NBA: 5 teams to watch on NBA League Pass

May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks over San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 3, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke (3) dribbles the ball in front of Toronto Raptors point guard Greivis Vasquez (21) during the second half at EnergySolutions Arena. Toronto won 94-79. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz

I am more than hyped to see the Utah Jazz play next season. They have a lot of young talent and potential from every position within their starting lineup. This year I picked Gordon Hayward to win the Most Improved Player of the Year award, and he can become an All-Star small forward in the Western Conference.

With Hayward taking the next step in his development as an NBA All-Star, the Jazz are trending up into the better half of the Western Conference. The west has nine legitimate teams that are going to compete for a playoff spot, and the Jazz are good enough to make it 10.

Also, one of the best young point guards in the NBA is Trey Burke and I’m excited to see him make more game winning shots for Utah.

Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, and Derrick Favors are also going to have a lot of shock value because these athletic players can run in transition. With Burke leading the break, the Jazz should run opponents out of the gym.

The true mark of their improvement will have to come on the defensive side of the basketball. Last year they were second to last in defensive rating. If they can get it together defensively, the Jazz are in the position to ruin a lot of team’s records next season.

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