With the Blazers second preseason matchup with the Jazz slated for tonight, we figured we’d serve up another chat with a Jazz blogger. This time it’s the great Scott Hammer from The Cowhide Globe, where you can find our side of the interview. Thanks to SJ and Scott for setting this up.
And now, the answers:
1. From an outsider’s perspective, what are your thoughts on the Blazers this year?
The Blazers could be really tough this year. They have the potential to be very good with the young core of players they have. If I were to predict where they might finish, I believe they’ll make it to the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed. They’re unquestionably the up-and-coming team to look for in the West.
What might hold them back is their youth. They’re extremely young and untested at the majority of their positions. Are they going to compete at point guard? How will injuries play out for Oden and Roy? Will they remain healthy over the course of a season? Will they be able to compete night-in, night-out? Or will their youth hit the “mid-season” wall? There are a lot of questions still to be answered for the Blazers.
Even still, I love their athleticism and talent. It’s off the charts! With Oden and Aldridge in the post and Roy at the guard position, they’re set with future stars to compete in the West (let alone impressive size). The Blazers have remarkable depth also, with Fernandez, Bayless, Outlaw, Frye and Przyzbilla. There are a number of player combinations they can put on the floor, with the amount of talent they possess. How will they play as a team, chemistry-wise? All in all, I believe the Blazers will be there fighting for a playoff spot with Denver, Dallas, and perhaps LAC.
2. How do you see your matchup with them playing out? What part interests you the most? Any worries?
The Blazers always match-up well with the Jazz. Infact, they’re one of the teams that we struggle with the most (head-to-head). The athleticism on the frontline has the potential to cause havoc for the Jazz in the post. Like the Lakers in last season’s playoffs, the Blazers present challenges to the Jazz on the defensive-end (a lot of length, size & athleticism). The Jazz however, are battle-tested and physical.
I love our match-up at point guard with Deron Williams. He’s arguably one of the best point guards in the NBA and will only get better. No doubt about it, he’s our franchise player. Our guard-line will be better this coming season. Ronnie Brewer matches up fairly well with Brandon Roy athletically, while the Jazz offer shooters, versatility, and athleticism with the likes of Korver, CJ Miles, and Andrei Kirilenko. It’ll be interesting to see how Jerry Sloan plays his team in terms of player combinations and schemes.
The games will be absolute battles when the Jazz and Blazers play against each other. I could see us splitting our games. In the regular season, I envision the Jazz finishing with a better record than the Blazers mainly because of experience, continuity, depth, and improved play from the guard-line.
3. If you could grade the Jazz’ off-season, what would you give it?
B-
We added Brevin Knight, Kosta Koufos and kept CJ Miles. We needed a back-up center desperately and didn’t get it (I don’t think Koufos will be ready). Our post defense was atrocious last season (especially in the playoffs). We’ve got some youngsters in the system (CJ, Almond, Fesenko, Koufos) and we’ll see if they’re able to contribute to the team. Fesenko and Koufos especially need to help out.
4. What excites you most about the Jazz in this upcoming season?
The resurgent play of Deron Williams and our player depth excites me most as a Jazz fan. Deron has the chance to be one of the best point guards in the League. His experience playing for team USA and playing in the NBA playoffs has helped him improve his game. Along with Chris Paul, Deron is one of the best in the NBA. Just like our boy John Stockton in the past, if the Jazz have a great point guard in place, we’ll always be super-competitive! The Jazz can also go 10-deep with player combinations. Memo, Boozer, Millsap, Kirilenko, Harpring, CJ, Brewer, Korver, Deron, Knight and Price can all play significant minutes. We should be able to hold up really well throughout the regular season.
5. Realistically, where would you put the Jazz’ ceiling, high and low?
I believe the Jazz have the potential to finish on top of the West in the regular season. Whether the Jazz are able to win the championship may be another story. I think we’re most certainly a championship contender. The West is just so tough that anything can happen. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jazz finish as low as #7 or #8 either. LA is definitely the favorite, but SA, Houston, NO, Phoenix, Dallas and the Jazz are all capable of playing well and finishing high.
6. Looking at the team from all angles, what is the one thing that worries you about the Jazz?
Our post defense. We don’t have a shot blocker and mean-defender. Our big guys are impressive offensive talents but lack the defensive tenacity and skill to put up against the bigger teams in the West. What we need is Greg Oden! You must feel lucky to have him.
7. If you were able to be GM but could only make one move, what would it be?
A shot-blocker! Those are difficult to come by. Even an old-school Greg Ostertag (fill the paint-type intruder) would help out. Interesting enough, the Blazers have two of them (with Oden and Joel P). With contract situations the way they are for the Jazz, I don’t have much faith that we’ll be able to fill the bill with a post defender. Maybe we could trade for Brenden Haywood, Chris Kaman, or Marcus Camby? That would require us trading a lot in return to get someone of that caliber. I don’t know if it would be worth it for us, without wanting to give up Boozer, Memo or Millsap. Kirilenko’s contract is a monstrosity! Perhaps a trade could involve AK47.
8. What is the key to the Jazz success this year?
I believe the Jazz need to play tougher defense in order to improve from last season (and stop fouling so much). In addition, our road record has always been sketchy and weak. We need to become a better road team.
9. Any sleepers we should look out for?
I think this year could be the year that CJ Miles gets significant playing time and has a break-out type season. We matched a 4-year contract for 4-million a year in order to keep him…so, we’ve got to play him. Right? He’s a talented player. He possesses a lot of potential, similar to Outlaw on the Blazers.
10. How do you feel about the great Jerry Sloan as head coach?
I really like Jerry Sloan, though he gets a mixed-satisfaction level from Utah Jazz fans. He’s so old school! He still demands the respect and attention of his players. If you don’t play Jerry’s way, you won’t play at all. That can be both good and bad. The players on the team either respect him or they don’t (and are then shipped out!). He’s one of the few coaches in the League that still possesses that amount of power and persuasion. His teams are always tough and hard-nosed, just as he was. We’ll see how long he’s able to stick around the Jazz organization. I’d imagine he’s probably pretty close to his retirement from basketball.