Jazz Playoff Race Intensifying With 10 Games Remaining

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz are officially on their final playoff push as they have just 10 games remaining in the regular season.

With fewer than three weeks left before the postseason, the Jazz are jockeying for home-court advantage with the Dallas Mavericks, their potential first-round playoff opponent.

Let’s look at who remains on the Jazz schedule, and how it compares to the teams they will be competing against in the final standings.

Jazz And The Current Playoff Standings

Though the Jazz currently own the fourth-best record in the Western Conference, a lot could change over the final 10 games of the season.

They hold just a 1.0 game lead over the Mavericks in the standings, and the two teams will face off in Dallas this Sunday in a game that will have enormous playoff implications.

The Jazz also sit just 2.5 games back of the Golden State Warriors for the three seed, and those two teams will see one another on April 2, another important game in the Western Conference playoff race.

You can see the full standings in the tweet below.

With 10 games left to play, here’s a look at the current Western Conference standings. pic.twitter.com/RI2Fn4T3Zv

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 22, 2022

Jazz Remaining Schedule

Unfortunately for the Jazz, they have one of the toughest remaining schedules of any team in the NBA.

Not only are six of their final 10 games on the road, but six are against teams that are likely to be playing in the playoffs come mid-April.

The Jazz are two games into a six-game road trip and have stops against the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers before returning home.

Here’s a look at the @utahjazz 10 remaining games.

Fourth toughest remaining SOS, 6 road games, 6 likely playoff teams.

One set of back to back games. pic.twitter.com/MOL3Hzd6t4

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 22, 2022

There they will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a one-game homestand before traveling to face the Warriors in Golden State.

The Jazz then return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Phoenix Suns, before wrapping up the season on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers.

According to Tankathon.com, the Jazz have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule behind the Celtics, Lakers, and Grizzlies.

Opponents’ Strength Of Schedule

While the Jazz have the fourth-toughest, the teams they are fighting with for playoff positioning have an easier path to success.

The Mavericks have the third-easiest remaining schedule with 10 games left to play, five of which will be played at home, and five on the road.

Here’s a look at the @dallasmavs 10 remaining games.

Third easiest remaining SOS, 5 road games, 4 likely playoff teams.

One set of back to back games. pic.twitter.com/PhiNgkwLTI

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 22, 2022

Of their 10 remaining opponents, only four teams are projected to make the playoffs, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves who are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament.

The Warriors have the 13th toughest schedule remaining based on their opponents but have an uphill climb before the playoffs.

Eight of the Warriors’ final 11 games will be played away from home, including their next five to kick off a five-game Eastern Conference road swing.

Here’s a look at the @warriors 11 remaining games.

13th toughest remaining SOS, 8 road games, 4 playoff teams.

4 sets of back to back games, no Steph Curry. pic.twitter.com/eZmYTrRteq

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 22, 2022

Only four of Golden State’s remaining games are against teams guaranteed to make the playoffs but are made up of the East-leading Miami Heat, the West-leading Phoenix Suns, the second-ranked Grizzlies, and the fourth-ranked Jazz.

Additionally, eight of Golden State’s final 11 games are scheduled into back-to-back series’. The Warriors are also expected to be without superstar Steph Curry for much of the rest of the regular season.

With just a handful of games left before the postseason, the Mavericks are Warriors are the teams Jazz fans need to monitor most closely ahead of the playoffs.

Follow @benshoops