NBA: Preseason Fact And Fiction

October 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) is congratulated by guard Andre Iguodala (9) and guard Stephen Curry (30) for recording a block against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2 of 11

Mar 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) defends against Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

The Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic will be better than people think

The Jazz are basically the Magic of the West and vice-versa: two teams that are trusting in their super young but promising nuclei who figure to be pretty terrible once again in 2014-15 — for the sake of rebuilding and developing talent. But here’s the thing: in the preseason so far, these two teams have actually been good. Utah sports a 5-2 record (tied for best in the West) and have a point differential of +10.3. The Magic are 4-3 and have a point differential of +3.7.

Even more encouraging, the Magic have been playing without Victor Oladipo and Channing Frye. Tobias Harris has stepped up as a scorer, Nikola Vucevic and his massive contract extension are a double-double machine and Andrew Nicholson and Aaron Gordon have both looked good so far. Utah’s starting five has scored in double digits nearly every game, Rudy Gobert looks like a monster-in-the-making and rookies Dante Exum and Rodney Hood both look ready to contribute. Is it possible these two young teams we thought were still years away are going to take big steps this season?

Verdict: Fiction

The Jazz have beaten a Portland Trail Blazers team with no bench, a Los Angeles Clippers team that is 2-5 in the preseason, an Oklahoma City Thunder squad with no Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Lakers (no explanation necessary). With a young nucleus trying to prove itself, the Jazz had better be winning games like that. As for the Magic, none of their wins are particularly impressive either, especially when we still need to see how Oladipo and Frye blend in. Both teams figure to improve next season, but neither one is headed anywhere except the NBA Draft Lottery next summer.

Home/Chicago Bulls