Ok, so how are the Jazz kicking the Nuggets butts tonight?
Just out hustling them. Killing them on the boards. Shooting the eyes out from 3. Very balanced effort by the entire team.
Ainge's tank effort may have underestimated Hardy as a good coach
He had the same problem tanking with Brad, although I think the real problem is he still has enough talent on that roster to not completely tank. He needs to move a few more players yet. The Jazz top 8-9 would be in the rotation for most teams. Maybe not start for most, but they're legit, veteran NBAers who will still try to win if the coach is trying. He'll have to decide at the deadline if he wants to make a lottery push or hold pat and maybe sneak into the play-in.
Yeah, they have a bunch of decent enough guys and an innovative young coach. I think the allure of Wembenyama will win out
Even if they try, they aren't a play-in level team, so they will be in the lottery. I'm not saying they wouldn't move on from guys for more draft picks, but I don't think they are going to become Oklahoma City either.
Sure they have play-in potential.
Teams that are for sure worse than them:
OKC
Houston
San Antonio
Teams that don’t want to be bad but some probably will be:
Sacramento
Lakers
Portland
Two of the Kings, Blazers, Lakers, and Jazz will make the play-in game, just because they have to. Would the Jazz be my first pick? No. But there are only five teams in each conference that will miss the play-in (or better), and three of those five spots in the West are absolute locks. The Jazz could absolutely back into a play-in spot if they don’t actively tank after the deadline. There are just too many bad teams in the West this year.