Did anyone expect the Jazz to have the third best record in the league with 35 wins at the all star break? They've just got to play .500 from now until the end of the season to reach 50 wins. On top of that, they play well against other top teams in the league. While the Jazz haven't had as much troubles with injuries as they have had in recent seasons which helps, they've still had to deal with some injuries to key players like Boozer and Kirilenko. Can they keep this play up?
Yes they can. And I am one of the few people who expected the Jazz to be really good this year. But yeah, I think they have exceeded my expectations a bit. I think Jazz can succeed in the playoffs. ATLEAST passed the 1st round I think.
As good as the Jazz are, their chances of advancing to the second round could depend significantly upon who they play in the first round. The Jazz still have the problem of defending opposing two guards. If the playoffs were to start today, Utah would take on Kobe and the Lakers. Kobe is an incredible player, and having Fisher guarding him will be ugly. Giricek did well on LeBron in the game against Cleveland, but could he keep it up over a playoff series? Obviously the standings will change between now and the end of the season, but if Utah play a team such as the Lakers or Rockets they could be in for a lot of trouble. It's a big ask, but if Utah can take over Phoenix for the second best record it should help a lot in the first round and beyond if they get there. If not, just holding onto a homecourt advantage for the first round would be nice. The Jazz are 21-6 at home, and 14-11 on the road. Considering the playoff possibilities is so much better than the lottery possibilities.
