Looking at the way the Jazz played their first pre-season game, it looks to me like the Jazz have designed their offense to be similar to the Houston Rockets two seasons ago. Mitchell will have the ball in his hands a lot above the 3pt line, much like James Harden has in Houston. Mitchell's ability to get downhill and break the paint, with or without the use of a screen, lets him draw at least two defenders, and it opens up 3pt shooters to swing the ball and generate open 3pt looks. Rudy setting screens and rolling to the rim, like Clint Capella did, creates a lob threat and likely pulls in another defender. In other words, the Jazz shooting 50%+ of their shots as 3s might not be an aberration. Just swap Bogdanovic for Eric Gordon spacing the floor, swap either Mike Conley or Jordan Clarkson for Chris Paul playing off the ball, and you've basically got the Rockets #2 league-leading offensive system from two years ago. (The #1 offense was the Warriors.)
I would not be surprised at all if the Jazz are a top-5 offense this season. Actually, I'd expect it.
Defensively, the Jazz have re-added Derrick Favors and young blue-collar guys like Oni, Morgan and Harrison, who can mix in and out of lineups, with or without Gobert on the floor. That gives the Jazz potential to be a top-7 or 8 defense.
Assuming they stay healthy and don't have too many covid setbacks, I'm starting to think the Jazz have the potential to be a top-2 team in the west this year. I think Denver has taken a step back, and I'm not sure the Clippers have really taken a step forward. Dallas looks thin, especially without Porzingis, while Portland looks like it could move back up into the top 4.
I would not be surprised at all if the Jazz are a top-5 offense this season. Actually, I'd expect it.
Defensively, the Jazz have re-added Derrick Favors and young blue-collar guys like Oni, Morgan and Harrison, who can mix in and out of lineups, with or without Gobert on the floor. That gives the Jazz potential to be a top-7 or 8 defense.
Assuming they stay healthy and don't have too many covid setbacks, I'm starting to think the Jazz have the potential to be a top-2 team in the west this year. I think Denver has taken a step back, and I'm not sure the Clippers have really taken a step forward. Dallas looks thin, especially without Porzingis, while Portland looks like it could move back up into the top 4.