See all us season ticket holders next season. Let's hope the Lakers trade Bynum back for Kwame Brown.

Brad has hit the nail on the head.

I watched the Jazz down the stretch and Deron did not involve all of the players. The only reason we even had a chance was that Boozer - the concensus Olympic pick by the national media - fouled out and Williams could not force feed him.

Phil Jackson has a way of exposing another team's weaknesses. It also helps when an ex-Jazzman knows every play you signal. Boozer is the weakest link. His game is not capable of adjustment. He is going to take his shots regardless of what might be happening and 5 for 16 proves that. Boozer will not pass out a double team down low. The head goes down and the ball goes up.

With the way this team is made up right now it is not going to be any better than it is right now. That includes the coach too. When Sloan comes up against a Jackson or Popovich we will stubbornly follow the plan even though they have figured out how to derail it.

Next season is already predcited - Jazz with 50+ wins and a second round exit in the playoffs.

The Jazz don't need to make many moves this off season. As one of the younger teams, they can continue to gel as a team and shore up weak spots. Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio---and I believe Denver----must makes the moves if they want to improve.

Two things the Jazz need: A proven 3 point shooter and a staunch defender. They had both in Derek Fisher. AK-47 provides good trade fodder. Perhaps they could pull something off for Bruce Bowen...

Part 1: Now that the Jazz have been eaten by the purple people, instead of becoming purple people eaters, here's my take on their future.

The Jazz lineup needs to change. The dead weight consists of Hart and Collins. Almond and Fesenko will replace them after the draft or free agency picks up two to three new players (we have 14, can have 15) to take over the bench warming and D-league duties from Morris and Fez, although Fez might spend another year down there to develop. I think Morris has gotten as much as he can from that experience. He needs more real NBA time now.

I think Almond will fill two roles (until he proves to be the best trey man): 3rd point backup and backup 2—and let'em fight for who's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at the 2. It'll make for good competition, considering how much of a playoff flop Korver became. I suspect his career trey percentage was built on games that didn't matter so much, rather than playoff games where it's easy to CHOKE.

I can't see improving the team, except to pick up a superstar.

Part 2: We currently don't have a superstar. D-Will might become one when he matures, Memo won't (he's just a good starter), and Boozer has too many chinks in his armor to be a superstar (stupid fouls, unaware of who's around him, doesn't show up for game after game).

But superstars are hard to come by, and who would we let go for one? Well, if one can make as much a difference as Kobe does for the Lakers, who cares?

The Jazz got lucky by having a few bad enough seasons that they were able to pick up Stockton's successor. Now they just need one more top-notch player to get them over the top.

I don't see this team as it's constituted doing much more than just making noise in the post season. The team is full of good role players, but you don't win championships that way. You need Ginobilis, Fishers, and the like to be a pain in other teams' rears--guys that are more than just role players, yet not superstars. Maybe Almond can do that. He's more athletic than Korver, and might become a better trey man.

Part 3: How about THIS lineup:

Starters: 1=Williams; 2=Almond; 3=AK; 4=Memo; 5=Fez (tall front line!)

Backups: 1=Price; 2=Brewer; 3=Harpring; 4=Millsap; 5=Boozer (small lineup time)

3rd String: 2=Korver (and end of game for foul shooting when we're leading); 2 or 3=Miles

Bench: newbies (draft, free agents) or leftovers (Collins, Hart, if they're still here)

I don't think Boozer deserves starting status until he can prove he's more consistent than Fez. (Heh-heh.) Too bad Jerry won't let Fez learn on the job. I don't see Boozer resolving his armor chinks.

The reason I place Almond ahead of Brewer is because he'll always be the better outside threat. We need to start games with that. Might as well let Almond learn on the job. Korver can just be a role player, rather than the 2 backup. Doubt he's worth more than that. Brewer's energy off the bench would be more beneficial than not having a long threat early on.

Draft-wise or through free agency, we need BIG men. At least, a center and a power forward. We're too weak there.

The future looks bright for the Jazz, but only if they can pick up a superstar somehow.

Larry Miller will never field a championship team. His goal is a profitable team, win as much as you can as cheaply as you can. It takes a financial commitment that Larry will never make.

the jazz had a good season with the addition of korver i thought he was a little scared to take that last shot, but inside the jazz have nobody to pound the ball. I would have like to see araujo work out, i think he is ten times better then collins. No inside game hurt us against the lakers. Lets make a blockbuster trade of our own this summer.D Will is the best point guard in the league

I didn't watch all of the game, but what I did watch, Boozer should have only come out to give Collins or someone else a break. He shouldn't have been starting.

I think the Jazz have done enough trades in the "geriatric" department over the years. I don't think that's the answer.

I think the Jazz should stay pat with the talent that they have. They have all the pieces they need and the team , as is , can work together towards their goals. They have youth , raw talent, and chemistry. Too many times teams try and put a bandade on a bullet wound and still not stop the bleeding. Spend the $ on waht we have , but make performance bonuses out there and learn from the OysterGag lesson , some up front and then reward personal growth. I believe that we have the pieces that it takes.. we don't need to pay for an old superstar like Shaq , Kidd , or Bibby. Miller can dance with the boys who brought us a great year ! If we change anything make Sloan assistant to Phil Johnson

bruce bowen come on man thats just dumb. again people dump all over ak when if i was mistaken he amazing plays down the stretch. booz needs to pull his act together or else he is going to get traded and millsap will start which should have been the case since march. booz for al jefferson or al horford.

I know that I've heard Jerry talk about how no one is guaranteed a spot in the starting line-up and everyone has to earn their position. I guess we'll find out if he really means that because if he does Millsap will be our starting power forward next year and you-know-who will be on the bench where he belongs.

If Memo and you fans will re-run the game film it will show that Korver should have got the ball back from Memo after his pass to him because he was wide open. Also numerous times Korver was open for shots and never got the ball. Ball movement please guys just like the Lakers did. Weak interior defense needs to be addressed this off season for sure. Other than that we are fine nothing that a good coach couldn't live with.

I think Jazz have done a descent 2008 campaign,4 best in western cenference!!!
This team is good!!! they have talent!!! however I think we need an extra player if not a star, with experience, good resume.
DWILL, good leadership, great player. BOZZER, Big muscles, no power, some nights great numbers, some not, nobody is perfect, but he needs to prove is the other leader on this team.
K47 doing good, can be better. OKUR good inprovement under the basket. BREWER athletic player he can do better, he'll do with time.
We need to bring somebody like V Carter,he is lost right now, or Wade Miami is far away to be a good team again..I dont know...we need 1 extra player.
Collins, Hart, Miles and maybe Millsap for trade and bring the extra guy!!!
Almond can be with time, Fesenko needs more training for the NBA but he is going to be good!!!

the jazz just need a defensive presence in the middle (I wish they would have went after Tyson Chandler instead of letting him go to NO) Look what that would have done. The jazz would be way tougher and NO would not have been nearly as good. The lakers were lucky to get Pau Gasol and without that trade they dont make it out of the first round. Maybe the jazz could have gotten him for ak and some picks. Can you imagine the jazz with Chandler and Gasol ??? Also, the jazz were just a bad December away from having the #1 seed in the tough west. Its not time to jump ship. They are young and if they could add one good defensive minded big man to replace Collins and learn from this year they will be just fine next year. If they played with the same energy to start the game as they finished with they would have won this as well and who knows what would have happened in Game 7. The lakers are 10 times better now with Gasol and fisher. Too bad the jazz werent more aggressive in blocking those deals. Go JAzz !!

I guess a lot of you did not watch Fes down in Orem. He was not the best center even on his own team. Lang played better than Fes most games. He needs a lot of work before he can play in the NBA let along start.

I agree hailstorm, with one exception, get rid of sloan all together. He has taught his assistants about defense, but we need to move on. There is a lot of poison in him that has filtered down and is ruining these young players. Put Sloan in the office with O'conner. Let Phil, Scott and Ty coach these guys. They can relate to these young players and they will respect them. Just like the AK situation yesterday. SLoan blew that out of proportion and had actually excused AK but Sloans brain is hard wired to criticize and that is it? Did Sloan comeout last night and say, we have had a great season. We made some mistakes in this series, but were going on vacation, and we will be back ready for a great season next year.
No he criticized everything and everyone.
Miller just likes loosing money. The problem with Miller is he is a great man, but he is so attached to his team that he can make the right business decisions.
Make it now Larry, please...

First I really hope we keep CJ and he plays in the Revue so Sloan does not keep him in the dog house most the season. Second lets trade that New York draft Pick and this years draft pick for a higher pick plus maybe Almond(all he can do is shoot, he can not play D, he can not pass, he can not drive. The reason he did not get called up is because they sent him to develop these skills and he never did). Maybe we could get high enough to draft a potential star big man like Kevin Love or Brook Lopez.

Puzzeled,
That weak interior defense is because Sloan is still running the offense from the bench. If MEMO would have passed the ball back to Korver, he would have been traded in the off season for not doing what sloan had told him to run? Notice how well the Jazz can play when the team is not looking over at sloan every play down the court. Of course the other teams in the league know the JAZZ game. Nothing changed in 20 years. Still Sloan running the show, not letting these kids run & gun and play with the other teams.

TIME FOR NEW COACH????? PHIL JOHNSON, SCOTT LAYDEN, TY CORBIN.... Great staff. Turn the lights out Jerry when you leave, please...

The Jazz are missing two things that other teams who are still playing have.
1. The Jazz lack defenders. This team has proven they can put up points but Boozer's defense is pathetic and not just in the playoffs but all year. Memo is great offensively but a very slow defender. AK great weak side defender but poor one on one defender.
2.Teams still playing have three guys that can take over a game. Boston have three. Spurs have three. Detroit has four. Dwill is all the Jazz have and that alone never lets him rest or have one off game. If he does no one on the team can take up the slack.

The Jazz are in desperate need of an all-star defender and all star player. The team needs it as well as Dwill needs it.

If this team comes back with all the same players it will be hard to stay a fan not feeling they are not trying to get better. Some I know are happy with the 50+ wins and 2nd round exits and that speaks volumes of someone happy with mediocrity. Me I want the whole thing and most winners do to.

Andre and Booz for Amare and Bell. Both teams are better for it!

I watched the Flash play this season and there are some DLeague players worth a look at the RMR or training camp. I think Kevin Kruger should get an invitation. He's a coach's kid, is smart and can play a decent point. One game he scored 43 points. A couple or three DLeaguers also are worthy of a look. Mike Taylor, Roberto Bergersen and Cory Violette of the DLeague champion Stampede I think could contribute to the bench. In a game in Orem Violette and Bergersen clearly outplayed Almond and Fess. Another guy that could be gotten on the cheap if former Jazzman and current Pacer Andre Owens. He and DWill are friends and he plays hard.

Now why these pet rocks??? They could be signed for cheap and would allow the Jazz to make a play for a big dollar player whose skills they lack via a trade. It would give Sloan and KOC options.

Criticizing Jerry Sloan is ridiculous. They lost because they fell apart and didn't execute. They did not show up--that shows a need to develop mental toughness. Nobody is going to hand them anything (particularly the refs), so they are going to have to prepare their minds to go and take it. That particularly applies to Boozer. I love the guy but he downright sucked in the playoffs. Millsap outplayed him to the point of ridiculousness. If Malone really is one of Boozer's heroes, he needs to watch some old tape of Malone taking it to the hole! If Boozer goes in and puts up that lazy, soft layup crap against a very tall team like the Lakers he's going to get blocked every time. If he goes for the dunk every time, he will get fouled and then you put the other team in foul trouble. I wish Boozer had fouled out in the 2nd quarter last night because the Jazz would have eliminated most of their turnovers, forced shots and weak interior defense. They played much better with Booz on the bench. Come on Booz, you can do better.

I am SO happy the Jazz are out of the playoffs. Your team plays so dirty, and is so overrated, it's sick. Enjoy the offseason Jazz fans...maybe you can, er, well...I'm trying to think of something fun to do in Utah, but I can't think of anything! The Lakers are and will forever be a superior franchise. I'll be enjoying my drink with the palm trees and the ocean, watching the Lakers move on. This is what you guys deserve for booing Derek Fisher!!!

Kudos to those seeing Sloan as the problem. Look at his post season record. He is 500 overall and the winning percentage gets worse with each round they go deeper in the playoffs. DWill gave you all you need to know about why the Jazz won't win a championship with sloan. They haven't practiced in 3 weeks are yopu kidding me. The triangle offense is a motion offense based on spacing and backcuts. You can't defend that with european 7 footers that want to shoot 3's and not defend anyone. You need athletes that will step in front of someone and take a charge occasionally. Winning championships is about coaching situations. When a superstar is ailing you need to put the pressure on him. Harpring should have started on Kobe in Game five and knocked him on his rear end a few times early. He will get the calls anyway so you might as well make the fouls count. Dwill needs some help in the backcourt from someone who will help extend the opponents offense out higher. Get a good two and move brewer to three. AK is at his peak, he will not get better

I'm amazed at the Boozer and Sloan haters. But then, this is about the time of year when they normally jump ship.

We all knew this was going to happen, way back in February. It was inevitable. When the Gasol trade went trough, everyone knew that the Lakers were the favorites to win the title. In the off season they pick up Fisher as a free gift from us. Super classy move by the Jazz organization but I guess it came back to haunt us. Then in February they get Gasol for basically nothing. When you have a team with Odom and Bryant and then add those two, wow. I would be shocked if the Lakers didn't win it all. They're that good. I'm interested to see the payroll for the Lakers players. How can they afford all those guys?? When does the luxury tax kick in?

I like that idea! Amare and Bell would be great!

I must say that I was quite impressed with the overall performance of the Jazz through out the playoffs. There were some individual performances that were quite sad but as a whole, I thought the Jazz played well. I agree with everyone on here that the Jazz are lacking just one player from putting them over the top. All they need is one more strong defender/scoring threat. Personally, if I had to choose one player to trade it would probably be AK. He is on and off more than Boozer. I think that in a few years, the Jazz will definately be a force to be reckoned with. D-Will, Boozer, CJ, Millsap, Price, Korver, and others will only continue to improve their game. HOpefully Almond can step in and fill in the holes next year.

To all you laker fans saying the jazz play dirty
you all had better hope n.o beats the spurs or else you will be playing a team that really plays dirty. also all lakers fans are fairweather fans who probally were bulls fans 11 years ago at least the jazz have a real coach that wont bail out when they have a bad season or a superstar that is a rapeist

I think Bell would be a nice fit if they could get him, good 3 pt shooter, would have stayed in Utah if they had offered him a good deal, likes Sloan as coach, and most of all great defense, nobody gets in Kobe's head like Bell. Jazz need a big defensive center. Boozer is not a good Jazz fit, no passion, and anybody who gives you crab about Millsap being to small to be a star is not watching. Every team in the NBA is going to go after Millsap. Millsap is going to get even better, and I just think he makes Boozer expendable if we can get something for him. Ak is needed for hustle and defense, and he improved his game. Okur is still a valuable offensive threat and a good defensive center would help his game a bunch. Brewer, Almond, and Korver are all adequate offensive players. One good big man and the Jazz can be in the company of the elite teams. They do have trade possibilities. And please quit whining about Sloan, this City would have a Clippers type team without Sloan and Larry Miller. Williams is going to be superstar.

Sorry but I hope Fesenko never plays. He is not the answer. The Jazz need a real POWER forward. I think Millsap is the answer. Trade Boozer and build around Paul.

hey hater....atleast the Lakers got some rings

Is laughing hysterically at everyone. Isn't it great how we all know the answer to what "ails" the Jazz. Last I checked none of us were working in the NBA and ought to shut up and enjoy the ride.

I am a little surprised to see all of the different takes on what eliminated the Jazz. I am so bummed that we are already done for this year. Its hard to tell all of the things that the current players may have been going through and how much those things get exploited in the playoffs. It was tough to see Boozer not have any confidence in his jumper and basically eliminate that part of his game; I really can't understand how the ball gets taken from AK so easily...its like he is either looking for a foul every time or the weakest hands in the game. I thought that Memo was so hobbled that his footwork looked like he was moving in slow motion. With that being said I am also very optimistic about several things that I did see- Paul Millsap not only wants it more than anyone else he seems to have all of us Jazz fans questioning Booz's value. Ronnie Brewer got better and better on Kobe as the series went on and with a little more work on the jumper and "D" this summer could be a shut down no. 2. ..cont.

Ronnie Price got some real big minutes and with his talent could really be a quality back-up to Deron, a-la Pargo for the Hornets. Deron Williams has proven his toughness, talent, and made the playoffs so fun to watch! I wish that his game would just speak for itself and everyone would get over the whole him and Paul trivia questions.
My only real take on the Jazz and hope that we are planning in the offseason is a way to get bigger(taller) and better on D with our bigs. With the point guard that we have and the intensity that we play with even horrible shooting games like last night we score 100 points. I just dont see the Jazz overcoming the Lakers, Spurs, Hornets, without a better low post. Memo and Carlos are just not good defenders. That was so apparent throughout the series and the year. Anyone that gets past the perimeter has no help from those two guys. They got exploited by Odom and Gasol. Millsap and AK know how to help but they are not often around in crunch time. Does anyone else see this?!? Because I never hear anything about it. "D" wins rings!

Derek Fisher is the difference.

Last year with Fish, Jazz go to conference finals. This year with Fish, Lakers go to conference finals. Games in the Jazz/Lakers series where Fish plays well, Lakers win. Games where Fish doesn't play well, Jazz win.

The sad irony of it all is that Fish ended up with the Lakers because LHM is a good guy.

I hate to say it, but maybe next time LHM lets a guy out of his contract he could add some restrictions...

Bell isn't he answer,

Yu need a shooting guard preferably a star one, who can shoot the three. That's why brewer has to be taken out at theend of games.

Your starter should be you best players if they have to be take out at the end of the games, what does that tell you?

You need bigmen who play defense.

Tehy need a change in the system, it is too dependent on the point guard runnin it.

That's why it fails or struggles when the starting point guard is out.

The system doesn't guard the three.

The system depends on the pick and roll too much, taking every one else out of the game.

But most of they all too afraid sloan, that if they do anything he migh not like or agree with, they will be taken out of the game, except oddly boozer (he can play defense badly and it doesn't make a difference), go figure?

I really don't more more years experince making a difference except for few less youthful mistakes.

If the jazz really want win a championship some big changes must occur.

Or more of the same.
I hope the jazz get some kahonies.

the only reason that I dont agree with the fish analogy is this: we beat the rockets and the warriors last year. We would easily beat those opponents this year too. We lost to the Spurs last year and the Lakers this year. Both of those teams were bigger than us and beat the crap out of us inside. I believe that Fish is a huge reason that the Lakers won this year, for them. I think to get to a championship you have to play defense and that I still believe is why we need better interior size and defensive play. I think Memo or Boozer would be much better players if they had a quality defender to run along side them. They just dont fit (for a title)playing together.

Obviously, you didn't go see the Flash play this season. Fes was inconsistent at best, lazy at worst. He is far from being a bench warmer, let alone an NBA starter.

We are all frustrated at losing, but the negativity
here is amazing. The Jazz are a great young team. The Lakers with a little help from the Officials beat em, but that doesn't change the fact they they are great and young. Give em a chance to grow up. With a couple of modest improvements.... mostly back-ups, they will get there.

Don't blow up a great young team out of frustration from losing.

Fesenko will make the necessary adjustments to become a valuable role player next year. He had great energy when he played a couple of games this year and it is exceptional if a rookie sees time in Sloan's system. We will be very deep and very versatile to have Millsap and Fes off the bench next year. We will contend for a championship for the next 5 years, which only a few teams can say. Phoenix and Dallas can't say that next year and SA won't be able to say that in three years.

Yes, Boozer was MIA but the real problem was that the Lakers (even without Bynum) have the best team in the league easily. Next year they will be even better. Let's just hope we don't see them until the conference finals.

Last year everyone was complaining about Memo's play in the play offs. Then we find out much later he had a foot injury and back problems that were not blasted all over the media. Who knows about Boozer? He has had problems with his back all season, but he is not saying much about it..unlike the sore back Kobe had. What ever.

You can complain about refs favoring the Lakers but they didnt allow them to shoot over 50%. We all know defense is the key. Specifically interior. Look at how many layups the Lakers had. Just like with any other sport, football, baseball, hockey, defense will win championships. Thats why denver, phoenix and now utah r all on vacation.

I am not trying to be negative. I think that a lot of Jazz fans just get angry and blame others for the teams problems (like officials). I am not blaming anyone.
I think that the jazz had an incredible year and they were the highlight of the last month.
I would say though, that the jazz are a business and you run your team just like you would your business.
The jazz need to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the team at a very critical point where they have key young players who are locked up for a short term, the window for championships is very small.
Memo and Boozer are very talented offensive players, but are both sub par defenders. They would both be suited better to have other tall, defense minded big men to help shore up the weak interior and give them more opportunities.
I haven seen Fes enough to really know, but I seriously doubt that he is the answer.

I think Utah had a great season and there is no reason to think they won't be back in the mix of things nest year. Look, this year they played a tough Houston team and ran into a very good lakers team, whom they played well considering our top scorer dissapeared. A few plays go Utah's way in game 5 and this series takes a completely different turn, but that's in the past. Utah doesn't need to make any drastic changes (like the absured idea to trade AK for Bowen) with the exception of maybe bringing in a veteren who can come off the bench. Utah needs to focus of gaining homecourt so they don't run into their road problems as often. Anyway, go Jazz.

wow Jazz fans all over AK. He is the only defender in this poor team. He is only one in one defender and one of best in league. I wish he played more. And the end Sloan ruined his career. Stupid people doesn't deserve AK game. Wherever you go you will be best. Get lost. Good luck man...

I have watched the Jazz play the same lame game for years, the same rotation, wether someone was hot or cold,Sloan needs to learn some new tricks !