The Utah Jazz have been a perennially-solid franchise that has reached the postseason in each of the last three seasons and eight of the last 13 overall. Along the way, the Jazz have won six of their eight first round playoff series while reaching the western conference semis in two of the last three seasons. However, following their first round smackdown loss against Houston last season, the Jazz entered the 2019-20 campaign resolving to take the next step toward being a legitimate NBA Finals contender. Here’s an overview of the Utah Jazz 2020 season so far with NBA Odds and NBA Championship Odds.
Utah Jazz 2020 Season Analysis
While the current regular season is on hiatus, if or when the NBA does get back underway, the Jazz will be looking to resume their quest to claim the western conference crown. With that thought in mind, let’s find out what’s gone down for Utah so far this season and what could lie ahead for the championship hopefuls.
Utah Jazz Offensive Analysis
The Jazz are currently 41-23 and in second place in the northwest division and fourth place in the western conference playoff standings. Offensively, Utah is ranked a modest 17th in scoring (111.0 ppg), fourth in field goal shooting percentage (47.5%) and second in three-point shooting (38.3%). All-star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell is putting up a team-high 24.2 points per game while sweet-shooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic is putting up 20-2 points per contest in 41.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Veterans Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gobert both average an identical 15.1 points per game.
Utah Jazz Defensive Analysis
The Jazz have been solid, if not quite as good as they’ve been in the past defensively. Utah ranks ninth in points allowed (107.9 ppg), 11th in field goal shooting defense (45.2%) and 12th in three-point defense (35.1%). Defensively, the Jazz are led by the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert who averages 13.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
Utah Jazz Offseason Movements
Traded Dante Exum for Jordan Clarkson. Signed Juwan Morgan as a free agent. Signed Isaac Hayes as a free agent. Waiver forward Mike Scott. Waived guard Trevon Bluiett.
Utah Jazz Prediction
Utah has been equally impressive in going 21-10 at home and 20-13 on the road this season. While the Jazz went 5-5 in their last 10 games before the league suspension, they did manage to win five of their last six and nine of their last 14 games overall while taking out the likes of the playoff-bound Rockets, Mavs and Celtics along the way. Still though, Utah has lost their way defensively by allowing 113 points or more nine times over their last 14 games.
For a team that routinely relied on shutting down their opponents and one that is offensively limited outside the quartet of Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson, it’s not a good sign for if or when the regular season resumes. In the end, I’m expecting Utah’s playoff run to come to a crashing halt against one of the western conference’s better offensive ballclubs, much like each of their last three playoff appearances.
