Mar 3, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) celebrates with guard Gordon Hayward (20) after a score against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at FedExForum. Utah defeated Memphis 93-82. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Jazz already have a playoff spot locked in
Did I just say Rudy Gobert?
This is one overreaction I don’t have much of a problem with. Even with Dante Exum seemingly out for the year, this young squad is ready to rise to playoff contention under Quin Snyder.
Post All-Star Break, or perhaps post Enes Kanter, the Jazz ranked first in defensive rating. Their 94.8 rating put them ahead of elite defenses like Milwaukee, Memphis, San Antonio, Indiana and Golden State.
Utah finished seven games out of eighth seed in the West, but if they played defense like that all year, they surely would have been in the playoff conversation.
Now they have that opportunity. Kanter is gone, meaning Gobert will get the starting five minutes, anchoring that defense that just may be elite.
Offensively, Gobert should be a double-double guy as he averaged pretty close to that last season, but I promise there’s more to this team. Derrick Favors, Gobert’s frontcourt partner, silently had a really good year and should continue to build off of that. Gordon Hayward bulked up and should continue to grow as well. Alec Burks is back and healthy, and ready to run with this young core.
Making the playoffs isn’t even close to a crazy prediction. Looking at the standings, there should be two voids left by Dallas and Portland after taking a step back in the offseason. Oklahoma City will take one spot, and Utah will take the other. Phoenix could give them some trouble as they always do, but I don’t think they will be better than the Jazz. The Gobert-Tyson Chandler matchups throughout the season should be awesome, though.
Heading into the season, which of the four listed overreactions are actually overreactions? Which did we miss?