National Basketball Association

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews - Utah Jazz: The Depth Squad

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Feb 9, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrates with forward Trey Lyles (41) and guard Raul Neto (25) after making the game winning shot in overtime to defeat the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews – Utah Jazz: The Depth Squad

To prepare our readers for the regular season SCS provides our NBA 2016-17 Team Previews. Who will return to the playoffs? Which team will fall from grace and who will be the Cinderella team?

Get a complete break down of each team. Included in the profiles are:

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews now looks at arguably the toughest division – the Northwest. Next is the team many pundits predict to make the biggest leap in the West , the Utah Jazz.

2015-16 Record: 40 – 42

Playoffs:

Missed playoffs finished 9th in NBA Western Conference

Key 2015-16 Statistics:

Points Per Game: 97.7 (28th )

Opponent Points Per Game: 95.9 (2nd)

Pace: 91.0 (30th )

Offensive Rank: 105.9 (16th )

Defensive Rank: 103.9 (7th)

Three Point Rank: 35.5% (12th)

Rebounds: 43.2 (18th)

Assists: 19.0 (28th)

Steals: 7.7 (18th)

Blocks: 5.2 (14th)

Turnovers: 14.9 (21st)

Feb 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) defends against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

2017 Free Agents

Restricted:

Oct 3, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket on Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Unrestricted:

Future Draft Picks

See Real GM for full details:

Incoming:

Outgoing:

Average Age of Team: 26.5 years

Next: Off Season Moves

Oct 17, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

2016 Draft Picks

Round 1: N/A

Round 2: Joel Bolomboy (52), Marcus Paige (55), Tyrone Wallace (60)

2016 Free Agents prior to July 1, 2016:

Unrestricted:

Moves made following July 1, 2016:

Incoming:

Exiting:

Unresolved:

Next: Schedule, League Pass, Win Projection Rankings

Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) defends against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Vegas over-under for wins: 47.5

Schedule strength:

As ranked by ESPN: 29th with 3.29 extra wins

The Jazz have eight of their 17 back-to-backs finish in Salt Lake City, and only one team has fewer three-in-four clusters.

Games versus Rockets:

Zach Lowe NBA League Pass Rank: 20th

We’re all excited about the Jazz, but can they speed it the hell up already? Utah ranked dead last in pace, and their possessions after snagging defensive rebounds — opportunities to run! — were egregiously slow, per the tracking site Inpredictable. Utah frittered away the first 10 seconds of every possession with rote sequences of passes and cuts before getting to the real stuff.

Next: Team Overview

Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) shoots the ball during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Trail Blazers won 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Committed Salary

2016: $79,538,192 – ranked 16th entering free agency, rank 27th post free agency

2017: $60,672,611 – ranked 25th, but notably have several free agents who could be extended in season.

Team Salary Ranking as per Hoops Hype, and team salary overview also via Hoops Hype

Starting 5:

Point Guard: George Hill – 12.1 points, 3.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds

Shooting Guard: Rodney Hood – 14.5 points, 2.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 35.9% from deep

Small Forward: Gordon Hayward – 19.7 points, 3.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds

Power Forward: Derrick Favors – 16.4 points, 8.1rebounds, 1.5 blocks

Center: Rudy Gobert – 9.1 points 11.0 rebounds 2.2 blocks

Reserves:

Guards: Dante Exum, Raul Neto

Wings: Shelvin Mack, Alex Burks, Joe Johnson, Joe Ingles

Bigs: Trey Lyles, Boris Diaw, Jeff Withey, Joel Bolomboy (R)

Injury News:

All injury news as per rotoworld

Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Trail Blazers won 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Prediction:

Ask yourself one question – – only two times in memory has anyone witnessed Gregg Popovich get upset. Recently Pops got choked up when discussing Tim Duncan’s retirement. One other occasion stands out in my memory: when the Spurs traded “Georgie” Hill. Sure they got Kawhi Leonard in the deal, but it was no less difficult for Popovich who called Hill his favorite Spur.

With the glut of point guards in the NBA, Hill just isn’t on anyone’s radar, but he should be. For my money he’s the most under rated point guard in the NBA. Not for his stats, rather, for what he does on and off the court.

Utah return to the playoffs after a 4 year hiatus. Assuming health doesn’t become an issue look for the Jazz to compete for a position on the ladder as high as 4th and as low as 8th.

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