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Preview - Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers - 22 February 2008
Well, after a lot of rumors, countless trade ideas, and BS, we’re finally past the trade deadline and we don’t have to hear any more about it for the rest of the year. The Jazz made their move a long time ago when they got Korver at the start of the current 19-3 run. We’ll have to see if any of the other higher profile acquisitions help their respective teams as much. The only one that I think that could approach that would be the Gasol trade. I still don’t know how that trade was approved.
Anyway, the Jazz are at LA tonight to play the hapless Clips. They really can’t get a break. After the made the playoffs for the first time in a couple decades a couple years ago, they looked like they might be back on track. But then they had injuries and other setbacks. The Shaun Livingston injury was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Then they lost Brand. Their only bright spot this year has been Kaman who found out that he didn’t have ADD and finally got off medication for it. And now he’s playing up to his contract.
And poor Sam Cassell (not really). He openly campaigned to get bought out and stated he would sign with the Celtics. Then he goes head-hunting on Rondo and kills any chance there. Plus, the NBA isn’t being kind to those players that speak out publicly (see Stackhouse). And isn’t it a little presumptuous to think you’d be automatically signed by one of the best teams in the league? Bad Karma.
Maybe the Clips should move to Seattle next year since their owner and Stern are hell-bent on getting them to the OKC. That way, the Clips can get out from the shadow of the Lakers and Seattle still gets to have a NBA team. It would suck to be second fiddle in a town like LA.
The Jazz should handle the Clippers again tonight like they have all year. Kaman will play well against us, but that’s about it. And it’s crazy to think that for the rest of the year that every game is a must-win. Portland’s fading and is 4 1/2 out of the playoffs. And the Jazz are only two games from being left out of the picture. And if we assume that they make the playoffs, every win still matters because of home court and seedings. They need to win every game right up to the last one with SA.
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So…. there were quite a few screwy games last night. I don’t know what the problem is. At least the Jazz only lost by 10. New Orleans lost to the Rockets by 20, ouch. Lets hope that they had a good practice today and that the winning streak at home continues.