The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: Way too early predictions for 2019-20 Western Conference standings

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 09: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets tries to drive through the defense Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 09, 2019 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 09: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets tries to drive through the defense Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 09, 2019 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 16
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz elbows past Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 27, 2019 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 – FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz elbows past Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 27, 2019 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) /

The Utah Jazz face ample competition in a loaded Western Conference. Here’s a first-look at how the regular season standings could stack up in 2019-20.

In the latest rendition of The J-Notes Blast Podcast, I took some time to measure the Utah Jazz’s competition in the Western Conference and predict how each opponent would stack up. It was an extremely difficult exercise given the talent and depth found in the Western Conference, particularly with there being several teams likely worthy of a playoff spot but, of course, only eight openings.

Because it was so much to unwrap, I wanted to be sure to also get my thoughts down on paper, so to speak, by dissecting the Western Conference even further and aiming to project just how the standings will play out come season’s end, which is exactly what I’ve done here.

With that said, it should be noted that this isn’t a power ranking or an order of which teams I believe will be best come playoff time (mild spoiler alert – the team I have at number one here isn’t even close to my favorite to qualify for the NBA Finals from the West). This is my projections for how the seeding will look on the final day of the regular season heading into the playoffs.

A lot of elements can affect regular season performance and some teams are simply built better for the 82-game haul than they are for the ever-important grind of the postseason. As such, I’ve attempted to take all factors into consideration when putting this together. Obviously, one that remains unknown at this point (until Monday, that is) is the specific intricacies of each team’s regular season schedule.

Nevertheless, while certainly a lot could yet change between now and the start of the season, based on what we know now, here are my predictions for how the regular season standings will ultimately shake out in the West.

Home/Jazz News