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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 /

3. Make up some ground early on in 2019

Over the last month, and basically for a majority of the season to this point, the Jazz have experienced a tough schedule that has been filled with opponents currently sitting in playoff position in both the Western and Eastern Conferences.

According to ESPN’s Strength of Schedule rankings, Utah has had the toughest schedule in the NBA so far this season, ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Over the past month, that schedule has intensified, which we wrote about a few weeks ago. That has led to the Jazz not being able to gain ground as they had hoped they would nearing the midway point in the season.

But early on in the 2019 calendar year, Utah will have the opportunity to try and gain some ground in the West standings. That’s not to say the schedule is necessarily getting easy for the Jazz, but it won’t be nearly as rough as it may have been to this point, and a majority of their upcoming games will be at home.

Over the course of rest of January, eight of their next 14 games will be in Salt Lake City. Over that 14-game span, they will also face teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves (twice).

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