I was thinking the same thing w/Jazz, RTG
UTAH looks to be a Year-or-Two Ahead
Yet w/right Match-Up they could have been a real sleeper
Ironic they drew San Antonio
Since the Jazz appear so parallel to LAST-YEARS' Memphis Grizzlies Team,
At least stylistically, slotted 1ST RD vs. 1-Seeded San Antonio
Fingerprint for Utah:
w/Jazz #2 Most Effective (Rated) FRONTCOURT
#6 PER [4] MILSAP
#3 PER [5] JEFFERSON
AVG COMBINED 36 PPG | 18.5 Reb? Damn productive
Utah also w/Above Avg Frontcourt BENCH
Non-Offensive Evans, a 10/7 'Big' w/Favors backing up Jefferson at [5]
Utah short on experience
Yet energy at a PREMIUM this yr,
Utah: 25.4 Avg Age Starter)
IF....
Jazz didn't have so many BACKCOURT Depth & Efficiency Issues
&/or were catching THAT 2010-2011 Spurs Team on Cruise...
Instead of THIS OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD 18-2 SAS Team (17-4 ATS)
SAS Team Rested & Ready....
Not to mention, DAZZLING EFFICIENCY
SAN ANTONIO
10 Game Win Streak
11 Consecutive Games w/More 3-Point FG's
10 Consecutive Games w/More Assists than Opp
#1 NBA's BENCH (+12.1 Eff/Diff)
#1 OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY (1.105 O-PPP)
#1 Three-Point Shooting (39%)
The List goes on...
Moreover...(can't hold back, esp as we read how 'OLD' Spurs are)
SAS is NOT THAT Old...&
SAS players that ARE Over 30 Yrs Old,
Have played idyllically moderate 2011-2012 Season Min
#5 RATED NBA PF | DUNCAN: 28.2 Min/Gm this Season
#2 RATED NBA SG | GINOBILI: 23.2 Min/Gm this Season
SAN ANTONIO STARTERS:
[1] PARKER 29 Yrs Old
[2] GREEN 24 Yrs Old
[3] LEONARD 20 Yrs Old
[4] DUNCAN 35 Yrs Old
[5] BLAIR 22 Yrs Old
SAS STARTERS AVERAGE AGE? 26 YEARS OLD
San Antonio DID get older by adding 34-Year Old Stephen Jackson
NEVERTHELESS
70% (7 of 10) of San Antonio's TOP 10 MPG Players
ARE UNDER 30-YEARS OLD
Boston?
Dallas?
Old as Dirt, by NBA Standards
To the Point, Utah facing this San Antonio Team
May have had a Haymakers' Shot - LAST YEAR
This Spurs Team appears remarkably driven...
I'd be more apt to take a calculated play w/
¼ UNIT
SAN ANTONIO +500