The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz facing a make or break off-season

By John Keeffer

Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) talk mid court during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) talk mid court during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Utah Jazz 2017 NBA Playoffs Rudy Gobert Injury LA Clippers
Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) is helped off the court by teammate guard George Hill (3) and center Boris Diaw (33) after going down to an injury in the opening seconds in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Priority 3: Get Healthy

The Jazz were effected by injuries perhaps more than any other team this last season. If they bring everybody back from last season, and do nothing different other than staying healthy, they could very well move themselves just behind the Warriors in the Western Conference Standings.

Via instreetclothes.com, the Jazz lost the seventh most games to injury last season. It’s not just the lost games, but who they lost that hurt them the most. It wasn’t lower tier bench players, but starters like George Hill, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood who struggled with injuries.

ManGamesLost.com calculated wins lost due to injury, and found that the Jazz lost 9.4 games due to their injury woes. The Jazz had a 51-win season in spite of their injuries, so take those health issues away and they project as a 60-win team.

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If the Jazz can run it all back and remain healthy next season, then they can legitimately rise to the No. 2 seed in the West. With that, you have an easier route to the Western Conference Finals, and a likely rematch with the Warriors. Then, you give yourself a chance to win. The Warriors have to lose to some team eventually. If all goes well this offseason, then why not the Jazz?

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