Fansided

5 biggest surprises from ESPN’s NBA win projections

By Ynal Al-Ouri

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 30: Rudy Gobert
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 30: Rudy Gobert /

3. Utah makes the playoffs without Gordon Hayward

The Utah Jazz certainly had an eventful offseason, but it was for all of the wrong reasons. Their All-Star forward Gordon Hayward left town to play for the Boston Celtics, and their starting point guard from last season, George Hill, signed with the Sacramento Kings. The Jazz however still possess one of the best young centers in the game in Rudy Gobert, and they acquired Ricky Rubio to help fill their void at the point guard position.

Now we’re not saying the Jazz are going to be terrible next season, they still have very talented players on their roster, and Donovan Mitchell is a promising young prospect for them, but it’s unfair to expect them to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference right off the bat.

It’s certainly possible that they can still push for the No. 7 or No. 8 seed, but it’ll be hard to imagine teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans finishing behind them in the standings if their teams don’t suffer major injuries. Utah will recover sooner rather than later with the departure of Hayward and make the playoffs again, but it seems unlikely to be this upcoming season.

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