The J-Notes
Fansided

Who Should Utah Jazz Fans Cheer For to Earn the Eighth Seed?

By Jared Woodcox

Jan 26, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrate with the rest of his team after taking the lead in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz won 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrate with the rest of his team after taking the lead in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz won 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 7
Next
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 /

Verdict – Jazz Fans Should Cheer For the Denver Nuggets to Claim 8th Seed

Runner-up – New Orleans Pelicans

If I’ve accomplished anything thus far, it’s most likely been to convince you that there’s practically no hope of stopping Golden State in the first round. And if the Utah Jazz do end up as the fourth or fifth seed and are fortunate enough to win a first-round series and advance (which is very much in question itself) they’ll likely have no alternative but to face a daunting and full-strength Warriors team.

But in terms of who Utah Jazz fans should cheer for that may have the best possible chance of competing and giving Golden State some amount of trouble in the first round, that team should be the Denver Nuggets.

While it’s easy to get swept up in the hysteria of Denver’s latest win over the Warriors and pin that as a determining factor, even if that game had never occurred the Nuggets would still be my choice.

Related Story: Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards: Keys to the Game

They have a good combination of youth and veteran experience, they have a relentless offense that can run other teams ragged and they have an excellent home court advantage in Denver where their high altitude and electric atmosphere can be tough to overcome for opposing teams. The Nuggets are 9-2 over their last 11 home games and this could be another sizable advantage as well.

Beyond Denver, the other team that I’m still willing to leave in the mix as a potential worthy opponent is the New Orleans Pelicans, simply because their frontcourt looks dominant, at least on paper. It won’t take long to know whether the duo of Cousins and Davis is going to work out, but if they can turn it around and string together some victories, there’s still a chance that they could turn into the most formidable first round foe possible for Golden State.

More from The J-Notes

Of course this is all speculation as the Jazz have yet to earn the fourth or fifth seed and of course have yet to win a first-round playoff series. Both of which will be far from easy tasks in and of themselves.

Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that should such be the case, it’s then almost a guarantee that none of these aforementioned teams will top Golden State and that Utah will indeed face the Warriors in the second round. Simply put, a team of Golden State’s caliber just doesn’t lose to a sub-.500 eighth seed in a seven-game series.

Still, there’s no doubting that the playoffs are a grind and each series takes a toll on the teams involved. Therefore, if Utah hopes to take on a Warriors team that has taken as much mental and physical wear as possible, then Jazz fans should be pulling hard for the Nuggets to keep a firm hold of that eighth seed or for the Pelicans to emerge as a true Western Conference force.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com

Home/Jazz News