Utah Jazz: J-Notes Staff Bold Predictions for the 2017-18 Season

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Maccabi Haifa in preseason action at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 4, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Maccabi Haifa in preseason action at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 4, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
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Joe Ingles Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 2: Alec Burks and Joe Ingles (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Burks replaces Hood in starting lineup

“After a rash of injuries and tons of missed playing time, fan favorite Alec Burks has a year of resurgence.

His playmaking and athleticism make it impossible for Quin Snyder to keep him off the court, and after Rodney Hood is slow to develop the consistency expected of a starter, Burks replaces Hood in the starting line-up. This is all the more possible now that Dante Exum is injured and more guard playing time has opened up.

We know Burks has the potential to be this type of player. At one point, he looked like the Jazz’ future star, with Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter rounding out the young core.

Dwyane Wade also marked Burks as the most underrated player in the league before he went down.

This is a bold prediction, but one that I think is certainly not outside the realm of possibilities.”

– Tyler Crandall (@tj_cran)