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The Utah Jazz are 12-10. They’ve lost 5 of their last 6 games, and have failed to really even compete in 4 of them. After the Jazz had their best start in over a decade, they’ve taken some steps back and have many questioning how good this team really is.
Jeff Green, on the state of the Jazz: “Right now, we’re low, to be honest with you. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. The last six games, to me, we kind of took a couple of steps back to the progress we had going into the beginning of that road trip.” pic.twitter.com/ToxMJ6Pkzr
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) December 5, 2019
After an embarrassing loss to the Lakers last night, Jeff Green admitted that the Jazz are low. It would be concerning if any of the Jazz players didn’t also think the same, but it was a little refreshing to see a player admit to the frustration surrounding the last couple of games for the Jazz.
Donovan, on his exchange with Bojan: “Sometimes it’s nice to let each other have it.” Said there are no hard feelings, and he appreciates Bogey explaining to him what he was doing wrong. pic.twitter.com/KWJghKft6b
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) December 5, 2019
@Joeingles7 doesn’t hide his frustration here FUUUU pic.twitter.com/1OJY4BB0II
— UTAH JAZZ TIP-OFF (@utahjazz_tipoff) December 5, 2019
So, where do the Jazz go from here? Looking at a few different factors, the most probable answer is definitely up. Starting Saturday night at home vs. Memphis, the Jazz will play 18 of their next 22 games against teams that currently have a losing record. The four games against teams with winning records are Minnesota, Miami, Clippers and Pacers, which you would think are games the Jazz would have a shot to win as well. Here’s the other games they play in that span: Grizzlies, Thunder, Warriors, Magic,@ Hawks, @ Hornets, Blazers, Pistons, @ Bulls, @ Magic, @ Pelicans, Knicks, Hornets, @ Wizards, @ Nets, @ Pelicans, Kings. Winning fixes everything. Over the next 45 days the Jazz *should* be able to really figure things out and win a lot of ball games.
Unfortunately these slow starts are something that Jazz fans are used to, and this year might not be much different:
*since utah hired quin snyder*
— bryon (12-10) (@jazzszn) December 5, 2019
2014-15: started 8-19, finished 38-44
2015-16: started 19-25, finished 40-42
2016-17: started 8-8, finished 51-31
2017-18: started 19-28, finished 48-34
2018-19: started 17-19, finished 50-32
“we’ll be fine”
Fortunately, the Jazz over the past few seasons have been a very strong second-half of the season team. If you’re like me though, this doesn’t make you feel that much better. This Jazz team was expected to be a title contender. Playing bad teams is great, and will for sure help their record and get them into the playoffs. It will help them find a groove and start playing better as a team.
Things will go up. But ultimately, when the Jazz clash with a good team in the playoffs, what team are we going to see? The Jazz have played one of the hardest schedules in the NBA to date, and that is a legitimate reason why they are 12-10. But you would hope that they would at least compete against good teams during a slump.
Things are low for the Jazz right now, but it’ll go up. This schedule they are facing will be great to help them find their identity and improve as a team. We’ll see if it will help them find themselves and get them playing like the team we all thought they were going to be.