The Utah Jazz went through the 2020-2021 regular season with ease as they would rain three-pointers on majority of the teams and topple them by double digits. Expectations were high for the Quin Snyder-led squad because their core had been together for numerous years already. Their Western Conference counterparts had COVID-related illnesses or injuries surrounding their team all throughout the season. Unfortunately, the Jazz ended the season on a disappointing note by losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Entering their campaign, everyone is merely focused on the Playoff performance of Utah. Even if they win the number one seed again, the real battle for this squad begins on April. Donovan Mitchell needs ample support on the offensive side because opponents focus on him and clamp down on the whole offensive schemes of the Jazz. Thus, here are our Utah Jazz predictions for the upcoming NBA season.
Utah Jazz Predictions For NBA Season
Donovan Mitchell enters the MVP conversation
Being a 13th in the 2017 NBA Draft, only a few individuals predicted Mitchell to be a franchise player in the early stage of his career. His 57 points against the Denver Nuggets in the bubble is the third most points in a Playoff game in NBA history. As the Jazz are expected to be a top three seed at the very least, Mitchell will receive MVP votes in this highly-anticipated race.
Mitchell must boost the confidence of Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mike Conley so by Playoff time, they would be ready and prepared to compete with the best of the best. He could also bolster his facilitating ability as the Utah Jazz have also shored up their bench with the addition of proven scorers in Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall.
Utah Jazz will lead the league in 3PM and 3PT%
As the Jazz are known to crack it up in the regular season, they will continue their enormous success against majority of the NBA franchises. At Vivint Arena, Utah is able to make their crowd roar and influence their players to continue performing at a high level. Even on an off night, their squad just needs a quick five minute spurt to widen the gap and suddenly pull away from their opponent.
Clarkson, Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles are phenomenal shooters from behind the arc, and when they get hot, it will be insurmountable for defenses to even try containing their runs. Snyder has many options from his team to launch it from three-point range, especially they know that Rudy Gobert will snatch the offensive rebound if they miss their shots.
Jordan Clarkson will be in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation again
Clarkson has been a spitfire guard that can create his own offense over the course of his career. Last season, he took a massive leap in his game as he claimed the Sixth Man of the Year award over his teammate Ingles and New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose. Even in some junctures during the Playoffs, Clarkson went on a couple of flurries wherein he would convert shots right on the face of the defenders.
Even with the target on him for this upcoming season, Clarkson will have the vast abilities to replicate the success he had last year. He could improve on his efficiency and decision-making, especially against teams that really have sensational defensive schemes. Sometimes Clarkson has the tendency to continue attempting low percentage shots because of his immense confidence he has with his skillset. Even with his expected improvement, it will be tough for Clarkson to win the same award because voters will want another player to obtain the Sixth Man of the Year.
Utah Jazz get an early NBA Playoffs exit, Snyder is in the hot seat
Three of some of the best teams in the Western Conference may slide down to the play-in tournament, like the Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, or Portland Trail Blazers. Clippers still have the lingering injury of Kawhi Leonard, Dallas needs time to adjust with the system of coach Jason Kidd, and Portland may just fail to track a top six spot in the West. Thus, one of these teams may end up playing the Jazz in the first round of the Playoffs.
With home court advantage, it will be tough to beat them in Salt Lake City. However in a playoff series against these three teams, the Jazz will not have the best player in the court in any series. They lack the firepower and scoring punch that are necessary to win a high stakes game. The Clippers have Leonard and Paul George, the Mavericks have Luka Doncic, and the Blazers have Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to counter the weapons of the Utah Jazz led by Mitchell. In a seven-game series, it will be difficult for the Jazz to adjust against a formidable opponent, thus it is unlikely that they will go home early in the Playoffs.
Follow Us
Subscribe