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5 Teams Who Could Make The NBA Playoffs Next Season

By Carter Johnson

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) and guard Dante Exum (11) look on against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) and guard Dante Exum (11) look on against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz

Hidden away in one of, if not the smallest media market in the league, this young Utah Jazz team has been quietly developing into a very competitive unit under the radar and made just the right additions to finally get over the hump this coming season.

In their second season under indirect Gregg Popovich disciple Quin Snyder, the Jazz boasted the league’s second stingiest scoring defense (95.9 points allowed per game) and saw career-high scoring averages from young forwards Gordon Hayward (19.7 points a night) and Derrick Favors (16.4). The team put forth a solid season with a 40-42 record and literally came up short of the playoffs on the final night of the regular season.

The Jazz front office did not rest on their laurels this offseason and addressed several areas of need, adding veterans with defensive acumen and winning experience in former Spurs George Hill and Boris Diaw as well as a proven scorer in journeyman forward Joe Johnson. The team will also benefit from having the likes of 2-guard Alec Burks and point guard Dante Exum returning from injuries to bolster the second unit this season.

As tough a defense as they were last year, this Jazz team figures to be even stingier on that end this season. If the offense can improve even slightly — and it figures to with the addition of Johnson, the return of Burks and Exum and the continued development of Hayward and Favors — the team from Salt Lake City could be making its first postseason appearance since 2012 this season.

Next: The Playoffs Return To The Garden