OKC Thunder could be seeded third in West before week’s end
Jazz schedule and particulars:
- Beat Pelicans, lost to Thunder have 15th most difficult seeding schedule
- Lakers – August 3
- Grizzlies – August 5
- Spurs – August 7
- Nuggets – August 8
- Mavericks – August 10
- Spurs – August 13
The next match Utah plays this week is versus the Lakers who might elect to dial back minutes of their stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They played two tough opening matches beating the Clippers and losing to the defensive brilliance of the Raptors. James and Anthony Davis played pre-hiatus minutes in both games.
They need to win once more or have the Clippers lose once more to cement their top Western Conference seed. But, after those two tough games, it wouldn’t be surprising if Frank Vogel elected to rest one or both of his stars or limit their minutes.
Then again, this Jazz team has not looked good in the restart. Truthfully, the Pelicans should’ve won that opening match versus Utah. Lack of experience likely resulted in the Jazz victory. We’ve been beating this drum all season here that the Jazz is not a scary proposition and now without Bogdonovic they become even less worrisome.
The Thunder had Utah so flummoxed the National TV announcers were noting how quiet the team was coming out of half time. Straight up – there are issues on this Jazz squad that are deeper than the loss of Bogdanovic but missing him is the most is the dominant issue. If the Lakers are smart they replicate what the Thunder did and jump on Utah.
The one reason I think James and Davis do play at least early is the narrative that their offense is struggling. The Jazz is still considered a strong defensive team. They are NOT, they are a middling defensive squad. Although they rank 10th defensively, post All-Star break (as their schedule got harder) they rank 20th!
The Grizzlies need victories if only to build up their confidence and gain momentum for the inevitable play-in tournament which seems more likely to happen than not.
That team who I always say never to count out (Spurs) will play them twice, and oh yeah guess who is leading the chase pack for that ninth seed? Yup – – the Spurs.
The Nuggets and Mavericks games could be moot points by the time they play since they are later in the schedule. Ultimately, I think the Jazz end up seeded sixth.