Lakers are 1st in the West.

The Jazz are 2nd.

The Jazz are tied with the Mavs (off today), and 0.5 games up on the Suns (winning today right now).

Kobe just signed a 3-year extension.

The Lakers are coming off of a sub-par road trip, and have something to prove.

The Jazz are going to have to be at their best today.

As it is, they struggle to match up with Lakers.

Can they answer the call?

It was a long time coming, but with yesterday's win over the Knicks (as ugly as it might've been) plus the Nuggets loss to the Mavs, the Jazz are in 1st place in the Northwest Division.

And they sit just 0.5 games back of the Mavs for 2nd place in the West right now. As the season winds down, the Jazz need to keep playing well. The good about the 2nd & 3rd spots is obvious... you don't face the Lakers until the Western Conference Finals. Given how badly the Jazz match-up with the Lakers, that is a major plus. Maybe even more so than the home-court itself.

San Antonio, Portland and Oklahoma City are currently battling for the 6-8 spots (though obviously nothing is set in stone and a big run by one of those teams and a collapse by another team could mess things up).

Preferences on a 1st round match-up?

Well, March Madness is rapidly approaching. And while the NBA season isn't over, this is a great time to sit down and fall in love with players you know the Jazz will never draft. Just remember not to fall too in love with anyone... 1-4 years of play > 3 weekends (or less) of amazing play. But still, it's a great time to look at some of the prospects that might be available.

For those that don't remember, the Jazz currently own the Knicks 1st-round pick (currently, it would be #9 in the draft). There are hopes of getting a much better pick, but that doesn't seem likely without some lucky bounces of ping-pong balls. Their own 1st round pick, meanwhile, belongs to Minnesota (via Philadelphia) provided it is below #17 (it currently sits at #24). The Jazz would have to implode to end this season to end up with two 1st-round picks.

Having looked at the PGs and the wings, it's time for the last installment... the 'bigs'. Where do the Jazz stand? Well, they have Paul Millsap & Mehmet Okur locked up for a couple of years. They've got Carlos Boozer who will be a FA... will he be back? That would probably require trading one of Okur or AK47. Then they've got Fesenko, who's looked good in limited minutes, and Koufos, who has looked good down in the D-League recently. Who knows what the situation will look like next year? If Booze is gone, the Jazz could potentially use a rookie behind 'Sap. If Okur is gone (or Fesenko/Koufos are not the answer), then a big could be an option. So what options are playing in March Madness?

Power Forwards

Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech (Top 10 pick). Well, to start with, he's being compared to Al Horford. Reason enough, right? He needs to work on handling double-teams (which he'll definitely face if he's anything like Al Horford), and passing the ball out of the paint (which is how the Jazz offense works). He's an inside presence. He's a student of the game, and a quick learner. He's a solid rebounder as well, and being a freshman, his potential is even higher. Favors will get a chance to go up against Oklahoma State in the 1st round, and if things work out magnificently, he could get a go at Georgetown big Greg Monroe, which would be a great match-up.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky (Mid 1st). Patterson will get a chance early to prove his worth for the #1 Kentucky Wildcats. Things to watch include his versatility (he might be undersized to be a pure 4 in the league) and his aggressiveness... occasionally he's too aggressive and gets into foul trouble. On the other hand, he's more-or-less NBA ready, and while his jumper could use some work, he's solid everywhere else (post-game, rebounding, etc).

Ekpe Udoh, Baylor (Mid 1st). Baylor enters as a 3-seed, setting them up with favorable match-ups early on. One guy that'll look to make his presence felt is Udoh. He has a nice hook shot inside, shoots a high percentage from the field... and even has isolation plays called for him out on the perimeter. Turnovers are occasionally an issue, and his FT shooting needs help. His defensive presence is a bit lacking, but it can be improved with some work. He does make his presence felt defensively.

Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech (Mid 1st). Very raw. FT issues. Gets into unnecessary foul trouble. Good in the post. Defensive presence. He considered coming out in the draft last year, passed on the chance, and his stock has fallen with the presence of Derrick Favors in the front court now. He can still be a presence in the post though. If Booze leaves and the Jazz need a replacement... ?

Trevor Booker, Clemson (Early 2nd). Way undersized, at 6'7. He's got no post game, his FT shooting isn't very good and he tends to go for blocks on defense instead of establishing position. Finishes well around the rim (dunks, not lay-ups) and is all over the offensive boards. The height is going to be hard for him. He plays an undersized center in college, and will be an undersized pro in the NBA. It'll be interesting to see how he plays should Clemson get far enough to match him up against Patrick Patterson or the likes.

Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (Mid 2nd). Again, a 6'7 PF. He's got a low release that might doom him against NBA bigs. On the plus side, he's got great post skills, has a nose for the ball, and is much better at passing out of double-teams now. With a potential 2nd round match-up against Ekpe Udoh looming, this could be fun to watch. Harangody also has a pasable jumper.

Centers (I'm not going to post anything about them to a lack of time, but don't miss their games if you can avoid it.)

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky (Top 10 pick).

Cole Aldrich, Kansas (Top 10 pick).

Greg Monroe, Georgetown (Top 10 pick).

Soloman Alabi, Florida State (Mid 1st).

Dexter Pittman, Texas (Mid 2nd).

It's looking like the Jazz pick could be well placed if the Jazz want a big... there are plenty of options. And short of Wall or Turner, going big might be the best option for the Jazz. Anyone catch your eye?

Well, March Madness is rapidly approaching. And while the NBA season isn't over, this is a great time to sit down and fall in love with players you know the Jazz will never draft. Just remember not to fall too in love with anyone... 1-4 years of play > 3 weekends (or less) of amazing play. But still, it's a great time to look at some of the prospects that might be available.

For those that don't remember, the Jazz currently own the Knicks 1st-round pick (currently, it would be #9 in the draft). There are hopes of getting a much better pick, but that doesn't seem likely without some lucky bounces of ping-pong balls. Their own 1st round pick, meanwhile, belongs to Minnesota (via Philadelphia) provided it is below #17 (it currently sits at #24). The Jazz would have to implode to end this season to end up with two 1st-round picks.

We've seen some of the top PGs, so now a look at some of the top wing prospects that will be playing this weekend (at least). (The information comes from the slight viewing I have, or from NBADraft.net and Draftexpress.com) The wing position is a confusing mess of talent for the Jazz. They have CJ & Matthews & Korver & AK right now. And Jeffers for at least the next couple of days. And Ronnie P, who isn't a PG despite the Jazz trying him there. They did trade Ronnie Brewer because of the log jam (so they claim), so maybe they're not looking for a wing. Though if the lottery works out well, there are a couple guys worth looking at. Logjam or not.

Shooting Guards

Evan Turner, Ohio State (Top 2 pick). Honestly, he's probably the #2 pick unless someone has a very, very strong showing during March Madness & the draft camps. Or if someone falls in love with him and drafts him over John Wall. Turner has been huge for the Buckeyes this season, helping guide them to a #2 overall seed. Turner prefers having the ball in his hands, I don't know if the Jazz need a guy like that with Deron. He could potentially work on his jumper a bit too. And why might people fall in love with him? He's been really, really clutch as of late. Personally, I'd love to see him on the Jazz if they somehow end up with the #2 pick.

Xavier Henry, Kansas (Mid 1st). Henry could end up going near the end of the lottery, which could be where the Jazz end up. He's young (a freshman this year), he's turnover prone and he settles for jumpers. All things Slow would hate him for. But he's reportedly a hard-worker and coachable. He attacks the hoop often, and gets to the line. And he'll show up in the box score with rebounds and stats too. He plays on #1 Kansas, so barring something shocking, he might get a chance to prove his worth in the Final Four. And a chance to meet up with another potentially lottery pick in the tourney... either Evan Turner or James Anderson.

James Anderson, Oklahoma State (Mid 1st). Another potentially lottery pick, he plays for the #7 seeded Cowboys. A win in the 1st round, and he gets a match-up with Evan Turner. Keep winning, and he might get to face Xavier Henry. Talk about the bracket to watch if you want a 1st round SG. Anderson is a 2-guard that isn't comfortable creating his own offense, but is solid with the catch-and-shoot (something Kyle Korver has been doing brilliantly as of late). He's also become more aggressive this year, attacking the hoop and getting to the line. And he has the skill-set to be a lockdown defender. Something the Jazz could really use.

Avery Bradley, Texas (Late 1st). He's not a guarantee to come out this season (NBADraft has him in their mock for 2011). There are minor similarities to Ronnie Price... too short for a 2-guard (Bradley is 6'2), and his limited decision-making/passing skills and score first attitude make him a bad fit as a PG. He does have a big wingspan that makes him a sort of stopper on the defensive end. And he's still young, so the rest of his game should develop. Texas is the #8 seed, and if they win in round 1, he could find himself on John Wall for parts of the 2nd round game. Would be interesting to see, at the least.

Jimmer Fredette, BYU (Mid 2nd). I'm sure half of Utah would really, really love to see this pick. Fredette, like Bradley, is 6'2. Not good for a 2-guard, though he has reportedly been working on his PG skills... which'll be key if he hopes to make the league. He's got a solid jumper though, and a quick release. He's also effective at driving and kicking to the open guy. And he gets to the line a lot. Or at least he did during the MWC tournament. BYU is a 7-seed this year, so they should at least get to the 2nd round.

Aubrey Coleman, Houston (Mid 2nd). What is with the short 2-guards? Coleman checks in a 6'3. Which would be fine for a PG. He even plays with the ball in his hands most of the time for Houston. He also doesn't have much in terms of court vision... he looks to score first. And he's got to work on his shooting from downtown and the FT line. Houston isn't favored to win (starting as a #13 seed), but if they can pull an upset he could find himself against Kalin Lucas (Michigan State). Win again, and there's a chance of matching up with Xavier Henry or Sherron Collins (Kansas). But your best bet might just be the first game, where he'll match up with the next guy.

Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (Mid 2nd). He checks in at 6'6, but might be better cut out to be a taller PG. He's a great rebounder for his height. He attacks the rim often, has great court vision and no range on his jumper, making him a bad fit for a 2-guard (though maybe not for the Jazz). He's also got questionable decision making though... that needs some help. His on-ball defense is nothing special, and he's cocky... probably to a fault. To see what his tourney could look like (opponent-wise), read what I wrote for Coleman above. Same thing... except for the needing to get lucky and spring upsets.

Andy Rautins, Syracuse (Late 2nd). Rautins doesn't have the hype of some of his teammates, but he's NBA ready right now. He's got a quick release and is accurate on his jumper, and is also active without the ball (a must for Jerry Sloan, it seems). Like most jump-shooting guards, he's a hot-or-cold guy. He also can't create his own shot, and occasionally tries to get too fancy with his passes. If things go really, really wacky he could find himself against Jimmer Fredette in the Elite 8. More likely though, it'll be the Final Four before he faces another top SG prospect.

Small Forwards

Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest (Top 10 pick). Aminu and Waker Forest might not be in the tourney for long, given their inconsistencies. Luckily for them, their opponent (Texas) has been the same way. To watch, though, is the match-up between Aminu and Damion James (later on this list). Aminu brings with him range out to the 3-point line (though his consistency could use some help). The problem is when he falls in love with his jumper. He's got solid post-up skills for a wing, and is a good rebounder and shot-blocker. Another thing to watch is how he finishes around the rim. Sounds almost like AK, doesn't he?

Wesley Johnson, Syracuse (Top 10 pick). Another wing expected to go in the top-10, Johnson could see extra touches early in the tournament thanks to an injury. And if things work out, a match-up with Butler in the Sweet 16, which would pit him against another top prospect. Johnson is efficient on the offensive end, and is also unselfish. Occasionally he falls in love with his jumper, which means trouble if its not falling. His ball-handling skills aren't great, and he's not very aggressive in attacking the hoop. He's an above average defender, and has a nose for the ball.

Damion James, Texas (Mid 1st). A match-up to watch in the 1st round will be James vs. Aminu (Texas v. Wake Forest). James' needs work on his ball-handling skills as a wing, and needs to be more aggressive. He falls in love with his jumper too often... though his FT shooting needs a lot of work as well. He's always moving offensively, and has really improved his rebounding. He's above-average defensively, and has amazing quickness.

Quincy Pondexter, Washington (Late 1st/Early 2nd). Pondexter has a touch looking road ahead of him with #11 Washington, and they could be looking at a 1-and-done. In his time in college, Pondexter has worked on improving his FT%, and also doesn't average many turnovers for someone who is often creating his own offensive shots. He's not really a 3-point shooter, thought that could be more of him not shooting than him struggling from there. And he's improved other areas of his game, so this could be a work in progress as well. He's a guy that'll move around often offensively, and can hold his own defensively. There are questions about whether or not he can change his style of play and play off-ball in the NBA. And he's spent 4 years in college, which I'm sure Sloan loves. That said, he might not be an option for the Jazz given where they'll be picking.

Devin Ebanks, West Virginia (Mid 1st). WVU has a relatively easy half-bracket, at least in terms of current NBA draft prospects at the wings. Ebanks' biggest competition might come from his own teammate, until they get to Washington or Texas (provided there are upsets). Ebanks has faltered in the Mountaineers offense this season, shooting less (until you get to put-backs) and seeming lost offensively. He doesn't get to the line often (but has a good stroke when he does), and is a disaster from downtown (13% last year, 11% this year). He's a solid rebounder, and shoots almost 50% from the field.

Gordon Hayward, Butler (Late 1st/Early 2nd). Another guy who isn't a lock to come out this year, Hayward might not face much of a challenge (NBA talent wise) unless they can make it to face Syracuse. He's got a solid jumper and is a good ball-handler, but other than that he needs some work. He's got no post up game, and isn't as aggressive as you'd like. He's been called "too nice" by some (lack of aggression again). And a lack of quickness could give him trouble when he's defending the wings in the NBA.

Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia (Early 2nd). Another WVU wing, Butler is definitely more NBA ready. Unfortunately, nothing really stands out. He's got a good mid-range jumper and is a good ball-handler for his position. He rarely gets to the line, and can't create shots for anyone. There are also questions about how he'll defend quicker wings.

Kyle Singler, Duke (Early 2nd). And again, someone who might benefit from another year in college. He's got an inside/outside game. He's got good range. He does a little bit of everything, but doesn't really excel in any one area which could move him down the boards. It'll be interesting to see how he does against the competition, there isn't really a draft-entrant SF in the bracket (though there are a couple guys on the other half that could be 1st rounders next year... which might be true of Singler too).

Darington Hobson, New Mexico (Mid 2nd). Hobson is a JUCO transfer to UNM from the College of Eastern Utah, and was the MWC Player of the Year. He could potentially see Quincy Pondexter in the 2nd round, or the WVU guys the 2nd weekend. There are serious questions about how he'll adapt to playing off ball that could push him into the 2nd round. At UNM, he has been functioning with the ball in his hands... and doing it well. He's unselfish, and has good court vision. He does struggle with his shot selection at times, and struggles to finish around the hoop. He crashes the boards well, but isn't much defensively.

Of course, this is just a start... there'll be a ton of wings playing. But these are some of the guys that could be drafted and might be worth keeping an eye on.

Well, March Madness is upon us. And while the NBA season isn't over, this is a great time to sit down and fall in love with players you know the Jazz will never draft. Just remember not to fall too in love with anyone... 1-4 years of play > 3 weekends (or less) of amazing play. But still, it's a great time to look at some of the prospects that might be available.

For those that don't remember, the Jazz currently own the Knicks 1st-round pick (currently, it would be #9 in the draft). There are hopes of getting a much better pick, but that doesn't seem likely without some lucky bounces of ping-pong balls. Their own 1st round pick, meanwhile, belongs to Minnesota (via Philadelphia) provided it is below #17 (it currently sits at #24). The Jazz would have to implode to end this season to end up with two 1st-round picks.

So, to start... a look at some of the top point guard prospects that will be playing this weekend (at least). (The information comes from the slight viewing I have, or from NBADraft.net and Draftexpress.com) I know PG isn't a big need for the Jazz, but this comes first. And since John Wall would be a dream pick, we might as well start with him.

John Wall, Kentucky (Top 2 pick). Okay, lets be honest. The only way he doesn't go number one is if either

• A) The team drafting #1 is completely moronic OR
• B) The team drafting #1 has fallen in love with Evan Turner as of late

Neither seems very likely, but you never know what a couple of game-winners will do for you. Playing for a #1 seed, it seems likely that Wall will be playing for a couple of weekends, so you can really watch him. He's raw (a freshman) and is most definitely not a threat from outside (anyone watching the SEC championship saw him airball 2 jumpers late in regulation). He's a quick PG though, and good at driving into the lane and finding teammates. Oh, he's very turnover prone (a common complaint with Deron?) and can't finish around the hoop if not dunking. The hype machine is strong, if you want to know more. Chances are very slim he ends up on the Jazz though.

Kalin Lucas, Michigan State (Late 1st/Early 2nd). Yeah, the PG class isn't very strong (at least not with guys in the tourney). Lucas is on the shorter end for a PG, and is not a natural shooter. In fact, teams will often leave him open around the perimeter (Ronnie Brewer anyone?) and dare him to shoot. He does attack the hoop though, and will get to the line opten. He's not always able to set up his teammates with good shots. Michigan State is a #5 seed, and should at least get a 2nd-game in.

Sherron Collins, Kansas (Early 2nd). Collins is NBA ready, and has been a solid team leader for one of the better teams this year (another #1 seed here). He's a great ball-handler. Unfortunately for his NBA prospects, he's short (5'11) and a shoot-first PG... not a good combo. And, due partially to his size, he's more effective on jump-shots than he is driving into the paint.

Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga (Mid 2nd). Bouldin is a taller guard (6'5) who's biggest question might be whether or not he can adapt to the PG position. His jump-shot isn't very consistent, potentially keeping him from the off-guard spot, but he's got some of his PG skills down. His court vision is solid and he's willing & able to drive and kick. He's a sound man-to-man defender who won't gamble much. An area he needs help in though is his ball-handling skills, which will be key if he hopes to make it as a PG. Gonzaga is an 8-seed, meaning that they could have a tough 1st game. That said, if they advance, they could also take out Syracuse.

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova (Late 2nd). Reynolds is a NBA-ready guard who has tested his draft stock before, but returned to school. He returns the same as before... a NBA-ready, score-first PG. And with that, he's not much to write home about defensively, and looking for teammates is something he really needs to work for. Villanova is a #2 seed that is all over the board... some people have them in the Final Four, others have them losing the first weekend. If you wanna see Reynolds (which is recommended, because he's a talent), you might wanna look early.

Jerome Randle, California (Late 2nd). Randle is a quick PG who is very effective from the field. The biggest knock on him... he's 5'10. While he's an effective scorer, he's also able to find teammates on offense. Which is preferable at times, because he's prone to launching shots early into the clock and not playing within the offense. His Bears are the #8 seed, but they probably won't make it past Duke in the 2nd round.

Obviously, there are more PGs. 65 teams = 65 starting PGs, plus about 1 back-up/team (some teams really don't use their back-ups, but we'll see). These are just some of the guys on the radar right now that might be worth a glance should you find yourself watching March Madness and wondering who the Jazz should target.

Well, the Jazz host the Wizards today. Both teams are kinda similar in where they are right now.

The Wizards started the season high (a drubbing of Dallas to open the season), and have had nothing but lows since (Agent Zero and his mess, the trading of Jamison, Butler & Haywood, and the losses... there have been a ton of those). The Jazz had their high point (a lot of wins in a short span... more wins than the Wizards currently have), but have also been slumping of late. Not to the level of the Wizards (losers of 7 straight), but close (the Jazz have lost 2 straight).

The Jazz are coming off of a loss against the Thunder (now 0-3 against OKC this season), keeping it close (11-19 from downtown) before falling short. Missing Okur, AK47 & Price probably didn't help things. And Jeffers, recently signed to his second 10-day contract, didn't get off the bench. Koufos was in the D-League. That left the Jazz with 8 players... and despite it not working, Slow still didn't give Jeffers (commended for his 'toughness' when he was called up) a shot... even as Durantula killed us. Typical Jazz.

The Jazz are only a half-game up on the Thunder now for 4th place in the West. They need to pick up their game... a 16 game winning streak right about now would be nice. Okur is a game-time decision today, but likely to play. AK & Price are out.

PS... Any of you readers out there wanna blog about the Jazz? If you're interested, submit a post that you wrote here and it'll be given a look by the guys up top. In case you can't tell... game previews really aren't my thing. And we're looking for another writer or 3.

The Jazz rolled the Bulls yesterday, behind an amazing game from CJ Miles (seriously... he's amazing if he plays in the offense & sets his feet before shooting), a huge dunk by Deron Williams (on Rose) and an offensively explosion (132 points). There was more, obviously, but you should've seen the game if you wanted more.

The game got to be such a blowout that Fesenko even saw playing time. (That's just depressing... he deserves so much better.)

Tonight, we get the Pistons. They beat Houston on Sunday, and have been off since. Ben Wallace & Rodney Stuckey are both out tonight.