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Where do the Utah Jazz historically rank among all NBA Franchises?

Published

2 months ago

September 23, 2024

Where do the Utah Jazz historically rank among all NBA Franchises?

There is and will always be debate among Utah Jazz fans about how good the franchise is compared to other NBA franchises. There are many ways to rank and compare NBA franchises, like who has more total championships, a better total regular season win percentage, more amazing playoff moments, and so on. You can even consider whose all-time starting 5 would be better. Total championships is a flawed way to rank franchises, do people really think the Toronto Raptors are a better franchise than the Phoenix Suns, or that the Washington Wizards are better than the Utah Jazz? The Wizards have not been close to being a title contender for 40 years, success in the 70’s should not completely trump their failures from the 80s until now.

Today, I propose a new and I’ll be even so bold as to say, a better way to compare NBA franchises. Through statistics, emotions, and bias are not considered. While stats are not perfect, particularly this new one, they are better measuring sticks than opinions vs opinions.

True Franchise Success or TFS

Skip this paragraph if you don’t want to worry about the details of the statistics but want to see each franchise’s ranking.

Franchise Success explained. The purpose of the statistic is to consider each franchise’s success by measuring their amount of playoff appearances and how many rounds they advanced throughout their history. A Playoff Appearance per season is worth 1 point, 2nd round worth 2, 3rd Round worth 3, Finals Appearance worth 4, and Finals worth 5 points. Example. in 2024, the Celtics got 5 points, Mavericks 4, Pacers 3, Nuggets 2, Magic 1. In earlier NBA years, there were sometimes only 3 or 2 rounds. Points are kept by how many rounds they won (a finals appearance is always worth 4 points, and a championship is always worth 5 points). For example, in 1970, the Hawks got 2 points despite being in the semi-finals, but the Lakers got 4 points for a finals appearance and the Knicks got 5 points for the championship. Play-in or round-robin wins will not count, though winning those leads to a point for a playoff appearance. For example, in 2023, the Bulls did not get a point, but the Hawks got a point. Franchise Success or FS is the total number of points each franchise has. True Franchise Success or TFS is how many points each franchise has divided by how many seasons the franchise is active. Ties are broken by who has more championships, then finals appearances, and so forth. For example, in TFS, the Hawks outrank the Jazz despite their 1.12-point tie because the Hawks have a championship while the Jazz do not. Also, in FS, the Cavaliers outrank the Wizards despite their tie at 50 points and their championship amount tie because the Cavaliers also have 4 finals appearances compared to the Wizards 3. Not counting ABA stats until the NBA officially counts ABA stats. I recognize that TFS does not currently account for the strength of the conference or the number of franchises in the league for each season. For example, in TFS the Hawks outrank the Jazz, but the Hawks glory years were in the 50s compared to the Jazz in the 90s, and the 90s had harder competition than the 50s so the Jazz should be considered a more successful franchise compared to the Hawks. These statistical considerations and others will be introduced into later versions of TFS.

The Utah Jazz’s franchise data

So you can see an example, the Utah Jazz’s data goes like this. 50 Seasons, 31 Playoff Appearances, 14 First Round Exits, 11 2nd Round Exits, 4 3rd Round Exits, 2 Finals Appearances, 0 Championships. 14 + 11(2) + 4(3) + 2(4) + 0(5) = 56. That gives you a total of 56 points divided by 50 (how many Jazz seasons), which comes to 1.12.

True Franchise Success or TFS Ranking for each NBA Franchise

1. Los Angeles Lakers TFS 2.61

Was there ever a question? While the Celtics have 18 championships to the Lakers 17, the Lakers have 15 finals losses compared to the Celtics 5 final losses. TFS works well here, awarding the Lakers for having a whopping total of 32 finals appearances.

2. Boston Celtics TFS 2.29

Like the Lakers not being questioned as the best NBA franchise ever, the Celtics are clearly number 2. Their TFS is 2.29, considerably higher than the 3rd best franchise which is at 1.75.

3. San Antonio Spurs TFS 1.75

The Spurs were the model of success from the late 90s to the late 2010s. Their TFS will go up as Wembanyama has genuine GOAT potential.

4. Miami Heat TFS 1.61

Heat culture and great weather, which have been staples of the franchise’s success for the past 20 years have vaulted Miami to the number 4 spot.

5. Philadelphia 76ers TFS 1.44

While the 76ers have had some struggles over the past 30 years, their dominance in earlier NBA decades helps put them as 5th best franchise ever.

6. Chicago Bulls TFS 1.29

Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls, 1998 NBA Finals

Michael Jordan’s dominance in the ‘90s is the main reason the Bulls, a franchise with several years of mediocracy, is ranked as high as they are. While questionable officiating may have played a part in their win over the 1998 Jazz, they certainly still deserve this spot.

7. Golden State Warriors TFS 1.19

Utah Jazz vs Golden State Warriors, 2017 NBA Western Conference Semifinals

While the Warriors have the 3rd most championships ever at 7, their several years of being a bad team hinders their overall ranking.

8. New York Knicks TFS 1.18

The Knick’s dominance in the ‘70s and steadiness in the 50s, ‘80s, and ‘90s are big factors in their ranking, despite a rough 20-year patch before their current team.

9. Phoenix Suns TFS 1.16

1990 Japan Games: Utah Jazz v Phoenix Suns

The Suns are the greatest NBA team to never win a championship, while they have recently seen some bad years, they are historically a steady franchise.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder TFS 1.14

The Thunder will eventually give the Seattle Super Sonics back their franchise history when the Sonics come back to the NBA, which could happen soon. While the franchise’s championship came in a Sonics jersey, the Thunder have done quite well for themselves in their time in Oklahoma. Once the franchise history is only from Oklahoma, the franchise will likely jump into the top 5 for TFS among all NBA franchises.

11. Houston Rockets TFS 1.123

The Rockets TFS is bolstered by Olajuwon’s ability to raise his game in the playoffs. While the Jazz have their best franchise moment against them with 1997 game 6 of the WCF being won by Stockton’s 4th quarter brilliance and game-winner, the Rockets have won their share of the rivalry matchups too.

12. Atlanta Hawks TFS 1.12

The Hawks being ranked 12th is an example of a flaw in the current model of TFS. Their best years came in the 50s, they have not been as dominant from the ‘90s and on, when the NBA was closer to 30 teams and not 8.

13. Utah Jazz TFS 1.12

The Jazz may not be the greatest franchise, but their consistency through the Stockton to Malone years makes them the 2nd greatest franchise to not win a championship. If their finals were not against potentially the greatest dynasty in North American professional team sports in the ‘90s Bulls, the Jazz could have 1 or 2 championships.

14. Milwaukee Bucks TFS 1.11

Kareem, Giannis, and an underrated 80s squad were the Bucks’ driving factors in their TFS ranking.

15. Portland Trailblazers TFS 1.0925

The Blazers have been a consistently competitive franchise, with a minimal number of bad years when compared to other franchises.

16. Detroit Pistons TFS 1.0921

The Pistons are a franchise of extreme highs and lows. Their success in their Bad Boy and 2000s eras are the only reason they are not a top 5 worst franchise in NBA history. Ring counting would put them as an elite franchise but when considering their prolonged years of poor play, they come out as an average franchise.

17. Dallas Mavericks TFS

The Mavericks have been steadily good for 20 years but their struggles in the early 80s and 90s weigh them down.

18. Denver Nuggets TFS 1

The Nuggets should be ranked higher in few years as they have a strong team going forward for seasons to come.

19. Indiana Pacers TFS 1

The Pacers would be ranked much higher if their 3 championships were counted from their ABA days. The NBA should count ABA stats in their history.

20. Cleveland Cavaliers TFS 0.92

If not for LeBron James, the Cavaliers would be a top 3 worst franchise in NBA history.

21. Orlando Magic TFS 0.8

The Magic had 2 brief championship contender teams that have led to 2 finals appearances, perhaps Banchero and Wagner can lead them to other finals in the next few seasons.

22. Washington Wizards TFS 0.794

The Baltimore/DC franchise’s only glory years came in the ‘70s when they were the Bullets. The Wizards are tanking now so expect them to continue to drop down the list in the next seasons.

23. Toronto Raptors 0.793

The Raptors are the 2nd lowest-ranked team to win a championship. Their 90s and 2000s struggles bring their ranking down, along with relative non-playoff success in the 2010s other than their Leonard-led championship team in 2019.

24. Brooklyn Nets TFS 0.75

The Nets, like the Pacers, would benefit from their ABA statistical success being included in their NBA franchise. While they have had potential super teams, they never seem to put it together for a deep playoff run, except for when Jason Kidd led the team.

25. Memphis Grizzlies TFS 0.62

The Grizzlies have mostly been bad or average for their franchise existence. The Grit and Grind era saved them from being even lower on the list.

26. Sacramento Kings TFS 0.59

The Kings are the lowest rank team to have won a championship, which came more than 70 years ago. Since the 70s, the Kings have mainly been a non-playoff team.

27. Los Angeles Clippers TFS 0.48

The Clippers have only made the WCF once in franchise history, which came on the heels of the 2021 Jazz collapsing. The Clippers, like the Kings, have been mired in mediocracy for most of their long franchise history.

28. New Orleans Pelicans TFS 0.478

The Pelicans, which only constitutes New Orleans teams in their franchise history, have never been serious title contenders unless you consider the 08 Hornets better than they are usually considered.

29 Minnesota Timberwolves TFS 0.457

Other than 2 WCF appearances, the T-Wolves have not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. Their current team has the potential to continue making noise in the playoffs until the new salary cap rules eat into their core.

30. Charlotte Hornets

The worst current franchise in NBA history. They have never been title contenders, often miss the playoffs, and have never made it to the ECFs. Things need to change for the Hornets to course correct and rise in the franchise ranks.

Final Thoughts

The Jazz are an above-average franchise, despite never winning a championship and having multiple playoff collapses through the years. Their ranking might take a hit these next couple of seasons, but they are positioned to be a top Western Conference contender and potential champion throughout the late 2020s and 2030s. Sit back and enjoy the ride Jazz fans, winning a championship is the ultimate goal, but I’d never trade our franchise history for the Kings, Wizards or Raptors just because they have won it all once.

2024 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League - Memphis Grizzlies v Utah Jazz

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Jazz Silver Lining Revealed by ESPN

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

While it hasn’t been the most pleasant start for the Utah Jazz during their 2024-25 campaign, amounting to a 3-11 record through their first 14 games, there are still a few glaring signs of optimism to takeaway that shine through in the mix through the beginning of this season, largely thanks to the reps and development opportunities given to the young talent on the roster so far.

Of those young players having a solid role in the rotation to start this season, one of the most appealing in the small sample size has been first-round rookie Isaiah Collier, who’s made an eye-catching first impression since arriving in Salt Lake City.

During ESPN’s most recent batch of power rankings, the Jazz didn’t see much increase from last week, jumping from only 29th to 28th. Still, writer Tim MacMahon gave fans some reason to be excited about this roster moving forward– that being Utah’s rookie point guard.

“Rookie guard Isaiah Collier is only 1-of-12 from 3-point range, but he’s providing evidence that he can make a positive impact,” MacMahon said. “Collier, whose debut was delayed two weeks due to a hamstring injury, has a plus-10 rating in 108 minutes over his first six games. His tenacious, tough defense has made a favorable impression. Entering Tuesday, the Jazz were allowing only 104.5 points per 100 possessions with the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Collier on the court, the lowest defensive rating among Utah players.”

In ESPN’s rankings, the Jazz placed ahead of two teams in the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, and are right on the heels of the New Orleans Pelicans at 27th, who, like Utah, have also struggled in the Western Conference this year with a 4-11 regular season record.

Collier was limited to start this season as he suffered a hamstring injury during training camp, but since his return, he’s begun to show some impressive traits on both sides of the ball during his first seven games on the floor. In 18 minutes a night, the USC product is averaging 4.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals.

As mentioned by MacMahon, the offensive side of the ball still has some distance to make up in order to be an effective and consistent two-way threat. At just a. 8.3% clip from long range, he’s not much of a threat beyond the arc just yet, but with a long season ahead, there’s a ton of room to recover those shooting splits.

In the meantime, Collier has emerged as a solid contributor as an offensive facilitator and perimeter defender in the backcourt– two areas which this roster can definitely benefit from.

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Utah’s Senior Day has deeper meaning with this year’s class

Published

10 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Utah’s Senior Day has deeper meaning with this year’s class

Senior Day at the University of Utah is always a poignant occasion, but this year’s ceremony carries even greater emotional weight as the program honors not only its current senior class but also the memories of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Both would have been seniors this year, and their absence looms large as Utah prepares to host Iowa State in the final home game of the season at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Over 25 seniors, including key contributors like Junior Tafuna, Micah Bernard, and Money Parks, will be recognized for their contributions on and off the field. For many, their time at Utah has been marked by both triumph and adversity. As head coach Kyle Whittingham noted, these seniors were instrumental in the Utes’ back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022, despite the challenges the team has faced in recent years. He praised their resilience, character, and dedication, both on the field and in the classroom, as all are either graduates or on track to graduate.

Utah reveals tribute uniforms with ‘Malama Lahaina’ helmets for Iowa State

A special part of the ceremony will honor Jordan and Lowe, two players whose lives were tragically cut short in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Their families will be present as the team remembers their immense impact on the program. Utah has consistently kept their memories alive through traditions like retiring their No. 22 jersey, creating a memorial scholarship, and the “Moment of Loudness,” a powerful tribute held before the fourth quarter at every home game.

For all Utes seniors, the bittersweet nature of Saturday will be amplified by the remembrance of their late teammates. The legacy of Jordan and Lowe will continue to inspire the program, reminding everyone of the deeper connections that transcend the game.

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Youth sports coach in Utah charged with 18 counts of forcible sexual abuse of teen – East Idaho News

Published

18 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Youth sports coach in Utah charged with 18 counts of forcible sexual abuse of teen – East Idaho News

WEST VALLEY CITY (KSL.com) — A West Valley man who police say is also a youth sports coach is facing multiple felony charges accusing him of sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Jeffery Albert Alsop, 48, was charged this week in 3rd District Court with 18 counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony; and four counts of dealing in harmful materials to a minor, a third-degree felony.

Alsop is accused of abusing a teen girl from about 2021 until September of this year. Investigators say the abuse happened at multiple locations, including Alsop’s home and his place of work, according to charging documents.

Prosecutors say they also identified a second teen girl who they say was abused by Alsop several years ago.

“While the state is barred from filing forcible sexual abuse charges as it relates to the second victim … it’s essential to acknowledge she was also victimized by (Alsop) when she was 17,” the charges state.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office told KSL.com on Wednesday that it cannot file charges in that case due to the statute of limitations expiring on that type of charge. However, the investigation into possible other charges is continuing.

Police say Alsop is a coach for a softball team with teen girls and a football coach for teen boys. According to social media posts, he was also a youth football coach this year.

Alsop also has a lengthy criminal history for mainly drug-related crimes, dating back to 1995, according to court records. He was in and out of the Utah State Prison frequently from 1997 through 2009.

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