The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Three positives and three negatives about the 2019-20 NBA schedule

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 23: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a play during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 23, 2019 at Vivint Smart Home 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 23: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a play during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 23, 2019 at Vivint Smart Home 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 1: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 1: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Negative #1 – First 22 games will be challenging

No matter how the Jazz start the season, the good news is that, as I mentioned in the first positive, they should be able to right the ship quite quickly in December. However, they still face quite a task to kick off the year. Their second and fifth games, respectively, are against the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers – two teams that figure to be among the elite in the NBA with their new-look, star-studded duos.

From there, they’ll play 11 other games against teams that are nearly certain to make the playoffs as well as a number of playoff hopefuls such as the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans during that stretch.

The only true pushovers the Jazz play in the initial 22 contests before things ease up a bit with a December 7th contest against Memphis are the Phoenix Suns on October 28, the Memphis Grizzlies on November 15 and November 29, and arguably the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 18 and 20, though I hesitate to bucket them with the pushovers. Not only that, but there are also four back-to-back sets during that six-week slate.

That said, especially as the Jazz aim to adjust to all their new faces and potentially deal with fatigue from key contributors Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles who are participating in the FIBA World Cup this summer, the 2019-20 season could get off initially with a little less than a bang. Don’t be surprised if the Jazz find themselves at a pedestrian 11-11 (or perhaps even worse) before a much more relaxed December takes over.

If that turns out to be the case, expect the negative commentary spewing that the Jazz were overhyped or overrated to come through in droves. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be long until that sort of talk is stifled for good. Not only will Utah’s schedule work favorably for them from there on out, but the team is simply too talented to not be able to turn things around significantly after that.

Even a 10-12 or worse start will be no reason to panic as the Jazz will have ample time to turn things around and should yet be well on their way to winning over 50 games this upcoming year.

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