2011-12 Utah Jazz Predictions
Written by Jack Jones
The Utah Jazz are the definition of a team in rebuilding mode heading into the 2011-12 season. Gone are the championship-contending days of Karl Malone and John Stockton. While Utah remained a contender with Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, those days are gone, too.
The Jazz have more question marks heading into the season than they’ve had in quite some time. Jerry Sloan was one of the best head coaches in NBA history, but he decided to retire midway through last season. That decision took place near the trade of Williams, who was shipped out to New Jersey after basically forcing his way out of Utah.
This team finished 39-43 last year, and they were never the same without Williams. The Jazz went 12-29 over their final 41 games for a disastrous finish. For the season, Utah ranked 14th in scoring (99.4) and 19th in scoring defense (101.3). They were 4th in assists (23.4), but just 26th in rebounding (39.5).
Utah was able to snag two of the first twelve draft picks. They got Enes Kanter at No. 3, and they also drafted Alec Burks at No. 12. These are two of my favorite players in this year’s draft class, and both should be able to step in and contribute right away.
While the Jazz let go of Ronnie Price in free agency, they were able to re-sign fan favorite Earl Watson. They also went out and signed free agent Josh Howard from the Washington Wizards. If healthy, Howard could prove to be an absolute steal. The small forward has averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his career.
Utah will be going with a starting backcourt of PG Devin Harris and SG Raja Bell. Harris averaged 15.2 points and 7.1 assists in his time between New Jersey and Utah last year, but he’s no Williams. Bell remains a plus defender, but he is really only a spot-up shooter offensively. Watson and Jamaal Tinsley, signed as a free agent, will back up Harris. Second-year man Gordon Hayward and Burks will fight for playing time behind Bell.
The starting frontcourt consists of C Al Jefferson (18.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks), PF Paul Millsap (17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds) and SF C.J. Miles (12.8 points). Jefferson and Millsap are two of the more underrated players in the league, but they are both a little undersized. Derrick Favors will back up Millsap, Kanter and Mehmet Okur will look for playing time behind Jefferson, and Jeremy Evans will try to take some minutes away from Miles.
Western Conference Prediction: 5th Northwest Division – I believe the Utah Jazz are going to be more like the team that finished 12-29 down the stretch last year than the one that opened 27-14. The loss of Williams is huge, and he’s simply irreplaceable.
The Jazz did get some nice pieces in the trade, and they have stockpiled a lot of young talent. I believe that Kanter, Burks, Favors and Hayward could all have big futures in this league. It’s just going to take some time for these guys to grow and gel together. Utah will be the worst team in the Northwest in 2011-12.
Expert handicapper Jack Jones provides his breakdown of each team in where they will finish in their respective divisions with his 2011-12 NBA predictions article.
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