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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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts late in the game while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Utah won the game 110-105. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts late in the game while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Utah won the game 110-105. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Positive #2 – Tied for fewest back-to-back sets

Even though the Utah Jazz face four back-to-backs in their first six weeks, that isn’t indicative of a grueling schedule ahead. In fact, for the entire season the Utah Jazz have just 11 back-to-back sets, tied for the fewest in the NBA this upcoming year.

That’s good news for a Jazz team that found themselves in 14 such contests a year ago and that suffered a number of losses that might have otherwise been unexpected had the scheduling circumstances been more favorable. Long story short – dodging a heavy number of back-to-backs should keep the Jazz fresher and prevent them from some of those gut-wrenching, aptly-named “schedule losses.”

Reducing back-to-backs is an initiative the NBA has taken seriously the past few years and the 2019-20 campaign is no exception. As tweeted out by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, this upcoming year has them at a historic low with teams averaging 12.4 back-to-back sets as opposed to 13.3 a season ago.

In other words, the entire league was a beneficiary of fewer back-to-backs, even though the Jazz were among the fortunate few to find themselves with only 11 such contests.

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