Utah Jazz might be the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in the West
The Utah Jazz is the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers
It may be a surprise to many, and some may find it hard to believe, but the Utah Jazz currently sits atop the Western Conference having won 16 of their last 17 games. The Jazz own the NBA’s best record at 20-5 which is also the best start in franchise history.
The question that should be asked is if the Jazz is a legitimate threat to dethrone the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and win the West?
It’s still very early in the season but if the Jazz continues their winning ways and remain on this trajectory they are on, then it’s not hard to see them competing for a title. They have all of the necessary ingredients to make it happen.
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Utah has one of the young up-and-coming stars in Donovan Mitchell, they have one of the best defensive anchors in the middle with Rudy Gobert, they have a veteran point guard who can provide guidance and leadership in Mike Conley, and they also have a deadly assassin in Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench.
The Utah Jazz aren’t just winning, but they’re dominating teams
The Jazz is winning games in dominating fashion with an 8.8 point differential winning 16 out of 20 by double-digits. Gobert is a huge reason for the Jazz’s success as he impacts the game with his defensive prowess and rebounding.
According to Lineups.com, the Jazz currently rank fourth in defensive efficiency, third in points allowed, fifth in rebounds allowed, second in assists allowed, third in 3-pointers allowed, and sixth in blocks. The Jazz is also the top rebounding team in the NBA as Gobert is third in the league with 13.5 boards per game.
Gobert is a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, a 4-time All-Defensive player, and a 3-time All-NBA performer who is making his case to be a top 5 player at his position. Gobert’s strengths are catching lob passes and using the screen-and-roll to create mismatches in the paint.
He doesn’t stretch the floor or shoot like a modern big man in today’s NBA, but the “Stifle Tower” uses a combination of size, length, speed, and ability to finish strong at the point of attack to do damage. Gobert has been the backbone of this team a huge reason why they have the league’s best record.
Role players are also contributing to the Jazz’s success. Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic have similar styles of play as both are efficient shooters who can play multiple positions. Both players are double-digit scorers and are capable of knocking down shots in any situation.
Clarkson has been a valuable asset giving the team a major spark off the bench. He has become a viable Sixth Man of the Year Candidate and is second on the team in scoring behind Mitchell averaging 17.9 points. Clarkson can create his own shot for himself as well as his teammates and is the 2nd leading scorer coming off the bench in the entire league.
Another reason the Jazz have been consistently winning is the resurgence of Mike Conley. His numbers suffered slightly last season as he was getting acclimated to a new team and system, but he has looked comfortable running the offense so far this season.
Last year, Conley averaged 14.4 points and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 37.5 percent from downtown. This season, he is averaging 16.6 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 41.9 percent from deep.
The real factor as to whether the Jazz can finally get over the hump and make a deep playoff run will be squarely on the shoulders of Mitchell. Mitchell is a young, phenomenal player with loads of potential but he has to take the responsibility of stepping up as he did in the playoffs last season and be consistently leading the team.
This should be the year Mitchell reaches elite superstar status as last season’s playoff performance showed he has the heart, confidence, and hustle to get the job done. he is only 24 years old and is really just getting started as he will be expected to lead this franchise for years to come.
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This team appears to be legit and are deserving of respect. The Utah Jazz may not receive the credit and attention they deserve now, but if they continue to play with a winner’s edge, the rest of the league won’t be able to help but notice.