Team Improvement
This is probably the category that I was most excited to see the Jazz in. Although Minnesota was selected by the GMs as the team that will be the most improved in 2016-17 with 56.7 percent of the vote, Utah came in at second place receiving 23.3 percent.
This isn’t to say that Minnesota will be a better team than the Jazz. In fact, the earlier stated Western Conference predictions seem to clarify that. However, Minnesota is certainly poised to jump up drastically from their 29-win season of a year ago.
Given that the Jazz finished just one game out of the playoffs last season, their improvement might not seem as dramatic as what Minnesota’s might be in terms of total games won. However, if Utah can truly break into the mid to upper playoff pack as some GMs predicted, those who voted for Minnesota over Utah may find themselves disappointed come season’s end.
Regardless of which team improves the most or raises their win total more, it speaks volumes about the Jazz that the league is already recognizing them as an up-and-coming talent that will more than likely build on what they started last season and reach newfound heights in 2016-17.