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Utah Jazz Claim the Fourth Seed… For Now Anyway

By Hayden Van de Maat

Oct 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) drives to the basket defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 88-75. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) drives to the basket defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 88-75. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Utah Jazz came out of the blocks fast following the All-Star break with a convincing win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. In doing so, they managed to steer one game clear of the fifth seeded LA Clippers.

The road to the playoffs began on Friday night for the Utah Jazz and after starting the 25 game stretch with a short period of clumsiness, they began to fire on all cylinders and put forward one of their best performances of the season.

An impressive win wasn’t the only good thing to happen to the Jazz that night; the Clippers also lost their second straight game after the All-Star break at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center.

Not much more can be expected in a back-to-back with the two Western Conference front-runners, but the Clippers did have Chris Paul back on the court for the first time since January 16th.

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Luckily for the Jazz and unfortunately for the Clippers, LA’s schedule doesn’t get much easier with games against Houston and Boston in the next fortnight, surrounded by four tough road games. Meanwhile, the Jazz’s schedule is just as difficult with nine of their next 13 games on the road.

So with tough schedules for the newly formed conference rivals, catching the Houston Rockets and clinching the third seed seems highly unlikely. Although there isn’t much room to move up the standings, there is still plenty of time and room for either of them to fall to the seventh seed.

From a Jazz fan and players perspective, you just have to focus on what you can control; winning games. If the Jazz do get to the 50-win mark (going 14-10 from here on out), they should be very hard to catch for any of the teams below them. A lot of that depends of course on how they perform in games against the Clippers because not only is that a win or loss for the Jazz, it is a win or loss for the Clips as well.

Another thing to consider is who the Jazz would prefer to face in round one; the Clippers or the Rockets. In my mind it’s unquestionably Houston. However, the Jazz are certainly not an organization made up of players nor staff that would consider ‘tanking’ any game.

Feb 24, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Here’s how I see the the playoff picture looking in the Western Conference when the regular season comes to a close –

  1. Golden State Warriors (69-13)
  2. San Antonio Spurs (62-20)
  3. Houston Rockets (52-30)
  4. Utah Jazz (51-31)
  5. LA Clippers (50-32)
  6. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
  7. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-36)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers (37-45)

Another interesting story for Jazz fans to follow as the seasons end draws closer is how Houston may try to maneuver their way to a suitable first round match-up. Despite them likely ending the season with the third seed, I can’t really see them competing against either the Grizzlies or Jazz. Against the Clippers or Thunder they have a chance, but I think it will be an uphill battle to force Utah or Memphis to game six.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking anything away from Houston’s spectacular season to date. They have been lucky however that the only impactful injury they’ve had is the leg injury to Clint Capela that kept him out 15 games. I just don’t think the way they play can at all translate to playoff basketball. The Grizzlies and Jazz on the other hand have played playoff style basketball now for years.

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As the saying goes “anything can happen in the NBA”. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played and there are numerous things that could shake up the playoff race. The Utah Jazz need to focus on distancing themselves from the ruckus and try to keep this win streak rolling.

They will take on the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon before finishing up their three game road trip Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Statistics courtesy of NBA.com and ESPN.

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