Mock Draft 2011- Utah Jazz

Logging on to ESPN.com you can do a mock draft for the NBA's next season. The Jazz with a lottery pick and another number 12 pick it sounds like they can come out of the draft with some great potential for the next season. I clicked the lottery about 10 times and it had the Jazz getting anywhere from a number two pick to number 8 for their first pick. These players included Power Forward Derrik Williams, Power Forward Jan Vesely and Point Guard Brandon Knight. These are all potential big time players who could support the Jazz very well next season. For the twelfth pick every time I clicked the mock draft it would show the Jazz picking up Jimmer Fredette, home town big shot from Brigham Young. I can't say that I totally agree with that choice but he would definitely bring a lot of fans to Energy Solutions Arena, selling out a lot of games which would improve our home court advantage. After all said and done I believe no matter what happens the Jazz will come out of the draft with a few big time players, making for an exciting season to come. Get excited if you're a Utah Jazz fan because it will only get better from here.

Check out my interactive narrative for this class at: http://fs.finearts.utah.edu/~tsmith/SmithTP2webdraft
and let me know what you think, thanks.

Goodbye To An Ugly 2011 Season

The Jazz impressively blow past a playoff bound New Orleans Team on Monday with a 90-78 win. The Jazz looked great though improving on defense which has been their weak point throughout the season. The last game for the Jazz is this Wednesday, at home, against another playoff bound Denver Nuggets so hopefully pride is still evident. The improving look of both Favors and Harris is really opening the eyes of the Utah fans who can finally look forward to a better next season, saying they also have a good draft day. So after all the negotiating period is over, and saying we have a 2012 NBA season I really believe the Jazz can be a successful team. Finally something to look forward to!

The Future Of The Utah Jazz = BRIGHT

I started this blog site because I am a huge, and always will be a huge Utah Jazz fan. I will keep faith no matter what happens. Which brings me to this 2011 season. This has quite possibly been the worst season I’ve witnessed in my recent memory. Mostly because of the expectations coming into the season. This team went from a 27-13 start to a 36-36 in a matter of two months. Nine wins in the last 33 games! And right about now we’ve all probably repeated over and over again the phrase, “Can this get any worse”, Right? As we have come to realize, yes it can. And it has, but enough about this ugly season.

I remember watching a loss to the Thunder about a week ago, and I heard something uttered by our friends Bolerjack and Harpring on FSN, now ROOT TV. They spoke of Oklahoma City and how they are the “3rd youngest team in the NBA”. And where is this 3rd youngest team ranked right now? Division leaders by a lot of games and 4th in the Western Conference. And exciting to watch! How? Through the draft.  Yeah, some trades and free agent signings along the way happened as well. But their core: Westbrook, Durant, James Harden, and even Jeff Green (now traded back to the Celtics, from who the Thunder originally acquired his rights) all top five picks. That’s right, lottery picks. And not all acquired in the same draft either. OKC had to have some patience, some down years, in order to get where they are now.

How does this relate to the Jazz? We're used to two words here in Utah: Consistency and Stability. And in two short months both of those have gone out the window. It’s time to start over, to begin again. This team hasn’t had to rebuild in 26 years. And no, getting Deron Williams in the draft was not completely a rebuild mode. This will take time, patience, and fan support, to see this through. The Jazz are in full rebuild mode. The Jazz have some very important pieces already in place: a young and extremely talented PF Favors, a young but extremely smart Hayward, and Al Jefferson your key center piece. And let’s not forget a still young (23yrs), talented CJ Miles. They’ve got a great core of guys, now they just need to add some more young pieces. And before you know it the Jazz will be the next OKC Thunder team.

The future is BRIGHT Jazz fans! Please don’t give up hope. Keep positive thoughts, Go Jazz! We are going to keep fighting. As long as they keep that fighting edge about them, there’s always something to be excited about. And I will keep cheering them on.

Tyrone Corbin and the Team

Jazz fans may be at the end of their rope while enduring one of the more tumultuous seasons in franchise history. They've watched their Hall of Fame coach unexpectedly resign and ride his tractor into the sunset. They've seen their two-time All-Star point guard get dealt to the New Jersey Nets for promise. The potential return in the deal being in the form of a new point guard, a lottery pick, two draft picks and a cool $3 million cash. So while there might not be much to look back upon fondly or look forward to during the final weeks of the 2010-11 regular season, I still think there are reasons to believe the Jazz have a bright future.

Lets begin with coach Ty Corbin, and talk about a stacked deck. Could Corbin's first month on the job have been more difficult? His All-Star point guard was traded. His team has been hit with injuries. He's had to tinker with unconventional lineups, most notably in Utah's last two games before the All-Star break when he had nine players available and only one backup guard in Earl Watson. Corbin is the right guy for the job though. As a former NBA player, he knows the game and he learned how to coach from two great ones in Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson. He has handled the adversity on the job in his first month exceptionally well. Before the Jazz left on their four-game road trip, he was asked if he's having fun on the job. His reply? "Ask me after a win." "It's been fun, though," Corbin said. "The guys have been tremendous. It's been frustrating not getting over the hump, but we're getting close. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I'm looking forward to the change or the turnover of coming close in games to actually winning games." Corbin will do his part to make the Jazz a contender again. "I enjoy teaching," Corbin said. "I think that guys are responding well to it. It's just we need to have more success in order to feel better about what we're getting done."

Direct quotes brought to you by: Deseret News, Published: Saturday, March 12, 2011 9:33 p.m. MST

Oh Those Jazz

The Utah Jazz made a disgraceful push towards the playoffs in late March losing the last six games. The majority of these six teams they lost to were also attempting to get a playoff birth or teams like Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks who were just protecting there current spot in the playoffs. The Jazz had looked good in the first halves of these games but as the second half came they seemed to be content with their sloppy play and would almost give games away in the final minutes. With a playoff birth looking extremely unlikely the Jazz have only pride to play for now.

Win In OT

Monday night the Jazz played he Philadelphia 76ers who rallied in the 3rd and 4th quarters to come back from a 21 point deficit and force the Jazz into overtime. The Jazz are currently undefeated in all games played in OT including Monday's win where the Jazz took control from the tip in OT. In the next 15 or so games left the Jazz would have to win at least 10 of those games to make the playoffs, or get extremely lucky. This although seems difficult when the Jazz have 5 key players injured after point guard Devon Harris pulled a hamstring late in Mondays game.the Jazz need a severe push late in the the hunt to make a difference.

Frustration and Jazz

The frustration of being a Jazz fan still continues even when they can manage a two point buzzer beater to beat the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, it was extremely lucky, but ill take a win. After a near 30 point thrashing by the Nicks on Monday the Jazz needed something to smile about with key starters Paul Milsap and Andre Kirilenko injured. Their next game comes Friday in Minnesota against the Timberwolves. Then Saturday a rematch with the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. Hold on Jazz, I greatly want to see a playoff run!

Goodbye Deron, Hello Size and Quickness

As of last Wednesday, February 23, 2011 the Utah Jazz acquired guard Devin Harris and forward Derrick Favors along with two future first round draft picks (New Jersey’s 2011 pick and Golden State’s 2012 pick) from New Jersey in exchange for guard Deron Williams.

“We feel that we’ve addressed a current need at point guard with Deron’s departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides.” 

We can only hope that this trade makes the Jazz a better team in the future. The Jazz are currently 1-6 without former coach Jerry Sloan. A week or so of practice in the new system and the new Jazz members should be ready to compete for a playoff birth.

Come On Jazz!!

There are two main factors the Utah Jazz need to focus on greatly, rebounding and finishing games. The Jazz started the season off not knowing how to start games losing the majority of their first quarters. Now that Coach Corbin has taken over it seems that they have lost there ability to come back from a deficit. The Jazz can finally start games well but when it comes down to the last four minutes or so of a game they lose their focus and have given games away, even against sub-par teams. I sure hope that this All Star break has given the team some good rest especially with our recent injuries to Kirilenko, Bell, and Price. If the Jazz don't start winning games and gaining their confidence back, a playoff run looks slim to none. It's only a little over half way through the season, so it is very possible, even with a new head coach. When they step up their hustle, continue to dish out assists and start rebounding more, Millsap, D Will and Jefferson can take over and lead this team to a turn-around season.

Jerry Sloan Calls It Quits!?

After 26 years in the NBA, 23 of them with the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan resigns along with his good friend and assistant Phil Johnson. Some said a clash with Williams was to blame for Sloan's departure, but Sloan said he merely lost the energy needed to coach in his famously intense manner. When Williams, who openly challenged Sloan at times this season, was introduced before the game, loud cheers were mixed with a measure of boos. "Maybe I feel a little more pressure now," Williams said. "Do I care what the fans think of me? Yeah, I'd be lying if I didn't. I don't want them to think I ran a Hall of Fame coach out. But I can't get caught up in that anymore. ... They can choose who they want to believe."

So what does this mean for the Jazz? Tyrone Corbin who has been an assistant coach under Sloan for the last 7 seasons takes over and has a sudden intense pressure to try and attempt to turn the Jazz's season around. This just adds to the frustration of being a Jazz fan, shockingly increased by Sloan's departure. Fans can only watch and hope that Tyrone Corbin's new system and the possibility of Deron Williams' "freedom" can take the Jazz into the playoffs. The Utah Jazz rematch the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday the 15th in Phoenix, where both players and Coach Corbin can make a big statement with a win on the road.

The Struggle To Get On Track: Jerry Sloan's Quest

The Utah Jazz beating the Charlotte Bobcats lost the next game two days later against the Houston Rockets by a devastating one point. Two days later the Jazz went into Denver to play the Nuggets and looked really good. They were up on the Nuggets basically the entire game and came out with a 7 point win against an athletic Denver team. This game may have tired the Jazz out, because coming back home the following day you would think they would have a good chance to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a surprising start hitting all 11 of their first shots the Jazz went up early, but only to continuously slip the rest of the game and eventually lost by 16. Now I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Starting with the loss against San Antonio the Jazz have won every other game for the last seven games. They look surprisingly good one night and the next night they will have no rhythm and struggle on one of the key components whether its scoring, rebounding or defense. I know each team is different and takes totally different schemes and tactics to beat, but 68 year old Jerry Sloan has been there multiple times before. Jerry, being a coach in the NBA for the last 23 years should know more than most any other coach in the league today. 23 years and not ONE coach of the year award! He is arguably the most successful NBA coach who has also never won a championship. A coach with old school skills yet he needs more new school tactics. The Utah Jazz definitely have the talent and potential this season to make a deep playoff run, but it's up to the players and more so, coach Sloan, to really take them there. A championship is well over due in Utah and all of these players deserve it. I want to say it is VERY possible IF everyone stays mentally prepared. GO JAZZ.

To Add Insult To Injury

I left off last week talking about the Jazz taking on the Los Angeles Lakers, and as most predicted the Jazz did not surprise anyone with a win. This made their losing streak five straight, and if that wasn't hard enough to swallow the Jazz followed that game up with another loss to the current number one team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs to make it six straight losses. Now if you're a Jazz fan it has become very frustrating to watch the Jazz continuously struggle in the first quarter, sometimes first half, and then become forced to make a considerable comeback in the third and fourth quarters. Although the Jazz are number one in the NBA in fourth quarter scoring, that doesn't automatically mean they will make a heroic comeback, which again they're number one in the NBA at doing. Now if you weren't frustrated enough, Deron Williams has been sidelined the last two games for a hyper extended right wrist. The Jazz were able to follow that injury up with a win against a struggling Minnesota Timberwolves team, but again followed that with a devastating loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Jazz take on the Charlotte Bobcats tonight who are second to last place in the south east conference, they are built of very young and athletic players who can really catch you off guard if you're not ready for them. So you cant say this will be a definite win, although the Jazz should win this one even if Deron has to sit out for his third straight.

How About Those Utah Jazz!?

Coming off of two great offensive performances, the Utah Jazz felt pretty good about themselves heading in to a five game road trip. Four games in and that confidence has been knocked down quite a bit and Tuesday night's finale could restore it but doesn't look too likely. The Jazz try to avoid their first 0-5 road trip in nearly six years by doing something they haven't done in more than five years and 16 games... beat the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Utah with a 27-17 record have lost their focus the last few games but can really redeem themselves with a win against the Lakers.