April 7, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Brandon Rush (4) passes the ball after falling down next to Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo (6) in the second quarter at ORACLE Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Now that we’ve had a few days to let the schedule sink in let’s get to the fun stuff, predicting wins and losses. In my post on Wednesday after a very quick look, mostly at team names, my initial guess came out to be 39-43. If the Jazz go 39-43 this year I will do cartwheels down main street in Lehi. I love the talent on our team. The biggest factor we cannot predict is how quickly they will gel. What I am most certain about is this is going to be a fun year watching this young team grow before our eyes. Now let’s get in to it.
10/30 – Oklahoma City – 1st game of the year, 1st game at home. This game is a toss up. OKC is one of the best teams in the league but how healthy will Westbrook be to start the season? I’ll say a nice dose of home court and opening season adrenaline give the Jazz the edge in this game. W
11/1 – @Phoenix – The Suns are one of many young teams in the West. They’ll be breaking in a new head coach and several new players. The fact the Jazz new players have been together longer and they’re fresh off a win over OKC give them the edge here. W
11/2 – Houston – The Rockets were a match up nightmare for the Jazz last season when Harden was in the line up. Obviously Utah has gone through quite the personnel change and should match up better this time around. Having said that, I’ll go with the Rockets. L
11/5 – @Brooklyn – First game of a 4 game road trip. Brooklyn has championship aspirations and a lot of veteran leadership. Jazz will learn a lot in this game. L
11/6 – @Boston – I know this is a back to back but Boston is going to be terrible this year. Jazz win this one even though they may be tired. W
11/8 – @Chicago – Road game against a Bulls team with a healthy Derrick Rose? Yeah I think we’re on the same page with this one. L
11/9 – @Toronto – the 2nd game of another back to back. This game is a toss up. Jazz will be tired and ready to go home, but Toronto is not going to be very good. If Rudy Gay goes off this could be trouble. L
11/11 – Denver – Do the Jazz regroup and re-energize at home against the Nuggets? This is going to be an intriguing match up to watch all season long. I’ll go Jazz here. W
11/13 – New Orleans – For some reason this team plays very well against the Jazz. Maybe they’re mad we have their name? Favors/Kanter vs Anthony Davis should be a fun battle. I’ll give the Jazz the edge at home. W
11/15 – San Antonio – I really like the match up with the Spurs. The Jazz always played them tough last year and I think that continues. I think the Spurs get them in this one though. L
11/16 – @Golden State – 3rd back to back game of the season and we’re only 18 games into it. RJ, Rush and Biedrins will be looking forward to playing their old teammates but I don’t see the Jazz winning this one. L
11/18 – Golden State – Having just lost to the Warriors on the road I think the Jazz get revenge at home. W
11/20 – @New Orleans – Speaking of revenge, I think the Pelicans get the last laugh here. L
11/22 – @Dallas – I think this is a very winnable game, but Dallas is so unpredictable. I’m not a big fan of the moves they made this offseason but they have Dirk. I think Dallas wins a close one at home. L
11/24 – @Oklahoma City – Another revenge game and I don’t see the Jazz being close in this one. L
11/25 – Chicago – A revenge game in the Jazz’s favor but it is the 2nd game of a back to back. It will be Chicago’s 4 game in 5 nights, the 4th game of a 6 game road trip, and the 2nd game of a back to back for the Bulls as well. I think the Jazz get the win at home. W
11/29 – Phoenix – Jazz get 4 days of much needed rest. They will not lose to the Suns at home. W
11/30 – @Phoenix – Suns get revenge by beating the Jazz in Phoenix the next day. L
Record at the end of November – 8-10
12/2 – Houston – The Jazz won’t lose to Houston twice at home. Jazz get the win this night. W
12/4 – Indiana – The Jazz match up well with the Pacers and gave them fits last year. Pacers will have a healthy Danny Granger this time around and that will give them the edge. L
12/6 – @Portland – Blazers will get the Jazz at home, should be a fun, exciting game though. L
12/7 – Sacramento – 2nd game of a back to back. The Kings are another team that give the Jazz fits. Fortunately it’s also the 2nd game of a back to back for the Kings so I think the Jazz prevail here. W
12/9 – Portland – Jazz will get revenge on the Blazers by beating them at home. W
12/11 – @Sacramento – The Jazz have a hard time in Sacramento. Plus the Kings will have payback on their minds. L
12/13 – @Denver – The Jazz also seem to play some of their worst basketball in Denver. The Nuggets will win this game. L
12/14 – San Antonio – The Jazz will be making a short trip back home from Denver while the Spurs will be flying in from Texas. Both teams will be playing the 2nd game of a back to back. I’ll give the Jazz the edge this time around. W
12/16 – @Miami – This will be a loss, although the Jazz play very well against the Heat. L
12/18 – @Orlando – The most winnable game of this road trip. Oladipo has nothing on Gordon Hayward!! W
12/20 – @Atlanta – I see this game being very close. It would be helpful if Marvin Williams is healthy by this point in the schedule. Edge to the Hawks. L
12/21 – @Charlotte – The Bobcats will be flying back from Detroit the night before while the Jazz will be making a short trip from Atlanta. Both teams on the 2nd game of a back to back and other than having Big Al, the Bobcats aren’t very good. Edge Jazz. W
12/23 – @Memphis – The Jazz will probably be a very tired team at this point and Memphis is just better right now. L
12/27 – Lakers – 4 days of rest and LA coming to town 2 days after Christmas. I smell a Jazz win here. W
12/28 – @LA Clippers – 2nd game of a back to back on the road for the Jazz against one of the NBA’s elite. L
12/30 – Charlotte – Nice way to end the month by beating Big Al at home. W
Record for the month of December 8-8. Overall record 16-18
01/02 – Milwaukee – This could be a very entertaining game with a lot of points scored. I’ll give the Jazz the advantage at home. W
01/03 – @Lakers – The Lakers 1st game in 4 days and the 2nd game of a back to back for the Jazz. L
01/07 – Oklahoma City – Westbrook will be fully healthy by this point in the season. Should be fun but the Thunder prevail. L
01/10 – Cleveland – The Cavs should be another fun young team to watch this season. I’m very curious to see how Anthony Bennett handles the pressure of being the #1 pick. W
01/13 – Denver – From the 3rd to the 13th this will only be the 4th game the Jazz will have played in 10 days where as this will be Denver’s 6th. Jazz win a key division game at home. W
01/15 – @San Antonio – Jazz drop the 1st of a 3 game trip to the Spurs. L
01/17 – @Detroit – I’m very excited for this game. I expect it to be one of the most entertaining of the year. Detroit has made some nice additions that fit their style. Should be a wild ride. L
01/18 – @Minnesota – Both teams playing on the 2nd game of a back to back. Should be a close one but I’ll give the Wolves the edge at home. L
01/21 – Minnesota – This is the next game both teams play so they’ll have equal amounts of rest. I’ll give the Jazz the advantage at home though. W
01/25 – Washington – 2nd game of a back to back for the Wizards and 2nd of a 4 game Western road trip. John Wall is very good when healthy but the Jazz will be rested and ready for them. W
01/27 – Sacramento – Another epic battle with the Kings but it’s the 2nd game of a back to back for the Kings and the home court edge gives the Jazz the victory. W
01/31 – Golden State – 1st home game televised by ESPN of the year for the Jazz. The Jazz should be rested and it’s the 2nd game of a back to back for the Warriors after playing the night before against the Clippers. The late start should also give Utah an extra advantage. W
Record for the month of January 7-5. Overall record 23-23. I have to say I like how this is playing out. If it does go this way the Jazz and Jazz fans would be estatic.
02/01 – @LA Clippers – 2nd game of a back to back on the road for the Jazz after a late start the night before? Yeah I think we all agree. L
02/03 – Toronto – The Jazz will beat the Raptors at home. W
02/07 – @Dallas – The Jazz will be rested for this one but so will Dallas. Mavs get the edge at home. L
02/08 – Miami – This was one of the most excited home games this past season. Jazz will be on the second game of a back to back and Miami will have had 2 days of rest in between. L
02/11 – @LA Lakers – The Jazz struggles on the road will continue, although I think this game will be close. L
02/12 – Philadelphia – This will be the last game of a 3 game Western road trip for the 76ers. Should be interesting to watch Nerlens Noel go up against our trees. Isn’t Noel a glorified Jeremy Evans without a jump shot? Jazz win at home even though it’s the 2nd game of a back to back. Can’t lose them all right? W
02/19 – Brooklyn – 1st game after the all-star break. Both teams could be rusty in the 1st quarter but I expect the Nets to just be too good for the Jazz to beat this year. L
02/21 – @Portland – I don’t see the Jazz beating the Blazers on the road this year. L
02/22 – Minnesota – The Wolves will be rested coming into this game where as for the Jazz it will be yet another 2nd game of a back to back. If the Wolves are healthy I think they upset the Jazz in this one. L
02/24 – Boston – The Jazz will beat the lowly Celtics at home. W
02/26 – Phoenix – Again, the Jazz will not be losing to the Suns at home. W
02/28 – @Cleveland – The beginning of a crucial 6 game Eastern road trip for the Jazz. It’s important the Jazz win this one and I know Irving > Burke but I think the Jazz have a better overall team. W
Record for the month of February 5-7. Overall record 28-30
03/02 – @Indiana – I don’t see the Jazz beating the Pacers on the road. L
03/03 – @Milwaukee – 2nd game of a back to back for the Jazz against a rested Bucks team. I think the Bucks get this one at home. L
03/05 – @Washington – The Wizards will get a little revenge against the Jazz in this game. L
03/07 – @New York – The Jazz traditionally play terrible in New York. Will the young guys buck the trend? Not this time. L
03/08 – @Philadelphia – The Jazz will one again be playing the 2nd game of a back to back and it will be their last game of a very long road trip. The 76ers will be coming off of 3 days rest. I think the 76ers win this one. L
03/10 – Atlanta – I think the Jazz will be energized to be playing at home again and against some former teammates. W
03/12 – Dallas – The Jazz finally get to play the Mavs at home and I think they win this one. W
03/14 – Clippers – I like the Jazz’s chances at home but….. L
03/16 – @San Antonio – This will be a loss as the Spurs are positioning themselves for playoff seeding. L
03/17 – @Houston – 2nd game of a back to back on the road will be a bad formula for the Jazz this season even though Houston will be in a similar situation coming back home after playing Miami the night before. L
03/19 – @Memphis – I just don’t see the Jazz beating the Grizzles on the road. L
03/22 – Orlando – A much needed victory at home for the Jazz. W
03/24 – Detroit – Another exciting match up between these two teams. It will be the last game of a 4 game road trip for the Pistons. I think the Jazz win this at home. W
03/26 – Memphis – The 3rd and final ESPN game of the season for the Jazz. Memphis will have playoff seeding on their minds for this 1st game of a 4 game road trip. It should be quite the show, but Memphis has bigger fish to fry. L
03/28 – @New Orleans – The Jazz don’t play well here and that trend should continue this year. L
03/30 – @Oklahoma City – The Thunder will be positioning themselves for the 1st or 2nd seed in the West and they won’t want the Jazz to get in the way of their Finals hopes. L
03/31 – New York – 2nd game of a back to back for the Jazz, this time at home. Fortunately for the Jazz, the Knicks will also be playing the 2nd game of a back to back and the 5th game of a 5 game Western road trip. I think the Jazz get the win here. W
Record for the month of March 5-12. Overall record 33-42
04/04 – New Orleans – I think the Jazz will not let the Pelicans defeat them at home. W
04/06 – @Golden State – Another game against a playoff team battling for playoff positioning. L
04/08 – Dallas – This game is a toss up. I think both teams will have similar records and Dallas has Dirk, but the Mavs will be playing their 4th game in 6 nights and the 4th game of a 4 game road trip. I think the Jazz get this one. W
04/11 – Portland – I expect the Blazers to be battling for the 8th seed in the West. They will be rested and playing with purpose. I think the Blazers get a big road win here. L
04/12 – @Denver – 2nd game of a back to back on the road at a place they don’t play well at. L
04/14 – Lakers – I think the Jazz play their hearts out in the last home game of the season. The Lakers could be battling for a low playoff seed but they’ll be playing the 2nd game of a back to back after a game against Memphis the night before. I think the Jazz get this one. W
04/16 – @Minnesota – This game depends completely on the Wolves. If they’ve stayed healthy and they’re battling for a low playoff seed, I think they win this one. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. L
Record for the month of April 3-4. Final overall record 36-46.
I think if this plays out and the Jazz finish 36-46 we should all be very happy and excited for the future. It means our young leaders have played extremely well and are ready to put this franchise on their shoulders for many years to come. A low lottery pick in the 2014 draft would be like a top 7 pick in most others so the Jazz will be adding another helpful piece for the puzzle and then it’s go time. If they haven’t done so by Oct 31, the Jazz will certainly work out an extension for Hayward and Favors next offseason. With the experience gained, the Jazz should be a confident young group going into the 2014-15 season. I can’t wait for October 8th!
Dec 22, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (center) is fouled by Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (left) as power forward Derrick Favors (right) defends the play during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports