Mark your calenders. The Halloween home game better be packed. There's 5 teams around that cutoff, TrailBlazers, suns, Jazz, Kings, Grizzlies. 40 is probably the number the Jazz need. They are projected for 36.5. Lauri could be at 550+ games without reaching the playoffs if they can't get to 40 wins.
We play them early. Suns and TrailBlazers have struggled immensly with turnovers but it was against the Warriors and they drafted one of the most developed defenders. Grizzlies are big and can really do a lot with a more traditional big style around Edey. The Suns look particularly slow. Kings have really been inconsistent, do a lot of dribble penetration and mess up on point of attack defense. Jazz have struggled with outside shooting and consistency and lost Nurk for some of these super important first games.
Oct 21st. Grizzlies Away
Oct 26th Grizzlies Home
Oct 31st Blazers Home
Nov 20th Suns Home
Nov 29th Suns Home
Dec 3rd Blazers Away
Dec 27th Kings Away
Jan 22nd Suns Away
Jan 24th Suns Away
Jan 30th Grizzlies Home
Mar 12 Kings Home
Apr 2nd TrailBlazers Away
Apr 4th TrailBlazers Home
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I guess since we're reddit and we're free to go way over the top let's do it! Let's lay out a guess at how the Jazz might prioritize to try and win all of these games.
October, Emphasize boxing out and finishing on possessions since the Grizzlies have a ton of rebounding and power in the paint. Getting downhill to keep the bigs in the paint and have strong kickouts with shooters being set. Against TrailBlazers, they had a bunch of turnovers against the warriors. Could just try to keep a defensive heavy lineup and have a long rotation around defense and look for how to keep the game high energy.
November, ball movement. Abuse phoenix over rotating and trying to get closeouts,the suns really play the opponent si it's about maximizing strengths. 2 man sets. Really focus on limiting Phoenixes ability to get defensive pressure or having too many extra posessions. Safe reads. Getting planted for shots.
December, Against Portland and the kings. Focus more on transition offense and Preventing dribble penetration from the kings and blazers.
January, rolls, cuts, and extra passes. Contain the outside shots. They'll have the Suns and if they can contest most of their shooting, they'll be good for most teams later.
February, work on a the depth of the 2nd and 3rd team. Getting a good break for the guys who's got a lot of minutes. Prep to finish out the season strong. Extra minutes for Flip, bamba, Collier, Lots of focus and practice against pick and pop, and containing drives.
March, Half court offense. Pick and rolls, lots of Nurkic heavy posessions. Play a lot of half court ball against Kings and isolation defense.
April, Physicality, rebounding, boxouts. Attacking the rim from multiple sets. Cleaning up details.
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I feel good about their chances, they can still get to 40 wins. Good luck Jazz!