Here's What Jazz's 'Tank Crowd' Should be Watching For
Losing has become the new winning for the Utah Jazz as the team continues to increase its lottery odds heading into the home stretch. With only 17 games left in the regular season, Utah finds itself eighth from the bottom and the possibility of sliding three more spots when it’s all said and done.
What’s it going to take to maximize Utah’s lottery odds? What should the tank crowd be keeping an eye on moving forward? Let’s take a look.
Injury Report
Since the All-Star break, Utah’s four best players have landed on the injury report. Starting point guard Collin Sexton hasn’t played since February 15, while All-Star Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Walker Kessler’s absences have come out of left field.
At full strength, the Jazz have a formidable starting five that could string some wins together. However, Utah’s brain trust appears to find reasons to sit its difference makers, but will it continue?
Also, how head coach Will Hardy juggles the rotation is a telling sign of the intent to win or lose games. Markkanen most recently logged 39 minutes of action against the Dallas Mavericks in a losing effort.
Utah's management may have set up the team to fail with the trade surrounding Russell Westbrook, but Hardy wouldn't be giving Utah’s best player extended minutes if the intent was to lose the game.
Jazz Schedule
If you’re on 'Team Tank,' then you have to love the remainder of Utah’s schedule. According to Tankathon.com, the Jazz have the second-hardest schedule the rest of the way, with their opponents winning games at a 53.3% clip.
Other notable franchise rankings that Utah may be looking to out-tank are:
- Portland Trail Blazers (fifth-hardest)
- Chicago Bulls (tenth)
- Washington Wizards (15th)
- Indiana Pacers (21st)
- New Orleans Pelicans (27th)
The most important games remaining would be:
- Orlando Magic (March 9)
- Portland Trail Blazers (March 29)
- Los Angeles Lakers (April 4 & 9)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (April 6).
Currently, at the No. 8 spot, the Jazz would have a 6% shot at the No. 1 selection in the 2023 NBA draft, while having a 26.2% chance of being in the top four. If the Jazz can somehow freefall to the fifth-worst record in the league, then those percentages would improve to 10.5% for the top spot and 42% for a top-four selection.
However, Utah is still only one game removed from the No. 14 spot, where its odds of being in the top four would drop considerably to 3.4%.
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