Jazz Ranked Third In NBA Offseason Power Rankings
Aug 30, 2021, 4:02 PM
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz scores a basket against Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Staples Center on June 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz are ranked third in NBA.com‘s first set of offseason Western Conference power rankings.
The league released its power rankings for each division with the Jazz and the rest of the NBA opening training camp in less than a month.
The Jazz trailed only the Phoenix Suns who won the Western Conference last season before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Finals and the Los Angeles Lakers.
#NBA Offseason Power Rankings – Western Conference!
Sorting out the West, with key numbers, critical questions, & more: https://t.co/KKXXrWIdAS
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) August 30, 2021
In the evaluations of each team, the league listed three numbers to know about the previous season, and the biggest question surrounding the team heading into training camp.
For the Jazz, NBA.com listed the team’s net rating, three-point shooting, and defensive failure in the playoffs for numbers fans must be aware of.
The Jazz finished top four in both offensive and defensive rating, outscored their opponents by 17.6 points per game from 3-point range, but allowed 14.2 more points per 100 possessions in the playoffs than they did in the regular season.
As for the biggest question, it’s one that’s been on many Jazz fans’ minds since getting eliminated by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs.
Are they versatile enough?
Will Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside make the @UtahJazz better?#TakeNote https://t.co/X8JXPrCzgQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 5, 2021
Though Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall haven’t played a lot of minutes at center during their careers, the power rankings suggested they could add an extra dynamic to the Jazz attack.
“Gay only played 121 minutes of small-ball five last season, but the Spurs outscored their opponents by 7.1 points per 100 possessions (allowing just 103.1 per 100) in those minutes,” the article read.
“The Warriors were outscored by 1.1 per 100 in 382 minutes with Paschall at the five (without Draymond Green), but that wasn’t too bad considering Golden State’s lack of depth.”
Here’s the complete Western Conference Power Rankings:
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Denver Nuggets
- Golden State Warriors
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Houston Rockets
- Oklahoma City Thunder
