How do the new-look Utah Jazz currently stack up against a Western Conference that’s deeper than it has been in several years?
During the NBA offseason, a world of change can take place in a matter of weeks. Days may even be the more appropriate term. This has never been more apparent than it was in the Western Conference following the fireworks of free agency and a whirlwind of blockbuster trades.
Teams that were on the outside looking in last year, i.e. the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, were suddenly on the road to winning sinning seasons and/or playoff berths.
The conference’s elite — this time we’re talking about the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and world-champion Golden State Warriors — somehow managed to get better as well.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz look to forge a new identity without Gordon Hayward behind All-NBA center Rudy Gobert and a deep, defensive-minded roster. That said, questions surround their ability to remain competitive amid the seismic changes around the conference.
So, in a an effort to gauge where the new-look Jazz currently fit in the Wild West, myself and the rest of The J-Notes crew are utilizing the wisdom of crowds to determine how the conference shakes out currently.
Based on a composite score of our own, individual lists, here are our Western Conference power rankings heading into training camp…