1998 Jazz vs. 2008 Jazz

VS

Training camp opens in about 2 weeks. We'll be releasing a series of season previews here pretty soon, but in the meantime, we'll continue into the realm of the hypothetical. This week's topic - the 1997-98 Utah Jazz vs. the 2007-08 Utah Jazz, particularly the following areas:

1. How the 1998 Jazz would fare in the 2008 NBA.
2. How the 2008 Jazz would fare in the 1998 NBA.
3. What the outcome would be of a Western Conference Finals Series between the two teams.

Let's take a look at our rosters and rotations:

1998 Utah Jazz
Starters:
PG - John Stockton - 12 ppg, 8 apg, 1.4 spg, 2.5 TO, 53% FG, 43% 3PT, 29 MIN
SG - Jeff Hornacek - 14.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 48% FG, 44% 3PT
SF - Bryon Russell - 9 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.1 spg, 43% FG, 34% 3PT
PF - Karl Malone - 27 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.2 spg, 53% FG, 76% FT, 10.2 FTA
C - Greg Ostertag - 4.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 48% FG

Key Reserves:
Shandon Anderson - 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 53% FG, 21.9% 3PT
Howard Eisley - 7.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2 TO, 44% FG, 41% 3PT
Antoine Carr - 5.7 ppg, 2 rpg, 46.5% FG, 0.8 blk

2008 Utah Jazz
Starters:
PG - Deron Williams - 18.8 ppg, 10.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 51% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 37.3 MIN
SG - Ronnie Brewer - 12 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 27.5 MIN, 56% FG, 22% 3PT
SF - Andrei Kirilenko - 11 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.5 blk, 4 apg, 51% FG, 38% 3PT
PF - Carlos Boozer - 21.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 55% FG
C - Mehmet Okur - 14.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2 apg, .4 blk, 45% FG, 39% 3PT

Key Reserves: SF - Matt Harpring - 8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, .6 spg, 50% FG, 20% 3PT
SG - Kyle Korver - 9.8 ppg, 1.4 apg, .4 stl, .5 blk, 2 rpg, 47% FG, 39% 3PT
PF - Paul Millsap - 8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1 apg, .9 spg, .9 blk, 50% FG

Head-to-Head Statistical Comparisons
*when comparing teams, it should be noted that the 2008 Jazz average significantly more possessions per game than the 1998 Jazz. This would adjust specific statistics per game, but not percentages.

1998 Jazz - 101 ppg, 41 rpg, 25 apg, 7.9 spg, 5 bpg, 15.4 TO, 49% FG, 37.2% 3PT, 77.3% FT
2008 Jazz - 106.2 ppg, 41 rpg, 26.4 apg, 8.7 spg, 4.3 blk, 14.6 TO, 49.7% FG, 37.2% 3PT, 75.9% FT

Thoughts: At first glance it would appear that the 2008 Jazz were a much better offensive team (ppg, apg, etc), but in reality both teams are freakishly similar. If you were to adjust possessions to make teams equal, both teams would have very similar ppg and very similar apg. This is also made apparent in the percentages where both teams average exactly 37.2% from behind the ark. 2008 holds a very slight advantages in FG% while 1998 has a higher FT%. Both offset each other in my eyes. The 1998 Jazz would be considered a better rebounding team per possession, but the 2008 Jazz have a far better TO margin. Interesting.

1998 Opponent - 94.4 ppg, 36.5 rpg, 14.1 TO, 44% FG, 35.7% 3PT
2008 Opponent - 99.3 ppg, 37 rpg, 15.9 TO, 46.1% FG, 35.7% 3PT

Thoughts: Again you might think at first glance that the 98 team was far more efficient defensively, but the numbers are slightly deceptive. If you were to adjust the points per game so that the number of possessions were equal, we'd see a very similar result. The same logic applies to rebounding (though this statistic would show the 2008 Jazz giving up fewer rebounds per possession. This directly contradicts the stats previously mentioned as if there are simply fewer overall rebounds per possession nowadays. Maybe there are more fouls?). TOs per possession also adjusts to similar values. FG percentage does give the defensive edge to the 1998 Jazz by a difference of nearly 2%. How strange is the similarity in 3 PT%. It would appear as if we are STRONGLY underestimating the impact Jerry Sloan's system has on his teams.

The NBA of 1998

The 1997-98 Utah Jazz finished atop the Midwest Division and the Western Conference with a record of 62-20 (tied with Chicago for best in NBA). The Western Conference was relatively week that year, with an average winning percentage of .471. The Midwest Division was even worse with an average winning percentage of .443. The 1998 Jazz topped TNT's analysts (Barkley, Kenny Smith and crew) 3 games to 2. In the second round, the 1998 Jazz defeated Avery Johnson, David Robinson and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 1. In the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz swept Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 4 straight games to reach the NBA Finals. The joy was short lived however as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Jazz in 6 games.

How far could the 2008 Jazz have gone in those same playoffs? Considering the conference was significantly weaker, we'll give the 2008 Jazz 3 more wins and a record of 57-25. This would have given the Jazz the 3rd seed in the conference entering the playoffs. As the 3rd seed, the Jazz would face the Minnesota Timberwolves led by Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury. The young Garnett would not have been superior (at the time) to the Jazz frontcourt of Boozer and Okur, and Marbury would have been absolutely abused by Deron Williams. DWill averages 30 ppg, 12 apg and the Jazz advance in a 3-game sweep (best of 5 in the first round in 1998).

In the second round, the Jazz would then have faced Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and the Seattle Supersonics who narrowly advanced. Don't be confused by the name Kemp, at this point Kemp is playing at a level far below his 96 days when he led his team to the NBA finals. Boozer and Millsap go at Kemp all day and keep him either on the bench with fouls, or too winded to be effective. Meanwhile, Gary "the Glove" Payton is effective at keeping DWill's production to a reasonable level. DWill averages 17 ppg and 8 apg, while Boozer goes off for 27 ppg and 13 rpg. The 2008 Jazz overcome a couple of setbacks to advance to the Western Conference Finals in 6 games.

In the Western Conference Finals the 2008 Jazz face a team that sent them packing from the future 2008 playoffs. The 1998 Kobe isn't nearly the puzzle piece he would develop into, but the 1998 Shaquille O'Neal is also a beast unlike any they would see in 2008. Shaq and the Lakers bully their way to an early 2-0 lead in the series. The Jazz however return home to a Rockin' Delta Center (later to be re-named Energy Solutions Arena) and bounce back to even the series at 2-2 behind the strong play of Deron Williams. The Jazz were successfully able to draw Shaq away from the basket using Mehmet Okur's long-range shooting. Game 5 goes back to LA where a second-year pro named Derek Fisher hits a game winning 3 pointer at the buzzer to win the game for the Lakers 102-100. Game 6 in Salt Lake City was an ugly game, where Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Jarron Collins and Paul Millsap all foul out of the game against O'Neal. The Lakers held the lead until the final minutes when the Jazz were able to take the lead. O'Neal misses 6 of 6 free throws down the stretch, and Kobe Bryant air-balls two consecutive 3 pointers, one to give the Lakers the lead, and one to tie the game at the buzzer. The series goes back to LA tied the decisive game 7. The Lakers come out firing. Kobe Bryant goes off for 10 in the first quarter, and "fast Eddie" Jones puts in 8. The Lakers end the first quarter up 32-22. The second quarter starts similar to the first with the Lakers extending the lead to 15. That's when the Jazz bench goes off against the Lakers bench, scoring 8 unanswered points to go into half-time down 55-48. The third quarter is a battle with the Lakers looking to establish Shaquille O'Neal on the low block. To this point the Lakers have played a fast-paced game, and Shaq has only managed 10 points on 4-5 shooting and 2-4 from the line. Unlike game 6, the Jazz do not immediately foul Shaq. Rather, they send a double team with Kirilenko who would finish the game with 4 blocks. Shaq grows frustrated while Lakers Coach Dale Harris fails to adjust. The Jazz tie up the game after 3 at 76-76. The fourth quarter starts with the a couple of quick Laker threes while the Jazz struggle from the foul-line. The Lakers move up by 5 midway through the period when the Jazz hit 3 pointers on 3 consecutive possessions (2 by Korver, 1 by Okur). That quickly, the Jazz take a 3 point lead and force a Laker timeout with 4 minutes to go. The Lakers and Jazz would exchange blows for the next three minutes and the score sits tied with 1 minute remaining. The Jazz keep the ball in the hands of Deron Williams who runs the clock down to 45 seconds before attacking. DWill comes off a high screen and roll and attacks the paint...the defense follows. DWill kicks the ball back out to Mehmet Okur who shoots from long range and hits what appears to be a 3 pointer, but the refs only gave him credit for 2 points. The TV replay would show that Okur had his toe on the line, and the refs made the correct call. The Lakers brought the ball back down the floor in hopes of taking a shot near 30 seconds (2 for 1). The ball ends up in the hands of Kobe Bryant who drives and pulls up from 20, but misses the shot. Carlos Boozer grabs the loose ball and is quickly fouled by Shaquille O'Neal...his 6th and final foul of the game. Boozer steps up to the line and hits the first free-throw. As Boozer shoots his second free-throw he lets out a yell as the ball hangs on the rim for a second before falling off the side. The Lakers get the rebound with 20 seconds remaining, and call timeout to set up a final play. The Lakers come out of the timeout with the ball at midcourt in the hands of Kobe Bryant. Kobe runs a screen and roll with reserve big man Elden Campbell before kicking the ball to Derek Fisher on the wing with 5 seconds remaining. Fisher pumpfakes and drives toward the rim. Fisher then sees Boozer help off his man and kicks it to Robert Horry in the corner who barries a 3-pointer at the buzzer...OVERTIME. The dramatics of regulation did not carry over to Overtime however. Without Shaq in the game, the Jazz attack the basket and get up early on back-to-back layups by Williams and Boozer. Meanwhile, Kobe and the Lakers force up a couple of ill-advised long range jumpers to be controlled by the Jazz. With 2 minutes to go, the Jazz find themselves with the ball and a 6 point lead. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan inserts free-throw specialist Kyle Korver back into the game who hits 4 free throws in the final minute to give the Jazz a thrilling overtime victory of 115-106. Deron Williams jumps in celebration with a fist pump while Carlos Boozer catches him in mid air. Jerry Sloan looks torn whether he should be celebrating with his team or fixing his hair which was messed up in the celebration.

The NBA Finals had the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls in Chicago for game 1. The Bulls won games 1 and 2 convincingly by an average margin of 18 points. Michael Jordan average 36 points in front of his home crowd. The 2008 Jazz return to Salt Lake with renewed optimism, having lost only 3 games all season at home, 1 of the 3 to the Bulls. The Jazz jumped on the Bulls early behind the strong play of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, but found their stars in foul-trouble early in the 3rd quarter after referee Tim Donaghy called a questionable foul on Carlos Boozer. With Boozer and Williams on the bench, the Jazz bench held their own against the Bulls starting rotation. Jordan was having an off shooting day, hitting only 25% of his shots. To start the 4th quarter, the Jazz held a 3 point lead. The Bulls came out behind veteran leadership and playoff experience to take outscore the Jazz 25-15 in the final quarter, placing the 2008 Jazz in a series hole of 3-0. Game 4 was promising for the young 2008 Jazz team however as they bounced back to defeat the Bulls by a score of 108-82. Game 5 was a fight back and forth, but Michael Jordan was ultimately too much for the Jazz defenders. Ronnie Brewer sat out much of the game with foul-trouble, while Jordan scored 55 points on Matt Harpring. The Bulls defeated the Jazz 112-87, to complete the series in 5 games.

Two days after the end of the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan developed a terrible flu and spent much of the day bed-ridden in his home outside of Chicago.

The NBA of 2008

The 2007-08 Utah Jazz finished atop the Northwest Division with a record of 54-28. The NW Division was not exceptionally strong with an average winning percentage of .456. The Western Conference as a whole however was exceptionally strong, with an average winning percentage of .527 (good enough to make the playoffs in 1998).

To keep things equal, we'll apply the same logic to the 1998 Jazz as we did previously to the 2008 Jazz. Due to a significantly more competitive conference, We'll assume that the 1998 Jazz would finish with a record of 59-23, good enough for the top seed in the West.

In the first round of the 2008 Playoffs, our 1998 Utah Jazz squad would be matched up against a division rival in the Denver Nuggets. On paper, this match-up looks competitive. On the hardwood, the 2008 Nuggets have struggled heavily against disciplined opponents. The Nuggets fall behind early, and lose big in the first 2 games at Energy Solutions Arena. Returning to Denver, the Nuggets show revived enthusiasm behind 42 points by Allen Iverson. Game 4 doesn't start well for the Nuggets, and gets worse as Kenyon Martin and JR Smith both are ejected. The Jazz roll to a 112-92 victory and a 3-1 series lead. Returning home for game 5, the veteran Jazz of 1998 show poise to withstand an early run by the Nuggets. Despite 35 points by Carmelo Anthony, the Jazz win 105-97.

In the second round of the 2008 playoffs, the 1998 Jazz face Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs (4th seed). Both teams pound on each other in the game. Karl Malone paces the Jazz with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Tim Duncan puts up similar numbers for the Spurs. John Stockton dishes out 11 assists for the Jazz while Tony Parker struggles to find a rhythm. Manu Ginobli is held to 18 points by Bryon Russell and the Jazz squeek out a 87-82 win. The Spurs wouldn't be held down for long however as they rebound to knock off the Jazz in a thriller in Salt Lake. Spurs coach Greg Popovic is praised for his game to game adjustments as the Spurs hold Karl Malone to only 15 points on 5 for 15 shooting. As the Jazz return to San Antonio, the Jazz come out trying to attack the paint through sharp cuts and crisp passing. Early on the strategy is effective, but after halftime the Jazz just aren't able to knock down outside shots. The Spurs win game 3 by a score of 92-84. Game 4 was a legendary game with both teams exchanging blows. Karl Malone got position early and often against Tim Duncan, drawing him into early foul trouble. In replacing Duncan, Fabricio Oberto just got abused by Malone. Malone finished the game with 38 points and 16 rebounds, as the Jazz pull away late to a 104-92 victory despite shooting poorly from the outside once again. As both teams return to Salt Lake City, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has his team focused and pressing for physicality. With both teams knowing each other well, game 5 turns ugly quick. Duncan and Malone went at each other all night, each scoring about 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The key for the Jazz lay in their backcourt, and not with John Stockton. Swingmen Bryon Russell and Shandon Anderson absolutely abuse the aging Spurs swingmen. Once again, Hornacek and Stockton struggle from deep, but the Jazz do enough to win the game 88-84. Game 6 returns to San Antonio, and is vastly different than games in the past. Different than the slow, physical games leading up to game 6, the Jazz and Spurs explode for massive offensive production. The Jazz jump out to an early lead in the first quarter 34-31, while the Spurs return to even the score at halftime 56-56. By the end of the third quarter, the Jazz have once again pulled ahead, this time 88-83. The Jazz extend the lead to 10 early in the fourth before the Spurs start to chop away at the lead. With 2 minutes to go, the Jazz lead has dwindled to 108-106. Robert Horry proves a hero for the Spurs as he drills a 3 pointer in the final minute to give the Spurs the lead 111-110. The experience of John Stockton proves too much for Tony Parker, as Stockton extends the defense with the screen and roll, and hits Hornacek with pin-point precision and Hornacek nets a 10 foot floater at the buzzer. Jazz win Game 6 112-111 and take the series 4 games to 2.

In the Western Conference Finals, the 1998 would face familiar faces in familiar uniforms, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers prove ready for the Jazz behind coach Phil Jackson's game plan. The Lakers jump out to a big first-half lead on the road in Utah. Jerry Sloan decided not to call a timeout during a 15-2 Laker run. After halftime, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek take matters into their own hands and combine for 30 points and 15 assists in the second half. Malone never gets into rhythm, and ends up with only 12 points and 6 rebounds. Nevertheless, the Jazz win 95-89. Game 2 the Jazz come out firing on all cylinders. Stockton dishes out 18 assists, Malone scores 28 points and grabs 14 rebounds, and Jeff Hornacek hits 4 three pointers as the Jazz cruise to a 103-92 win in Game 2. Returning to LA, the Lakers come out attacking Malone inside, but Pau Gasol is downright outplayed by the senior Malone. Lamar Odom has not showed up this series and continues to be ineffective. Kobe Bryant is averaging 34 points per game, but its not enough in Game 3 as the Jazz beat the Lakers in LA. Game 4 causes the 1998 Jazz to stumble, despite a low-scoring game by Kobe Bryant. The Lakers have 6 players in double figures led by Kobe Bryant's 18 as the Lakers defeat the Jazz handily in LA. Game 5 is played in the ESA, and that proved to be the difference. A hard fought game all night eventually goes to the tougher team. Kobe Bryant scored over 30 points for the 4th time in the series, but the Lakers still lose 95-87.

The 1998 Jazz enter the NBA finals with experience and determination. Their opponents are Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics. The Jazz are also on the road for the first time in the playoffs to open a series. The Celtics take pride in their defensive prowess, but the Jazz are a structured team who is built to pick apart a defense like the Celtics. Game 1 was hard fought, but Celtic emotion pulled out the victory in front of their home crowd 92-85. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 21 points. Game 2 the Celtics come out flat. The Jazz pound the ball, and Garnett's athleticism is taken out of the picture as Malone pushes him around the floor. Rajon Rondo looks like a rookie as Stockton explodes for 12 points and 19 assists. Malone finishes with 20 and 10 and the Jazz prevail in Boston, 103-92. The series returns to Utah tied 1-1. In Utah, the Jazz feed off their home crowd and dominate the Celtics 108-72. Celtics Coach Doc Rivers questions his teams toughness, and the Celtics respond with a physical performance in game 4. Garnett holds his ground against Malone and forces him into a poor shooting performance. Hornacek doesn't get the daylight on the outside to get a shot off, and the Celtics force Bryon Russell, Greg Ostertag and John Stockton to beat them...Celtics win an ugly game 77-72. Game 5 is also in Utah, and behind Jerry Sloan's toughness, the Jazz respond like they are in a fistfight. As always, Jerry Sloan's club bruises up Paul Pierce, and Ronnie Brewer effectively shuts down Ray Allen. Garnett struggles against Karl Malone, and the leading scorer for Celtics is Leon Powe. The Jazz win game 5 going away, 92-75. Game 6 returns to Boston and the Jazz come out stale. Fortunately for the Jazz, the Celtics don't look much better. At halftime of this game, the score is only 36-34 in favor of the Celtics. The third quarter gets ugly quick with Malone and Garnett both spending much of the quarter on the bench. For the better part of the quarter, Kendrick Perkins is the highest scoring player for theCeltics, and Bryon Russell is the highest scoring Jazz man. In the 4th quarter, Malone takes over and lives at the line. Garnett ends up fouling out with about 4 minutes left, and Malone is seemingly at the line each time down the floor. With the score close, Malone misses a free throw in the final minute and the Celtics capitalize on a Ray Allen 3 pointer to tie the game. The Jazz can't hold for the final shot, but they do drain the clock down to 20 seconds before calling a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Jazz hit Stockton on the run who pulls up from 15 feet to drain a jumper. The Jazz take the lead 78-76. Boston calls a timeout and draws up a play for Paul Pierce. Paul Pierce is tightly guarded however by Bryon Russell and John Stockton in the corner yet he decides to force up a shot with a few seconds left. The shot misses badly, and the Celtics put back is not in time. The 1998 Jazz are NBA Champions.

Head-to-Head, 1998 Jazz vs. 2008 Jazz
The bottom line in this game matchup, is that the 1998 Jazz have 2 of the greatest players in the history of the game. However, the offensive fire power that the 2008 Jazz possess would keep this series close. Deron Williams vs John Stockton would be a great matchup. Stockton is a tremendous defensive player on the perimeter, but DWill would still produce on offense. The difference here would lie inside. As good as Malone was on offense, he was equally as effective on defense. There is not a single player on the 2008 Jazz that could guard Malone, yet Malone and Ostertag would be effective in containing Boozer. Hornacek is a better piece than any on the 2008 Jazz squad, but the 2008 bench is far more effective than the 1998 bench. Brewer and Kirilenko are better than Russell and Anderson. Mehmet Okur would be a tough matchup for the 1998 Jazz, as Ostertag would opt to play inside. If this were a single game, both teams would have a realistic chance of victory. As a series, the 1998 Jazz take the series in 6.

Pic of the week!

Who's your daddy?
This Mehmet Okur look-a-like photo was sent in from a loyal reader in the Northwest.

*Photo submissions (with captions) for "Pic of the week" can be submitted via email at thesaltpalace@gmail.com.

Could NBA Players Make It In The NFL?

With the change of season, sports fans have turned their attention to football, myself included. But true to my roots, a good basketball story still will catch my eye. A recent story about Antonio Gates not only caught my attention, but inspired me to write this post..

Ask most fans who the best TE in the NFL is, and most would answer Antonio Gates. Ask those fans where Gates played college football, and few will respond. The truth is, Gates did not play football in college. Gates excelled on the hardwood leading his college team to the Elite Eight. After college, Gates used his athleticism to open doors in football.

So, without further delay, our blogger staff unveils our All-NBA Gridiron Squad.

OFFENSE:

Quarterback - Chauncey Billups (6'2, 210) - As a leader, Billups has all the traits that an NFL GM would want in a QB. Good decision making ability, team first mentality, toughness, level-head, he's got all the tools to go along with legitimate inborn gridiron talent (his cousin is NFL star LenDale White). In fact, football was actually Billups' first love. Billups dominated the high school level at Quarterback and earned all-state honors in Denver, Colorado. Billups was recruited heavily out of high school for football but opted to play basketball at the University of Colorado instead.

Running Back - Dee Brown (6'0, 185) - This was a difficult choice. Many hardwood stars demonstrated athleticism, speed, toughness and vision...however Brown brings a fearless mentality in a compact frame which is necessary to run between the tackles. If Brown had pursued football, his ideal playing weight with his frame would have been around 215 lbs, a pretty good load for a guy of his quickness. During High School in Illinois, Brown excelled in both basketball and football. Brown played quarterback for the football team and gained over 1,800 all-purpose yards with 16 touchdowns in ONLY 7 GAMES. Brown was recruited heavily
for football by many major collegiate football programs, including Florida State and Nebraska.

Wide Receiver - Allen Iverson (6'0, 165) - Iverson has been one of the quickest/fastest players in the NBA since he was drafted. He is often referred to as the toughest player in the NBA pound for pound. What many don't realize is that Iverson had a bright future in football if he had chosen that path. In High School, Iverson was named the Virginia High School Player of the Year at Quarterback and Defensive Back. Iverson's DB skills can be seen on the hardwood as he has been at the top of the league in steals for many years. He closes on the ball as well as any player in the NBA. As a junior, Iverson led his High School team to the State Championship. Iverson had his choice of anywhere in the country to play college football, and was rated higher than former NFL quarterbacks Michael Vick and Aaron Brooks. Although Iverson would have been a nice addition to our secondary, his playmaking ability and athleticism will be better utilized on offense and in kick/punt returns.

Wide Receiver - Steve Nash (6'1, 185) - Nash is another one of those quick guards in the NBA who can get anywhere on the floor. Nash is one of the only skill position player on our team with no football experience. Nash is a well-respected soccer player and spends his offseasons training with premiere players...Nash is also held in high regards by those players. Some professionals have said Nash could step into the Premiere League right now and be an elite player. For the sake of our team, we need a receiver who can go over the middle and go after balls. Nash would also be great on short screens where he can use his athleticism to make plays. Bottom line, Nash is an elite athlete on the world level, and our skill positions need that kind of boost. Also, we need a kicker.

Wide Receiver - Devin Harris (6'3, 195) - Harris is our deep threat. Known as one of the fastest players in the NBA, Harris will be needed to stretch the field and keep defenses honest. We considered throwing Kobe Bryant in this spot, but Harris brings something different to our wide receiver core. If we have to go to 4 WR sets, Kobe comes in. Besides, anytime we're inside the 20 we're throwing to our tight end anyway.

Tight End - LeBron James (6'8, 250) - James could play any position on the field and excel...however due to his rare combination of size, strength and speed, TE is the ideal position for LeBron. As a blocker James could do the job well, and I honestly believe James could not be stopped one-on-one or inside the red zone. At 250 James is already a beast. If he wanted to, he could play football at 275 and still be dominant. In high school, LeBron was a First-Team All-State wide receiver and was highly recruited by colleges nationwide. Like Iverson, James did not play football his senior year...there was a $100M contract that depended on his health.


Left Tackle - Eric Dampier (6'11, 265) - Dampier is a physical, hard nosed player who gets major minutes for his defensive presence. He often goes unnoticed which makes him a perfect fit as an offensive lineman. Dampier has very long arms and good lateral quickness for a man his size. He's another guy that keeps his weight low to be most effective in the NBA. Given a football scenario, Dampier would be playing around 315. Dampier is also more reliable than our other tackle, which is why we put him to protect Billups' blindside.

Right Tackle - Eddy Curry (6'10, 285) - Curry has never lived up to his potential on the hardwood, and has always struggled with foul trouble. Fouls won't be a problem for Curry on the gridiron however, and Curry will be another nice tackle on the outside. The length and size of Curry will help prevent pass rushers from beating Curry to the outside and also prevent defenders from getting inside on Curry. In football, Curry would be weighing in around 335.

Left Guard - Elton Brand (6'8, 265) - Brand is a very smart player who would bring great intelligence to this offensive line. Brand is another player with long arms (wingspan exceeds 7'0) and good coordination. Brand's quickness is why he was chosen as a guard. Brand would be a very effective blocker as he could pull as a lead blocker. In football, Brand would play around 295.

Right Guard - Jason Maxiell (6'6, 265) - Cut from a similar mold as brand, Maxiell brings a mean streak to the Offensive Line. Jason is a physical player who would open up holes and punish linebackers. Maxiell is another very quick lineman who could pull effectively. With a wingspan of over 7 feet, he'll provide a nice punch off the line. We considered Maxiell for a number of positions, but we felt he would be a great guard on our O-Line. Maxiell's playing weight would be around 295.

Center - Jamal Magloire (6'10, 285) - Magloire is a journeyman NBA player who has had many roles on many teams. His vast experience has allowed him to pick up schemes quickly, and understand roles of teammates well. Magloire would be a nice tackle as well, but his vast experience is why we selected him to direct our O-Line. Magloire has stayed in the NBA as a defensive big man who protects the basket. On our team, he will have to protect our quarterback. The biggest challenge Billups may face at QB might be seeing over his offensive line. Magloire's playing weight would near 330. Magloire rounds up our offensive line with an average height of 6'9 and 315 lbs.

DEFENSE:

Defensive End - Ben Wallace (6'8, 260) - Wallace is another guy with a strong background on the football field. When Wallace was undrafted as a basketball player, he nearly pursued his second love of football. As a Linebacker in High School, Wallace punished offensive players and gained great recognition. If Wallace hadn't developed a strong friendship with Charles Oakley through a basketball camp, Wallace likely would have never pursued basketball. Wallace would bring great strength, toughness, and length to our defense. Rather than swatting away shots, we expect Wallace would bat down a couple of balls per game. Wallace would be strong against both the run and the pass. Wallace's football playing weight would likely be around 285.

Defensive End - Carlos Boozer (6'9, 265) - Carlos is a physical specimen on the basketball floor. His weight room work ethic is well known, and he works hard to keep his body trim and lean. Despite his efforts, Boozer still carries one of the most chizeled frames in the NBA. As a football player, Boozer would bring a Julius Peppers-type mentality to the Defensive Line. He'd be stout against the run, and provide a good pass rush. We considered Carlos for the offensive line, but due to his limited lateral quickness we decided to let him loose on the Defensive Line. Boozer would likely play at a weight near 295. Dwight Howard will be used as a backup/rotational player at DE as well.

Defensive Tackle - Shaquille O'Neal (7'2, exact weight unknown) - Earlier in Shaq's career, he may have anchored our offensive line. For now, we want Shaq to stuff the run with his massive frame. Though vulnerable to a chop-block, Shaq would be a beast to throw over. Shaq would demand two blockers on every play, which would allow our linebackers to roam more freely. Shaq's great footwork would also help him as a pass rusher and in stunts. Shaq already careers quite a bit of weight, so a huge increase in his playing weight would negatively impact his production. We have Shaq playing around 330.

Defensive Tackle - Glen "Big Baby" Davis (6'9, 300) - Big Baby was a dominating high school performer on the gridiron. At the time, Davis tipped the scale near 330 lbs at only 6'6. He's grown 3 inches since then, and dropped some pounds as well. In High School, Davis showed freakish agility and footwork for a man his size. Davis filled a role similar to William "the refrigerator" Parry. Davis played Fullback, Tight End, and Defensive End. We also would bring Davis in to open up holes from the fullback position, but his presence on the D-Line is too tempting to pass on. During his high school career, Davis rushed for 976 yards and 14 touchdowns on 141 carries. He also had 13 catches for 257 yards and a touchdown. Despite sitting out football in college, many NFL teams took a long hard look at Davis as a creative pick late in the NFL draft. Davis opted for basketball once again, but the thought of what he could have achieved on the gridiron is still fun to think about. Davis would likely play near his high school weight of 330. Davis rounds up our defensive line with average height of 6'10 and 315 lbs.

Linebacker - Matt Harpring (6'7, 230) - Let's face it, Matt has always had a football mentality and has been demonstrating many of those characteristics on the hardwood. Harpring did have a VERY successful high school career at QB. Harpring was a 6'7 QB from a football family, and was trying to decide between playing football at Wisconsin or Northwestern (both national powers at the time). He went on a mid-winter recruiting visit to Northwestern and attended a basketball game while there. He decided at that time to that he wanted to play basketball at the next level, and could excel doing so. He made a good choice financially, but Matt's limits in football were the sky. Despite his background as a QB, we've moved Harpring to LB where he can use his physicality and toughness. Harpring would likely play around 255.

Linebacker - Ron Artest (6'8, 235) - Artest is another guy who loves physicality. Artest brings more athleticism than Harpring however, and could be an every down linebacker. If Artest were in the NFL, he'd likely be playing for the Cincinatti Bengals, and would likely have a standing appointment in Commissioner Goodell's office. On our team however, he's got a clean record. Artest would likely play around 245.

Linebacker - Corey Maggette (6'7, 230) - We wanted to bring a guy in that was athletic enough to defend better Tight Ends, while strong enough to meet a linemen head on. Maggette has a chizzled frame, and uses his athleticism well. Maggette would be our 3rd down LB. Maggette would play near 235.

Linebacker - Eduardo Najera (6'8, 235) - Najera is a guy in the NBA that can defend 3 positions. He's very versatile as an asset to any coach, and plays 100% every minute he is on the floor. Najera is a very physical player who would fit in well as a blitzing LB or a reliable coverage man. Najera would likely play near 255.

Cornerback -Nate Robinson (5'9, 185) - Robinson is another guy that could have chosen which sport to play professionally. Robinson played both basketball and football at the University of Washington. Scouts called Robinson a lock to be drafted. On the hardwood, Robinson regularly displays his athletic ability by going up high to dunk on opponents. Despite being somewhat undersized in the NFL, Robinson would be able to meet the ball at its highest point without being taken advantage of by bigger receivers. Another thing to remember is that no matter how undersized he is in the NFL, he is much more undersized in the NBA. Interesting fact about Robinson, he started his college career as a football-scholarshipped athlete, not basketball.

Cornerback - Leandro Barbosa (6'1, 175) - This is the other spot where we strongly considered Allen Iverson. Barbosa however possesses just as much quickness, speed, and athleticism as Iverson, but with a little more size. Barbosa doesn't have any football experience, but his diverse sporting background in Brazil may allow him to adapt quickly. If this experiment doesn't work out, we'll move Iverson back to this side of the ball and sure up this position.

Free Safety - Dwayne Wade (6'4, 210) - Wade flies around the basketball court like very few I've ever seen. In the Olympics, Wade jumped passing lanes on a regular basis and excelled on the defensive end of the floor. Wade is fearless when attacking, and would be perfect to fly around our defensive backfield. Wade is another one of the fastest players in the NBA and would certainly fit right in the speed and quickness category. Injuries may be a concern, but his upside would be unreal.

Strong Safety - Marcus Banks (6'0, 215) - Banks brings more gridiron experience to our defense. Looking at Banks, you immediately recognize his shoulders and overall football build. In High School, Banks was another highly recruited two-sport athlete. Banks was a standout in the defensive backfield but ultimately chose basketball after failing to qualify academically. Banks brings exceptional quickness to our defensive backfield, with good strength and excellent instincts. Finally Banks has found a role where he doesn't have to worry about shooting from the outside. If shooting wasn't a part of the NBA game, Banks would be a premiere PG (he already is defensively).

That rounds up our All-NBA Gridiron Squad. If you can think of any that we're missing, leave a comment to let us know.

SCOR System - Version 1.0

We are proud to release the first ever version SCOR (Statistical Combination Of Rankings) System.

What is the SCOR System?

The SCOR System is a statistical compilation of 4 complicated ranking systems compiled from different statistical formulas. There are two seperate statistical rankings calculated in the SCOR System: The SCOR Rating, and the SCOR Value. The SCOR Rating assigns each player a rating. This value is a statistical representation how effective a player is. The SCOR Value takes a players SCOR Rating, and compares that rating to their individual salaries. Using this comparison, you can determine whether or not a player is "worth" their paycheck.

Which Ranking Systems are used to calculate the SCOR System?

1. Adjusted Plus/Minus - This ranking method takes the basic +/- structure, and uses regression analysis (statistical analysis) to eliminate shortcomings of the basic +/- structure which is heavily swayed dependent on quality of team, team depth, and so on. The adjusted plus/minus identifies separately a player's Offensive and Defensive Efficiency in comparison to the rest of the league (listed by percentile). For the SCOR System, we took the average of offensive and defensive efficiency. To see the Adjusted Plus/Minus rankings, click on the link below:

http://www.countthebasket.com/blog/2008/06/03/offensive-and-defensive-adjusted-plus-minus/

2. Floor Impact Counter (FIC) - This ranking method takes into account assists and blocks when rating a player's statistical system. The system also differentiates between offensive and defensive rebounds, offenisive rebounds carry a slightly higher value. This system also slightly reduces the value of missed field goals and missed free throws. This ratings method also offers a per 40 minute version, which is known as the FIC40.

3. The Reina Value (RV) - This ranking method takes a players production and compares that production to a player's salary. RealGM Christopher Reina is the creator of both the RV and FIC. The average RV for the top 150 players shows production is significantly higher than zero. For the SCOR System, I took used the difference between the actual RV and average RV, which places the average RV to zero. To see the rating systems for the FIC and RV, click on the link below:

http://realgm.com/src_playerrankings.php?filter=all

4. Team Win Percentage (Team Win%) - This is a statistic that most of you should be aware of. It shows the percentage of games a team has won. Too often ranking systems rely solely on a player's statistical output, and does not factor in whether or not those stats translate into victories. A player such as Gilbert Arenas has impressive individual statistics, however, some would argue that the Wizards were a better team when Arenas was off the floor. For the SCOR System, we factored a team's winning percentage into account when giving a player a ranking. To see a list of NBA team's winning percentage, click on the link below:

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html

How is the SCOR System Calculated?

SCOR Rating = FIC40 * [ (0.5*Team Win %) + (0.5*Adjusted +/-) ]

SCOR Value = (.10 * Adjusted RV Rating) * SCOR Rating

SCOR System Version 1.0: (Click on Pictures to Enlarge)

The SCOR System combines 4 statistical rankings systems to produce 1 superior statistical ranking system. Version 1.0 is the first of many future versions to be produced. This first version takes the top 150 players in the RV system. Additionally, 5 more Jazz players have been added to the statistics base.

Until I can find a way to post the full Excel File (which can be sorted according to the desired category), I'll post screenshots of the spreadsheet below:

How did Jazz players fare? (Click on Pictures to Enlarge)

The Olympic Effect

Nationwide, eyes have been glued to the TV screen to watch Olympians wow the world with impressive accomplishments of strength, speed and athleticism. It's not often viewers get to see all of these attributes in the same event. That's exactly what worldwide fans have been privy to watch this year from Beijing.

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant headline the USA's Olympic squad. If it weren't for the awe-inspiring performance of the Americans, many fans would be pleasantly watching some of the elite athletes the world has to offer. Unfortunately for world basketball, stars like Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrei Kirilenko and Yao Ming all have been left in the wake of the mighty US basketball team.

Many Jazz fans have watched anxiously as Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams represent the only NBA franchise with two players on the US roster. But should they be concerned?

Carlos Boozer has never been known for his durability and Deron Williams enjoys playing at the rim...will the physical international nature of basketball pay its toll on these Jazz superstars? Don't forget Andrei Kirilenko. Expectations have never been higher for a European basketball star. After leading Russia to an unexpected title in the 2007 Eurobasket, will Kirilenko be able to lead his Russians to glory once again?

Personally, I have watched every US game (including exhibition games) since the team was formed once again this summer. For a while I was on board the US team to see if "redemption" was a possibility or a probability. Nowadays, I find myself more interested in watching how Boozer, Williams and Kirilenko fair against the world's elite.

As a die-hard Jazz fan, my hope is that DWill, Boozer and AK will shine on the international level and perhaps draw some attention to what looks to be a promising 2008-09 season. But what can Jazz fans expect from our Olympians as they return home?

THE TRANSITION TO 82+ GAMES:

The question many Jazz fans share is simple: How will the play of Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko transfer to an 82+ game NBA season?

For a glimpse into the future, let's take a look at the past:

USA OLYMPIANS:

Statistically, there is a significant impact NBA players face after returning from the Olympic Games. After the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, NBA players from the US returned home better players.

Before the Olympics, the 2004 team averaged 19.75 points per game (as individuals). The average winning percentage for the NBA Teams on which these players played was .467 (record of about 38-44). Fans also wonder about durability concerns when their favorite players spend their summers playing in the Olympics rather than resting injuries preparing for the season. To measure this number, we'll compare games played in the 03-04 season versus the number of games played in 04-05 season. In 03-04, the US Olympians averaged 67.6 games played per season.

After the Olympics, those same US players returned to the NBA to average 22.31 points per game (up 2.55 points per game). 8 of the 11 players increased their points per game average upon their return from the Olympics. US players also saw an improvement in their team's performance as the average winning percentage of Jazz teams increased to .594 (record of about 48-34). 8 of 10 teams with US Olympians improved their winning percentage. Durability was basically a wash, as averaged games played decreased by 1.55 games to 66.09.

INTERNATIONAL NBA OLYMPIANS:

Before the 2004 Olympics, International NBA Olympians averaged 11.71 points per game. The average winning percentage of International NBA Olympians' NBA teams was .571 (record of about 47-35). The average games played in 2003-04 for International NBA Olympians was 77.61 games per season.

After the 2004 Olympics in Athens, International NBA Olympians saw little change in their scoring average (average increased to 12.06, up 0.34 points). International NBA Olympians did not see a similar increase in their NBA team's winning percentage. The average win percentage for International NBA Olympians didn't change significantly (down .005). The biggest change for International Olympians came in the durability department. The average games played for International Olympians decreased to 64.14 games (decrease of 12.57 games). This is a very significant drop in games played.

The biggest reason for this decrease may be due to how many minutes these players were playing. International teams do not have the depth to rotate frequently like the US. Andrei Kirilenko averaged 36 minutes per game for Russia in the Olympics. Considering there are only 40 minutes in a game that is a lot to ask of a player...especially when they have 82+ games still to play. To give those minutes/game perspective, AK averaged 30 minutes per game in the NBA out of 48 minutes.

THE GOOD NEWS: We can expect good things from DWill and Boozer in the coming season. Also, Mehmet Okur took the summer off to prepare for the coming contract season.

THE BAD NEWS: Kirilenko is playing a lot of minutes, and playing poorly.

A Luxury Cap Team?

Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller was recently released from the hospital after an extended stay due to heart attacks and diabetes complications. Miller didn't waste any time before meeting with the media. Though his physical health was nowhere near his normal level (which is saying something), Mr. Miller's mental sharpness was still in tact as he answered questions with openness and honesty.

During one interview in particular, Larry Miler expressed his concern for the future financial state of the Jazz. Miller said "[the Utah Jazz] do not intend to be a luxury tax payer". While Miller's "intentions" are clear, reality may take the Jazz into unchartered territory.

Before jumping to any conclusions, it should be clarified what makes a team a luxury tax payer. There are two basic levels of salary cap in the NBA.

Soft Cap = $56.68M in 2008 = the so-called tax limit which restricts a the amount of money available for a team to pay free agents from other teams. (interestingly to note, there was not a single team in the NBA last season that was under the soft cap)
Hard Cap = approximately 125% of the Soft Cap = $71.15M in 2008 = the maximum allowable payroll limit for a team without paying a "tax" to the league. For every dollar that a team pays in salary beyond this hard cap, that same franchise must pay the same amount in "taxes" to the league. Thus, creating a dollar for dollar tax which one will often hear references of. (interesting to note, in 2007, only 6 teams were below this limit including the Jazz).

Is it necessary for a team to exceed the hard cap to stay competitive in the NBA similar to the MLB (Red Sox, Yankees, etc)?

The simple answer is No. If you break the NBA down into three tiers of payroll, here are the results.

Highest Payrolls = .471 win percentage
Middle Payrolls = .577 win percentage
Lowest Payrolls = .452 win percentage

Using the same tiered system to analyze teams only in the WESTERN CONFERENCE, you get the following numbers:

Highest Payrolls = .529 win percentage
Middle Payrolls = .627 win percentage
Lowest Payrolls = .424 win percentage

Looking solely at statistics, one could create a reasonable argument to state that teams should not be extreme penny-pinchers, although they shouldn't reach the other extreme by opening their pockets for anyone who has ever had a good season.

Among the highest and lowest paying teams in the NBA, you'll find:
Miami = $150M in 2007-08 including luxury taxes paid
New York = $135M in 2007-08 including luxury taxes paid
Denver = $130M in 2007-08 including luxury taxes paid
LA Clippers = $57M in 2007-08
Milwaukee = $59M in 2007-08
Memphis = $48M in 2007-08
Philadelphia = $45M in 2007-08

While teams want to avoid either extreme, there is no exact recipe for success. Many people ask "can a team in a small market like Utah afford to pay high taxes in the NBA and stay afloat"? Given the right scenario, the answer is YES.

The San Antonio Spurs ranked 6th in the NBA last season in payroll which reached approximately $110M including luxury taxes. San Antonio is really a smaller market that Utah, but the Spurs have gained a national following by staying competitive for multiple seasons and winning multiple NBA championships.

Our blogger team has put together a spreadsheet that shows the Utah Jazz salaries for the coming years.

The yellow cells mark the quality players eligible for signing an extension after next season with their expected salaries. Don't forget, a team can't operate with only 6 players however, and a portion of salaries must be kept aside for bench players to fill out a roster. In addition to those listed, the Jazz have zero first round draft picks in 2009, two first round draft picks in 2010 (including one from the NY Knicks), and 1 first round draft pick in subsequent years following.


A common idea among Jazz fans is that the Jazz should trade Andrei Kirilenko to free themselves of his contract. The following chart shows the effect that change would have on the overall team salary. These changes are under the assumption that Kirilenko would be traded for either a high draft pick, or an expiring contract in return.


Feel free to take a look at numbers, and make your own determination of which players you would opt not to resign (in the yellow). If you want any specific numbers, send us an email at "thesaltpalace@gmail.com" or post a comment and we'll make those calculations and post them in response.

"Pic of the Week"

In case you missed it - On the biggest stage in the history of basketball, DWill went right at the biggest star in the history of the basketball. Looks like a foul right? Wrong, at least according to the officials. No foul was called, and play continued. DWill landed on his feet though while Yao flew back into the base of the basket. Remember when DWill tried to dunk on Kobe as a rookie?

This is why we love DWill "more than a fat kid loves cake" (to quote a loyal reader).

Front Court Statistics

In an interview shortly after being released from the hospital, Larry Miller expressed his concern for the summer of 2010 (after this coming season).

"Next summer will be one of the most important summers in our history."

Miller state that he is very worried about the "big challenge" coming next off-season. Three of the Jazz's top players — Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver — are likely to become free agents, with Paul Millsap available for contract extension. Failure to extend Millsap's contract would result in Millsap becoming a free agent the following summer. Ronnie Price, Jarron Collins, and Brevin Knight will all be free agents as well.

"We're going to have to make some very, very tough decisions next year," Miller said. "I do not intend us to be a luxury-tax payer, but only because we have to have an economically stable franchise regardless of anything else."

In light of Miller's recent comments, and following up on our recent discussions of Paul Millsap vs. Carlos Boozer, our blogger staff has compiled some simple NBA statistics for comparison of the Jazz frontcourt trio.

All statistics compare players at the same stage of their career (rather than current head-to-head).

12 Questions to Think About (Milsap vs. Boozer)

12 Questions to Think About: Feel free to share your thoughts with the rest of us by commenting or send us an email at thesaltpalace@blogspot.com.

*There are comparitive statistics available for reference in the previous article posted.

1: In order to win an NBA championship, which attributes of a PF do you think are most important to a team?

2: Can the Jazz win an NBA championship with Carlos Boozer as their primary PF?

3: Can the Jazz win an NBA championship with Paul Millsap as their primary PF?

Info: Since the 1998-99 season, every NBA champion has had an interior player average over 17 points per game as an all-star (Boston = Garnett, Miami = Shaq, Detroit = Wallace, San Antonio = Duncan, LA = Shaq).

4: In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits of having a low-post scorer on your team?

5: Is it necessary to have a low-post scorer on your team? Why?

6: If you have a player(s) that can attack the basket off the dribble, can this make up for the lack of a true low-post scorer?

7: Does this change your opinion on whether or not the Jazz can win an NBA championship with Carlos Boozer as their primary PF?

8: Does this change your opinion on whether or not the Jazz can win an NBA championship with Paul Millsap as their primary PF?

Info: The Chicago Bulls were the most dominant team in the NBA for nearly a decade. For most of those years and Championships, the Bulls relied heavily on Dennis Rodman and Luc Longley in their front-court. Rodman averaged 5.5 ppg, 5.7 ppg, and 4.7 ppg to go along with 14.9 rpg, 16.1 rpg, and 15.0 rpg in his years with the Bulls. Luc Longley averaged 9.1 ppg, 9.1 ppg, and 11.4 ppg to go along with 5.1 rpg, 5.6 rpg, and 5.9 rpg in the same years with the Bulls. Longly failed miserably with every other team he played with after the Bulls.

9: How were the Bulls were able to win so many games (and championships) without a true low-post scorer?

10: Besides Michael Jordan, what does a team need in order to win an NBA championship without a true low-post scorer?

11: Does this change your opinion on whether or not the Jazz can win an NBA championship with Carlos Boozer as their primary PF?

12: Does this change your opinion on whether or not the Jazz can win an NBA championship with Paul Millsap as their primary PF?

*There are comparitive statistics available for reference in the previous article posted.

12 Questions to Think About: Feel free to share your thoughts with the rest of us by commenting or send us an email at thesaltpalace@blogspot.com.

Paul Millsap vs Carlos Boozer

VS

Utah Jazz management is stuck between a rock and a hard place when deciding which direction to steer the franchise in coming years.

Rock = Carlos Boozer
Hard Place = Paul Millsap

Both players have significant upside, however there may not be room for both in the long-term future of the Jazz.

Don't expect the Jazz to move either player this season. The Jazz have got to feel comfortable with their current three-headed monster (Boozer, Okur, and Millsap). All three player are interchangeable in the front-court (any two can play together at one time). Between the three players, there are not many minutes left over.

07-08 Season Averages:
Carlos Boozer = 35 minutes/game
Mehmet Okur = 33 minutes/game
Paul Millsap = 17.5 minutes/game
Left Overs = 10.5 minutes/game

What's the concern?
Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur both have opt-out clauses in their contracts. An opt-out clause provides one party the right to terminate a contract early, or extend the contract for an additional year at the current rate. In this case, both Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer will have the chance to test their value on the free agency market. Based on performance/production, both players can demand significantly higher value on the open market.

Paul Millsap is in a slightly different situation. Paul still makes near the league minimum (his rookie contract as a second round pick). Just as Deron Williams recently signed a large contract extension, the Jazz will have the opportunity to offer Paul Millsap a contract extension. Millsap's rookie contract will continue through the following season, after which the newly negotiated contract will take place. It is quite possible that Paul Millsap will earn the highest pay raise of the three players come time for re-negotiation.

Current Salary -- Expected Salary
Carlos Boozer: $11.6M -- $15M to $17M
Mehmet Okur: $8.5M -- $10M to $12M
Paul Millsap: $800K -- $6M

What to do?
That is the question the Jazz face. Based upon value and durability, it is highly unlikely the Jazz will pass on Mehmet Okur. That leaves us with Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap. Carlos will likely demand a maximum contract from the Jazz, while Paul Millsap will likely be interested in more playing time.

To Be Continued...


*Panel of Fans Needed:
The Salt Palace Blogger Staff would like to form a one-time panel of Jazz fans to discuss this topic of Paul Millsap vs Carlos Boozer. If you are interested in participating in this one-time panel, send us an email at thesaltpalace@gmail.com. Please include your name, location, and email address to where we can send some questions. We will NOT use or sell your information for spamming or advertising.

Would You Make These Trades?

The Utah Jazz have historically been a quiet yet active front office when it came down to trades. In the spirit of summer, and for purpose of discussion only, our blogger-staff has come up with three potential roster moves the Jazz "could" make this off-season. Jazz fans have thoroughly discussed the options of dealing for Omeka Okafor, Luol Deng, etc. For the sake of this discussion, as far as our blogger-staff knows, none of these trades have surfaced for discussion.

Would you do this deal?

1. Chicago Blockbuster

Jazz send:
Carlos Boozer - PF
Morris Almond - SG

Bulls send:
Kirk Hinrich - G
Tyrus Thomas - PF

Adjusted Jazz Depth Chart:
PG - Deron Williams - Brevin Knight - Ronnie Price
SG - Kirk Hinrich - Kyle Korver - CJ Miles
SF - Ronnie Brewer - Matt Harpring
PF - Andrei Kirilenko - Paul Millsap
C -Mehmet Okur - Tyrus Thomas - Jarron Collins

Adjusted Bulls Depth Chart:
PG - Derrick Rose - Ben Gordon
SG - Ben Gordon - Larry Hughes - Thabo Sefolosha
SF - Luol Deng - Andres Nocioni
PF - Carlos Boozer - Joakim Noah
C - Drew Gooden - Cedric Simmons
Positives/Negatives for Jazz: + Defense: Boozer ranks in the 5th percentile defensively, while Hinrich ranks in the 63rd percentile)
+ Perimeter Shooting: Hinrich shoots 38% from beyond the arc for his career
+ Ball Handling: Hinrich averaged 6 apg last season to only 2 turnovers per game.
+ Roster Flexibility: The Jazz save money over the long haul.
- Interior Offense: Boozer accounted for about 15 ppg inside the painted area.
- Rebounding: While Thomas and Millsap can pull down rebounds in bulk, Boozer leaves a void that will be tough to fill.
- Big for Small: As a rule of thumb, teams should never trade a big man for a perimeter player (PG excluded)

Would you do this deal?

2. Shooting Stars

Jazz Send:
Andrei Kirilenko
Kyle Korver
Jarron Collins
Future First Round Pick (protected)

Bucks Send:
Michael Redd
Dan Gadzuric

Jazz Adjusted Depth Chart:
PG - Deron Williams - Brevin Knight - Ronnie Price
SG - Michael Redd - CJ Miles - Morris Almond
SF - Ronnie Brewer - Matt Harpring
PF - Carlos Boozer - Paul Millsap
C -Mehmet Okur - Dan Gadzuric

Bucks Adjusted Depth Chart:
PG - Mo Williams - Charlie Bell
SG - Kyle Korver - Desmond Mason
SF - Richard Jefferson - Joe Alexander
PF - Andrei Kirilenko - Charlie Villanueva
C - Andrew Bogut - Jarron Collins

Positives/Negatives for Jazz:
+ Weapons: Add an all-star caliber shooting guard in Redd (22.7 ppg)
+ Outside Shooting: Although Korver is a great outside shooter, Redd is a significant upgrade
+ Unload Kirilenko: AK's trade value may be the highest it will be in years to come (Olympic standout), and through this trade the Jazz get rid of him
+ Depth at Center: Gadzuric will give you his best effort, and he's 7 feet.
- Defensive downgrade: Redd is a below average defender, without much help on the inside.
- Shot Blocking: The Jazz lose their only real shot blocker in Kirilenko

Would you do this deal?

3. Cooler Heads Prevail

Jazz Send:
Matt Harpring
Kyle Korver
Kyrylo Fesenko
Ante Tomic (Rights to)

Pistons Send:
Rasheed Wallace

Jazz Adjusted Depth Chart:
PG - Deron Williams - Brevin Knight - Ronnie Price
SG - Ronnie Brewer - CJ Miles - Morris Almond
SF - Andre Kirilenko - CJ Miles
PF - Carlos Boozer - Paul Millsap
C -Mehmet Okur - Rasheed Wallace

Pistons Adjusted Depth Chart:
PG - Chauncey Billups - Rodney Stuckey
SG - Rip Hamilton - Kyle Korver
SF - Tayshawn Prince - Matt Harpring
PF - Jason Maxiell
C - Antonio McDyess - Kwame Brown

Positives/Negatives for Jazz:
+ Winning Mentality: There's little coincidence the Blazers fell apart after Rasheed left for Detroit.
+ Interior Defense: Despite getting older, Rasheed is a very good defensive player
+/- Bench Production: Wallace is one of the best scoring bigs in the NBA, although the Jazz give up their current bench in Harpring and Korver.
+/- Future Flexibility: Wallace has a huge yet expiring contract. Korver will likely opt out next season, and Harpring's knees are all but done.
- Mental Stability: Rasheed leads the NBA in technical fouls every year.
- Sloan's Respons: Jerry Sloan and Rasheed Wallace we be nose to nose about every other game.

Would you do this deal?

4. The Missing Piece

Jazz Send: (to a 3rd party team)
Andrei Kirilenko

Rockets Send: (to Utah)
Shane Battier
Bobby Jackson

Jazz Adjusted Depth Chart:
PG - Deron Williams - Brevin Knight - Ronnie Price
SG - Ronnie Brewer - Kyle Korver - Morris Almond
SF - Shane Battier - CJ Miles
PF - Carlos Boozer - Paul Millsap
C -Mehmet Okur - Jarron Collins

*This trade would likely only occur with a 3rd party team to receive Kirilenko, and send additional players to the Rockets.

Positives/Negatives for Jazz:
+/- Team defense: AK and Battier are both excellent defenders who can guard 3 positions
+ Outside Shooting: Battier shot 39% from behind the arc last season which is an upgrade over Kirilenko's 31% career average.
+ Mental Toughness: Battier is one of the toughest players in the NBA, meanwhile AK cried during the playoffs.
+ Value: Battier comes at a much cheaper price with arguably greater production. Jackson's contract expires at the end of the year, freeing up money to sign Boozer
- Shot Blocking: The Jazz once again lose their only real shot blocking presence.

Would you pull the trigger on any of these moves? Would the opposing team? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you have any ideas for 3rd party teams in the Houston Deal (or any other trade ideas), go ahead and post them in the comments.