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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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) /

Negative #2 – Most miles traveled

Although the Utah Jazz won’t have the same road-heavy schedule we’ve seen in recent seasons where they’re forced to play several grueling road trips seemingly consecutively (looking at you November and December of the past two years), that doesn’t mean they won’t put in their fair share of time on the road.

In fact, a discouraging aspect of next season’s schedule is that the Utah Jazz will actually travel the most miles of any team in the NBA – well over 50,000.

As I felt I had to harp on countless times last season when Jazz fans were panicking about the team’s slow start, it’s important to remember that these players are real people impacted by things the same way you and I would be. Ever experienced jet lag? Ever had a rough or rocky flight, gotten home, and just wanted to collapse in bed without moving? I know I sure have.

Now imagine instead that after those incidents, you instead had to suit up and play a two-and-a-half hour basketball game against the toughest competition in the world. Is it any wonder that sometimes superior teams falter on lengthy road trips in opposing teams’ buildings? Just like any other season, expect the Jazz to drop some head-scratchers due to fatigue and weary legs, especially considering that they’ll be atop the league in miles traveled.

However, this aspect of the schedule should come as little surprise considering that the Jazz, like many teams in the West, are simply more spread out than others of their counterparts, especially in the Northwest Division that includes trips to Portland, Minnesota and OKC. While many East teams find themselves near the bottom of the list in miles traveled, particularly the closely-located Central Division teams, the West squads typically find themselves near the top.

Not only that, but this heavy mileage is in many ways a direct result of Utah’s shortage of back-to-backs and lengthy road trips. When you stack those together hitting several cities close to one another on the way, it’s going to cut down your overall mileage. Traveling 50,000+ miles in the course of an NBA regular season isn’t ideal, but if it was between that and playing more back-to-backs and/or five-game road trips, I’d most definitely take the former.

In short, this isn’t ideal and we may see the Jazz drop some games as a result of the mileage they’ll be logging. But it’s still far better than some of the alternatives.

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