Wow, didn’t see this coming. The Utah Jazz are 12-1. I did expect a run towards the playoffs this year but the way they’re playing has been real impressive. They’re 2nd in the NBA in scoring, with 108 points a game. They may not have awkward gumps like Jeff Hornacek and Adam Keefe, but the Jazz are looking like a real contender in their effort to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

The Jazz offense is one of the best in the league because they can score anywhere. They have some legit big men in Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer, whose approaching the God status he had while playing for Duke. Boozer is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, not to mention a massive forehead.

The Northwest Division promises to be one of the most entertaining this season. It contains the two highest scoring teams in the league in Utah and Denver. Apparently, states with more perks lead to higher scoring. Denver has its weed and Utah has the perk of multiple wives.

The Jazz will be shooting for their 9th win in a row tonight against Golden State. They haven’t had a winning streak that long since the 1998-99 season.

Over the next month until opening night on October 31, I?ll be previewing one NBA team a day. Starting in the Eastern Conference, I?ll be starting with my lowest ranked team and continuing to the best, then switching conferences. Enjoy.

Someone has to Win the Northwest…why not Utah?

The Utah Jazz have hit some hard times since Karl Malone and John Stockton left. They’ve missed the playoffs three straight years but they think that can change this year. They’re deep at every position and have a winning tradition. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together, staying healthy, and beating out Carmelo’s Nuggets for what I think will be the only playoff spot in the Northwest Division.

Overview

I think the 9-4 finish last season can carry over into 2006-07. The Jazz have a deep frontcourt and a backcourt that got much deeper in the offseason. Andrei Kirilenko aka “AK-47” is one of the best defensive players in the league and should make some strides on offense this year. Kirilenko lead the league with 220 blocks last season, averaged 8 rebounds, and even had 1.5 steals a game. But will he be healthy? The same can be said for Carlos Boozer, who’s a huge body in the middle. Mehmet Okur’s signing was criticized by many (me included) but he responded with a great season (18 PPG, 9 RPG). The Jazz backcourt should be set for years to come. Ronnie Brewer and Dee Brown were picked up in the draft and should join 2nd year guy Deron Williams in the rotation. The Jazz also have Gordon Giricek and Matt Harpring for depth. Read the rest of this entry »