Juggling the Jazz
The Utah Jazz prepare for some tough conference matches by the end of this month.
I remember going to Jazz games back when Stockton and Malone ruled the court, when my anticipation had days to grow before actually showing up to the arena. I try to go to as many games as possible each season still and have found that, even today, my anticipation hasn’t changed.
But unlike the Jazz days when I was 10, it has been hard lately to get a read on Utah. They still have a new coach, the team started really shakey during their road games and Mo Williams is out.
A few years ago, winning every game against the Lakers in a season would be quite the accomplishment, especially at home. Not to say that the wins are not big accomplishments now, but they are less significant when you consider the absence of Steve Nash in the beginning of the season and, as it stands now, the Lakers 15-19 record.
The same could be said about the Utah win over Dallas last Monday in Salt Lake 100-94. Dallas visited Utah losing 11 of their last 13 games and, as of Wednesday night, they had a 13-22 overall record.
Al Jefferson had a double-double to end the night. Alec Burks hit a three point shot to tie the score 86-86 with 4:35 left in the game. Following the Burk’s three, Gordon Hayward pulled in to help the Jazz lead with a shot in the paint. Hayward pulled off his season high that night with 27 points.
It’s premature to start talking about playoffs. I’ll be getting ready to start my summer when that time rolls around. But maybe it’s notable to mention where the Jazz stand today. They hold a 50 percent season record at 18-18 before the Wednesday night game against Charlotte. Their conference record is slightly worst at 12-14. And at the end of the month, they take on the number one Western Conference team, the Clippers, followed by more tough conference games against Houston and Oklahoma.
Utah isn’t extremely far from holding the seventh place spot in the Western Conference, but only time will tell where this season might go. Maybe the Jazz will gain more momentum off of a win against the Miami Heat tonight.