Can Utah Jazz Beat The Warriors If They Made The Playoffs Instead Of Rockets?

[MISSERY]

what do you guys think

at least the jazz battled the GSW in season games
i don't think houston can beat this team of GSW, what ever line-up they make

[Fafnir]

By beat you mean win a game?

I'd say the Jazz only because I think the Rockets lazy turnover prone offense feeds into the GSW transition game and also their fast pace.

Jazz could at least force them to deal with good mobile big men and try to disrupt what they do. But in the end both are so inferior even with Curry out the Warriors would be heavy favorites.

[Roy H.]

The Jazz would have at least played with a little more effort and cohesion.  They might be able to take a game or two if Curry was sitting.

The Rockets are one of the most joyless teams to watch in recent memory.

[Fafnir]

The Jazz would have at least played with a little more effort and cohesion.  They might be able to take a game or two if Curry was sitting.

The Rockets are one of the most joyless teams to watch in recent memory.

Its honestly just a shocking display of "who the hell cares".

Of the 10 or so defensive possessions late where Harden was giving a crap, Josh Smith went out of his way to be lazy or confused on almost every one. Even on the most simple of switches that was clearly communicated.

Then it'd happen the other way around, etcc etc, etc. McHale deserved to be fired for letting this fester but I have no idea how a new coach is going to be able to deal with that mess. Bickerstaff clearly isn't up for the task.

[Who]

The Jazz would have at least played with a little more effort and cohesion.  They might be able to take a game or two if Curry was sitting.

The Rockets are one of the most joyless teams to watch in recent memory.

Its honestly just a shocking display of "who the hell cares".

Of the 10 or so defensive possessions late where Harden was giving a crap, Josh Smith went out of his way to be lazy or confused on almost every one. Even on the most simple of switches that was clearly communicated.

Then it'd happen the other way around, etcc etc, etc. McHale deserved to be fired for letting this fester but I have no idea how a new coach is going to be able to deal with that mess. Bickerstaff clearly isn't up for the task.

I am amazed at how little they care ... at how badly Houston are competing.

You'd think they could at least get up for a playoff series.

Especially against the team that knocked them out in the Conference Finals last year.

[Who]

I have to go for Utah by default given the complete lack of -- well, everything -- from Houston.

[Roy H.]

The Jazz would have at least played with a little more effort and cohesion.  They might be able to take a game or two if Curry was sitting.

The Rockets are one of the most joyless teams to watch in recent memory.

Its honestly just a shocking display of "who the hell cares".

Of the 10 or so defensive possessions late where Harden was giving a crap, Josh Smith went out of his way to be lazy or confused on almost every one. Even on the most simple of switches that was clearly communicated.

Then it'd happen the other way around, etcc etc, etc. McHale deserved to be fired for letting this fester but I have no idea how a new coach is going to be able to deal with that mess. Bickerstaff clearly isn't up for the task.

Do you think any coach could have / will make it work?

[Denis998]

no

[Fafnir]

Do you think any coach could have / will make it work?

Honestly at this point no I don't. Not without also a major roster shake up as well.

Harden's bad habits are firmly entrenched at this point and last years turnaround has proven to be the exception. A team that defended so well last year should not come back so lazy on that end the next year. Regression is understandable but complete lack of effort?

Houston does have the opportunity to make those changes though. Let Howard walk to wherever and bring in a different mix. Then the new coach is going to have to have a struggle with Harden that he's empowered with the front office. Harden can't come into the season out of shape and not caring, just set the lazy entitled tone for the whole season.

[djbilly33]

Who cares, they aren't in it.

[loco_91]

"Who got the higher chance of beating the Warriors?"

Let's go with neither. Rockets have too little cohesion + grit, Jazz have too little talent. I think the Jazz are the better team overall, but even still their odds of winning 4/7 vs the W's, even if Curry's ankle limits him the whole series, are almost exactly zero.

[guava_wrench]

Houston kept the game relatively close most of the way last night in Oakland. That's about the best I would hope for from Utah anyway, so I'm skeptical they would do any better.