The Jazz Losing Might Actually Be Good for the Playoffs

Facing the Lakers in the first round might be the best match-up for the Jazz...

It looks like the Jazz will be a low seed in the playoffs, and that might not be a bad thing for the Utah Jazz. The goal for the franchise, the players, the coaching staff, and the fan base this season was to win an NBA title. Anything less than an NBA title, and the season should be considered a waste. It is far-fetched to think that the Jazz team, as it is presently constituted, will be back next season. There are just too many free agents, and not enough money to bring everyone back. The 2008-09 season was the season that the Jazz needed to capitalize on the talent on their roster. In the Western Conference there are two teams standing in the way of the Jazz reaching the finals. The Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs are the gatekeepers to the finals.

For the Jazz to reach the finals they must go through one, if not both the Lakers and Spurs. If the Jazz want to win an NBA title, then they should try and play the Lakers when they are the weakest. That time will be in the first round of the playoffs.

The Lakers have the top spot in the West locked up. Yet, they are still trying to secure the top spot throughout the entire league. Currently the Lakers are a game behind Cleveland in the standings, and they still have some difficult games on their schedule. The Lakers face three playoff teams in their final six games. Outside of San Antonio and Boston, the Cavaliers have a easier schedule. This means if the Lakers want home court advantage in the NBA Finals they will have to play until the last game of the season. The Lakers will not be rested going into the first round of the playoffs.

The Jazz also face the Lakers in the last game of the season. Meaning that if they are the eight seed in the Western Conference, they will play three straight away games, at Los Angeles. Utah isn't a great road team, they just don't play well away from Salt Lake City. Yet, it is very difficult to hold home court when any team is forced to play three straight games at home. (If you doubt this look at the record of teams in the NBA finals since going to a 2-3-2 format. The lower seed has only held home court twice since the start of the 2-3-2 format in 1985. The Detroit Pistons in 2004 and the Miami Heat in 2006.) The Jazz will need to try and steal one away from the Lakers on the road. There might not be a better chance of stealing a game then in the first round of the playoffs.

The team facing the Lakers in the first round will also have the advantage of not facing Andrew Bynum at full strength. Bynum will still be trying to come back from injury. One thing that all Jazz fans should know from this season is just how hard it is for teams to gel instantly after a player comes back from injury. The Jazz are still trying to figure out how to play with each other on the court. The unfamiliarity that the Lakers will have with each other on the court in the first round will create an advantage for their opponent. Setting up another chance for a road team to steal a road game in Los Angeles.

Facing the Lakers in the first round will also guarantee that if the Jazz wouldn't have to face the San Antonio Spurs until the Western Conference Finals. Other Western Conference teams match-up better with the Spurs, and the Spurs have shown that they aren't the dominate team that they have been in the past. Although, they have still shown that they dominate the Utah Jazz. If the Jazz were forced to chose between facing the Lakers or the Spurs in the playoffs, then the Jazz would be forced to admit that they match-up better and have a better history when they face the Lakers.

The Lakers will also be stronger in the Western Conference Finals. Bynum will be healthy, they will have figured out how to play with the Bynum on the court. The losses that the Jazz have suffered has raised the chances that they will have the eighth seed in the playoffs. Losing might have given the Jazz their best shot at getting past the Lakers and fulfilling their goal of getting to the NBA finals.

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The Wife's Outburst: Annoying Commercials

A look back at last year's NBA playoff coverage...

With the start of the new basketball season, I thought I would pay homage to the playoffs. Every year during the NBA playoffs on TNT, you see a Saving Grace or Closer commercial every commercial break. Annoying!!! Seeing that many commercials in a 3 hour time period does not make me want to watch this show. In fact I avoid it at all costs. I can't stand it. When it is shoved down our throats, why would I want to see it. I feel like I have already seen a season by watching all the commercials. Sometimes TNT will even show both tv trailers in one commercial break.

Saving Grace


The Closer


To end on a happy note, TNT does know how to have a good commentating crew on Inside the NBA.  They have a good groove going on.  It is a nice change of pace from the annoying commercials.

Charles and the Ring of Fire

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The Wife's Outburst: How to have a successful NBA Finals Party

For those of you planning an NBA Finals party, and need a little help, look no further. This is your party planning HQ!

Things you will need:
1. Food
2. Decorations
3. Activities for those who get bored watching sports
4. Big TV (TiVO is preferred, but optional)

Food:
The best thing to have is easy to eat foods.
1. Hot Wings
2. Chips and Salsa or Bean dip
3. Pizza
4. Sandwiches
5. Hot dogs
6. Drinks (A wide variety is nice)
7. Egg rolls

Decorations:
Depending on who you are cheering for will depend on the colors you will use to decorate with. If you are Laker fans use purple and yellow. If you are Celtics fans use green. However if you don't really care who wins use all three colors (but your guest may wonder if they came to a Mardi Gras party).

1. Balloons
2. Table cloths
3. Streamers
4. Hats
5. Team memorabilia
6. Sweatbands for people to feel just like the players!!
7. Mini basketballs


Activities:
Some people may get bored watching sports on TV and so they many need something to fill the time with. Here are a few fun ideas for time killers.

1. Sports Party Bingo--http://sportspartybingo.com/
2. Modified Basketball--Shoot hoops with a clean garbage can, or laundry basket
(one for each team). Mark and "X" on the ground or floor where the players will stand. Each team will have their own "Hoop" and "X". They try to get as many baskets within a designated period of time as they can by taking turns. Form a line. the first player shoots then goes to the back of the line. The next player shoots and so on.
3. Print out some sports activity pages--
http://partysupplieshut.com/sports/sports-word-find.htm

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Utah Jazz: Panic Versus Hope

The Officials have been far too visible during the Jazz/Lakers series, but that isn't the only element of the series that has been obvious during the series...

It happened. The Lakers got the calls to go their way at home. Was that really shocking to anyone who was watching the game? The extent that the calls went against the Jazz was a little shocking, but nothing that wasn't seen in both game 1 and 2 of the series. In game 5 there were many fouls that left one speechless.

Harpring tries to take a charge, and takes a man-sized hit from Pau Gasol...No call (The official has to make a call on that play. It doesn't matter if it is a charge or a block, a call had to be made). Andrei Kirilenko being called for a foul away from the ball when Sasha Vujacic dribbles it off of his foot, and the official isn't even looking at the play. Boozer being called for a foul while trailing Odom all the way to the basket. Memo getting pushed in the back on two consecutive trips down the court, allowing Gasol to get offensive rebounds and ice the game.

These calls were game altering in nature. Officials miss calls, it just happens. When an official misses a call it is okay for the most part. Why? They will miss some going for you, and some going against you. Overall, things will even out in the end. Yet, the officiating last night was horrid. They would allow contact on one end, and call it tight on the other. With it being understood that the officiating was against the Jazz last night, the Jazz still had a chance to win the game. They were within striking distance the entire second half. The Jazz just couldn't get the lead.

There are some facts that have been glaring through out the series. With each one you could take a positive/hopeful view of the fact or a negative/Panic view.

Fact: Boozer is having an awful playoffs.

Panic: The Jazz can't win without Boozer. Deron could carry the Jazz during the Houston series, but he can't get it done by himself against the Lakers. If Boozer doesn't show up Okur/Kirilenko don't have the consistency offensively to help the Jazz.

Hope: Kirilenko is having a great playoffs. He is making up the difference offensively for Boozer. Okur hasn't shown up every game, but he has shown up for most of them. When Okur does show up to the games he takes the ball inside, making up for the lack of interior scoring from Boozer. All the Jazz need to win is an average game from Boozer, and the Jazz could dominate if Boozer returned to his performance level during the playoffs last year.

Fact: Odom has looked like an All-Star during this series.

Panic: Boozer and Okur can't stop Odom, he is having his way in the series. It is too late in the season for Boozer or Okur to transform in the series. Odom gives the Lakers the second scoring option they need to beat the Jazz. If the Jazz can't stop Kobe or Odom then the series is over.

Hope: Odom has had big games, but the Jazz have still been in the games(With the exceptions of game 1 and 2). The Jazz have yet to put together a full game. If the Jazz put together a game, Odom could go off and the Jazz would be able to handle it just fine.

Fact: Derek Fisher is the X-factor in the series

Panic: Derek Fisher has been able to take Deron Williams out of his game. The physical play of Fisher, and the double teams of the Lakers defense has seemed to puzzle Deron throughout the series. Derek Fisher has also hit the big shots when it mattered. When Derek Fisher is on the court the Lakers seem to win.

Hope: If the series comes down to a Derek Fisher three pointer to win, how do you feel? If you are a Jazz fan then you should feel really good. It means that you are making someone else on the Lakers besides Kobe beat you. Deron Williams has been able to adapt to what Fisher has been doing on defense. All Jazz fans should remember Derek Fisher is streaky, he will win a game for you one night and lose it the next.

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