In the storied tradition of Wu-Tang imagery and profound commentary, let's discuss the end-game for the Jazz. After the trade deadline, here are some interesting facts on the remaining schedule. I decided to look at the Jazz and their three biggest contenders in terms of playoff spots: the Nuggets, the Mavericks, and the Thunder. The Jazz will play 16 more times on the road, the Nuggets 15, the Mavericks 12, and the Thunder 15. Given that the Jazz are riding the biggest winning streak on the road since the days of Malone and Stockton cheating and fouling all the time (damn you Sloan, you evil mastermind!), the road games are no longer as big a deal as they once were. In fact, the Jazz have a better road record than the Nuggets. Next, the Jazz play 3 more games against teams with a better record. The Nuggets play 6 of these games, the Mavericks 6, and the Thunder 9. Advantage? Utah. Lastly, the Jazz play 15 more games against playoff caliber teams, compared to 17, 14, and 15 from the Nuggets, Mavericks, and Thunder respectively.
When you put all that together, it means that the Jazz have a legitimate chance of getting the 2nd seed out west. I am not alone in thinking this, despite what a pessimistic AJohnston may say. Either way, the Jazz are certainly looking good for a 3 or a 4 seed, which bodes well for a first round playoff victory. In honor of the Popperian, here is a bold, falsifiable hypothesis: the Jazz get the 2nd seed in the west. It's today's mathematics, son.
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Update:
ReplyDeleteThe Jazz have won two games against playoff-caliber teams, leaving thirteen more.
The Nuggets have won one game against a team with a better record, leaving five more. They also lost to the worst team imaginable.
The Mavericks have won one of the games against a team with a better record, leaving five more.