The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Five reasons to look forward to the 2018-19 season

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates after Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates after Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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People photograph a mural of LeBron James in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in Venice, California on July 9, 2018. – It was originally revealed July 6, 2018, and then vandalized over the weekend, and re-touched up again with the word “of” not repainted from the original words “the King of LA”. Artists Jonas Never and Menso One painted the mural to welcome LeBron James to Los Angeles, outside the Baby Blues BBQ resturant in Venice, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION – TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
People photograph a mural of LeBron James in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in Venice, California on July 9, 2018. – It was originally revealed July 6, 2018, and then vandalized over the weekend, and re-touched up again with the word “of” not repainted from the original words “the King of LA”. Artists Jonas Never and Menso One painted the mural to welcome LeBron James to Los Angeles, outside the Baby Blues BBQ resturant in Venice, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION – TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Strong Western Conference will be fun

Some NBA fans have bemoaned the fact that the Western Conference is so much more daunting than the Eastern Conference. While I agree that the lack of parity is concerning and it’s quite unfair that the lower seeds in the East make the playoffs while the typically more talented 9 and 10 seeds in the West have to watch from the sidelines, I actually think it’s quite exciting to support a team that plays in the West.

The West got even better this summer with Paul George opting to remain in Oklahoma City while that selfsame organization seeks to pluck out Carmelo Anthony who had turned into one of their biggest weaknesses. Teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season such as the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets made nice offseason moves that should see them be more improved this year.

And, of course, atop them all is the Los Angeles Lakers who added LeBron James to their ranks, arguably the best player to ever play the game. All this competition in the West is certainly going to make things harder. However, it’s also going to make them a lot more exciting.

The Jazz will now get to take on LeBron three or four times per year, depending how the schedule works out. Since they play the West teams more frequently than the East, having that uptick in competition on a more regular basis is going to make for a lot of fun and exciting regular season action.

Just like last season, the Western Conference playoff race figures to be a bloodbath. But seeing that kind of competition as nearly a dozen (if not more) talented teams in the West duke it out against the Jazz on a nearly nightly basis is going to be an absolute thrill.

Will Utah’s record suffer for playing in the Western Conference? Sure, as will the rest of their colleagues who could probably beat up the weaker East. However, the frequency of entertaining games taking place in which the Jazz are challenged night in and night out is almost certain to go up. And as fans, that rise in entertainment value is definitely something to look forward to.

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