Let me preface this by stating that I read Simmons religously. I even try to put in today’s date in the URL to see if he’s got a column up before it’s posted on the front page. I’ve even read through the last year of almost exclusive Red Sox/Pats/Celts and not complained. And I’ll still read him because for the most part he’s entertaining in what he writes about.

So I don’t know why this Simmons’ article riled me up. The Jazz never get any respect anyway. But just a few days after stating in his interview with Charles Barkley (link to mp3) that the Jazz are one of four teams that could win the championship, he gives us his predictions for the west:

WEST PLAYOFF TEAMS
1. Phoenix, 64-18
2. Dallas, 57-25
3. Denver, 56-26
4. San Antonio, 56-26
5. Houston, 48-34
6. New Orleans, 43-39
7. Memphis, 42-40
8. Utah, 41-41

What. The. Hell? Is he stating that the Jazz will do worse than the 2003-04 season in which they went 42-20 with a bunch of no-names? Denver is going to be 15 games better than the Jazz? And the Jazz are going to have a 14 game drop from last year? I feel like SNL’s Weekly Update segment, Really? Really Bill? Derek Fisher is worth 14 games? That’s the only significant difference from last year.

I don’t know if this was written the morning he got back from one of his marathon Vegas trips or maybe he was in the delivery room with one hand being crushed by the Sports Gal and the other on the keyboard. Either way, his editors should have given him an extension.

UPDATE: More love: Northwest Division Preview Video .  This is ridiculous.