The J-Notes
Fansided

The zany path to the ideal playoff seeding situation for the Utah Jazz

By Jared Woodcox

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 27: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz smiles on the bench in the fourth quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 27, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Utah Jazz defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-111. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 27: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz smiles on the bench in the fourth quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 27, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Utah Jazz defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-111. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) /

Several seeding possibilities still exist as the NBA regular season draws to a close but one particular path could prove highly advantageous for the Utah Jazz to make a deep playoff run.

Not that their chances would have been great anyway, but the Utah Jazz essentially kissed home court advantage goodbye when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. Now, in order for them to earn the fourth seed, they’ll need the Portland Trail Blazers to lose both of their remaining games and to win their own two.

Since the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers while the Jazz play the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers, don’t count on that happening, though. The Jazz have a better shot of falling to the sixth seed than they do of earning fourth place and home court advantage.

But you may find it surprising to learn that under certain circumstances, that might actually be advantageous for the Jazz. How, do you ask? Well, the answer is much more complicated than one might think. And if we’re going to talk about what’s best for the Jazz, why don’t we apply it across the board to the entire conference?

I intend to do just that by describing what exactly would have to happen in the final few games of the season to result in the ideal matchups 1-8 in the Western Conference to give the Jazz the best shot at success in the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

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