The Utah Jazz have gotten our hopes up with several solid win streaks, only to fall flat every few games. Have they been a disappointment or have they satisfied pre-season expectations?
Last summer the Utah Jazz hype train was going full steam ahead. Despite missing the playoffs, they were able to post the fourth best net rating in the entire league, and after acquiring veterans to shore up depth and add shooting/experience, many national writers took note that this Jazz team was one on the rise.
CBS Sports ranked the Jazz with the fifth best starting lineup and number one bench in the league. James Herbert, also of CBS Sports, picked the Jazz as one of seven teams primed for a breakout season.
Zach Lowe of ESPN picked the Jazz as winners of the offseason, and had this to say:
"“This is a versatile, mammoth team that should win 50 games next season. Seriously, predicting 50 wins for the Jazz is not bold. They are that good.”"
Despite lacking a bona-fide superstar, the Utah Jazz were picked by FanSided’s Justin Rowan as the biggest threat to the Golden State Warriors in the western conference. And Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer summed up everybody’s thoughts with this quote:
"“Utah might not have a superstar in its midst, but its assemblage of talent can become a group better than the sum of its parts.”"
After multiple predictions of a 50-plus win season plus home court advantage in the playoffs, excitement for the 2016-17 season was higher than ever in Jazzland. Now that we’re 62 games into the season, it’s time to reflect on how the Jazz have met expectations for this year.