Luck of the Draw?

Posted by Laurie Nylund on November 26, 2007

‘Just Lucky?’ (Allen Einstein – NBAE/Getty Images)

While I certainly enjoyed the Jazz victory over the Pistons on Sunday, the win did make me think about just how good is the team-really. Double-doubles by the dynamic duo, Boozer having a season high game with 36 points, and Williams handing out 14 assists is definitely something to celebrate. But with Rasheed Wallace out with a knee injury, the Pistons machine wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

In fact, looking back over the ten wins so far this season, the Jazz have rarely had to face an opponent at full strength. It all started with the two wins against Golden State where Stephen Jackson was out due to his suspension. The wins against short-handed teams continued in Cleveland (who were missing Snow, Marshall and Hughes), Seattle (no Kurt Thomas), Sacramento (really handicapped without Artest, Bibby and Miller), and New Jersey (without Carter, Williams, and Armstrong). Even New Orleans, mostly all there, had issues as Chris Paul had missed the week prior with an ankle injury and it kind of showed in his sub-par game.

The only games we have won against fully-staffed teams were at Memphis and Toronto. As Memphis is currently 4-9 the win against them isn’t much to crow about. And even though I thought Toronto was going to be tougher, that team is just even at 7 and 7 now.

If you look at the games we’ve lost, the stats are not a lot more encouraging. Houston, LA, Cleveland and Indiana have a combined record of 28-27 up to this week, so it isn’t like we went down against the cream of the crop.

So, exactly how do you rate the 10-4 Jazz record? I think the Jazz have continued to improve each week and overall have worked hard to achieve this record. Some of the pre-season questions have been answered, and even my concern about the backup point position has diminished a bit with Price’s play this past week. A little luck of the draw is not a bad thing, and I am certainly not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. But I would rather be good than lucky. Hopefully we are both.

1 Comment

J R Stewart on November 26, 2007 said:

I thought, after the plea bargain, on his felony, Felonious Jackson, the SHOOTING guard, had unofficially changed his name, at least during his sentence from Judge Stern.

So far the Jazz have had the “luck of the draw” in most of their games.

Except for Harpring playing wheelchair basketball, the Jazz have been quite healthy.

Even after their loss to the Knicks, I still think they are sitting around 10 out of 30 teams (I hope I’m wrong). That would put them in the playoffs with a probable 1st round exit, in the strong West. Probably drawing one of the top 3 in the league.

I feel their road record will be the key. If they continue over 50%, they will be ranked in the top 5 or 6 of the league and 4 or 5 in the West and probably a 2nd round exit.

I see improvement each game. Let’s hope it continues!

Jazzaholic

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