Utah Jazz: Answers to 10 Big Questions at Midseason

Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) is congratulated by guard George Hill (3) after a basket and a foul in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) is congratulated by guard George Hill (3) after a basket and a foul in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
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Utah Jazz Joe Johnson Quin Snyder
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder has a few words for forward Joe Johnson (6) after a timeout in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

What will be their record to finish the season and what will be their playoff seed?

I’m going to stick with the current pace go with an even 50 and a No. 4 or 5 seed in the West. The Jazz are significantly healthier than they were in the early going; Rodney Hood’s unfortunate knee injury on Saturday notwithstanding. Nevertheless, I don’t expect them to go crazy and catch the Houston Rockets.

I see them remaining steady as they reintegrate everyone into the lineup, hone their rotations and rebuild some chemistry. There will be the occasional rough patch, but that’s to be expected. The hope should be that they hit their stride in time for the playoff run.

Next: Playoffs?!

Utah Jazz Derrick Favors Memphis Grizzlies
Nov 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green (0) defends against Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Will they win a playoff series?

As most of us would probably agree, it’s all about the match-up here. As good as the Jazz are, they’re ultimately going to fall right into that range of teams just outside of the West’s elite. Without a clear-cut favorite among the bunch, it’s probably going to come down to who plays who, home-court advantage and which teams are healthy.

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I’m pretty confident in picking the Jazz to win a series with Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the L.A. Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies are harder.

I, for one, prefer the latter, but either squad would be a tough out.