Jazz at crossroads
Don't look now, but the Jazz might be approaching a crossroads to their season.
I don't think that's overstating their situation.
After a leisurely one-game-in-six-nights stretch, Utah plays Western Conference opponents Sacramento (Friday), Houston (Sunday) and San Antonio (Monday).
In the next 100 hours, the Jazz could have a pretty good idea what's in store for them during the season half of the season.
Sitting just off the lead in the Northwest Division and ninth in the overall conference standings, the Jazz face three teams that rank somewhere between decent and outstanding on the NBA power scale.
They can beat all three of these teams, but they can also lose to all three.
Welcome to life in the Western Conference, where 6 games separate the top 10 teams.
On paper, Sacramento appears to be the most beatable of the Jazz's upcoming opponents. But the Kings have won three of their last four and finally have Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin healthy.
Despite the fact the Jazz are far better at home than on the road, the game against the Kings at EnergySolutions Arena won't be a stroll through Memory Grove.
Houston?
The Rockets are playing their best basketball of the season right now and, like the Jazz, they know beating other Western Conference teams will be the ticket to the playoffs.
Houston's next three games are against conference opponents -- Portland, Utah and Golden State -- and the Rockets sound like this is the starting point for a playoff push.
"... Now it's halfway," Yao Ming told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "I think we wasted too much time [already]. People talk about [a] new system, new players, new teammates, new adjustments. But it took too long. We need to hurry up."
In the West, No. 7 Portland, No. 8 Golden State, No. 9 Utah and No. 10 Houston are bunched within two games of each other.
"I feel we're better," the Rockets' Tracy McGrady said. "Yeah, when we're on top of our game [and] healthy, yes, we are better. But we've got to go out there and prove it. These teams ahead of us have been playing some great basketball. It doesn't seem they are going to fall anytime soon. We got our work cut out for us. We're going to have to go on a hell of a run. [But] we're capable of doing it."
Against Portland, Utah and Golden State, McGrady added, "We have to bring our 'A' game and win those ballgames."
Sounds like the playoffs are already upon us, doesn't it?
-- Steve Luhm
I don't think that's overstating their situation.
After a leisurely one-game-in-six-nights stretch, Utah plays Western Conference opponents Sacramento (Friday), Houston (Sunday) and San Antonio (Monday).
In the next 100 hours, the Jazz could have a pretty good idea what's in store for them during the season half of the season.
Sitting just off the lead in the Northwest Division and ninth in the overall conference standings, the Jazz face three teams that rank somewhere between decent and outstanding on the NBA power scale.
They can beat all three of these teams, but they can also lose to all three.
Welcome to life in the Western Conference, where 6 games separate the top 10 teams.
On paper, Sacramento appears to be the most beatable of the Jazz's upcoming opponents. But the Kings have won three of their last four and finally have Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin healthy.
Despite the fact the Jazz are far better at home than on the road, the game against the Kings at EnergySolutions Arena won't be a stroll through Memory Grove.
Houston?
The Rockets are playing their best basketball of the season right now and, like the Jazz, they know beating other Western Conference teams will be the ticket to the playoffs.
Houston's next three games are against conference opponents -- Portland, Utah and Golden State -- and the Rockets sound like this is the starting point for a playoff push.
"... Now it's halfway," Yao Ming told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "I think we wasted too much time [already]. People talk about [a] new system, new players, new teammates, new adjustments. But it took too long. We need to hurry up."
In the West, No. 7 Portland, No. 8 Golden State, No. 9 Utah and No. 10 Houston are bunched within two games of each other.
"I feel we're better," the Rockets' Tracy McGrady said. "Yeah, when we're on top of our game [and] healthy, yes, we are better. But we've got to go out there and prove it. These teams ahead of us have been playing some great basketball. It doesn't seem they are going to fall anytime soon. We got our work cut out for us. We're going to have to go on a hell of a run. [But] we're capable of doing it."
Against Portland, Utah and Golden State, McGrady added, "We have to bring our 'A' game and win those ballgames."
Sounds like the playoffs are already upon us, doesn't it?
-- Steve Luhm
6:57 PM
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