Utah Jazz: Four Bold Predictions Before the Trade Deadline

Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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George Hill Utah Jazz
Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

As the Utah Jazz prepare for a 17-game stretch leading up to the All-Star Break and trade deadline, here are four bold predictions of what they can accomplish over that span.

With the Utah Jazz 40 games into the season, one contest away from reaching the halfway point which they will do tomorrow against the Detroit Pistons, there’s plenty to be excited about when looking ahead to the second half of the season. Utah sits at an impressive 24-16 record, good for fifth in the West.

And looking at the Jazz’s schedule between now and the February 23rd trade deadline, and judging by the overall caliber of teams they’ll be facing, they could definitely be poised to go on a big run to start off the second half of the season.

While there’s been plenty of ups and downs this season and there’s bound to still be some tough games and unforeseen obstacles along the way, Utah’s win over Cleveland on Tuesday likely instilled a lot more confidence in this Jazz team. And if the way they played in that game is a better indication of how they’ll play to finish the season, the Jazz could be in great shape.

So while the Jazz still have a lot to prove and the team has plenty of room for growth, I have some pretty high hopes for how they’ll play in the coming month and a half. With the All-Star Break and the ensuing trade deadline drawing ever nearer, it will be important for the Jazz to make a push to those points and then finish the season strong after that to ensure the best possible playoff positioning.

And as they seek to do so, I have four bold predictions regarding the Utah Jazz that I believe will happen between now and that rapidly approaching February 23rd trade deadline.