Look ahead: Who should the Utah Jazz try to avoid in the playoffs?

Here are some teams the Utah Jazz should avoid at all costs in the NBA playoffs. The later they can avoid these match-ups, the better success they will have in the postseason.

If you’ve caught yourself watching the Western Conference standings recently, then you’re not alone.

There are teams in the NBA that are so convinced of their roster that they take the regular season easy, and make fresh legs for the playoffs priority number one.

The San Antonio Spurs started it with resting up to four or five of their starters on back ends of back-to-backs earlier this decade. They knew their team and system could beat any opponent, on the road or at home.

The Cleveland Cavaliers during their four year run of consecutive NBA Finals trips only finished atop of the Eastern Conference once (2015-16). The other years, they would finish anywhere from second place to fourth.

Unlike these teams, the Utah Jazz (36-18) need all of the home court advantage that they can get.

To date this season, their home record against good teams is 7-5. On the road however, that record falls to a mere 4-8. Suffice it to say, this Jazz team has been one that can really build off good momentum or crumble from an off night.

If they get the privilege of starting a series with two games at Vivint Smart Home Arena, that will give them a greater chance of winning the series. If they win the series then there is a good chance they can carry that momentum into the next round.

Of equal importance to home court advantage is the opponent they face off against for the best of four games. I’ve already covered which teams the Jazz should be crossing their fingers to fall in their path this spring.

But who are the teams in the Western Conference that could derail Utah’s hopes of making the Conference Finals?