Utah Jazz Week One Outlook, Predictions
With the 2016-17 NBA season set to get under way on Tuesday, here’s a look at the first slate of games for the Utah Jazz during their first week of action.
It almost seems too good to be true.
The 2016-17 NBA regular season is finally here! And the Utah Jazz are among the first teams to tip off action on the evening of Tuesday the 25th. Sure, their 8:00 pm MT match-up against the Portland Blazers may be overshadowed by the more marquee Cavs vs. Knicks and Warriors vs. Spurs match-ups on TNT, but that doesn’t make us Root Sports/League Pass junkies any less excited!
All summer long I have worked hard on perfecting my fortune-telling skills, so I’ve decided that every Monday beginning with today’s post, I will be getting faithful Jazz fans prepped for each and every week of the season with my predictions and preview of the Utah Jazz contests of the upcoming week.
Feel free to argue with me on my predictions, laugh at me when I get them all wrong and drop your jaw in amazement when I perfectly call each result (assuming that actually ever happens).
Anyhow, the Utah Jazz start out the year with eight of their first 11 games on the road so they’re looking at a tough stretch. Their first three games this week certainly include two toughies as well as they’ll take on Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers on the road.
Not to mention that injuries are already causing issues for the Jazz. Gordon Hayward is undoubtedly out all this week and both Derrick Favors and Alec Burks remain questionable for the Jazz’s first contest at Portland. Coach Snyder doesn’t want to use injuries as an excuse, but in a recent Deseret News article, he had a very accurate quote:
“It doesn’t mean we can’t win; what it means is your margin for error becomes very, very small, and I think that’s where we are.”
“It doesn’t mean we can’t win; what it means is your margin for error becomes very, very small, and I think that’s where we are.” – Quin Snyder
So although there has been a lot of hype and high expectations surrounding the Jazz going into this season, there’s also a very good chance that they face some bumps along the way, especially early as they attempt to deal with injuries and cohesion among new teammates.
However, if they can minimize their margin of error as Coach Snyder said, they could still keep themselves afloat in a difficult Western Conference.
Because even with a potentially difficult start, there’s no reason the Jazz can’t reach their elevated potential by midseason once players come back healthy and team chemistry has reached its apex. So while Jazz fans may have to temper their expectations somewhat during the season’s early-going, they by no means should get discouraged in the opening months.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the three Utah Jazz contests in the opening week of NBA regular season action and how the team will likely fare.