NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers are right where they want to be

Utah Jazz. 10. team. 118. Everyone’s prediction to make a jump into the upper echelon of the Western Conference has lived up to the billing so far. The Jazz have one of the best wins of any team in the early portion of the season–a road win over the San Antonio Spurs. Led by George Hill, yes that George Hill, the Jazz are a team on the rise in 2016. So far they’ve done a good job of rising in the eyes of their peers and fans around the league. <p>Newly extended Rudy Gobert is taking his $100 million and remaining the best interior defender in the NBA. He’s denied the likes of Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid and it doesn’t look like his rim protecting ways will decrease any time soon. The return of Gordon Hayward has Utah looking like a potential threat to upset the West’s hierarchy. However, Hayward’s return coincided with George Hill having to sit out a few games with an injured finger.</p> <p>Utah was already a handful for the Golden State Warriors to deal with when they were setting records a year ago. They’ve shown that they can go toe-to-toe with the Spurs this year. Only the Clippers and Spurs have defeated them by double-digits this season and their opening night defeat was mostly due to Damian Lillard turning into a fire-breathing dragon in front of our very eyes. The Jazz are a tough out for any team nowadays.</p> <p>Quin Snyder is doing a great job of maintaining a culture in Salt Lake City and he has this team poised to do great things and soon. The additions of veterans Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw have not only helped this team stay fresh, but it’s also had a profound effect on the team’s morale and belief that it could pull out close victories.</p>. .