Weighing the Jazz's playoff options
Thanks to Ross, who has been turned into an NBA "bracketology" expert during the past couple of weeks because of the mad scramble in the Western Conference, I finally have a handle on the Jazz's playoff plight.
Since Houston and Phoenix are 14-point favorites to win their respective home games tonight against the Clippers and the Trail Blazers, let's assume both prevail.
That means the Jazz's fate will be in their own hands:
-- Beat San Antonio tonight and Utah becomes the No. 3 seed in the West. The Jazz would open at home against the defending champion Spurs.
-- Lose at San Antonio and the Jazz will be the No. 4 seed. But they will open on the road at No. 5 Houston.
Logically, Utah would prefer playing the Rockets. The Jazz beat Houston in the first round last spring and, this time around, the Rockets won't have All-Star center Yao Ming, who is injured.
Utah is better than it was last year, too. The Jazz's first-round win over the Rockets ignited a run to the conference finals, and the experience Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Memo Okur gained during those 17 playoff games should benefit them this time around.
On the other hand, there might be a few reasons the Jazz go all-out and try to win tonight -- a victory that will translate into a first-round series against the talented and battled-tested Spurs.
No. 1, Utah finished 37-4 at home this season. Among the wins: a 26-point trouncing of San Antonio less than two weeks ago. Homecourt advantage could make the difference against the Spurs -- maybe as much of a difference as Yao's absence in a possible series with the Rockets.
No. 2, if the Jazz end up as the third-seed and can beat San Antonio in the first round, the next step to the conference finals would likely take them to New Orleans instead of Los Angeles. The Jazz took the season series from the Hornets, 3-1, and Williams creates a match-up problem for New Orleans' star Chris Paul. Against the Lakers, the Jazz would have their own match-up problems with Kobe Bryant & Co.
Just a couple of things to consider while watching the Jazz's 82nd game of the regular season, after which we will finally know what the regular season actually meant.
-- Steve Luhm
Since Houston and Phoenix are 14-point favorites to win their respective home games tonight against the Clippers and the Trail Blazers, let's assume both prevail.
That means the Jazz's fate will be in their own hands:
-- Beat San Antonio tonight and Utah becomes the No. 3 seed in the West. The Jazz would open at home against the defending champion Spurs.
-- Lose at San Antonio and the Jazz will be the No. 4 seed. But they will open on the road at No. 5 Houston.
Logically, Utah would prefer playing the Rockets. The Jazz beat Houston in the first round last spring and, this time around, the Rockets won't have All-Star center Yao Ming, who is injured.
Utah is better than it was last year, too. The Jazz's first-round win over the Rockets ignited a run to the conference finals, and the experience Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Memo Okur gained during those 17 playoff games should benefit them this time around.
On the other hand, there might be a few reasons the Jazz go all-out and try to win tonight -- a victory that will translate into a first-round series against the talented and battled-tested Spurs.
No. 1, Utah finished 37-4 at home this season. Among the wins: a 26-point trouncing of San Antonio less than two weeks ago. Homecourt advantage could make the difference against the Spurs -- maybe as much of a difference as Yao's absence in a possible series with the Rockets.
No. 2, if the Jazz end up as the third-seed and can beat San Antonio in the first round, the next step to the conference finals would likely take them to New Orleans instead of Los Angeles. The Jazz took the season series from the Hornets, 3-1, and Williams creates a match-up problem for New Orleans' star Chris Paul. Against the Lakers, the Jazz would have their own match-up problems with Kobe Bryant & Co.
Just a couple of things to consider while watching the Jazz's 82nd game of the regular season, after which we will finally know what the regular season actually meant.
-- Steve Luhm
10:00 AM
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