good thing the booz is feeling better

Absolutely good news. Now we just need Memo to be well enough to play.

This game is huge, a win here puts them 1 game behind the Lakers and depending how the N.O./Houston game shakes out (I think N.O. wins) 1 and 1/2 games out of the lead in the west.

I think it is crazy that on any given night any team in the top 7 in the Western Conference can rise or fall 2 or more spots in the standings. Combined with the probability that after tonight it is likely that only 2 games will separate the 1st and 7th Seeds, and what an awesome year it is for Basketball.

Given my first comment about the importance of the game I find it hard to believe that Memo wouldn't drag himself off his death bed to play in this one, and then if he needs to, take a week off while the Jazz play the Sonics and the Bobcats.

The Jazz are 3 games in the loss column behind the Lakers. If they beat the Lakers they will be 2 games behind the Lakers. Every coach knows that the loss column is the important column. So magnus before you talk know what you are talking about. The loss column is the important column.

Listen feller, you think just like the Jazz players. You want him to play and then take off the "easy" games. Problem is that all Jazz players take these games off. All players need to give it all every night. Thats why they make tens of millions of dollars.

I'm sorry, did I offend you with my "ignorance"?

Was any of what I said untrue?

I agree with what you say about losses, but how does that change anything that I said?

Do you even dissagree with anything I said, or are you just trying to be a jerk?

I have an idea. How about they play hard every night and win every game left and get first place. That would be cool. I can dream can't I?

These guys play 82 games a year. Often times they play 4 or 5 games in a week. You simply cannot give 100% every night and expect your body to hold up. Thats why the first couple of seasons in the league are tough on young players, they are used to College ball where you give everything you have every night. They do get payed millions to play but you will never get value out of those millions if they are sitting on the bench in street clothes all of the time.

The loss column is more important but what no one is mentioning is the fact that the 3 losses in the loss column that the jazz are behind equates to 1 1/2 games, not three. magnus is absolutely right on all points. The lakers current record stands at 46-21, while the jazz record is 45-24 or 2 TOTAL games out behind. When teams go head to head, it is a one game swing, so the Jazz would be down by 1 game. If you don't believe what magnus is saying, just check out any sports website that posts the records and games behind. Espn.com is a good source if anyone is curious....

Here's hoping Brewer and Miles step up even more and go on a tear . . .

The paper goes off the number of games played to get a %. If the jazz beat the Lakers and go 46-24 and the Lakers would go 46-22. The Jazz have played to more games. Hence the Lakers by % would only be 1 game ahead of the jazz, but if both teams one the remainder of their games the Jazz would finish 58-24 the Lakers would go 60-22. That is 2 games ahead of the Jazz not not like you say. The media uses a % of total games, coaches go off the loss column because you can make up wins, not loses. So you and magnus are both wrong again. BUhya

nice try. Just because you are right does not mean we are wrong. We are all right because we are talking about different numbers, but if you want to be a jerk about it I guess that's fine with me.

Also, your scenario is based on two BIG "ifs", that the Jazz and the Lakers both win the remainder fo their games. The loss column is more important, than overall games behind, but just because you can make up wins doesn't mean you will.

Geez these posts are just like a place to vent anger or something. Magnus made a valid informative statement and next thing you know people are bashing him. Take it easy people if you want to add to a statement go ahead, but if theres nothing wrong with it then no one wants to read about you being controversial over nothing.

I hope Boozers back muscles are not connected to his Hamstring!!!

Just kidding.

Actually these injuries are what cause players to not be able to play at full speed. Boozer might be cautious, and if he is and we lose, then should he have played?

I think Okurs has had some injuries for quite a while that he has just played through and only recently has gotten over them and we have all seen what a difference it has made of late.

As far as wins and losses goes--the Jazz are going to go on a roll here at home. The other teams are going to drop a few and catch up in the loss column. It will all come down to what the Jazz are able to do against these tougher teams playing on the road.

They have beat Boston and Phoenix recently--they can beat good teams on the road--so it will be interesting to watch.

I think boozer will continue be a fragile player because he is playing a position he is too small for.

A position that too physically demanding for him.

That may be the reason he doesn't play defense all that hard. Just too physically demanding for him.

If you take the winning percentages for home and away, and multiply that by remaining home and away games, the West ends up like this

Lakers      57 Wins
Rockets 56 Wins
Hornets 56 Wins
Jazz 55 Wins
Suns 55 Wins
Spurs 54 Wins
Mavs 53 Wins
Warriors 51 Wins

The Jazz own the tie breaker with Phoenix so the jazz have home court in the first series against Phoenix.

Too small as compared to what?.......2 or 3 seven foot tall biological freaks of nature that the league doen't have enough of to go around.....Boozer is doing a fine job. The jazz and their fans are lucky to have him!

I don't think he would make a good 3 man, he isnt mobile enough. When he gets pushed to 5 he is too small, but he is a good 4.

Geez, this is wild! If you go by "what if's" projections, it will take 51 wins to make the play-offs in the west. In the east, besides Boston, the only other teams with a reasonable shot at 51 wins are Detroit & Orlando! 50 wins in the east would get you a first round home court advantage. In the west, 50 wins puts you on the outside looking in.
Sometimes I think the best 16 teams in the league should get it on, and see who the real champion is!