Four Teams That Could Prevent The Sacramento Kings From Playoff Basketball
By Rafe Wong
Utah Jazz
At least to my surprise, the Utah Jazz finished last season with a record of 38-44. The record may not be exciting at first glance, but considering it was a rebuilding year they’re heading in the right direction. Although there isn’t any big name player on the roster, the Jazz still found ways to win.
They have Gordon Hayward as their best player (in my opinion), but it’s the bevy of young talent in guys like Rodney Hood, Alec Burks, and Rudy Gobert that have their fans optimistic about the team’s future.
To me the biggest X-factor on the team is Trey Burke. With the injury to Dante Exum, Burke has to step up his game. If he can become more efficient on both sides of the court (improving shooting %, distribution, and defense) he has the ability to vastly improve this Jazz team.
I also think Gobert is coming as well. We know what he can do defensively as a shot blocker, but if he continues his pattern of improvement on the offensive end, he might just be their best player when the season ends.
The Jazz are very young, especially the players that play significant roles on the team. If they continue to keep showing improvement like they did last season, it will dramatically accelerate the rebuilding process for the team. They kind of shocked NBA world with their performance last season, which leads me to believe that they have a legitimate chance to do it again with a playoff berth. The Kings were 1-3 in the season series against the Jazz.
Next: My Final Thoughts