm not sure how much help the fan club will be to KOC, since they are obviously an underground movement which is more like a force than it is an army of squirrels.  I mean, Carmelo is not Alvin the chipmunk, but the semblance is eerie.

Back to the point at hand.  Considering the suppossed existence of this purported fan club, the natural thing for Carmelo to want to do is to come to Utah.  Whether the fan club exists or not, my issue is why isn't KOC getting this done?  The Jazz have pieces that Denver wants, do you think the addition of Carmelo makes this a championship Jazz team?  Is that guy from the geiko commercials washed up?  IMO, Carmelo will be washed up if he doesn't play in Utah, fullfilling prophecy and prediction.  Admittedly, it seems an impossible wish, Anthony in Utah, Anthony being a champion...Maybe an impossible situation. 

However, the circumstances in Denver are such that Anthony will have to be traded.  I'm going to say this is the workings of his fanclub, because if you saw the commercial then you saw an angel, and the angel that was Carmelo would never be a problem, because angels don't have attitude problems by definition.  The exciting thing, whether Carmelo gets traded and comes to Utah, or gets out of the division, it's going to benefit the Jazz. 

I kind of can't wait to see the nuggets go down in flames.  MUUUAAAHHHAAYYY!!!

In the aftermath of losing Boozer and Korver to free agency and being mugged for Mathews, the acquisitions of Al Jefferson, Raja Bell, and Gordon Hayward are their replacements, and both the Jazz FO and fans must believe that no matter what else happens this offseason, a major victory was scored.  In the past, it was inconceivable the Jazz would get a major piece like Jefferson, along with a major FA like Bell, and in back to back days.  Not only do the new additions represent a new era in how the Jazz will play basketball, they also represent a new thought for Jazz fans, that maybe Utah isn't the FA dumping ground that it once used to be.  The moves by the front office were strategic and brilliant, and possible because of what?

However, since the major pieces for next years team are in place, its time to take out the crystal ball and see what this team is going to look like on the floor together.  To start with, we have one of the best point guards in the league and he's just coming into his best years.  He's stepped up his game every year, and it will be exciting to see how his dominance of the game expands this year.  Expect him to be more frugal with the ball and cut down on his turnovers, as he will have plenty of options to pass to capable scorers.  Instead of the high pick and roll that was played with Boozer, there will be a new pick and roll with Jefferson who can play closer to the rim, bringing the offense closer to the paint where millsap can prowl around for rebounds.  Instead of the cherry picking that plagued the Jazz last year, a more experienced Bell upgrades the transition defense, and along with a healhty AK47, expect the Jazz to suffer less from these momentum killers that are often the negation of good plays.

From the strongside wing, AK47 is very capable of making a pass into the low post to Jefferson.  Because of his height, Dwill will also be able to find Jefferson over from the top of the key directly to the low post.  From here, Jefferson can either make a move to score, however, he will learn what options he will have as an interior passer in the sloan offense as well as always having a wing on the weak side, and if history is any indication, there should be a few options on the interior. Millsap will be averaging a double double with few plays ran through him.  Raja Bell will be setting screens and making himself open, like few players in the league can.  The way the height and weight are distributed between AK47, Millsap, and Jefferson represents huge mismatch problems for most teams on offense and defense.

On the bench, the Jazz have CJ Miles, Okur, Hayward, Fesenko, and Price.  Presumably, the Jazz will sign Evans who can provide some energy off the bench, and either gaines, jeffers, or another guard, and one more big body.

This team is looking stout, and Sloan is just the guy to get them to play together.  The question the rest of the NBA is aksing, how do you upgrade every position and save money at the same time, well, the Jazz just did it.

Carlos Boozer is gone to the Bulls and most Jazz fans couldn't be happier.  What is it that Jazz fans know that the rest of the world doesn't? Jazz fans have ridiculed Boozer for not delivering a championship, and Jazz management has delivered the wishes of the masses, realising the criminal.  Boozer to the Bulls, he's a Jazz man no more.

What I don't want to know is how Boozer got villified being in Utah, talk about old news and things that never change.  Why don't we talk about why Jazz management didn't arrange the roster so that they could keep Boozer, instead of putting themselves in a place of pity where they forced the fans to turn against a truly great player for the Jazz, just lending credence to the machivelian philosophy of letting the henchmen do the dirty work so you don't have to do it yourself.  Even places where ridicule is condoned as a utility for public consumption, they cringe at the way that Boozer was treated by Jazz fans.

Let's look at this blunder by the Jazz.  And, it will be a blunder if the Jazz win less games next year, or gazaks, don't make the playoffs.  Have you seen summer league, well you better take a look because this is where the Jazz are dumpster diving for half their roster.  Their top draft pick that actually plays in the summer league, Koufus is going to be getting minutes next year, the commentators said some nice things about him but the nicest thing they didn't say is how he got destroyed.  So, this is what we get.  Did you watch that summer league game today?

How about the Jazz drafting Hayward, he's really going to do some damage without the work that someone like boozer does around the glass, maybe Dwill can do it.  Why don't the Jazz FO work it out with someone like Boozer, instead of letting him get away for the amount of salary that he would be making for a raise that the Jazz spent on who else but Ronnie Price.  This is our possible future, Hayward and Okur on the floor together,are you kidding me, Okur is the other portion of salary that was spent last summer.  Doesn't anybody see what a mess this is?  Throw AK47 into the mix, now we have a bunch of "white" guys who really no how to get at the glass, ya, it's killing me thinking about it too.  Talk about taking a step back, the Jazz managament couldn't even arrange a sign and trade with Boozer.  Boozer could've at least been played as a trading chip, but instead, he's just gone, not even a trade exemption.  And, Jazz fans couldn't be happier.

If you want predictions, you want get them from me.  But unless Jazz fans know something the rest of the world doesn't, the writing is already in the stone.

Last year the New Jersey Nets limped to 12 victories which was one of the worst seasons an NBA team has ever endured.  Through their first 70 games the Nets had managed to save themselves from the indignity of being labeled as the worst team ever.  Even if the Nets never won another game the rest of the year, by managing to equal the nine wins of the 1973 Philadelphia Team, at least they wouldn't be the sole owner of the worst record ever.   As it turned out, they won four of their last twelve games, and while they didn't end up with the worst record ever, they didn't end up with the #1 draft pick either, even though they had the worst record in the league, by far.  The cruel irony in this for the Nets is that their fans suffered the ignominitiy of losing, and they didn't get the franchise player they had hoped for as their reward. In the speculation that exists whether the Nets were really as bad as their record, the consolation prize for those who would never tank it, is that the Nets didn't get the first round pick if that is what the Nets did, tank it.

As a subject of discussion, tanking it is a sensitive issue that draws strong feelings from nearly everyone with an opinion.  Among fans, as among athletes too, there are probably differences among how far someone would be willing to underachieve to procure a future benefit, like a high draft pick.  As unsound as the philosophy of tanking it is, a future hall of famer can turn around a franchise.  Look at what happened in San Antonio, which had one really bad year in the middle of many good years and ended up drafting T.Duncan, four pretty much unnoticed championships later, I still don't think the Spurs have ever earned the love of the general public for the truly great teams they had.  The Spurs didn't even have the worst record the year they drafted Duncan, but they got the first pick anyway.  So maybe it isn't fair to say the Spurs tanked it, and most people blame the boring style of the Spurs as the reason for the general unpopularity of their championship teams.  However, maybe the sense of justice of those that are on the outside of four championships looking in had something to do with their unpopularity as well.  I'm sure the Spurs franchise and fans have had enough success to not care what others think, I wouldn't.  Anyway, T.Duncan is one of the best players ever and he has done nothing but good things for the Spurs, even if those championship teams were a dud at the box office and did little to generate the admiration of the general public.  R

As I said, there will always be a contingency of the fan base of any franchise that would be willing to see their team tank it if it meant the security of a high draft pick, even without the security that the draft pick would be a player like Duncan.  It may be taboo for a fan to speculate on the wisdom of the unsound philosophy of tanking it, however, for  a franchise to ever admit to tanking it or have that discussion would be strictly prohibited; and if a team did decide to tank it that they would do everything they could do to hide that fact.

There aren't statistics for tanking it.  We can't go back and look at the records and separate the teams that tanked it from the teams that didn't and look at the success rates of the tankers and non-tankers. What would be the point, if it is given that this is a philosophy that has been employed, we can assume that most teams that have tanked it haven't benefited, while maybe one or two teams have ever won a championship because of it.  This is pretty slim odds, and if fans get a wiff of this it decimates the fan base, resulting in a hit in the bottom line, which can affect finances for years to come as it only results in a diminishing revenue and return on investments, esp since basketball is a sport where skills rapidly diminish if they are not tested and honed, which requires someone giving it their all.  Some have speculated that perhaps the Jazz should tank it for a year and get another high draft pick, that this is what the Jazz need because of the perception that they can't attract a difference maker through free agency, nor could they  afford it if they could.  While this perception of the Jazz as an unattractive landing spot for free agents may have merit, does it condone an unsound philosophy that has maybe worked only once or twice?

How much closer will another top 10 pick get the Jazz to a championship, especially after the damage done that losing takes on a team?  As I said, I think fans have different ideas of what it means to support a team.  I think most fans are offended at the thought that they would be duped into supporting a team that isn't giving it their all, while others would be brimming with joy to think some future T.Duncan is down the road.  I think there is a difference between respect and admiration.  Admiration demands respect and you can't have admiration without it, on the other hand, you can have respect without admiration.  Of course, it is best to have both.  I think it's safe to say that there were times last season when the Nets were neither respected nor admired.  The Nets new owner is optimistic he can change things around, but he really has alot to do.  Since he has the money to do it, he just rented out a huge advertising space in downtown New York which seems to be a marketing strategy to change the perceptions that people have of the Nets as being horrible (tankers).  Prohokov wants to steal the Nets fans, but if the perception of the Nets is they possibly tanked, (well I guess the same thing can be said of the knicks, that they tanked, it makes stealing knicks fans easier, never mind), however; if the Nets were trying to change the perception of say Pacers fans and steal them, for example, whom are fans of a team that no one would say tanks it, do you think any Pacer fans would be ditching their admired and respected team for a proven tanker, which is neither admired nor respected.  My guess is few if any.

I don't expect the Jazz would ever tank it, not with Sloan.  It doesn't need to be restated how close the Jazz were to being the third seed and possibly in the WCF; it doesn't really seem to make sense for a team in the position that the Jazz are in to tank it.  The Jazz would never tank it, and since the Utah days, you could make the argument they never have.  As far as the Jazz bottom line is concerned, they've built a nice fan base and increased profitability by having the philosophy of putting the best foot forward.  When people talk about franchises doing it the right way this is one of the things they mean, they mean you try to do it the way the Jazz have done it.

Even if you've never read the poem, The Road Less Travelled, by Robert Frost, you are familiar with the proverbial decision that the traveller makes when he's confronted with a fork in the road, he claims to chose the road less travelled and that this makes all the difference.  After all the predraft speculation of who the Jazz would pick, one has to say the Jazz took a page out of Frost's book.

If you've seen the draft photo of the newest Jazzman, posted on this site by the fabulous editor, you might ask yourself whether this is the face of the drafts darling, as some in the media have portrayed him, or an icepick asasain.  I'll be the first to admit Hayward was under my radar, he seemed like a long shot at best, a really good college player whose skills I didn't want to consider worthy of crossing over to the NBA.  This analysis was based on his perceived lack of athleticism; however, the Jazz picked Hayward because the kid can play, and his college career pretty much proved that.

As for the future, Hayward is the likely replacement should the Jazz trade AK47 for cap space after they resign Boozer, otherwise, this pick makes no sense.  So, even if the pickup of Hayward seems to confirm my suspicions of the Jazz direction and support the conclusions that reason dictate, I'll admit the pick was a shocker for me.  On the one hand, if the Jazz make the necessary moves to have this pick fit and make sense, ie trade AK47 and resign Boozer, it will make sense but many will still question what the Jazz left on the board as far as athletic ability with this pick.  On the other hand, it's not difficult to make the case that the Jazz swung for the fences and may've hit a home run.

Consider this, Hayward was the best player on a great college team, in fact, he is the only player on that Butler team considered to have NBA level talent.  This basically means that he singlehanded the Butler team to the championship game.  Hayward has what people call old man's game.  What he gives up for in athletic ability, he makes up for in craftiness and smarts.  Many, many good players have gone into the hall of fame with this skillset, among the current players, think Manu G., now, Hayward would be doing well if he came close to being that kind of player, and he has a long way to go, but is it out of the realm of possibility to imagine that he could become that crafty small fwd type that has had success?  In my piece on AK47, I mentioned that AK47 fits the profile for the rugged sm fwd, but not really considering he can't score 30 a night but wants to touch the ball on like every possession.  Hayward represents a different direction for the Jazz at sm fwd, he's a guy that might put up 30 a night, and with what he brings to the table, he could do it without being the focal point of the offense; and this is why the Jazz chose him.  He can create off the dribble, as well as being an excellent catch and shoot player, he gets high marks for defense and without a doubt, he's a team player and hard worker.  And as most of the Jazz roster is representative of the types of players taken with the road less traveled philosophy, this Butler kid fits the Jazz mold.

 In the NBA, athletic ability is the prized commodity because it is alot easier to evaluate what you can measure athletically, than what you can measure between the ears; but imagine if Hayward had made that final shot, instead of being shocked, we might be talking about how lucky we are to have got him at nine, maybe.  Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, but its safe to say that instead of being the pick that represents the road less traveled, he would've been a more popular choice. However, he didn't make that shot, and one way to look at this, instead of Hayward being the draft darling with bust potential, he is the best basketball player available whose blood runs cold when it counts, only coming up short because he didn't have any support.  However you cut the pie, you have to say that the Jazz did what they do best, they chose to stick with their recipe of past success and take Hayward as the pick that represents the road less travelled. 

One could say that what Hayward brings to the table was ignored and he slipped to the Jazz, O'connor seems to think so, he's already pleading for the fans to back off, saying we might be changing those boos to cheers, it's not out of the realm of possibility, look what happened with Stockton, so, there is some precedence there.  Does Hayward have the kind of underrated athletic ability that Stockton had, fans were happy to be wrong then, and if Hayward proves he was the draft steal, fans will be happy to be wrong again. 

As a fan, I'm excited about this pick.  After considering it, and the likely direction the Jazz will take, I am giving the pick high marks, keeping my fingers crossed that this is a home run.

Andrei Kirilenko is one of the most athletic players on the Jazz roster.  He has the physical tools to get the job done, the one thing that has been holding him back for so long has been his skinny frame, which he bulked up last year.  Ak47, was noticeably stronger last year, and he was able to put on the muscle without losing much of his speed and without affecting his shooting.  He had an amazing stretch last year when for about 5-10 games Ak47 did everything for the Jazz, and the Jazz were killing teams with their precision offense, and defense; winning multiple games during that stretch by 15 pts.  Further, Kirilenko, despite the years he has with the Jazz, is still young, at 29, and the question arises, is Kirilenko looking at his best bball years ahead of him, or are his best years already in the rear view mirror. 

Kirilenko's best year came before the arrival of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur.  In 06-07, Kirilenko averaged 15 pts, 3 blcks, 4.5 rbs, 3 ass, and 1 steal a game.  Subsequently, the Jazz gave him a huge contract, and basically watched him become less and less a part of the teams plans, being moved from the starting lineup to sixth man duty, and back to the starting lineup.  Regardless, I'm sure the Jazz would've traded him last year, to rid themselves of his contract, but now that his deal is expiring, his value as a player is on the rise.  IMO, Kirilenko fits the rugged small forward profile that many teams are having huge success with, and a rugged sf is one of the most valuable assets that a team can have, think lebron james, c.anthony, and p.peirce. 

However, this raises the question of whether Kirilenko is rugged.  Last year, AK47 missed 22 crucial games, by the time he returned to the lineup he could offer little help, and he was probably more of a distraction than a help, considering the Jazz had to readjust to his role, a role that he has been dissapointed with in the past, bringing him to tears in the playoffs after the first full year of him playing in a less featured role.  Since then, the Jazz have done more to involve him, and he has had better numbers, but again, his increased role hasn't exactly translated to increased team success.  Lebron James, Paul Pierce, and Carmelo Anthony have all had seasons where they've averaged the 30pt per game mark, Ak'47's best year, with the offense running through him, 15 pts a game. 

Looking to the future of AK47, many question marks arise.  Questions about his health, is he going to be injury prone, or will he have a long and healthy career?  Is he a pwfoward, or sm forward?  One things for certain, it's hard to imagine him averaging 30 pts a game, leaving him out of the ranks of the best small forwards.  When healthy and inspired, Ak47 is an exciting player and fan favorite.  While crying about a lesser role and sitting on the bench in a suit for extended periods leaves many wondering where he is going to fit.  One could say the chemistry between AK47 and Dwill is not very good, but it's probably AK's fault.  He is not a primary scoring option for the Jazz, and while AK47 probably wishes for the days the Jazz ran the offense through him, the coach and best players, ie, the people who know, opine differently.

Going forward, it's hard to assess what is the best situation for the Jazz and AK47.  Certainly, an improved attitude with his role would be a huge bonus.  The Jazz aren't going to run their offense through him, they might in short stretches, but it would never work for extended periods.  If the Jazz are going to get the most of AK47, they're going to need an AK47 with a better understanding of himself.  IE, he's not helping the Jazz by asking for larger roles, and pouting when he doesn't get it.  If he was the man for the role of offensive initiator, he'd have to trust the of the coaches to pull it off, but his numbers show he really can't from sf, and he doesn't have the muscle to play pfwd.  This leaves him in the role of filling out the places where the rotation is weak, a role he can do if he wants.  This is what the Jazz desperately need from him, has Kirilenko approached earth close enough to realize who he is to this team yet?  Jazz front office must hope so, a more realistic AK47 not only makes him more valuable to the Jazz, it makes him more valuable should the Jazz try to move him.

The Jazz front office has stated they are willing to go over the cap again, and if the Jazz plan on keeping Boozer, they will undoubtedly be pushing the payroll into luxury tax territory.  If the Jazz let Boozer walk for nothing, the FO will be handcuffing themselves to the same lineup as last year, with the subtraction of Boozer.  The Jazz payroll next year, without Boozer, is at 54 mill, and some change.  The projected luxury tax threshhold is reportedly going to be at 68 Mill, meaning that if the Jazz resign boozer for 14 mill, they will be right at the luxury tax threshhold, add on mathews, the draft pick, and the rest of the players they will need to fill out the roster, and the Jazz could easily go 8 or 9 mill over the luxury tax threshhold.  Whoa!!!  Slow down the train, everyone says.  Boozer isn't worth it, when you consider that 8 million over the cap, is eight million down the drain.  However, if the Jazz lose Boozer for nothing, they will be at 56 mill in salary with no way to upgrade the roster except by using the Harpring exception in a trade in which they can take on more salary committment then they trade out.  In a trade like this, they Jazz'd b giving up a piece like Ronnie Price to a team looking to cut a player making 8-10 mill a year, they can get a player like Deng or Heinrich, or maybe somebody else who is overpaid, and most likely, not as good as Boozer.  If the Jazz don't resign Boozer, this seems like a trade that could happen, but for it to be effective, it would have to happen before the FA frenzy begins on July 1.  In other words, it's time to make a decision.

Taking a look at things you'd think the Jazz are punk'd!! They either keep Boozer and have luxury tax issues, or they try to get another piece in a trade and justify to the fans, and Dwill, that they are improving the team, haha, cough, ya.  Even though Miller showed that with his new cable contract he wasn't afraid to pull the trigger on Millsap, is he willing to look at going over the luxury tax to the tune of 10 mill, for the second year in a row?   The new cable contract increases how much the Jazz can spend, but does it push their limit this far into the luxury tax? 

A deeper playoff run this year for our Jazz and it would've been alot easier to make the case for boozer and going way over the cap.  Consider this, reportedly, the suns pulled in over 10 mill, going to the conference finals.  If the Jazz are going to go 10 mill over the luxury tax, wouldn't the conference finals be the threshold for success?   In reality, the Jazz aren't that from the conference finals, and the last time the Jazz got there, Boozer was arguably the best player on the team.  Not many people talk about it, but I think the Jazz can get there again.  Boozer probably should've been an allstar last year, if Amare leaves Phx for the east, that's one less top pwfoward in the west that Boozer will be competing against, increasing his chances of having another stand out year.  If the Jazz had been the third seed this year, just by winning their final regular season game, you can imagine the Jazz in the wcf instead of the Suns.  There's not a big difference between the Jazz and other teams in the west, there is a big difference between the Lakers and all the other teams in the west.  

Unlike last year, when the Jazz waited until the trade deadline to make a decision, they don't have that luxury this year with boozer and they need to make a decision now, then think about cutting salary later.  Perhaps the best scenario, for everyone involved, is the Jazz use that Harpring exception immediately, to help a team trying to cut salary, picking up a decent player and draft picks.  Depending on what they can pick up, if this is done before the draft, the Jazz FO can then make a decision on what to do with Booz before FA even begins, but I don't think using the harpring exception in a trade precludes Boozers return, or a sign and trade with him, even if they have to take on salary committments almost equal to the value of boozers new contract.  They also have Ak's expiring contract, a chip that might become more valuable in the coming months.

With all this on the table, the Jazz have some juice, but do they have what it takes to show the fans, and Dwill, that they are serious about making the team better?  If history is any kind of recourse, and lets hope it isn't, the Jazz will have a summer that will be considered an understatement at best.

Deron Williams is arguably one of the best ten players in the league, his selection to the all NBA second team confirms that he is one of the top four guards, at least.  In short, Dwill's position among the leagues best is something the league recognized this year, and as long as the jazz remain a first rd/sc. rd playoff team, he'll continue to be recognized as one of the best, if not the best, at his position. This is huge for Jazz fans, in this era of free agency, with an exciting new group of great players, to have a player who will probably be connected with the best of his generation when everything is said and done. 

Dwill made some comments about the Jazz situation at the end of the year that may've sounded demanding, but seeing how a handful of teams are bending over backwards to accomodate the FA's this summer, FA's are demanding more and more, and the demands of Dwill don't seem out of the ordinary, and they should not be taken lightly.  FA's want to be with a team they know are going to do them right, individually and collecitvely, Dwill wants to know the Jazz are going to do it right, so do the fans.

With Dwill. the Jazz have an amazing talent for at least two more years, and I'm sure the suits want to improve the team, as it's the general manager mantra; but the Jazz situation is a little different with some longterm fixtures in place, most notably, the coach.  Also, there is the assumption the Jazz market can't support a bloated salary, putting a financial limit on what the Jazz will be willing to spend.   How much of this is truth is not relevant if in two years the Jazz aren't serious contenders?  If Cleveland doesn't retain Lebron, they'll be one of the worst teams in the league.  The Jazz FO will need to make some moves if they want to avoid a similar situation.

I'm sure if Cleveland had the opportunity, they'd talk to Lebron and find out exactly what he wants to stay in Cleveland, but it's too late.  On our side, it has been reported that Dwill wants Boozer back.  Since Boozer is a free agent, the Jazz could lose him for nothing; but Dwill has also said something along the lines that you can't lose a Boozer and get nothing in return.  If I'm Jazz FO, I take this as a directive to either retain booz, or sign and trade him; if the Jazz can't pull this off, and Booz leaves for nothing, it will be considered a setback by Dwill, and the Jazz FO will have failed, him...maybe the damage done by the inability to make a move will be irreprabable.

Undoubtedly, keeping Dwill happy is important, but how much say should he have in the Jazz decisions?  The Jazz don't need both Boozer and Millsap.  Moving one of them for some value seems to make sense.  One thought is that if the Jazz traded Millsap, then lost Boozer to FA for nothing, nothing could be worse.  On the other, many feel Millsap is the pwfoward of the future, but does Dwill feel that way?  He has said how much he wants Boozer back, and the chemistry between him and Booz is better than he has with Millsap.  But, how long will Millsap be content to be Boozers backup?  I think the Jazz need to move one of them, my gut feeling is resign boozer and trade Millsap when his value is highest, like now.

Alot of people have cousins slipping, but I don't think he gets past sac at five, and w.johnson seems locked in at minnesoa.  The first eight picks will determine who is available for the jazz.  As a rule, the player that you target is nabbed before it's your turn, however, with so many clear prospects at the top of the draft the options at the nine spot can be narrowed down to 4 or 5 likely candidates at most.  The first choice would be henry, but living in an axiomatic universe precludes the assumption that he will be gone when the jazz pick.  After Henry I have Aldrich, Patterson, Babbitt.  From those I like Aldrich, even if it means the end of the fesenko experiment.  Aldrich will provide us with an immediate impact at the center position, and IMO he is also bpa here, and if he's the jazz guy then it's probably worth it to pick him and solidify the position for a few years.  Howerver it shakes out, I think the jazz are going to get a player who can help immediately, either henry or aldrich, if not monroe, or aminu.

1)Wall 2)Turner 3) Favors 4)Johnson 5)Cousins 6)Aminu 7)Monroe 8)La Clippers-Aldrich, I think the clippers would take Aminu here, but aminu has gs written all over him, so I think they add some size to their frontline which is thin with only kaman and the unproven griffin, and take the best big man, they would love a small forward so babbitt is something they might consider even if it's a little bit of a reach.  9)Utah Jazz-Jazz take Henry who is BPA and nice complement to Dwill, if for some reason the clippers spend their pick on Henry, which would seem a waste for them, Henry should be here for the JAZZ, but Aldrich would be a solid pick here too.  10)Pacers-Udoh-They will go big, and his game may be complimentary to granger.  11)Hornets-Patterson-He's their guy, enough said.  12)Memphis-Anderson-They want a sg, he's the best left, they like the way he competes.  13)Toronto-Davis-A project who can replace Bosh.  14)-Babbitt-He gives them a three point threat to balance w yao.  15)Bucks-Hayward-Brandon Jennings kickin out to a three man.  16)George-Minnesota goes with another sf, they picked two pg's last year?  17)Chicago-Whiteside-They pick a project center and move noah to the pwfoward.  18)Heat-Bradley, hoping to cash in on his length at pg they already have a stocky pg in chalmers.  19)Celtics-Orton-He's got the nasty demeanor the celtics want in a big, he can learn from the best here.  20)Spurs-Bledsoe-Too much talent to pass up here, and with Parker trade talk??  21)Oklahoma-Seraphin-He fits their mold, and with a full roster and three picks  they can let him develope in europe ala ibaka, as a cost saving move.  22)Portland-Ebanks-Portland goes with the longest player at position, again.  23)Minnesota-Jones-They get an energy guard for their rotation.  24)Atlanta-Johnson, pg from nev, a true pg and moves teague to sg.  25)Hobson-Sf to replace gay if he leaves.  26)Ok-Lawal-they can get him here, and they will like his all around game.  27)Nets-Brackins-They think he will help their frontline.  29)Orlando-Alabi-They know how to develop centers, so they pick him up, maybe trading gortat for some value later on.  30) Wash-Rumor has it pondexter had a 1st round garuantee, hence he's dissapeared, wash isn't holding workouts, curious??

That's my first round.  IMO, I don't think okc or memphis is going to get alot of value with their picks, and neither will minnesota with their lower picks.  All three teams have tons of rotation guys and that's what they'll be picking, if I'm minnesota, it's alot more attractive to bring in a veteran with some leadership, like okur, okc and memphis might benefit from trading up or trading picks this year for future picks, also looking to add some veteran leadership or young talent with the picks.