Predicting the outcome of every Utah Jazz game in December

Predicting every December Utah Jazz game, December 9-17

December 9 vs Philadelphia 76ers: Win

The Philadelphia 76ers are very much a team in flux, with divisive star point guard Ben Simmons shelved indefinitely for (put generously) personal reasons. Nonetheless, they’ve retained their most valuable player in Joel Embiid, and have at times looked dangerous this season with the Cameroonian big man surrounded by floor spacing.

Nonetheless, they haven’t looked anything like a team as dangerous as the Utah Jazz. With both teams coming off of back-to-backs in this contest, look for the Jazz to prevail against an equally tired, less talented Sixers team.

December 11 vs Washington Wizards: Loss

It’s not that we believe the Washington Wizards are a better team than the Utah Jazz. In fact, the number of teams we’d rank ahead of the Jazzmen is small, no matter how objective we’re being.

We just have to predict some losses, as an undefeated month is unlikely. This plucky Wizards squad have been the Cinderella story of the 2021-22 NBA season, and they’ve got as good a chance as any Eastern Conference foe to outplay the Jazz.

December 15 vs Los Angeles Clippers: Win 

Following their contest with the Wizards, the Jazz enjoy a healthy, four day mini-vacation. We expect them to use it to prepare for a solid, but ultimately beatable Los Angeles Clippers team.

It goes without saying that these Clippers are missing Kawhi Leonard. As incredible a season as Paul George is having, The Klaw likely remains the best player on this roster. The Clippers are still formidable enough, but without Leonard, they’re in a lower tier than the Utah Jazz.

December 17 vs San Antonio Spurs: Win

Throughout much of recent history, predicting a Utah Jazz victory against the San Antonio Spurs was an exercise in futility. Things change, and even the seemingly indomitable Gregg Popovich can’t seem to stop them from doing it.

At 6-13, the Spurs have been about as good as expected in 2021-22: not very. Dejounte Murray is enjoying a breakout season, but this roster is simply too thin for his immense statistical output to result in a high number of quality wins. It feels unlikely that he’ll carry his squad to a victory over the Jazz on the 17th.