As the NBA preseason marches on, Ball Don't Lie looks at all 30 teams, outlining off-season transactions, projecting win totals, spinning tracks, and much, much more. It's a fun, hot mess. Today, the Utah Jazz.

Last Season: 54-28 (37-4 at home); lost in the second round of the playoffs to Lakers

Key Players Added: Brevin Knight (trade, Clippers), Kosta Koufos (draft), couple more tall guys with a lot of vowels in their name (draft)

Key Players Lost: Jason Hart (trade, Clippers), Dee Brown (free agent, Wizards)

Kelly Dwyer's Endless Grey Ribbon: Deron Williams may be a few years away from his prime, Andrei Kirilenko may be a few years past his, Carlos Boozer’s a free agent and Mehmet Okur’s grown a beard. Doesn’t matter. This team has as good of a chance at a championship as any in the league, and I don’t get the sense that most NBA followers (paid, or otherwise) have an idea of just how good this outfit is.

The only worry worth fretting over is the idea that, oh boy, things might have to happen THIS YEAR. Because Mehmet Okur will be 30 in May. Because Boozer might do something stupid like leave for another team. Because Kirilenko might not be long for Salt Lake City. Still, if this does have to be the year, then Jazz fans should be fine with it. Because all the ducks are in a row and in proper order. Something like that.

Because coach Jerry Sloan has a reputation as a tough guy, the frontline is big, and the scorin’ ain’t flashy, the Jazz have a reputation as a standout defensive team. They’re not. They’re pretty solid, and would be a lot better if they didn’t give up so many freebies at the line, but where this squad really likes to bash it is on offense. They want to move bodies and get layups, whether it means Williams keeping a point guard on his hip as he drives into the paint, or Boozer diving through a double-team for a lay-in, or Ronnie Brewer working his man on the baseline.

And because the Jazz don’t run a ton (10th in pace last year), fans and scribes alike don’t tend to regard them properly as the white-hot offensive machine they are. They are. A white-hot offensive machine, I mean.

There just aren’t any offensive holes. The Jazz get to the line. They make three-pointers. They score effortlessly in the paint. The team has perfect spacing at times, and boast a series of players who can score inside and out. Have you seen Mehmet Okur yet? The guy is in shape. Great shape. Boozer’s been training since July, and he’s in a contract year. Deron Williams is limping now, but he’ll be the stud he usually is. And nobody scores 20 without having a play called for them like Ronnie Brewer.

C.J. Miles can score. Ronnie Price can score. Kirilenko can do … other things. Paul Millsap is an underrated interior offensive presence. Brevin Knight is wily. Wily!

The potential killer, as it has been with Sloan, for years? This team fouls like mad. And, like, one other mainstream writer talks about it. That’s it.

If some team was coughing up 19 turnovers a game while the second-worst outfit in the NBA was turning it over 15 times a game, the TV networks would be all over it. "The _______ can’t take that next step until they learn to stop giving up the ball." And yet, the Jazz hand actual points to their opponents every damn night, and next-to nobody is talking about it.

And it’s been going on for years! Through various Sloan-led rosters, unabated. This could be a top-10 defensive team if they’d just foul like everyone else, but the Jazz can’t seem to help themselves, even as we’ve been asking them to stop for years.

I’m not going to this year. They’re just going to foul away. It’s going to get worse when Matt Harpring and Millsap come in the game, and the opponents will be in the penalty by the eight minute mark of the second quarter. It’s just something worth getting used to.

The Jazz have enough talent to overcome this issue and still pull out the first championship in the franchise’s history, but dangit, wouldn’t be easier if they just did it … the easier way?

Expected Record: 57-25

Lolnbaz:

Who Wears Short Shorts? Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun ...

Real Talk, Blog Talk (aka excerpts from other blogger team previews):

The Utah Jazz: "The one thing about this offense is the dependence on close shots & driving to the hoop, with or without the ball. Booze is solid inside, shooting above 50% last year. Brewer’s game depends on getting to the hoop, and he does that well (along with the finishing). AK has developed a bit of a jumper, it seems, but he’s also good at getting to the hoop (or finding someone there). Okur has improved his game and has shown a higher willingness to attack the hoop. Deron also attacks the hoop often, and has the ability to finish, even with contact. 'Sap has a solid inside game. Ronnie Price has the ability to finish at the hoop when he drives. And now with Okur, Almond & Korver able to light it up from outside (along with Deron, Price and AK & CJ at times), it’ll seemingly make it even easier for this team to score."

SLAM: "Yet again, the Jazz will roll with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, a funky mix of three dudes who have been All-Stars in their career. It would be harsh to say any of these guys are on the downside of their careers, but they’re not getting better or younger, either. Boozer and Okur can opt out of their contracts after this season, and AK47 is getting more erratic by the year. Basically, before these guys’ truly see their skills atrophy, or get involved in contract disputes or even leave Utah, this is the year for these three to play as much — and as well — as possible. If they do that the 50-win mark will be a lock and at worst you’re looking at another second-round Playoff appearance."

SLC Dunk: "What are the goals for this team? To improve their seeding for the playoffs. For two years in a row now they've been the fourth seed in the West but have had to open on the road in Houston. They've been able to overcome both of those first round series, but if the Jazz are to advance deep into the playoffs, they have to have home-court advantage. They haven't had that veteran experience yet where they can win on the road consistently. Until they do, they'll need to play their series at the ESA. The Jazz have as much talent as any other team in the league. There is no reason that they can't contend for the title. They have the offense, the drive, and the youth to match up against any team.  But a defensive stopper would be nice."

Jazz Bear Bike Gone Wrong:

Associated Wax: Billy Bremner, Bash!

Michael Bay's Twitter Season Projection:

michael_bay: The Utah Jazz are the elf no one talks about. The one that wants to be a dentist. Herman, Herbie, whatever. JERRY SLOAN IS NOT A TOYMAKER!
about 7 hours ago from web

Related: 08-09 NBA Preview