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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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 31, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 31, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Oklahoma City Thunder

Current Record: 20-17

Standings: 2nd in Division, 5th in Conference

If you thought the Denver Nuggets had been weird of late, try figuring out the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite an abysmal start to the year, the sentiment surrounding the team has been that they have to get things sorted out at some point.

Well, it finally looked like they were doing just that as they stormed to a six-game winning streak late in the month which included big-time wins over the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors (not to mention the Jazz twice). The Thunder put up some tantalizing performances in those contests and it looked as if they had indeed finally turned the corner.

However, immediately after that hot streak, the Thunder seemed to revert to their former head-scratching ways as they dropped consecutive games to the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks, both of which were well within reach. Sure, the Thunder got pretty screwed by a late missed call against the Bucks and Paul George didn’t play in the contest, but there was little excuse against a struggling Mavs team save for the absence of Andre Roberson.

Nevertheless, despite some puzzling losses, December was still an incredible month for the Thunder as they went an astounding 12-5 despite facing some tough competition. That rocketed them all the way from last in the division and ninth in the conference to second in the division and fifth in the conference in an extremely short period of time.

There will still likely be some bumps along the way, but I think the last 31 days have proven that the Thunder are extremely close to righting the ship and getting things figured out. If they’re truly able to do just that, then it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see them continue to bust their way up the standings and eventually take the conference crown, as many projected they would prior to the season’s start.

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