2009-10 Utah Jazz Record: 53-29, Lost in Western Conference Semifinals vs Los Angeles Lakers 0-4
The 2009-10 the Utah Jazz could probably be accused of underachieving. Individually, it was arguably the best season of then-franchise player Deron Williams’ career. The floor general averaged 18 points and 10.7 assists per game over the course of this season.
He wasn’t alone either. Carlos Boozer was in fine form with 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest. Andrei Kirilenko was in the beginning stages of his rapid, almost inexplicable decline, but with 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per night, he was still one of the best defensive wings in the NBA.
Other notable names on this roster include Mehmet Okur, a 24-year-old Paul Millsap and a 28-year-old Kyle Korver. This team probably could have used a glimpse into the future of the NBA: with a stretch 5 in Okur and a small-ball 5 in Millsap, they had the positional versatility to run a modern offense. Furthermore, Korver could have shot more than 4.2 threes per 36 minutes with his 53.6% conversion rate.
Unfortunately, such a strategic decision would have scandalized the town folk. This team did manage an impressive 53 wins, but they eventually fell to the (here we go again) eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.