If Only I Could Forget

I wish I could forget easier. It would make being a Jazz fan this season so much more fun. Let me explain why. I think that the Jazz team this year is really, really good. Good enough to put some banners up in the rafters. I am not saying they are a lock for anything because the western conference is just that competitive, but what I am saying is that, if they play well, they have as good of a chance as anyone to win it. But it has been a weird season for me, and I am just starting to figure out why. It is because my emotions are a little bit scarred. I know it sounds overdramatic and cheesy, but the 1998 finals series with the bulls has left some possible permanent damage to my heart strings. I thought, and still believe actually, that we were the better team that year. Not only were we the better team, but I loved our team so much. I had so much confidence that we were going to win it all that year. So when it didn't happen, it threw me into a tailspin. It skewed my perception of how good you have to be to win. I thought to myself, "If Stockton, Malone, and Hornacek couldn't win a championship, who can?" At the time I didn't realize that that thought had been embedded into my thinking, but now I can plainly see that it has.

So that is why this season has been so weird for me. The Jazz are legitimately good this year and they are getting some positive, national attention. I am totally enjoying the ride and I love our team, but deep down inside there is still a part of me that says, "Don't kid yourself Andrew. They can't win it all. John and Karl couldn't even win it all in their prime. So why should you take these guys seriously." I also run into frustration if I compare our team with other teams that have won the title in recent history. L. A. had Shaq and Kobe, two of the best to ever play the game, San Antonio has Tim Duncan, and Detroit had one of the best and most defensive starting fives in the history of basketball. I just have a hard time thinking that we really measure up with those great teams. Basically what it comes down to is that I have low Jazz self esteem. And it all stems from Michael Jordan.

So this is why I wish I could forget those heartbreaking series back in '98. If I could, then I wouldn't be afraid to face the Spurs or the Lakers in the playoffs because I would know that we can beat them. I would have no doubts about Deron Williams being the bomb, becuase he IS the bomb. And I would have no doubts about this team being able to win it all, because dawg gonnit, they can win it all. This is a really, really good team.

Speaking of the playoffs, there is something that I have been thinking about. So much has been said about the Jazz and their inability to win on the road. It is true that our road record is terrible. And it is also true that our bad road record will most likely cost us home-court advantage for sure in the later rounds and possibly in the first round as well. But, I do believe that there is a silver lining. The silver lining is that we are way better than our record shows and that will allow us to sneak up on people in the playoffs. Since the all-star break, we have the second best record in the league, with Houston obviously having the best due to the long win streak. Also, since the Korver trade, we have been much better on the road. So, if other teams take a look at our record, they may not take us as seriously as they should. Think about this. The average road record for the top nine teams in the west is 20-17. If you gave the Jazz that average road record, the Jazz would be sitting at 55-21. First place in the West with a 1 1/2 game lead over the Hornets. We would trail only the Celtics for the best record in the league. I don't think that it is unreasonable for us to believe that we are the best team in the west. I know that every team has easy games that they wish they would have won but didn't, but I think that this years Jazz team has had an abnormal amount of those kinds of games. I can't explain why that is the case, but I do feel that it is more of a fluke than a reflection of our true ability. That is why I am okay with a mental changing of our record that puts us in a better situation, because I truly believe that we are one of the best, if not the best team in the west. Now, having said that, could we lose in the first round of the playoffs? Yes, because the gap between all the playoff teams this year is so small. There may be no gap at all. When I look at the first round matchups, its hard to pick favorites. If you couldn't see the seedings, would you really be able to pick a clear cut winner in any of these series? I don't think so. It is going to come down to matchups. How well does our particular team's strengths and weaknesses match up with those of our opponent. I am so excited for the first round of these playoffs. I think we are going to see a historic series. I just hope that the Jazz come out on top. I know that they can. Now if only I could shake off the Michael Jordan curse, I might be able to enjoy it even more. Well, here's to hoping.