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Utah Jazz: Northwest Division Comparison – March

By Jared Woodcox

Mar 3, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) reacts after a dunk in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-97. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) reacts after a dunk in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-97. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

Current Record: 35-27

Standings: 2nd in Division, 7th in Conference

The Oklahoma City Thunder managed to sneak past the Jazz once again as part of a February that was one of their best months to date as they finished 7-4. The Thunder were looking red hot out of the gates following the All-Star break and appeared to have a great chance of surging up the standings.

However, in two games during the month of March the Thunder have suddenly come back down to earth as they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers and then last night to the Phoenix Suns. As good as OKC has been at times this season (like their unheard of 12-of-12 start from three against the Jazz, yes I’m still bitter) they’ve also had games where they’ve simply been unable to get anything going.

Personally, while I think the Thunder got better at the trade deadline and have a decent chance of finishing well above seventh in the conference, they have a relatively tough schedule in the month of March and may find themselves struggling to move up.

There’s also of course the question of how long Russell Westbrook can maintain his electrifying pace. In the team’s recent contest against the Suns, Westbrook finished with 40 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, yet the team still lost. Shouldering that kind of load with often less than favorable results has to be disheartening at times.

Yet the Thunder star has shown no sign of slowing down, so if he makes it through the rough stretch of games during March, then OKC could very well be able to challenge the Jazz for the division title by the end of the month.

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