The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: 2017-18 Northwest Division Comparison – January

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 30, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 30, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 30, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 30, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Now that 2017 has come to a close, let’s take a look at where the Utah Jazz stack up compared to the rest of their Northwest Division foes.

As we turn the page over to the new calendar year and draw near to the midway point of the season, the Northwest Division continues to appear full of playoff-worthy foes. However, the question that remains unanswered is where each team will end up in the mix. Heading into 2018, Northwest Division teams find themselves in consecutive playoff seeds – fourth through seventh – with only a game separating fifth and seventh place.

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz are unfortunately on the outside looking in after a tough month of December, but even at five games below .500, they’re still just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot and well within striking distance. While the Jazz have certainly looked like the weakest team of the division so far, they still have time to turn things around and prove themselves, whereas the Minnesota Timberwolves have seemingly proved themselves as the leader of the pack.

Nevertheless, with nearly four months left in the regular season, it’s still very much possible that the Jazz could surge past the Portland Trail Blazers or Denver Nuggets, or that the Oklahoma City Thunder could continue their recent upwards trajectory and overtake the top spot in the division. Just as expected, the Northwest Division has been highly competitive and will certainly be a fight to the finish between the five teams.

Perhaps January will bring about more distinction between the squads, or maybe they’ll all stay in a closely contested cluster as they jockey for playoff seeding. Whatever the case may be, let’s take a look at each team in the division and how they’ve fared up to this point.

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