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Four bold predictions for the Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are currently ranked the fourth seeded team ahead of the fifth seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, and behind the third seeded Denver Nuggets. The Jazz will be entering the NBA's bubble without their third star Bojan Bogdanovic who had a solid year putting up 20 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Many have predicted the Jazz to either go with a "small-ball" lineup, or they may decide to sign someone in free agency to fill Bogdanovic's position.

Mike Conley will score around 20 points per game

Mike Conley has not lived up to the hype many fans were expecting this year when the Utah Jazz traded for him back in the off-season. Conley has the opportunity to be the second scorer for the Jazz since his teammate Bojan Bogdanovic is out with injury. The Jazz have admitted that Conley is ready to have a larger role in the Utah Jazz offense since Bogdanovic went down with injury.

Jordan Clarkson will start for the Utah Jazz

Many people have forgotten the Utah Jazz traded for Jordan Clarkson before the all star break. Clarkson was a great pickup for the Utah Jazz because his price was right and he has provided great scoring off the bench. Not only is Bogdanovic out with an injury, but Conley also may miss some playing time after he is expecting a new baby. If Conley opts out of the NBA restart, the Utah Jazz lineup with Jordan Clarkson could look like this-Donovan Mitchell at the point guard, Jordan Clarkson at shooting guard, Royce O'Neale at small forward, Georges Niang at power forward, and Rudy Gobert at center.

The Jazz will make it to the Western Conference Finals

If the Utah Jazz don't play the Clippers or the Lakers in the playoffs, they should be able to make a deep playoff run looking at the teams they compared favorably to other teams like the Rockets, Nuggets, Thunder, Pelicans, Mavericks, and the Grizzlies. The Jazz have lost to Rockets a couple of years, but their"'small-ball" lineup idea did not work the last time the Rockets played.

Royce O'Neale will be a key factor to the Utah Jazz defense

The Utah Jazz gave Royce O'Neale an extension for four more years after they saw he can be a great defender off the bench. O'Neale will likely be given the opportunity to perform at a high level with defensive players, Rudy Gobert, and Joe Ingles. Instead of coming off the bench, Royce O'Neale will likely start for the Jazz while Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mike Conley opted out for the NBA restart.



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