SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz’s slow 8-9 has many fans searching for answers, but according to TeamRankings.com, the reason is simple: the Jazz have played the hardest schedule in the NBA.

It’s really not that close either.

With a rating of 2.7 on the site’s scale of toughest schedules, the Jazz are nearly a whole point ahead of the Boston Celtics at 1.8, who have also gotten off to a slow start. Houston, another team expected to play better than they have so far this season, also has a schedule rating of 1.8.

ESPN also has the Jazz’s first 17 games as the toughest in the NBA. According to their RPI rankings, the Jazz’s schedule comes in at .558, just ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are off to a hot start at 12-4.

The Jazz have already played more road games than any other team in the NBA this season with 11 and have a 6-5 record in such games.

Coming home. pic.twitter.com/yUrbENtFKj

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 20, 2018

After a five game road trip that ended Monday with a 121-94 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Jazz are back at home Wednesday at 7 p.m. to host the Sacramento Kings. The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.