That team was great at closing games.
But that stat doesn't refer to closing halves -- in the context of in-game quarters -- instead it refers to the best second half win/loss record in NBA history.
I don't see the relevance in relation to this team's up/down or down/up play by quarter. One thing I think is being overlooked is how rule changes are precipitating this type of play, though. It's much harder to fully control a game from start to finish with the hand-check changes conflated with zone implementation; the current system allows for far quicker, bigger, runs that mean less.
Phoenix Suns basketball.
Relevant, I guess, in my hope that by the second half of the season, Utah will be far more consistent in its play throughout a game than they are currently.
They've had as good of start as one could have expected and it's put them in the position for a nice seed in the playoffs. However, that will require shoring up the issues explained in this article and if they can't, I'm afraid this team will falter in the second half and probably settle in as a fifth seed - just like every other year.
Of course, my hope is that the Jazz have traditionally struggled earlier in the season and put it together in the second half. That was the case last three seasons and I hope it carries over into this one, as well.
Now while I agree that deficits in the NBA today aren't nearly as devastating as years ago, it's still a troubling trend. Utah can't play from behind all season because sooner or later, they're not going to luck out and beat a team. We've seen this in home losses against Miami and Dallas and to a lesser extent, Portland.
If that isn't fixed in the second half, they're going to lose some games (well obviously, but more than we'd like).