Preview of the NBA 2021-22 season over the Utah Jazz. Data, results from the previous season, a look at their squad and future free agents, the objectives of the course, the player to watch and a forecast on the franchise.
Utah Jazz
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- Market movements: signature of Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall and Hassan Whiteside and renewal of Mike Conley (here all movements).
- Backcourt: Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Royce O’Neale, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gay, Miye Oni, Elijah Hughes y Jared Butler.
- Frontcourt: Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside, Udoka Azubuike y Eric Paschall.
This is how they face the season
The team that exhibited the best record in the entire NBA during the past season will try to climb a new competitive rung after suffering a painful defeat in the Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The team led by Ty Lue exposed the defensive deficiencies of those from Salt Lake City and affected the problems that the Jazz have shown in recent editions of the playoffs to face small quintets. Not only because Rudy Gobert loses effectiveness when forced to do coverage on the perimeter, but because the Jazz do not have defensive specialists other than Royce O’Neale to deal with physical and versatile outside games.
The positive note is that these Jazz have maintained their core of players over the last few years, so in terms of continuity, shooting and chemistry they are one step ahead of most NBA teams. And it all starts with Donovan Mitchell, who, at 25, has not yet reached his ceiling and exhibits a great competitive voracity that makes him the perfect leader to advance the aspirations of the team.
Despite disappointment, Utah’s season can be considered a huge success, with Ryan Smith taking over the team and Dennis Lindsey moving to a much smaller role as a backdrop. And based on this line, the roadmap to follow during the off-season was established: continuity and improvement.
Justin Zanik, in his role as chief of basketball operations, directed his efforts to alleviate those fissures shown during the tie against the Clippers. The arrival of Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall will provide greater alternatives to the Quin Snyder system, both in terms of foreign production and assuming, in a timely manner, the position of ‘5’ in situations of small-ball. A position that they have also reinforced with Hassan Whiteside to fill the gap left by Derrick Favors, in a natural exchange of pieces.
However, the most important move was the renewal of Mike Conley. The point guard brings a greater dimension and criteria to the Jazz game, being Mitchell’s perfect partner in the game. back-court and an unbeatable ally for Rudy Gobert in the pick-and-roll, central axis of the attack of Quin Snyder. In addition to the triple, a resource for which the Jazz will continue betting blindly without losing, yes, the circulation of the ball that returned such good results during the first half of the course.
Another interesting addition points to Jared Butler. The rookie has shown great flashes of quality during the preseason thanks to his ball handling and ease of scoring. Concerns about his heart condition caused him to fall to the 40th pick in the draft, so he points to theft if he manages to earn a niche in the rotation of the ever-demanding Snyder, who rarely gives rookies opportunities.
Although it may sound arrogant, the regular season it will be a mere formality for the Jazz. They have proven to be an effective team capable of scoring victories with great ease thanks to their excellent balance between defense and attack. Gobert emerges as the main defensive anchor and around him revolves a large group of players capable of scoring from practically all positions. Mitchell will be the main offensive catalyst but weapons like Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, Joe Ingles or Royce O’Neale also pose a constant threat to the rival rim. The closet bottom is now deeper with the Gay, Paschall, Butler, Hughes, Oni and company.
Thus, the concerns of the Jazz will point to three specific points. First, injuries, which hit Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell hard during the most important part of the course. Second, the response capacity in the playoffs, both on the part of the players and the coaching staff, when they are presented with small quintets. And finally, check if, even with everything in store, this team has enough talent to emerge as a legitimate contender. Because, remember, the Jazz are well above the luxury tax and some of their main players are in their thirties. And already this summer it was rumored with the possible departure of important pieces such as Joe Ingles or Bojan Bogdanovic. Thus, they will be obliged to answer all those questions that were left open after the elimination against the Clippers.
In any case, the Jazz will start the season with very high aspirations, the desire to correct previous mistakes and with the determination necessary to establish themselves as a very serious threat in the Western Conference.
The player to watch
Donovan Mitchell has established himself as an All-Star and one of the best shooting guards in the league, but he’s still far from reaching his ceiling. In the last two playoffs, he has shown himself ready to pull the bandwagon and take offensive responsibility in the most delicate moments. But he wants more.
Seeing that it has not been enough to overcome a Conference Semifinals, Mitchell has put all the meat on the grill during the summer, where he has not only affected to perfect his offensive virtues but also to improve in defense. Very attentive to what Mitchell does this season because everything indicates that it may be the first year in which he receives recognition as an All-NBA. Spida arrives hungrier than ever.
NBA preview 2021-22 Utah Jazz, prediction
Elio Martínez, director of nbamaniacs, leaves a personal and subjective forecast on what he thinks each franchise will do during the season in the NBA 2021-22 preview.
I don’t think the 2021-22 regular season will be much different from the previous one for Utah. What does that imply? Well, they will be at the head of the West. Wanting to amend the blur of the past year, quality of the squad, propping up the bench and continuity of the project, I see them as the best team in the West when April arrives.
Previous team analyzed: Philadelphia 76ers. End of the previews! You can find them all in our Articles section.
(Cover photo by Ashley Landis-Pool / Getty Images)
