Jazz: Like D-Will, Excellent in Transition

Posted by Joey Parker on September 25, 2009

The 2009-10 season will be a transition season for the Jazz. I believe we will be very competitive and, if healthy, will make a run at one of the top 3 spots in the West. Just think about it- last year we had every injury that could befall a team, and we STILL won 48 games and got into the playoffs! If not for the late-season collapse, we could have been the three seed and avoided the Team Who Shall Not be Named in the first round.

The reason I say this is a transition season is that I am guessing that the Jazz management wants to be competitive this year, but wants to REALLY shoot for the title next year and the following 5-6 years.

In the 2010-11 season, Millsap, D-Will, CJ, Brewer, Okur, Koufos, and Korver will all be in their “prime.” This drama with Boozer will be resolved and most of our players will be secure in their contract situations. Also, we will have received (if we luck out this year) a very good draft pick by way of the Knicks. Plus, AK47 will be A.) a really good role player or B.) a really attractive, tradable, expiring contract that we use to net us another star. Remember how the Team Who Shall Not be Named “picked up” (translation: stole) Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies for expiring contracts? That could be us! Expiring contracts are like gold in this league and one the size of AK’s might be able to land us an All-Star to complete our title team.

As for the upcoming season, some have said that we are going to possibly miss the playoffs because we will be losing Carlos Boozer. My response to that is: won’t we win MORE than 48 games by having a new player from a trade who might not get 20 and 10 every night, but who will likely play in 75 or more games and possibly even play defense? I think the answer to that is YES.

Another factor moving in our favor is the state of the Western Conference. This off-season, the Team Who Shall Not be Named, the Spurs, the Nuggets, the Mavs, and the Blazers pretty much stayed the same and in the case of Spurs and Mavs, got a little better. However, the Rockets, Suns, and possibly New Orleans (if they are forced to trade off assets due to the economy) have all gotten much worse. This means that just by staying healthy, we could EASILY get the 4th or 5th seed.

By 2010-11(or, the start of the Second Golden Age of the Jazz, as I like to call it) the Team Who Shall Not be Named, the Spurs, and the Mavs will all start steadily taking the “NBA Old-Team Nosedive.” Duncan, Kobe, and Dirk ain’t gettin’ any younger folks. The young, in-their-prime, Jazz, however, will be ready to POUNCE!

2010 through 2015 should be the best NBA Championship window the Jazz have seen since the mid to late 1990’s. I have faith that Kevin O’Connor and the other Jazz brass realize this and will take full advantage. So be patient Jazz fans. Enjoy this upcoming season, hope and pray for some great player development, and keep coming to support this team. Our time to rise above these other teams is right around the corner. So buy your season tickets now! (Shameless plug…)

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7 Comments

Diana Allen on September 25, 2009 said:

I like your optimism and I share it! I do think this will be a good year for the Jazz. I mean look how close we were last year even with the injuires. If there aren’t any locker room issues I really think we can be top 3 in the West along with the team that shall not be named and the Spurs.
I’m so excited for the season to begin!

jazzfann87 on September 25, 2009 said:

I cannot believe you are leaving out the blazers. (no offense meant) they are a young team as well as a very talented one. i believe they are a bigger jump to get over than the team who shall not be named or the spurs. the blazers have stacked themselves this offseason. brandon roy has a real shot at league mvp in the next few seasons and greg oden is only getting better. but if you are thinking i like the blazers you are wrong. i have hated them since i can remember. if we want to be a real contender we need to trade the booz for someone who can play defense. ben wallace perhaps. wallace is a strong defensive player although he may be a bit seasoned. we really need a big man down low. that could clear memo to play the outside the way he likes. just my thoughts.

roundball55 on September 25, 2009 said:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2010&week=-1

What do you all think of the jazz being placed 12th behind the hornets and the suns in espn’s power rankings?

Linda Kay on September 27, 2009 said:

I think ESPN goes by last years standings and guesses, and says what will make them popular.

Boondock Saint (Zak) on September 28, 2009 said:

ESPN is crazy but I like it because I like being the underdog and having that D-Will chipped shoulder. I, for one, am ready to see more in your face dunks, I should be an all-star ankle breakers and ohhh this is just me winning the game at the last second fade aways.

Joey Parker on September 28, 2009 said:

Mark Stein… I don’t know why they let him do the Power Rankings. Chad Ford has the Jazz 7th in his (that he posted on Twitter), which is much more realistic. We are DEFINITELY better than the Hornets and Suns. And I think we will also be better than the Mavs and Blazers. We are getting way undervalued because of the injuries last year- which makes no sense. I also think they are putting too much stock in thinking that all of this uncertainty with Boozer will hurt us.

I’m not even convinced the Suns will make the playoffs this year!

I too like that we are underrated though, because that gives Jerry another good chance at Coach of the Year.

Joey Parker on September 28, 2009 said:

Oh, and about the Blazers- I think they will be fine, but I think people are starting to overrate them a bit. I do think Andre Miller was a great pickup for them though.

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