Utah Jazz: Weighing Up Potential Playoff Opponents
One more win for the Utah Jazz will see them clinch a playoff spot and it’s time to take a look at the Jazz’s possible opponents in the first round.
Despite a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls Saturday night, the Utah Jazz should remain upbeat. Utah didn’t get beaten in the Windy City as much as they beat themselves and most of the problems they encountered should be easily solved.
Not only do they have a chance to sweep the two-game season series with the Indiana Pacers on Monday, they have a chance to book themselves a playoff spot for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
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We all know that the Jazz can’t miss this opportunity even with the worst of efforts but it will still be nice to see that asterisk next to the Jazz’s name to signify their spot in the postseason.
When looking at potential first round opponents, you can cancel out the Warriors and Spurs who will finish one and two, and the Houston Rockets who will claim the third seed. The Jazz also can’t play as the eighth seed who will likely be the Denver Nuggets.
The Utah Jazz are currently in fourth place, owning a two game lead on the LA Clippers, a two and a half game lead on Russell Westbrook’s Thunder and a three game cushion on the Memphis Grizzlies.
Possible scenarios for the Utah Jazz are the following –
- (4) Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder or Memphis Grizzlies
- (5) Utah Jazz @ LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder or Memphis Grizzlies
- (6) Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets
- (7) Utah Jazz @ Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs
The match-up with the Houston Rockets strikes me as the most favorable match-up despite conceding home court advantage and the match-up with powerhouses San Antonio and Golden State is obviously the least favorable. For either of these to occur, the Jazz would likely have to win less than 48 games, going 5-7 or worse from here on out. This seems highly unlikely.
For the Memphis Grizzlies to climb to the fourth seed, they will have to win upwards of 50 games, going 10-2 or better from here on out. Taking all of this into account, it seems almost certain that we will see the Jazz at home against the Clippers, Thunder or Grizzlies, or on the road against the either the Clippers or Thunder.
After gathering the above information, we can start to compare LA and Oklahoma City because there is a very strong chance that they will be facing the Jazz in round one. Utah is at a deficit in the season series against both teams with a 1-2 record against the Clips and a 1-3 record against OKC.
Defeating either of these great teams will be a difficult task. The Thunder have one of the most dangerous players in the NBA that has torched the Jazz all year long in Russell Westbrook, and the Clippers have a number of weapons that can score at will and get hot at any given time.
Taking a look at the Jazz’s strengths now and how they will matchup with their two opponents; Utah has a rim protector in Rudy Gobert that will be somewhat nullified by either behemoth he will face in Steven Adams or DeAndre Jordan. Both teams can put a solid perimeter defender on All-Star Gordon Hayward with Andre Roberson or Luc Mbah a Moute.
Each team also has newly added bench players like Marreese Speights and Taj Gibson that could hurt Utah’s less than physical second-unit. It now comes down to who can be of greater effect at the offensive end; Russell Westbrook or the LA Clippers. Lets face it, in a playoff atmosphere, Westbrook is not really one to let his teammates decide the fate of his team. He is likely going to exceed his season averages in minutes, points, rebounds, assists and turnovers.
The Clippers on the other hand, have countless players that can hurt you. Chris Paul will be the primary ball handler and pick-and-roll guard, a similar role to Westbrook’s. But behind him, the Clippers have offensive firepower in Blake Griffin, J.J Redick, Austin Rivers, Mo Speights and noted Jazz-killer Jamal Crawford.
Next: Can the Utah Jazz Hang On to the Fourth Seed in the West?
This being said, I think the Jazz will be best suited playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one. It will be far from easy which makes getting home-court advantage critical. Feel free to hit me up with your opinion of who the Jazz would rather play in the comments section below.