10 Hot Takes & Predictions on the Utah Jazz After 25-ish Games

Nov 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrate after Gobert blocks Houston Rockets shot during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz win 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrate after Gobert blocks Houston Rockets shot during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz win 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
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Utah Jazz Derrick Favors
Oct 3, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) and forward Ed Davis (17) during the third quarter at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

1) If Injury Woes Don’t Get Worse, Jazz Will Get Homecourt

When a team is dealing with injuries on a constant basis and different parts are frequently moving in and out of lineups, it’s hard to get a real good feel for what that team is. Again, see Snyder’s comments on the previous page. Nevertheless, a skeleton version of the Jazz roster has established itself as one of the league’s best units.

Assuming they continue on their current trajectory and don’t incur more injuries than they’re already coping with, they should find themselves in a nice spot come playoff time. How nice, do you ask?

Think home court advantage in the first round.

More from The J-Notes

Diminished though they are, the Jazz are one of just four teams league-wide that rank in the Top 10 both offensively and defensively. The rough early schedule held them back a bit, but as that begins to normalize, their performance on both sides of the ball should equate to more wins and a climb up the standings.

The No. 4 spot is well in reach and the Jazz have more than enough firepower to claim it.

Just imagine what they’d be able to do if they could ever get fully healthy.