Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Utah Jazz are set to clinch one of the top-two seeds in the Western Conference, but there are five particular reasons why they can win the NBA title this summer.
The NBA is entering the final week of the regular season, and it is carrying an NFL Week 17 vibe. Some teams will clinch a spot in the playoffs, others will have to contend with the play-in round and the rest will be sent home for an early vacation.
One team that will not deal with the latter is the Utah Jazz, who currently sit in first place in the Western Conference with three games remaining on the schedule. With the Los Angeles Lakers careening down the standings, some view the Jazz as the favorites to represent the West in the NBA Finals and to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. But why are the odds in Utah’s favor?
Here are five reasons why the Jazz can surprise everyone and win the 2021 NBA championship.
5. Jazz’s record against teams at or above .500
You can tell if a team is a true championship contender by watching how they perform against winning squads. Based off this category, the Jazz more than meet that qualification.
This season, the Jazz hold a 24-13 record against teams at or above .500. That is truly impressive, showing they are more than capable of competing against strong teams. There is only one team that has a better record against teams at or above .500, and that’s the Phoenix Suns, who are 26-10.
Some of Utah’s big victories include the Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. That is a solid list of wins that the Jazz have on their resume heading into the playoffs. They have the experience this season and are ready to battle their way through the tough Western Conference to reach their first NBA Finals appearance since 1998.