4. Utah Jazz
Despite being without Rudy Gobert for 26 games due to a pair of knee injuries, the Utah Jazz finished fifth in the cutthroat Western Conference. And given their production over the past few months, they lurk as the greatest threat to the Warriors and Rockets in the Western Conference.
Since Gobert returned on Jan. 19, they’ve gone 30-8 and lead the NBA both in net rating (plus-10.8) and defensive rating (97.5) over that span. They also have the second-best record since mid-January, trailing only the Rockets (34-5).
Does that sound like a team anyone should be excited to face in the playoffs?
The Thunder drew that honor in the first round, which sets the stage for a battle of conflicting postseason adages. Whereas Utah has the “Defense wins championships” side of the equation down pat, Oklahoma City has Westbrook, George, Adams and Anthony, giving them the edge in the “Talent wins out in the playoffs” category.
So long as Gobert remains upright, the Jazz’s elite defense should help them avoid getting blown out in any given game. They’ve only suffered three losses by 10 or more points since his return in mid-January, and that includes a head-scratcher against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 22. Meanwhile, they thumped the fully healthy Warriors by 30 in late January and picked up road wins against the Raptors, Spurs, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Timberwolves over the past few months, which suggests they shouldn’t be scared of anyone.
Leading scorer and Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell has yet to experience the intensity of an NBA playoffs series, so a cold stretch from him could imperil Utah’s chances of advancing. But given the strides Ricky Rubio has made as a scorer this year and the quality of role players the Jazz have — from Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder to Derrick Favors and Dante Exum — Utah should not only be favored in against the Thunder, but it should be considered a legitimate dark horse to make the Western Conference Finals.
Next: 3. Cleveland Cavaliers