The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Awards Predictions for the 2017-18 season

By John Keeffer

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: The Maurice Podoloff Trophy trophy during the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award presentation at Oakland Convention Center on May 04, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: The Maurice Podoloff Trophy trophy during the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award presentation at Oakland Convention Center on May 04, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 8: Derrick Favors (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 8: Derrick Favors (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Comeback Player of the Year – Derrick Favors

Just the fact that the Jazz have multiple candidates for this award speaks to the injury trouble last season.

Alec Burks, Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors all missed multiple games and had down years due to injury. Ultimately, I’m going with Derrick Favors on this one, because unlike the others, he’s played at a star level in the past.

Favors, along with Hayward, was supposed to become the star last season. Sports Illustrated had even ranked him at number 28 of their annual SI Top 100 Player Rankings. Where did Gordon Hayward rank? Number 27. They were right on par with each other as the center pieces of this Jazz franchise.

Here is what Ben Golliver said in his analysis of Favors:

"With so many teams hoping to play smaller and faster, the 25-year-old Favors makes for a nightly mismatch. His strength, honed scoring ability and motor are tough to handle for perimeter-oriented fours, as he can pound the glass on both ends and work his way to high-percentage shots against undersized defenders."

So what happened? Injuries. Favors missed 32 games, and even when he did play, he clearly wasn’t healthy.

All signs are pointing to the Jazz having a healthy Derrick Favors this season though. As Ryan Aston of The J-Notes wrote, he has been putting in the work to not just come back healthy, but to come back better than ever. 

If he can just get back to his 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal a game splits, he will be the Comeback Player of the Year for the Jazz.

Honorable Mentions: Alec Burks and Rodney Hood

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