2009-10 Utah Jazz Predictions
Written October 26, 2009 by Jack Jones
It’s tough to figure out what to make of the Utah Jazz. This team made the Western Conference Finals in 2007 with most of the same guys on the roster, but last year they were bounced in the first-round of the playoffs by the Lakers without much of a second thought. Last year they did have to work their way through injury problems, but I don’t know if they have the talent to compete with the star-studded lineups of the Lakers and Spurs this year. The NBA odds makers seem to agree as the Jazz’s season win total projections sit at 49.5 but their odds to win the NBA title are at 25-to-1, with the odds to win the West currently at 10-to-1. If you are going to be doing any NBA betting this season then make sure you take a look at the $500 match bonus being offered to our readers by BetUS!
Backcourt
Deron Williams was hurt in the preseason a year ago and missed the first 13 games of the season. Still, he put up 19.4 points and 10.7 assists per game and with a long off-season to get healthy you should see him keep getting better and better. Ronnie Brewer is another guy who has kept showing improvement. Last season he scored 13.7 points per game but he needs to improve his 26% mark from downtown. Kyle Korver backs up Brewer and might not be as mobile, but can shoot lights out when healthy. Eric Maynor, the rookie out of Virginia Commonwealth, is promising but how much time he’ll see on the floor behind Williams is unknown.
Frontcourt
I’m not sure if the Jazz are going to go with Paul Milsap or Carlos Boozer as their starting power forward. The team shelled out a lot of money to keep Milsap, and was probably disappointed when Boozer opted to stay with the team. Boozer has had major problems staying on the floor since he came over from Cleveland, while Milsap is a great hustle guy and rebounder but it’s unkown whether he can match Boozer’s offensive productivity. Andre Kirilenko is a talented defender who spent the off-season bulking up. This should help improve his ability to play in the post with bigger opponents. Mehmet Okur scoring 17 points per game on 45% 3-point shooting while pulling down 7.7 rebounds per game was rewarded with an extension this summer, well-deserved in my opinion.
Summary
With my NBA predictions I don’t see the Jazz rising to the top of the conference, but they’ll be in the playoffs and could give the right team trouble. If Utah stays healthy they will compete with Denver and Portland, but reaching the Lakers level is a stretch. If you want NBA picks to help you beat the daily spreads, sign up for a premium handicapper.
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