Utah Jazz Last Season Performance
The Utah Jazz finished the 2021-22 NBA regular season with a 49-33 at .598 winning percentage and finished the regular season as the fifth seed in their conference. After taking over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Jazz made the playoffs for their sixth consecutive playoff appearance to face the Dallas Mavericks. However, they faced elimination after the Mavs beat them 4-2 in the Western Conference first round.
The jazz came from the best record in the league in the previous season, so it didn’t come as a surprise that fans had high expectations for the 2021-22 season. Unfortunately, Utah fell short after failing their conference first round. Also, their sixth-season head coach Quinn Snyder left the team. Overall, it was a convulsing season for the Jazz; let’s break down how the team performed.
Throughout the 2021-22 regular season, guard Donovan Mitchell finished in the top ten scoring leaders in the NBA; he added depth to the offensive end of the Utah Jazz by averaging 25.9 points per game. In the playoffs game, he improved and delivered a top-elite scoring performance achieving the third-most total points of any player in the playoffs by contributing 30.3 points per game.
Rudy Gobert contributed to the Jazz with a solid defensive skill set display; He is one of the best defensive units in the league and entered the season aiming to win his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. While Gobert didn’t win the trophy, he made it to the finalists’ list. On the offensive end, Gobert finished with 53 double-doubles, averaging 15.5 points which positioned him second in the league.
Moreover, guard Mike Conley came from a successful 2020-21 season earning him his first All-Star appearance; he partnered with Mitchell in the Jazz’s backcourt to add strength to the team. The veteran contributed with consistency on the defensive end. On the offensive side, he continued proving he runs the offense while making dunks and creating for his teammates.
In addition, Bojan Bogdanovic contributed with reliability and consistency throughout the season; he proved to be one of Jazz’s most valuable players. The small/power forward is constantly improving as he played more efficiently and effectively this season on the offensive end. However, Bogdanovic can also fill the defensive role; if needed.
Lastly, Royce O’Neale proved to be a magnificent 3-and-D wing. O’Neale took the role of the opposing team’s best player defender while scoring career-high in points and three-point shooting.
Utah Jazz Offseason Changes
The Utah Jazz had one of the most criticized offseasons of the league; some qualified it as superb, while others gave them some severe heat. The media blamed the Jazz for downgrading their roster from title contenders to underdogs because the franchise lost its four best players: Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Rudy Gobert. All of them were part of their 2021-22 starting lineup.
The Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland and failed to improve on the defensive end; they rather lose one of their franchise players. They acquired Collin Sexton as his direct replacement, which might be a positive change in the long run but not an immediate improvement because Sexton hasn’t been fully healthy lately.
In addition, the Jazz traded Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson; a few more off-season moves later, Utah got 2021-22 Kansas star Ochai Agbaji.
Moreover, Utah traded forward Bojan Bogdanovic for Jarred Vanderbilt and Lauri Markkanen. The Jazz expects Vanderbilt’s defensive contributions and Markkanen to fill the sixth-man void.
Utah Jazz Key Additions
The Jazz’s goal is to rebuild the franchise; they made significant moves to change the entire face of the organization, but as of now, those changes will not make an immediate impact. They bet on future talent, which makes sense in understanding their goal.
Utah traded Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for a 2023 first-round pick. In addition, they traded center Gobert for four future first-round picks (and four rotational players). Moreover, All-Star Utah sent to Cleveland guard Mitchel,l and in exchange, the Jazz got three unprotected first-round picks and two future pick swaps.
Utah Jazz Key Subtractions
The Utah Jazz lost three-time All-Star and three-time DPOY Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Leandro Bolmaro, Rudy Gobert, Walker Kessler, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and three unprotected future first-round picks (2023, 2025, and 2027).
Utah Jazz Team Injuries
Utah Jazz Coach Analysis
The Utah Jazz was under Coach Quin Snyder since 2014, but back in June 2021, he stepped down from the franchise with no clear plans on what’s next for him career-wise. He departed Utah after eight years with the Jazz and a 372-264 (.585) regular season record. Coach Quin Snyder left as the second-winningest Utah Jazz coach.
So, who is the Utah Jazz’s head coach? 2021-22 former Boston Celtics assistant coach Will Hardy. Hardy joined the NBA as a video intern for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich in 2010. Three years later, the Spurs promoted him to Coach Popovich’s coaching staff.
Coach Hardy served as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs Summer League teams for four consecutive years. Will Hardy is a skillful teacher with high emotional intelligence and passion for the game of basketball.
While some are not entirely happy with adding a young coach to the Jazz, he is one of the most promising coaches in the NBA.
Utah Jazz Betting Prediction for the 2022-23 Season
The sportsbook has the Utah Jazz at +50000 to win the 2022-23 NBA Championship and +20000 to win the Western Conference; both bets are wild. The Jazz finished 5th seed in their conference last season but went over massive changes that swift the franchise’s focus for the upcoming season: From title contenders to franchise rebuilders.
Nonetheless, the Utah Jazz made some off-season changes that led them to build a solid starting five and a promising bench. For the Utah Jazz’s betting picks, the best bets to place are on individual performances, such as prop player picks and matchups, rather than concentrating on the NBA Championship or conference winner.
Utah Jazz Team Leaders
Utah Jazz Team Ranked Stats
Utah Jazz Team Summary
Utah Jazz Team Schedule/Results
Utah Jazz Team Standings
Utah Jazz Team Roster
Utah Jazz FAQs
Have the Utah Jazz ever won a championship?
The Jazz are among the twelve NBA teams that have never won an NBA Championship. However, they won two Western Conference championships in 1997 and 1998.
What years did the Utah Jazz make the playoffs?
Since 2016, the Utah Jazz have made the playoffs for six consecutive seasons. Their last playoff appearance was in the 2021-22 season in which they lost 2-4 versus the Dallas Mavericks.
What’s Utah Jazz’s playoff record?
The Utah Jazz are 135-157 in the playoffs all-time.
Do the Utah Jazz have a real chance to win the 2022-23 NBA Championship?
The Utah Jazz have better chance to finish with a good record in the Western Conference. However, the odds don’t favor them to win their conference nor the NBA title.
