The Utah Jazz were one of the NBA’s best teams during the regular season, but once again fell short in the playoffs. After a brief first-round series with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Jazz fell in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers in six games. Utah has been seen as a team that is good during the regular season but does not have the pieces to compete with the elite teams once the playoffs begin.
Jazz fans will point out that the team had injuries to two of their best players in Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley. During the regular season, Mitchell suffered an ankle injury and did come back in the team’s first-round series against the Grizzlies. Conley was injured towards the end of the series against the Grizzlies and was absent for most of the series against the Clippers. The more important point should be that the Jazz lost to a Clippers team without their best player in Kawhi Leonard. Not to mention, the Jazz defense was exploited during the series. It was a disappointing end to a great season for the Jazz.
Some questions need to be asked about the Jazz for this upcoming season. Did they improve this offseason? Should the Jazz be among the favorites in the Western Conference? Will Mitchell be an MVP candidate? Will they have the best bench during the 2021-2022 season? We’ve got you covered with our Fact or Fiction series. It features the boldest claims being made about the Jazz and offers you the answer with a decisive fact or fiction.
Make sure to check out all of our other Fact or Fiction articles.
Did the Jazz Improve this Offseason?
It felt like a quiet offseason around most of the NBA, with no real superstar players being obtainable during the free-agency period. Most teams will return intact this fall and among those will be the Jazz. Re-signing Conley to an extension was the most significant move the Jazz made this summer. The point guard is aging, but with little financial flexibility, the team didn’t have many alternatives to work with.
One of the moves that the Jazz did make was signing veteran forward Rudy Gay. Gay spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs and is still an efficient scorer in the league. The Jazz also signed free agent center Hassan Whiteside to be the backup to Rudy Gobert. The Jazz made a trade for Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall, who should also provide depth. None of these moves will make headlines, but they should help the Jazz keep their depth. However, to say the Jazz improved might be a bit of a stretch.
Verdict: Fiction, the Jazz did not improve this offseason
Should the Jazz be Among the Favorites in the Western Conference?
The Jazz finished with the best record in the NBA and secured the top-seed in the Western Conference. Last season, the Jazz were one of the healthiest teams in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines this summer with the acquisition of Russell Westbrook. If LeBron James and Anthony Davis stay healthy, the Lakers will be viewed as the favorite in the West.
The Warriors will have a healthy Klay Thompson and that should make the former champions contenders again. The Phoenix Suns are returning with the same team that made it to the NBA Finals last season. Those teams will be the biggest competition for the Jazz, but if they stay healthy, the Jazz can be right there with them. While the Lakers will be viewed as the favorite, it is not by a large margin and there are other teams, including the Jazz, that are not far behind.
Verdict: Fact, the Jazz will be among the favorites in the Western Conference
Will Mitchell be an MVP Candidate?
Mitchell has become an ascending star in the league and has shown the ability to show up in the biggest moments. There is the debate over whether Mitchell is even the best player on his own team, but it should be clear now after this past postseason. The race for MVP is always a tough one, but Mitchell is good enough to find himself in the thick of it.
One of the requirements in being an MVP candidate is playing on one of the best teams in the league. Another requirement is having the statistics and the ability to carry your team to victory. There is going to be no shortage of contenders that fit into that category.
Nikola Jokic won the award one year ago and will be a contender again. Giannis Antetokounmpo has won one of the past MVP awards. The Brooklyn Nets have three contenders on their team. Finally, it would foolish to forget about last year’s MVP runner-up, Joel Embiid. Mitchell fits all of the requirements for the MVP award. He is one of the league’s top scorers and playmakers and the Jazz will be one of the best teams in the NBA.
Verdict: Fact, Mitchell will be an MVP Candidate
Will the Jazz Have the Best Bench During the 2021-2022 Season?
If you want to know how good the Jazz’ bench was last season, look no further than who the finalists were for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson were two of the best bench players in the league, with the latter taking home the award. Both players are returning to the Jazz this season and that is going to mean that Utah will have a deep bench this season.
Alongside Clarkson and Ingles, Whiteside, Paschall, and Gay will be joining the Jazz’ Bench. Utah drafted Jared Butler from Baylor and he is going to be looking to make an impact during his rookie season. All of these guys will form a solid second-unit and give the Jazz the best bench in the NBA this season.
Verdict: Fact, the Jazz will have the best bench during the 2021-2022 Season
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