Adding veterans Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic to their solid core of Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles could elevate the Utah Jazz to title contention.
The Jazz cemented their place in the Western Conference’s upper tier with a 50-win season and a decent showing against Houston in the first round of the playoffs. They were once again led by young guard Donovan Mitchell, who didn’t take a bold next step forward in his play as expected. Mitchell took on a bigger load, but struggled with shooting efficiency (he ranked 101st in effective field goal percentage among starting guards).
The Jazz lacked a solid No 2 scorer and Mitchell’s number was frequently called with the game on the line.
But at least there was center Rudy Gobert, the most consistent of the bunch, who averaged 15.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as the NBA’s premier rim and paint protector. He improved as a pick-and-roll option and developed a semi-reliable hook shot and short-range jumper.
Overall, the Jazz were known for their cohesive and spirited play.
At last season’s trade deadline, the Jazz tried to execute a deal that could have vaulted them over a few teams in the West. But the Grizzlies held firm on Mike Conley and talks were postponed until the offseason. In a case of better late than never, the Jazz can come to grips with the addition of a player who solves the club’s most glaring problem.
source:skysports.cm