The Utah Jazz 2006 NBA Preview

2005 Record: 41-41
2006 NBA Projection: 46-36 (2nd Northwest Division)

Front Court
The trio of center Mehmet Okur, power forward Carlos Boozer, and small forward Andrei Kirilenko are the core for the Jazz for the next decade. With all three under the age of 25, Jerry Sloan and Jazz fans alike should expect great things from this group when they hit their prime in a few seasons. Until then, Utah Jazz fans need to get used to some growing pains though there will be enough good moments to keep them coming back for more. Okur was the team's leading scorer in 2005 and should continue to mop up on the offensive boards this season. While Okur continues his development as an NBA center, Boozer and Kirilenko will ease the defensive pressure off of their teammate. Kirilenko is a great rebounder, a great defensive player, but lacks the offensive chops to be considered much of a threat outside the lane. Boozer is a big body who can get blocks and rebounds with the ability to score when needed. All three will play well this season and the future is bright for this group.

Back Court
The biggest problem for the Jazz in 2005 was that rookie Deron Williams was not up to the task of leading the team from the point. Williams may one day be a solid point guard but the Jazz wanted him to develop off the bench in 2006. To this end, veteran point guard Derek Fisher was brought in to help win games now and mentor Williams for the future. Fisher is aging but still a complete point guard that will help this team come together in 2006. Fisher will still share significant minutes with Williams but in tight games, Fisher is the man. While Gordan Giricek will start the season at shooting guard, his inconsistency and poor shooting will make the development of rookie Ronnie Brewer all the more important. Sloan will have Brewer ready to role by the twenty to twenty-five game mark and the two guards will share starts until Brewer is ready to start full time.

Bench
The Jazz bench will have some solid performers, though it is not deep enough for them to compete for the NBA title this season. The loser of the Brewer/Giricek competition will be the lead guard off the bench, with Deron Williams getting some solid minutes at the point. In the back court, forward Matt Harpring and center Jarron Collins are adequate though don't have the tools to follow up the solid trio they have in the starting lineup. The bench has talent in the back court but the drop off will be noticeable when Okur, Boozer, and Kirilenko are out.

Intangibles
The Jazz are surprisingly relaxed for a team that hasn't been in the playoffs for the last three seasons. Considering the Stockton-Malone era and their annual appearances in the NBA playoffs, Utah fans would not be blamed for a little restlessness. Their comfort comes from a long term plan concocted by Coach Jerry Sloan and Utah management to get the Jazz back to the top of the NBA over a five-year period. Sloan, the longest tenured coach in the NBA, has the skill, the patience, and the credibility to make the Utah franchise good once again. Sloan's strengths fit well with a young but maturing team that will build momentum early on if they can avoid injuries.

2006 NBA Projection
The Jazz will improve in 2006, with the front court combo coming together and Derek Fisher making a difference at the point. Jerry Sloan will get his team back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and with his savvy and a solid team effort, they stand a decent chance of advancing beyond the first round. However, Sloan and Jazz management are in it over the long term and the next few seasons may see the Jazz back to their former prominence.