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NBA Power Rankings Week 19: April review and the rising Phoenix Suns

By Corey Rausch

Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

5. Utah Jazz

Last Week: Lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 105-104, Beat Sacramento Kings 154-105, Lost to Phoenix Suns 121-100, Beat Toronto Raptors 106-102

This Week: 5/3 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 5/5 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 5/7 vs. Denver Nuggets, 5/8 vs. Houston Rockets

This past month was not a kind one for the Utah Jazz. For anyone who wanted to have doubts about their status as contenders, it is easy to see April as the time that the team came back down to Earth. The Jazz went 9-6 in April, resulting in a third of their losses suffered on the season.

So what went wrong? First and foremost, Donovan Mitchell missed the final six games of the month. Mitchell was strong to start the month, averaging 30.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He will be back for the postseason, so perhaps these woes are just a temporary blip on the radar.

Despite the mediocre record, the Jazz were still statistically elite in April. They finished first in defensive rating (106.1) and fourth in offensive rating (116.6). Dropping consecutive games to the Minnesota Timberwolves is certainly a negative but it is one of the very few the Jazz have suffered this season.

Bojan Bogdanovic went off in April, averaging 19.1 points per game on shooting splits of .450/.363/.872. He took over on most nights as the number one option and helped keep the Jazz in line with the elite offensive rating. Continuing this hot trend when Mitchell returns bodes well for the Jazz in the playoffs.