The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: An early look at the Western Conference playoff picture

By Calvin Chappell

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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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his team mates during a time out against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on January 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his team mates during a time out against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on January 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 John McCoy/Getty Images) /

On the Outside Looking In

Los Angeles Lakers: 25-22
Record projections:
Basketball Reference: 42-40, 9 seed
ESPN BPI: 42-40, 9 seed
FiveThirtyEight: 42-40, 9 seed

The Lakers are the first team that all three projections agree on in terms of record and seed. LA has struggled to string together wins while LeBron James has been injured. If he misses much more time, they may find themselves in the lottery. Kyle Kuzma has taken over the scoring load in James’ absence, and the team has been fairly balanced in this time. They’ve been a bit unpredictable, though, beating the Thunder right after losing to the Cavaliers.

As good as the young core of the Lakers can be, make no mistake, the outcome of LA’s season depends on LeBron James. With the injury reports available to us, it seems like the Lakers will have a difficult task ahead of them to fight for the 7th or 8th spots in the playoffs.

Sacramento Kings: 24-22
Record projections:
Basketball Reference: 41-41, 10 seed
ESPN BPI: 39-43, 12 seed
FiveThirtyEight: 38-44, 12 seed

The Kings round out the teams with a current winning record in the West. They have surprised countless fans with their solid play this year. De’Aaron Fox has looked like a star, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdonovic, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Nemanja Bjelica are looking like excellent building blocks for a successful team, and even rookie Marvin Bagley III is showing promise. They play fast and furious. Will it be enough to make it to the playoffs? If not, it will be close.

Next. Three HUGE questions facing the Utah Jazz. dark

While I won’t dive into the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-24), New Orleans Pelicans (21-25) or Dallas Mavericks (20-26), that doesn’t mean they can’t make it to the playoffs. There are reasons to believe in each of those three teams, but they are far enough behind the pack at this point in the season that we won’t focus on them today. I will revisit the playoff outlook regularly and update it as the season progresses. I have no doubt that the standings will be shaken up more than once before the season ends.

For the Jazz, they seem to have found their groove just in time to make another late-season run. They may not have the record that many fans would have hoped for at this point, but they are in a rather favorable position right now, and if they can continue this hot streak, they can snag home court for the playoffs, and a more favorable opponent.

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