Al Jefferson Breakdown

Take a look at Al Jefferson's highlights. He's an absolute beast on the low block. Even against some of the most respected defensive players/coaches/teams, they still double team him immediately when on the block.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcT7JTmPPrk

Just saying...the guy can play. I believe Jerry Sloan's system is built perfectly for the guy, and his skills complement those of Milsap and Okur very well. Okur can play on the perimeter in a big lineup, with Jefferson on the low block demanding a double team. Milsap will work the high post very well, while Jefferson the low block.

His best move you'll come to love. It's a quick one dribble causing the defender to slide their feet, then going into the defenders chest, creating space even against the best of defenders knocking them off balance, and then rising and finishing over the top of them with a dunk, or a quick jumphook once the defender anticipates the contact. He has excellent secondary moves out of this low block series of moves as well. In the highlight video you'll see him do this against Yao Ming, Nene Hilario, Andrew Bynum, Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, and others.

They say "he's not a winner". Remember, Kevin Garnett didn't win on that Minnesota team, and Paul Pierce didn't win on that Boston team either. Both teams were downright bad. Let's see what he can do with an all-pro PG and supporting cast.

Don't rule out Matthews either. Long-term a strong argument could be made for him. Next year AK is gone. A backcourt trio of Matthews, Miles and GoHay is pretty great. People say that Matthews is a dime a dozen guy, and the Jazz can replace him. I respectfully disagree. The Jazz have been searching for a Bruce Bowen type player since Flyin Bryan Russell left. They've tried a ton of guys, and Matthews fit the need perfectly. Looking at this year, it doesn't make a ton of sense. Looking beyond this year, it does make sense...and it makes AK's valuable expiring contract more expendable midseason if they decide to take that route.

Denver Implosion?

It sounds like there is some real problems brewing in the Denver locker room. No doubt you've read that many of the nuggets players have turned against Chauncey Billups of late. ESPN, SI and other national NBA news sources have written that Nugget players almost take offense to Billups trying to be their "leader". Billups seems to have lost the respect of his teammates. Certainly, last night didn't help. Besides the fact that Billups missed three 3-point shots in the final minute, and split a crucial pair of free throws despite being a career 90% FT shooter, the final play of the game that Dantley drew up was for Lawson to get the ball and push as fast as he could, then kick to a teammate. Billups' response? "There's no way I wasn't going to get the ball in my hands that last play. In that situation, you put the ball in the hands of your best player and let him go." The result was a running high arcing jumper that bounced off the rim and really never had a chance. Later, Billups' tone changed a bit when he claimed that he didn't know the play was drawn up to go to Lawson. Maybe he wasn't listening. In any case, all scenarios point to more trouble inside the Nuggets lockerroom than the general public is seeing.

I like our chances in game 3. My only concern is the stink Denver is making over Miles and Matthews "grabbing, pulling and pushing" Carmelo Anthony as soon as he crosses half court. If those guys get in foul trouble, it could be precarious. Nonetheless, I like our chances.

So Long, NCAA Tournament of 64. Welcome, 96 team NCAA Tournament?

The NCAA extended its annual basketball tournament to a field of 64 teams in 1995. Since that time, no changes have been made to what many believe is the greatest event in all of sports (excluding the expansion to 65 teams which is simply not worthy of mention).

NCAA executives are meeting this week to discuss the possibility likelihood of expansion.

The proposed format for the new mega-tournament is 96 teams, an increase of 31 teams. Seeds 1-8 in each region would receive first-round byes. The remaining teams would form the opening round of competition, seeded 1-16, with familiar seeding matchups being played (it’s easier to think of the bottom 16 beeing seeded 1-16 than 9-24). Winners from the opening round would advance to play the waiting seeds of 1-8. Essentially, NCAA execs want to combine the NIT with the NCAA tournament, to form the new mega-tournament.

[Flash Forward to selection Sunday 2011]
“In the East bracket, Southern division, Atlanta region, the boys from Jackson State will receive the 24th seed”.

And many teams felt it was demeaning to be named the 16th seed.

Initial feedback to expansion ideas are hugely negative from the general public, with nearly 90% of fans opposed to expansion. NCAA coaches appear to be somewhat split on the concept.

Why mess with a good thing? Well, the NCAA did feel it was necessary to change One Shining Moment this year, another decision that did not go over well.
Initially, my own thoughts on the subject were extremely negative, borderline violent. March is the greatest month of the year for a basketball fan, and recently it seems to be the only month of the year for College Basketball to get any significant attention from the general public. I set out determined to prove to myself how ridiculous expansion would be…what I found however was mixed results.

DISCLAIMER: I am an avid basketball fan, and will watch most anything the NCAA throws in front of me come March (NIT or NCAA). The casual fan who watches only the opening days of the NCAA tournament to see how their brackets are doing may see things differently.

I’ve taken the liberty of manually compiling a mock bracket for a 96 team NCAA tournament. You can also find a mock bracket with team logos here: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13165827?tag=coverlist_active;coverlist_footer. Unfortunately there are so many teams, it seems half of the logos are not recognizable to even a familiar eye.

In seeding these brackets, I used seeds 1-12 from the traditional bracket (the last at-large bids were seeded 12). Then seeds 13-16 were thrown in depending on how close teams were to earning at large bids.

{SEE TRADITIONAL BRACKET ONLINE}

{SEE MOCK BRACKET OF 96 TEAMS} - If you are having trouble viewing this bracket, email me at thesaltpalace@gmail.com or bsutefan@hotmail.com and I can email you the brackets with team names written out.

Initial thoughts based when comparing to traditional 64 team bracket:
- Seeds 1-4: More difficult to advance due to higher quality first round opponents
- Seeds 5-8: Easier to advance. What was normally an even matchup (7 vs 10, 6 vs 11, 8 vs 9, or even 5 vs 12), now has a higher seeded team with fresh legs playing against a team that played 2 days prior. The difference between an 8 and a 9 seed becomes ENORMOUSLY important.
- Seeds 9-12: Harder to advance beyond 64. Playing on tired legs may prove to be too much to ask from a team that must exert all energy to overcome an NCAA regular. Underdogs would also lose preparation time in putting together the perfect game plan for a first round upset.
- Seeds 13-16: Actually proves to be much better for these teams. Historically, you 1 out of 16 games featuring these teams may advance per year. 2010 was the exception to the rule. These teams would now be playing an NIT team for the right to move on to the round of 64…a feat seemingly much more possible than Arkansas Pine-Bluff knocking off Kentucky.

Having seen what the 2010 NCAA tournament would have looked like, suspicion and uncertainty may be creeping into your mind. In fairness to the NCAA, let us offer some pros and cons to both sides of the discussion.

Pro: A 96 team tournament theoretically would provide additional financial benefit in a difficult economy.
Con: An entire industry of bracketology and NCAA tournament challenges would diminish and potentially disappear. Filling out a 96 team bracket would be more of a task than most people are willing to tackle.

Pro: A 96 team tournament would be more inclusive to bubble teams.
Con: A “diluted” pool of teams would lose the interest of the common casual basketball fan.

Pro: By including more teams in a 96 team field, less coaches would be fired as a result of missing the NCAA tournament 2 out of 3 years.
Con: If a coach cannot get his team into a 96 team field, maybe he deserves to be fired…or at least this is what schools and fans may use as logic when termination of coaches shoots through the roof.

Pro: A 96 team field may provide better matchups in the round of 64
Con: A 96 team tournament may eliminate the small dog vs big dog contests, which is essentially at the heart of current NCAA tournament success.

Pro: More games = more viewers = more money
Con: Tougher matchups for higher seeded teams (1-4) means more early exits. Historically, when higher seeded teams don’t advance, viewership and TV ratings for late round games suffer.

Pro: All Conferences send their regular season championship to the Big Big Dance, even if they lose in their Conference Tournament (2 teams might get in)
Con: Conference Tournaments may lose interest, which is why Athletics Directors and Conference Commissioners are opposing the expansion idea.
Another Con: Some conferences don’t have a conference tournament simply to ensure the best team from their conference gets their lone bid. Will these conferences now add a conference tournament simply to get a chance at a second team in the field? Multiple small conferences with 2 bids each may further dilute the 96 team field…a concern that is already widely shared.

Pro: Big Conference teams that face hugely difficult competition week in, week out, will no longer be punished for being in a big conference (when they are likely better than many of the 15 and 16 seeds). These bubble teams from big conferences will also get into the tournament.
Con: A 96 team tournament will further promote big conference dominance (when college basketball was recently trending towards parity). Sure, more top seeded teams will lose in the rounds of 64 and 32, but teams seeded 9 or below will struggle much much more to reach the round formerly known as the Sweet 16.

Pro: All matchups will be between more evenly matched teams. Examples: Arkansas Pine-Bluff vs Louisville for the right to play 8 seeded Cal, and North Carolina vs William & Mary (both in NIT) for the right to play top seeded Duke. Duke vs UNC in the round of 64 would be a much better game to watch than Duke vs Ark P-B.
Con: All school and coaching records would become greatly contaminated. Take Dave Rose (Head Coach at BYU) for example. Dave Rose has an NCAA coaching record of 1-4, losing some tough first round matchups as an 8 seed, 9 seed, and losing a second round matchup vs #2 seeded Kansas State in 2010. Compare Dave Rose’s coaching resume to that of George Ivory of Arkansas Pine-Bluff (I don’t mean to keep picking on Ark PB, it is just happening). Ivory won the worthless play-in game in 2010 between the #64 and #65 ranked teams only to be annihilated by Duke in the round of 64. Ivory’s coaching record is 1-1. Each of these play-in games would count toward the record books for NCAA tournament victories/losses. The record books would either be thrown away or fully marked with asterisks.

I’m sure there are many more pros and cons that I am missing. But the bottom line is this. The NCAA tournament of 64 teams is the greatest event in all of sports. Expansion to 96 teams is not a good idea. The impact will be negative, and will be felt more in 10 years when the tournament is fighting for relevancy, than in 2012 when fans are interested to see how the tournament will shake down.

Prior to doing this research I was 100% against expansion. Now, I’m 60-40 against it…and I’m an avid basketball fan. Reality is the NCAA will probably keep my interest. But as for bracket challenges, and viewership from the casual observer, the NCAA shouldn’t count on much support.

Summer of 2010 - DANGER! STAY AWAY!

The Summer of 2010 will be the most anticipated free agency period in the history of the NBA. Superstars like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, and Carlos Boozer are among the summer’s premier players available. Anticipating the possibility of adding an Elite level player, it seems half of the league has cleared enough space to at least make a run at one or more of these players. More teams are also expected to clear space before the free agency period by releasing players, buying out contracts, and completing draft day trades (player for pick). The Draft is held in June, Free Agency opens in July.

Here is a list of teams who have made themselves players in the sweepstakes:

Room for 2 max players:
Miami Heat
New York Knicks

Room for 1 max player:
New Jersey Nets
Chicago Bulls
Washington Wizards
Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves

Everything seems to be lining up for some teams to cash in on premiere talent that isn’t normally available via free agency right? WRONG! In reality, 2 or 3 teams MIGHT cash in and score big. The rest of the teams mentioned above will be in scramble mode. I believe the exact opposite of many of the General Managers in the NBA. I would absolutely avoiding this summer’s free agent market. Here’s why:

1. Overpaying to fill a roster
Let me throw the following scenario out on the table:
- LeBron James wins an NBA championship in Cleveland, and re-signs with the Cavs
- Dwayne Wade re-signs with the Heat
- Chris Bosh signs with the Miami Heat

Under this scenario there would be 8 teams remaining with max money to spend on non-max free agents. In 2009, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and other cashed in on a very poor free agent market when they were deemed (the best players available). Ask Detroit how this has worked out for them.

2. Restricted Free Agents
I’m going to take my scenario one step further now. Everything above has taken place, along with the next signings:
- Amare Stoudemire signs with the New York Knicks
- Carlos Boozer signs with the Chicago Bulls
- Joe Johnson resigns with the Atlanta Hawks

Now there are 7 teams still left with max money to spend, without any max quality players left. I think it is safe to assume that nobody is going to give David Lee max money just because they can, but when teams clean house to make themselves players in this market, there is a sense of obligation to use that cap space on the best players available. Take for example Rudy Gay and Luis Scola. Both are very good players, and may be considered among the best remaining players available. Both however are restricted free agents in 2010. Would the Clippers offer Rudy Gay $13M a year to fill their need for a SF? They overpaid for Baron Davis. Would New Jersey pay Louis Scola $14M a year because they are the worst team in the history of the NBA and can’t do nothing?

I predict a bidding war over these second and third tier players…especially with the Restricted Free Agents. Watch for teams to make horrid offers out of desperation for guys like Rudy Gay, Luis Scola, etc. (see Washington, New York, and New Jersey)

3. Collective Bargaining Agreement
Adding more fuel to the fire. Max contract amounts are sure to come down with this next collective bargaining agreement, and duration will shorten as well. What that means is that players like Rudy Gay, Luis Scola, David Lee (the overpaid from 2010 FAs) will be on a similar pay scale to teams with cap space in 2-3 years. Let’s say the Nuggets re-sign Carmelo Anthony in 2011 for the new max contract at $15 (the same salary that Rudy Gay ends up at with the Clippers). The Clippers will be trying to play on the same playing field as the Nuggets, with their new highest paid players being paid the same amount (Anthony and Gay). Under this scenario, the Clippers would be in the cellar for another 10 years before they get another chance to get out.


In conclusion, I predict the summer of 2010 to be the defining summer of the next decade. Whoever lands LeBron will be a big winner, and if Miami can lure another max quality player to pair with DWade, they will be a big winner. The rest will lose out big time over the next decade.

Rather than investing in the 2010 sweepstakes, teams should be investing in future drafts (cheap talent will be a necessity under the new CBA). Teams with max space available, and no real shot at Wade or LeBron should pull out of the sweepstakes by signing 1 or 2 year contracts, and tackle the beast in a 2013 under a much friendlier collective bargaining agreement…Which I want to add, positions the Jazz perfectly for the next decade.

Facing a slippery sloap

Problems:
1 – Leadership – Lack toughness, Poor road performance, and bad losses to bad teams
2 – Defensive strength – inability to win games when FG% is low, poor transition defense, and poor interior shot blocking
3 – Offensive woes – High differential between FG at home and road, inconsistent production outside top two scorers, lack second playmaker allowing teams to double team Williams.
4 – Financial Problems – High salaries, not performing to contract

Diagnosis:
The major money players on this team are going to be those at whom the primary analysis is placed.
Andrei Kirilenko
Deron Williams
Carlos Boozer
Mehmet Okur
While there are other players contributing to the success or lack of success of the team, it’s hard to complain about CJ Miles (example) when he only makes $3.5 million, while Andrei Kirilenko (example) is worth the equivalent of 5 CJ Miles.
Andrei Kirilenko:
AK is unquestionably the source of the problem on this team…not because of his lack of offensive production, but rather because of the financial burden he places on the team. $17M for AK causes financial strain, causing each player to be under a heavy microscope. If this team did not have AK’s salary on the books this year, the Jazz would currently be $12M under the salary cap. Rather than be talking about a Carlos Boozer for garbage trade, the Jazz brass would be positioned as one of very few teams with the cap space to absorb salary from a team looking to drop a high paid but high producing player (Like Michael Redd and the Bucks for example). But no use crying over spilled milk. AK is what he is, and the only question the Jazz have is how to rid themselves of his contract. They have 3 options; 1-Trade him this year for expiring contracts, 2-Trade him next year as an expiring contract and steal a long-term piece away from a desperate team (see Jazz and Boozer), or 3-Let his contract run out in 2 years and let yourself benefit from his contract coming off of the books.
Deron Williams:
DWill has been struggling of late, and as such has been the focus of much criticism, primarily toward his defense and turnovers. Looking back on DWill’s career, turnovers have been most apparent either when the team was injury strapped, or in a scoring slump. Take your pick, but DWill is clearly trying to overcompensate for his team and forcing the issue. Either way, the outcome is not great. Defensively DWill has looked strong at times, and downright awful at other times. But that’s the reality of the NBA; NBA players for the most part should be able to create or get to the hoop in a one-on-one situation. College coaches design plays to get layups or open jumpshots (Jerry Sloan also). NBA coaches design plays to get players in one-on-one situations, and let the players do the rest (Jim Boylen also…why is this backward?). I would argue that any NBA point guard or wing defender outside of the absolute elite defenders cannot defend a quick penetrating guard without an inside presence to intimidate and/or force the player to settle for outside jumpshots. While DWill is not exempt from criticism, 95% of NBA players would look bad in his shoes (Ronnie Price looks downright awful at times defensively as well, and he’s been known as a defensive hustle player by many NBA scouts). Perhaps the defensive criticism should be redirected elsewhere?
Carlos Boozer:
It pains me to say this, but Boozer has been the Jazz most consistent performer this season. Without his scoring and rebounding, I dare say the Jazz would be looking at a top 10 lottery pick (even with Millsap as a fill in). Now reality is Boozer is a very good player, not quite elite, but near the border. I’m sure if the Jazz were in a financially appropriate position (thank you AK), the Jazz would have extended Boozer’s contract long ago, and this whole drama would never have happened. Unfortunately money speaks loudly to Boozer, and he will be gone after this year. So, the Jazz have two options with Boozer; 1-Trade him and get something in return for him…can you really just let a player this good get away? Or 2- Take the extra money from his expiring contract and save for better times. The second option will keep you in the playoff hunt, but the first pretty much assures you a lottery selection. It’s the classic question of whether it is better to have a very good Boozer for 1 year, or 2 very average players for 3 years? Here’s another question to ponder…would Boozer really look as bad defensively if he were next to a defensive big man who took the tough defensive assignments each night and covered for mistakes when needed?
Mehmet Okur:
If you refer back to my original opinions on why this team is struggling so greatly (see “Problems”), Mehmet Okur’s name should appear next to many of these. Memo has an absolutely awful differential between home and road shooting percentages…which is more disturbing as he is now the “veteran” player on this team. Granted he is a good teammate and community member, but he is below average defensively, and a 1 trick pony offensively. Basically he’s on your team because his 1 trick is so unique…however that 1 trick only shows up in Salt Lake, and rarely on the road. His extension may also prove to be the next crippling move by the Jazz.
2010-11 Season Outlook:
Right now, the Jazz are looking at 8 players under contract (counting the Knicks pick the Jazz own in the draft, and their own pick that is lottery protected). The Jazz are also currently about $700k under the luxury tax. This means the Jazz need to find a way to replace the key players departing (Boozer, Korver, Matthews), while only having the NBA minimum/veteran’s exception to offer…AND they are still paying taxes on that team, which if you ask me looks very, very, very average. The Miller family has always said they would be willing to pay short-term luxury taxes if it brought success on the court, but would they be willing to pay those taxes for an average player?
What the Jazz should do:
Boozer - Prior to researching the luxury tax (which I haven’t mentioned is dropping by approximately $8.5M next season), I thought the Jazz would be stable financially if Boozer walked. I find this is not true. The Jazz MUST make a move this season, if only for next season. That move may be Boozer in exchange for some younger players and expiring contracts, but those young players will likely be available by Free Agent during the summer of madness anyway. The Jazz should seek to re-sign Boozer first, and unfortunately, if they are unsuccessful in doing so, the Jazz should simply let his contract expire at the end of the year. No Boozer trade for the Jazz. Sorry.
Okur – I firmly believe that if you remove contracts from consideration, and simply look at the Jazz roster and depth chart, Mehmet Okur will be the player that would be moved. He is simply the primary cause of poor production from a leadership standpoint (team veteran), from a road production standpoint (biggest differential between home and road FG% from contributing players), and from a defensive standpoint (he makes every player on the floor worse defensively, despite making a better effort this year). However, his contract is not very movable right now, and he will likely stay put. The Jazz will probably seek answers to my diagnosed problems from other incoming players not currently on the roster.
Kirilenko – The Jazz should move Kirilenko. I know he is arguably the best defensive player on the team, but he cripples the team financially…next year moreso than this year. I’ve always sworn that the Jazz should keep Kirilenko for 1 more year, then trade him as an expiring contract. That would be the only way the Jazz got equal (likely better) value for Kirilenko in a trade. The Jazz should trade Kirilenko for an aging leader, and expiring contracts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jazz had to give up a young asset in the trade to get somebody to take him. Unfortunately that may be someone like Matthews, Brewer or Miles. Trading Kirilenko is the only way the Jazz MIGHT become competitive again next year…and it might be the only way the Jazz get any chance of re-signing Boozer for next year.
Go Jazz!

The Kirilenko Dilemma

Let’s start with a trivia question:

How much money will the Jazz pay for Andrei Kirilenko this season?

$15 Million?

$17 Million?

$20 Million?

The answer is $35 Million.

…Now wait a minute…isn’t Andrei Kirilenko set to make nearly $17M next season? In terms of salary… yes. In actuality, his cost to the franchise is much, much more. The Jazz are looking at $13 Million in luxury taxes, and an additional $5 Million in lost revenue. $17M + $13M + $5M = $35 Million.

This whole financial crisis the Jazz currently face can be directly linked back to Andrei Kirilenko. Never mind his lackluster production and sensitive skins, the Jazz have inescapably tied themselves to Kirilenko’s freakishly absurd contract for 2 more seasons.

Well, critics might argue that it’s only one year of luxury tax until Boozer’s contract comes off the books, and the Jazz will be OK. Bull Crap. $97 Million in real salary cost next season is unacceptable and has the potential to sink a small market franchise like the Jazz, no matter how “stable” they view themselves.

So the real question for the Jazz is how do they get rid of Andrei Kirilenko?

There are 3 options to this shiver creating nightmare:

#1 – Let Kirilenko play out his contract, underperform, and cost the team millions of dollars in luxury tax.

Consequences of #1 – The Jazz are bound financially this year and next year. The Jazz make the playoffs but fail to earn home court advantage, and thus l

ose in the first round both years. Failure to make the second round of the playoffs will cost the Jazz an additional $1 Million in potential revenue for every playoff game they miss. Kirilenko is set to cry at least twice more after a game. Jerry Sloan will rip AK a THIRD A-hole for trying to do too much outside the offense, 2 vacations will be planned during the last week of the season for the second round of the playoffs, and Kirilenko will never be happier despite his team being very mediocre.

#2 – Trade Kirilenko this year for cap relief this year.

Consequences of #2 – Though still facing luxury tax issues from returning contracts, relief from Kirilenko’s contract one year in advance would be very welcome. This would also allow the Jazz some flexibility in trading Carlos Boozer for a long-term high level player, rather than a role player with an expiring contract (see Joel Pryzbylla under “Expiring Role Player”). I believe this is the direction the Jazz would pursue if the Rip Hamilton for Carlos Boozer trade were to occur. Keep in mind the Jazz have a sure lottery pick next season from the Knicks, potentially in the top 5.

#3 – Keep Kirilenko this year, trade him next year when his contract is expiring for a high level player. The side piece here is to either trade Boozer now for cap relief, or let his contract expire.

Consequences of #3 - The positive side about this option is the Jazz would most definitely receive a very high quality player in return for Kirilenko’s expiring contract (an Emeka Okafor + expiring, or a sign and trade for one of the many free agents on the market like Joe Johnson or Michael Redd). The negative side about waiting to trade Kirilenko is we have to watch him all year. The Jazz also would face the major luxury tax problems this season still.

Kirilenko’s value will unquestionable increase significantly next season when he is set to expire. Would you be willing to sell your Zion’s bank stock for $12.00 per share right now knowing that next year the stock is going to be worth $20.00 per share? I believe Kirilenko’s value is set to increase by 50%-75% next season.

Again, the wildcard in this situation is the lottery pick the Jazz own next season, though you’ll never hear O’Connor mention that outside of Deron Williams, that is the most valuable asset the Jazz own.

Who knows, maybe we can trade his Masha’s “exception” clause. That would certainly net us more value than AK’s production at SF.

Opt In, Opt In, and Opt In

Opt out or opt in? That is the question. While there are many answers to this question, the best answer to this question for the Utah Jazz is opt in. Opt in, opt in, and opt in. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Kyle Korver all should opt in for the remaining year of their contracts with the Jazz.

The main goal of any organization is to maximize assets, while minimizing liabilities (debts and expenses). NBA organizations are no different. Take a look at some of the most successful organizations in recent years (including major turnarounds):

Boston Celtics: Built a significant share of assets, used those assets to bring in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Celtics went from one of the worst teams in the NBA, to NBA champions, and arguably the best team in the NBA when healthy.

San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs have been more successful drafting late in the first round, than most teams in the lottery. Drafting players and keeping them overseas only to have their stock rise upon arrival to the US. Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker are resonating examples of the Spurs philosophy.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers built a supporting cast for Kobe Bryant out of mid to high level role players. They used the asset of Kwame Brown’s expiring contract to land Pau Gasol, and they acquired and developed two nice assets in Shannon Brown and Trevor Ariza. Again, that seems to be working well for the Lakers.

Portland

Trailblazers: The Blazers were an absolute train wreck only a few years ago. That’s when the organization changed their philosophy and started to acquire draft picks and young talent. With the drafting of Brandon Roy, look for the Blazers to use these young assets to acquire a proven piece to pair with Roy in bringing the Blazers back to the highest stage of the NBA.

With the Economy in the pits, the most valuable assets in the NBA next season will be expiring contracts (NBA superstars excluded; LeBron, Kobe, DWade, and a few others). If the economy doesn’t rapidly turn around, half of the teams in the NBA will continue to bleed money. The longer these organizations bleed, the more desperate they will get. Unless a team is a contender by December, the trade deadline will arrive with many organizations desperate to move players and save money…enter Boozer, Okur and Korver.

Another reason why the expiring contracts would be valuable, is the 2010 off season. The Jazz would never be a major player in attracting top tie free agents, but other teams would love to clear cap space just to be in the picture.

On the flip side, if the economic struggles continue beyond this season, Andrei Kirilenko’s expiring contract will be far more valuable in two years than it is right now. In fact, I would argue that in terms of asset value, it would be more valuable for the Jazz if Andrei Kirilenko did NOT play a single game next season and trade him next season, then it would be for the Jazz to trade Andrei Kirilenko for say, a lower lottery pick or a couple of decent players.

Teams such as Sacramento, Golden State, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Indiana, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Charlotte, Miami, Atlanta, Washington and Denver all could be looking to acquire expiring contracts if the season turns in a negative direction.

With Korver, Boozer and Okur returning to the Jazz next season, the Jazz would have near $30M in expiring contracts in 2010, and near $23M expiring in 2011. In theory, the Jazz could acquire 2 high level stars in return for these players, possibly 3.

Don’t forget the Jazz own the rights to the New York Knicks draft pick in 2010, a draft considered to be significantly stronger than this year’s draft.

Opt in, opt in, and opt in. That’s the best case scenario for the jazz. The jazz need to focus on increasing their asset value. Having Boozer walk away now, would be like selling a stock at a 4 year low. Hold the stock, know that the stock will increase significantly next year.

Motivation of a Champion: Will to Win or Hatred of Defeat?

Before we get to the post, let me welcome our readers back for another Utah Jazz offseason.  Captain Obvious would state that this will be one of the most eventful offseasons in the history of our beloved franchise. 

 

Let’s start with the Eastern Conference Finals.  After suffering a lopsided defeat in g

ame 6, LeBron James exited the court without participating in the traditional congratulations and post-series back patting ceremonies.  After the confetti had settled, James was a no-show in the media hall for interviews. Nothing James could have said or done in the press conference could have spoken as loudly as his noticeable absence from league mandatory media relations.

 James’ controversial reaction to defeat has raised a question in my mind: What motivates a champion?  Is it a player’s will to win? Or is it the hatred of defeat what puts a player/team/coach on top of the sporting world? 

 

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan subscribes to the concept of hating to lose.  Did you know that as an NBA player, Jerry Sloan would pin up a picture of the opposing player he had been assigned to defend in his locker prior to every game?  I wonder if he carries a picture of Phil Jackson in his wallet to remind him of how far short his team has ended the past two seasons? These days Phil’s awkward face may have been replaced by a Free Drink coupon to Texas Roadhouse.

 Speaking of the zen master, Phil Johnson subscribes to a different theory than Coach Sloan.  Johnson believes what fuels a championship is a superstar’s will to win.  Think positive, stay focused, give the ball to Kobe, and get out of his way…is there a better recipe for success in today’s NBA?  If so, try to tell a guy with a championship ring for every one of his cat’s lives.

 Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant all were praised for their off-season workout regimes.   Each player enjoyed the highest levels of success during their NBA careers.  All suffered defeat before reaching and winning the NBA finals.  Certainly work ethic played a big part for each of these players, but what fueled these players to work so hard all the time?  Was it the feeling of defeat each suffered in college and the NBA? It could reasonably be assumed that these players never wanted to feel that sting of defeat again, and would do anything to overcome defeat.  Or was it the ability to cope with defeat?  It is also reasonable to assume that before a player can play at the highest level, they can’t be afraid to make mistakes.  This belief is better suited with the belief that a champion’s motivation is fueled by a will to win, even if it means losing along the way.

 

Let’s return to Saturday Night’s Eastern Conference Finals.  The NBA’s golden child exited the court and arena noticeably frustrated.  The competitive side of me wants to love the fact that LeBron truly hated to be associated with defeat, recognizing that I might do the same thing.  One of my biggest pet peeves is w

atching players burst out in smiles and laughter the second after the final horn sounds.  The NBA would be much more entertaining if there were more guys like LeBron James and Jerry Sloan with pictures of the enemy pinned to their lockers. 

 On the opposite side, Cavalier fans should be worried.  Is the pressure of being the anointed one getting to LeBron?  Was the shock of an unfulfilled prophecy too much to bare?  While the reigning MVP did not shy away from taking the big shot (make or miss), his post-game behavior confirmed to onlookers why James has not yet won a title, the king has not yet learned to accept defeat. 

 

My conclusion: LeBron is at least 2 years away from his first of many NBA championships.  Once James learns that success isn’t about playing in the biggest NBA city (New York City in 2010), or becoming a billionaire (publicly declared), at that point, James will be mature enough to win his championships.  Until then, living up to the labels the NBA is forcing upon him will be a monumental task.  If James does choose to skip town, basketball fans everywhere may miss out on the greatest athlete professional sports has ever seen.

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.