The Undefeated Jazz

The Jazz have started out the season strong—beating the Nuggets and the Clippers for a record of 2-0.

 Two wins, not that important in an 82 game season right?

 

However, with how competitive the Western Conference was last year, two wins could be the difference between starting the playoffs on the road or in the comfy confines of the ESA.

 

What do these two wins tell us about the Jazz this season so far and how long can the Jazz stay undefeated?

 

Most importantly the wins tell us that, if they have to, the Jazz can win without their fearless leader Deron Williams.  In the 2006-07 season Deron missed two games due to injury, the Jazz loss both those games.  No Jazz fan would want Deron to miss games but at least the Jazz can win without him. 

 

The Hart-Knight trade is one of the most underrated trades in Jazz history.  The national media didn't talk about it at all (besides the bottom score ticker on ESPN), and the local Utah media hardly talked about it during the summer. Knight however was one of the main reasons we won on Saturday—his intense defense in the second half and zero turnovers helped the Jazz roll over the Clippers.

 

The Jazz are a deep team. It wouldn't be stretching it to say that the Jazz have the deepest team in the league.  The Jazz bench, especially with AK as our new sixth man, can compete and beat any bench in the league. 

 

The Jazz defense is much more intense than last year. Hopefully the Jazz will continue to focus on defense and dominate on offense.

 

Now how long can the Jazz stay undefeated? Tonight they play against the Clippers. This will be a good test for the Jazz. The Jazz struggled on the road last year. A road record of 17-24 last season, and so many winnable games they lost.  The Jazz have lost six of their last eight games in the Staples Center against the Clippers.  

 

It will be test of character to see if the Jazz have the discipline to play consistently and avoid the tendency to play down to their opponents on the road. 

 

A win tonight would pay big dividends for the Jazz.  A road win without Deron Williams could pay even bigger dividends. A win tonight would lead to a boost in their confidence that could lead to four or five more road wins this year which could pay huge in play-off seating.

 

After the Jazz play the Clippers on the road tonight they return home for games against Portland and Oklahoma City.  Those games shouldn't be too hard to win especially if Williams is back. The Jazz then head back East for a five game road trip.  All those game are winnable, but I see a loss against Cleveland.  

 

That would put the Jazz at 9-0 before losing to Cleveland. 

 

I would love for the Jazz to go 82-0, but as that is all but impossible, I do see 9-0 as very plausible.  However it all starts tonight can the Jazz beat their road fears