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Karma
by Ron Richards

Is defined as fate balancing out the scales of life. For example, if I help a Spur’s fan realize the error of his ways, fate will balance things out by rewarding the Jazz with a championship.

It’s only fair.

I’m more than glad to help.

You see, the Jazz are going to win the Championship this year, so.....Why not get on the bandwagon and avoid all the pain of losing to a better team? Let me elucidate a smidgeon or two.

This isn’t your ordinary Jazz team. Not the one that played slightly over .500 ball for two months of the mid-season, or even the team that won 12 games and lost one to open the season in a tantalizing display of things to come. No, this is a different Jazz team, as different as a sparkling butterfly to a dull chrysalis hanging on milkweed plant. * note to basketball writers.....If you didn’t watch all the Jazz playoff games, just shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

I do. Know what I’m talking about, that is.

I watched all the playoff games.

The similarity to a butterfly is indeed striking. If you blinked, or stopped paying attention for just the shortest bit of time, you missed it. It, being the transformation of the Jazz into one of the best teams in the NBA, and it was right before your eyes, Nova eat your heart out.

We knew Carlos Boozer was a very good basketball player. We didn’t know he was legit, a superstar, and the Wide Load of the Baddest Boys West of the Weber River. Carlos is a leader, a go to guy, not afraid of taking the last shot, clutch at the charity stripe when it counts, and the best rebounder in the NBA whose name isn’t Paul Millsap. Hint.....He’s on the same team.

We didn’t know that Deron Williams was ready to dominate at this level, at this time, at this place in his career. Yes, yes, and emphatically, yes! Deron showed what he was capable of while scoring over thirty, dishing in double figures, and controlling the game like no one since....He Who Shall Not Be Named.

PS......His initials are JS.

Deron is the next great Point in the NBA. Mark that down, if you like. It’s really not that earthshaking, and there are lots of guys saying the same thing, and we’re all correct.

Memo Okur? Hallelujah, (can we say that?) Memo knows defense. Never thought I’d be able to say that, but Memo knows defense. His stint against the Wall of China was very, very impressive. The next stint against Tim D. will likely be just as impressive. You heard it here, there’s a reason Memo is a Spur Killer. The Jazz won the first game in a long time against the Spurs when Memo came on board, and it’s no coincidence. Look for Memo to drive the Spurs crazy from outside.

You knew about those guys, more than likely. You’d probably forgotten about AK47, or more recently the Russian Red Daisy.

He’s baaaaaaaacccccckkkk.

Big time. And, it’s about time. I was about ready to send him to Siberia in exchange for a cube of ice.
AK is the big difference between the butterfly, and the bug on a weed. Add his scorecard full of stats to an already good team, and you have a great team.

That’s two superstars, and two all-stars, by my figuring. Does San Antonio have that? Not hardly, although they’re a wonderful team. One thing we do have that they don’t, is the King of the Playoffs, Mr. D. Fisher, never met a three he was afraid of, father of the year, champion of the geriatric point guard set, horrible middle man on the fast break, and the downright gutsiest guy I’ve ever seen.

I was cussing him during the season on fast breaks, and praising him to the stars for his performance in the playoffs while winning our hearts as a Dad, and as a Man. Capitol letters intended.

Add a much deeper bench than San Antonio, in fact the best bench in the league, and then tell me why this team is going to lose against the Spurs. Playoff experience? Sure hurt the Jazz during the first two series. Superstars? I love Tim Duncan, think he’s the best player in the league, but he’s just one guy. Tony Parker and Manu G. are great players, but give me AK and Memo added to Dwill and Carlos B., and I’m a happy guy. Throw in Matt Harpring, see the sparks with Bruce Bowen, and I’m a really happy guy. That ought to be fun. Throw in Paul Millsap, the best rookie in the league per minute, and by far the best rookie left in the playoffs. Paul is simply the best rebounder, inside presence, and tough defender I’ve ever seen in so young a player. Period, end of story. Jerry agrees with me.

And I hope Gordan will come to life against the Spurs. Golden State was a bad match up for him, and I think the Spurs will be his salvation in a Jazz uni. I hope.

It’s strength against strength. Both teams execute, execute and when in doubt, execute. Both teams play tough, physical defense. Both teams have a great coach. If I couldn’t have Jerry Sloan, give me Greg Popovich. He’s a good guy besides being a great coach.

It’s youth against experience, flash against substance, even if you don’t think of the Jazz that way. Memo, Carlos, Deron and Andrei are as sexy a foursome ever assembled in the playoffs, and that will be exposed to the great unwashed during this series.

Add a wonderful story in Derek Fisher, and the Jazz will be sentimental favorites.
What the great majority of BBall fans don’t realize, because they've never seen this team, is that the Jazz are for real. It took the resurrection of AK to solidify this team, and the heart of one Derek Fisher to hold it steady. Now, this ship is on course and full speed ahead.

Don’t believe anyone that says the Jazz are big underdogs. In fact, take a little of that money. Don’t bet the farm, because the Spurs are very, very good, and things happen.

Not this time. Jazz in six.