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Utah Jazz: 5 things to hope for in 2019

By Mitchell Hansen

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 27: The Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 27: The Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. Continue to be a top defensive team

As already mentioned, the Jazz have been a strong defensive team once again this season, a theme that has become a common occurrence in Salt Lake City for at least the last few years.

Taking care of business on that end of the floor has been huge for Utah sticking in games early on in the season, especially with all of the offensively strong teams in the Western Conference.

Through their 38 contests, the Jazz hold a defensive rating of 105.5, which ranks sixth in the league. They’ve also given up an average of 106.1 points per game to their opponents, which is the seventh-best mark in the NBA.

A key staple and area of success on the defensive end for Utah has been its ability to force opponents to turn the ball over. The Jazz rank fourth in the league with 8.9 steals per game and are forcing their opposition to commit 15.1 turnovers a game, which ranks 10th.

Utah has been in the past and is once again a team that displays strong defense in what seems like every game this season — another key aspect to the team’s success that will need to continue in the new calendar year.

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