NBA: Which teams are contenders/pretenders at the All-Star Break?

Utah Jazz (32-25)

Entering this season, many were quick to jump on the Utah Jazz bandwagon, which made them a trendy pick to finish as one of the top 3 teams in the Western Conference this season. Through the NBA All-Star break, that hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.

Nevertheless, the 6-seeded Jazz are still projected to make the playoffs and possibly make a deep run (if the standings fall perfectly). The big question is whether or not they have what it takes to give the Warriors problems in a potential seven-game series.

And after not making any real moves at the NBA Trade Deadline, coupled with how they’ve looked so far this season, I’d lean that this team is still a year or two – and possibly and big-name acquisition – away from being a real player in the West.

Verdict: Pretender