Utah Jazz: 2017-18 NBA season preview
By Jason Oliver
Best-case scenario
Despite losing their All-Star, the Utah Jazz are still capable of playing beyond the regular season. No team lost more wins to injury in 2016-17 than Utah’s nine; those nine wins would have made the Jazz a 60-win team.
With Gordon Hayward now in the rearview mirror, this team is still made up of quality players. Players that, if healthy, will easily dispose of the bottom-tier teams, regularly beat the mid-tier teams, and compete with the elite teams of the Western Conference.
Outside of losing Hayward, the Jazz are a better team heading into the 2017-18 season. Ricky Rubio is the perfect complement to Rudy Gobert and enters the prime of his career with some consistency at head coach for the first time in his last four seasons.
Dante Exum is ready to be a reliable contributor while Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood will be back to their best if they can stay on the court
The Jazz are being written off, as usual, but it could work in their favor if things go their way.
Worst-case scenario
Injuries could again derail the season and make a push to the playoffs too difficult.
If there’s a repeat of 2016-17’s recovery schedule, the Jazz are in trouble. Without Gobert, Favors and Hood on the court, there isn’t enough firepower to overcome the high-scoring teams. They got away with players wearing street clothes last season on the back of Hayward, but no longer have that luxury.
Teams from lower down the standings last season are on the up and up, and should the Jazz go on a horror run, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans will be there to take their playoff spot.
The Western Conference is a battle ground. If any team shows a momentary weakness, those around them will be ready to pounce.
A fall to as far as 10th in the West isn’t out of the question if the Jazz can’t keep a consistent starting lineup. There are too many good teams for Utah to keep afloat while waiting for injured players.