How the Utah Jazz stack up against all 29 other NBA teams

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: the Utah Jazz huddle prior to Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 23, 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 23: the Utah Jazz huddle prior to Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 23, 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 – DECEMBER 1: Darius Miller #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on December 1, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 1: Darius Miller #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on December 1, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans

  • ’17-18 Record: 48-34
  • ’17-18 Season Series: 3-1 (Jazz)
  • ’18-19 Advantage: Jazz

I’m really intrigued to see how the Pelicans mesh this upcoming season. Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton were both great signings, but I do worry about their fits on the roster, Randle in particular.

I didn’t expect the Pelicans to be as good as they were last season. 48 wins and a playoff appearance despite losing All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to injury is very impressive. Anthony Davis was a star like usual, but so was Jrue Holiday.

The Jazz played very well against the Pelicans last season. It’s a good match-up for them. We’ve seen in the past that Anthony Davis struggles against the length of Utah compared to how he fares against other teams.

New Orleans plays an extremely fast paced style of basketball, and I expect that to continue next season. They’ll score a lot of points, but they’ll also give up a lot of points. Utah will score a lot of points, but have one of the better defenses in the league. You’ve got to play both ends of the floor.