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Utah Jazz: Northwest Division Comparison – February

By Jared Woodcox

Jan 16, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrates in the closing seconds of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Jazz defeated the Suns 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrates in the closing seconds of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Jazz defeated the Suns 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) greets Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) following the game at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Jazz 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) greets Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) following the game at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Jazz 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

Current Record: 21-26

Standings: 3rd in Division, 8th in Conference

If my prediction about the Blazers turns out to be wrong, it will likely be largely because the rising Denver Nuggets continue to surge. They went just 7-7 last month, but that was due largely to a slow start as they ended the month winning three of their last four contests with one of those, of course, coming against the Jazz.

Nevertheless, an exhausted Utah team that was playing its fourth game in five days and a wounded Clippers team were the only two opponents they defeated that really stuck out as the rest of the victories were mainly against inferior teams. Thus, the Nuggets still have a ways to go to convince me that their latest streak is a legitimate one especially after falling to the hapless Lakers last night.

Furthermore, they have a series of tough games coming up heading into the All-Star break that could very well prove whether this Nuggets team is legitimate and deserving of a playoff spot or not.

Whether or not that ends up being the case, there’s no questioning that they have outperformed expectations up to this point. Nikola Jokic has the look of a future star and Denver’s combination of quickly-improving young guns and reliable vets is clicking faster and more efficiently than many had assumed.

Still, my gut is telling me that despite their place in the standings for the time being, Portland will still end up being the better team of the two. I may very well regret making that statement by season’s end, but with plenty of time left before the start of postseason action, I’m going to predict that the Nuggets slip back into fourth in the division at some point before then.

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