What Is The Best Bracket For A Utah Jazz NBA Finals Appearance?
May 21, 2021, 11:03 AM
(Photo by Ben Green/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz have the best overall record in the NBA and also the best home-court record in the league. Their odds to make it to the NBA Finals are fourth-best in the league at 26 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight.
The Jazz have been short-handed the past month with a variety of injuries from Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley, but both seem to be back on track for the playoffs. Conley is good to go but Mitchell might be eased back in a bit from his ankle injury.
By being the best team in the NBA, it seems silly to want to go through and predict the most ideal matchup since the Jazz earned the overall seed. Yet, it would be nice to play a lower seed or favorable opponent during the playoffs.
The Jazz have a 21-13 record versus teams with a winning record and a 28-14 record versus teams in the Western Conference. Their weak point is on the road but even that record is 21-15.
This team is primed to get to the NBA Finals and make a run at its first-ever league championship.
Who Should The Jazz Want To Play?
Having an advantage to move on is something the Jazz have been part of before. Back in 2007, the Utah Jazz were the No. 4 seed and gifted the opportunity to play No. 8 seed Golden State who upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks. That season the Jazz went to the Western Conference Finals and lost the series 4-1 against the San Antonio Spurs who went on to win the title.
Getting some help is fun but do the Jazz really need it? No, but it always helps.
Does it matter who the @utahjazz play en route to a potential #NBA title? pic.twitter.com/bbYJaZLRiF
— KSL Unrivaled (@KSLunrivaled) May 20, 2021
KSL Unrivaled’s Scott Mitchell is confident in whoever the Jazz play to make it out the West and doesn’t really care who they play.
“For Utah to get to the NBA Finals they will be in a pool of Golden State, the L.A. Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks,” Mitchell said. “I actually think the Clippers are on the decline and the Mavericks, too. I don’t think Golden State is even a time that can matchup with Utah over seven games since they don’t have a lot more other than Steph Curry which isn’t sustainable.
“Regardless, that is the best path for the Jazz and I would not be surprised if it’s Utah in the Phoenix in the [Western Conference] Finals. I like my chances against any team in the West but they all will be hard.”
The Jazz have proved all season long that they are the best team in the league and can beat any team they face during the playoffs whether it ends up being the highest seeds each round or they get gifted a few upsets and play some inferior teams. Getting some help would be nice but all this team wants to do is to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy as the last team standing.
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