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

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is held back by teammate Jae Crowder #99 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) /

Defense

One of the primary reasons why the Jazz have been so daunting in recent seasons is because they’ve boasted one of the most lethal defenses in the league. Between floor anchor and rim protector Rudy Gobert to a host of prolific perimeter defenders such as Royce O’Neale, Joe Ingles, Dante Exum, Donovan Mitchell, Jae Crowder and Thabo Sefolosha, the Jazz are as fortified as ever.

In many ways, defense has become a lost art to several teams across the league who rely so heavily on offensive firepower and firing the deep ball. However, the teams that truly dominate are the ones that back up their hot shooting with gritty defense on the other end. Say what you want about the Golden State Warriors, but their nearly unstoppable offense alone isn’t the only reason why they dominate games. They play the other end of the floor in elite fashion as well.

But even their defense can’t match that of a fully healthy Utah Jazz squad. As Utah showed in the back half of last season, when their defense is firing on all cylinders, it’s ridiculously tough to score against them. From January 22 until the end of the regular season, the Jazz had the best defensive rating by a landslide at 96.8. No other team in the league was even below 101.

During that stretch, they also held opponents to a meager 96.4 points per game. No other team came in below 100.

If the Jazz keep up that kind of defense where teams are scoring less than 100 points per game (or per 100 possessions), they’re going to win a lot of basketball games, especially against teams who struggle themselves on the defensive end and as Utah improves offensively. Not every game the Jazz play will be pretty, but the fact that their defense is so formidable and reliable will bring them lots of victories that they may not have otherwise earned.

And it will definitely add up to enough victories to result in a playoff bid.

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