The J-Notes
Fansided

Five reasons why the Utah Jazz will make the playoffs in 2018-19

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with Royce O’Neale #23 during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with Royce O’Neale #23 during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Internal Improvement

Real-life basketball is obviously much more dynamic than a game of NBA 2K. But for sake of a metaphor, let’s pretend for a second that the Utah Jazz were merely rolling out the exact same squad as last year, with all of their ‘player ratings’ dialed in at the exact same mark.

If the Jazz remained exactly as they were in 2017-18 and maintained that high level over the course of the season, there’s no doubt that they’d be a playoff team. They did wrap up the year with a .829 win percentage after all. They won’t maintain that rate over 82 games by any means, but a team capable of such a performance is definitely capable of finishing with enough wins to make the playoffs.

But not only do the Jazz have the aforementioned continuity that I just spoke on, but they’re not going to just be rolling out a merely equal team as last year. They’re going to be rolling out a much-improved squad. Just imagine all those hypothetical 2K ratings taking a giant leap.

Donovan Mitchell has tons of experience under his belt now and a full offseason to grow. Rudy Gobert has gotten better every year. Dante Exum is fully healthy. Ricky Rubio improved vastly throughout the year last year and is within the same system and program this time around. The list goes on and on.

If continuity were enough to merely get the Jazz into the playoffs, their inarguable improvements will be enough to not only seal the deal, but should very well propel them even higher than a low/mid playoff seed.

The Jazz have hung their hat on growing organically. And as they continue to do so, they’re going to be an absolute force to be reckoned with in 2018-19.

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