Photo Credit: RMtip21, Flickr.com
Utah Jazz
2011-12 Vitals:
36-30, 3rd in Northwest Division, 8th in Western Conference
99.7 PPG/99.0 OPP PPG
2012-13 Roster:
Raja Bell – SG
Alec Burks – G
Brian Butch – C
DeMarre Carroll – F
Jeremy Evans – SF
Derrick Favors – PF
Randy Foye – G
Trey Glider – F
Gordon Hayward – SG
Darnell Jackson – PF
Al Jefferson – C
Enes Kanter – F
Paul Millsap – PF
Kevin Murphy – SG
Chris Quinn – PG
Jamaal Tinsley – PG
Earl Watson – PG
Marvin Williams – SF
Mo Williams – PG
Offseason Additions:
Mo Williams, Marvin Williams, Kevin Murphy, Randy Foye
Offseason Subtractions:
Projected Starters:
PG – Mo Williams
SG – Gordon Hayward
SF – Marvin Williams
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Al Jefferson
Season Outlook:
The Utah Jazz surprised everyone outside of Salt Lake City with a playoff appearance during the 2011-12 season. They were quickly dispatched by the San Antonio Spurs, but it was impressive that they even made it.
This year, the Jazz have a lot of decisions to make. They know Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors are their building blocks and will be there for years, but after that it gets a bit fuzzy. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are in contract years, which provides an interesting dynamic, considering they have such similar games.
Another run at the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference is likely, assuming they don’t start slow and decide to blow things up.
Best-Case Scenario:
Jefferson and Millsap continue their dominance in the paint and produce at career-best levels. Hayward shows continued improvement, and the Jazz fight their way to the No. 7 seed. They won’t win a first-round series, though.
Worst-Case Scenario:
Two players fighting to earn a new contract turns into two players becoming too selfish and the Jazz fall apart. A slow start leads to pressing, which leads to bad play. The Jazz trade both players before the deadline, miss the playoffs and begin building around Hayward and Favors.
Thanks for visiting HoopsHabit.com! Please visit our sponsors and like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our Youtube feed and tell your friends!