This tough 8 game homestand will define Utah’s season

The 2022-23 NBA schedule has been released, and the Utah Jazz certainly do not have an easy go of it. Their first three games are against Denver, Minnesota, and New Orleans. All three of those teams will be looking to make a statement as they try to define themselves as contenders this season. The Jazz then get a bit of a break, playing the Rockets twice in a row.

If the Utah Jazz have any hope of contending this season, the late November/early December homestand will be very telling for Jazz fans. During that stretch, the Jazz play six tough home games in a row, before going on a short road trip, then coming back to Salt Lake City for two more games.

After a short, but tough road trip where the Jazz have to play the Warriors and Suns in back-to-back games, the Jazz return to Utah to face the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls dealt with injuries all last season, but if they are healthy, they will be a tough opponent. After Chicago, the Jazz will face the Clippers, Pacers, Trailblazers, Warriors, and Wolves. Only the Blazers and Warriors games are on back-to-backs, so the Jazz should be well rested. After facing the Wolves on December 9th, the Jazz head to Denver on the tenth, then come back home to face the Pelicans twice–on the 13th and 15th.

It’s unlikely that the Jazz beat the Warriors and Suns on the road, and after coming back home for a homestand, things aren’t looking too much better. All of their opponents aside from the Pacers and Trailblazers will be really, really good. If the Jazz go 2-7 during that span, they may as well pull the season and commit to a tank. If the Jazz overachieve and even win half of those games, then things are looking good and Utah will have already proven that they can outplay the top teams come playoff time.

Depending on how Utah finished the offseason, the Jazz may or may not even think about making a postseason push, but by the start of winter, fans should have a good idea of where Utah stands.