After the Utah Jazz ended 2017 in a free fall, the start of 2018 has been different so far in Salt Lake City. Here’s three reasons why the Jazz have started to turn things around.
Midway through the 2017-18 NBA season, the Utah Jazz were one of the league’s most struggling teams, going into free-fall mode as the 2017 calendar year concluded.
The Jazz, who had a hard time keeping the bulk of their roster on the floor at the same time due to injuries, ended 2017 losing 10 of 13 games to find themselves not in the middle of the pack for the top of the Western Conference standings like they envisioned, but among the teams at the bottom.
But the start to the 2018 calendar year has been different for Utah — mainly, the end of January and the start of February.
In the last 10 games, the Jazz have turned things around and have emerged as one of the hottest teams in the league. Utah has gone 8-2 in its last 10 games and is riding a six-game win streak heading into Wednesday’s road game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Jazz, who have maintained a plus/minus of +11.3 during that stretch, which is best in the league during that span, have improved to 25-28 on the season following Monday’s win.
Although they still have a lot of work to do, trailing New Orleans by three games for the No. 8 spot in the West, the current play in Salt Lake City is encouraging. Amid the hot streak by Utah, here are three ways the Jazz have started to turn things around so far in 2018.