Making predictions about the Utah Jazz may be a fool’s errand. After all, very few of the developments with the team we’ve seen in 2021-22 so far could be classified as predictable.
That’s not going to stop us from trying.
The Jazz may not have been a model of consistency in 2021-22, but there’s been more good than bad. With even average injury luck, there’s a good chance they’d be higher in the standings as of this moment.
With that said, we’re not here to make predictions about the hypothetical past. Short of a time machine, that’s an even more pointless endeavor than attempting to predict the future.
Here are 3 bold predictions for the Utah Jazz for the remainder of 2021-22.
Utah Jazz Prediction #1: Deadline acquisitions make minimal impact
We may be stretching the definition of “bold” with this one.
In two games with the Jazz so far, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has played 4 and 1 minutes respectively. Juancho Hernangomez has seen the exact same minutes distribution.
Alexander-Walker is a young player with potential, who is currently far too inefficient to play for a contending team like the Utah Jazz. Hernangomez is a career third-stringer who won’t find an opportunity to improve his standing in the league in Salt Lake City.
Neither is ready to be an impact player. That’s what made the Jazz’s trade deadline so frustrating. Don’t look for either to improve their stock as long as they’re playing for the Utah Jazz.