Two Big Moves to Stop Jazz's Free-Fall & Push for Playoffs

The Utah Jazz will face the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night. Both teams are currently in the playoff picture, with the Jazz ranked as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference while the Mavs sit at No. 7.

With less than 20 regular-season games remaining on the NBA schedule, each game is basically a must-win for most teams competing for the postseason.

The Mavs have some margin for the era, but the Jazz simply do not. Although the Jazz are currently playoff-relevant, they've accumulated 34 losses along with four other Western Conference NBA teams. That's correct, folks, five Western Conference teams have 34 losses entering Tuesday's slate of games.

Win, and you will find your team in the thick of an extended season. But a loss could landslide the Jazz as far down as the No. 13 spot, with the call to vacation travel agents soon beckoning.

When evaluating the Jazz, sometimes it seems that making the playoffs is the team's priority, while at others, it seems as if the team wants to tank. Let's be clear: Jazz Nation wants this team as a participant in the playoffs. And with the inconsistencies and uncertainties of the Western Conference, it's anyone's guess what could happen in the playoff tournament.

Besides, it's too late to tank when you have been a playoff-relevant team all season long, so hopefully, the Jazz brain trust is pondering this thought process. What could Utah do to better position itself for a true stretch run?

Here are a few pivotal moves that could help the Jazz close the playoff gap.

Start Kris Dunn

The Jazz are more than depleted at the point guard position, and Dunn was a top-five lottery pick when he entered the NBA. Although he's bounced around the league, his signing by the Jazz has benefited both parties.

Dunn is a true lead guard, has a good basketball IQ, and seems to have a complete understanding of the Jazz's game plan. Most importantly, he has the ability to get the Jazz into their offense minus the excess dribbling.

Finally, Dunn will not infringe on developing talent due to the lack of depth at point guard. If there is an adjustment that would benefit the Jazz and stabilize the flow of the offense, it would be starting Dunn.

Bring Clarkson & Horton-Tucker Off the Bench

Jazz head coach Will Hardy has elected to start Jordan Clarkson and the Jazz have been a factor in the Western Conference all season, so kudos to him for this decision. Prior to the trade deadline, the Jazz, as a whole, possessed a stronger and deeper roster compared to now.

Rotation patterns typically shorten as teams approach the playoffs, which generally yield enough playing time for nine players. The Jazz now struggle with offensive production off the bench, and Clarkson would most certainly solve this issue.

Clarkson may actually average more than his current 20.8 points per game in a reserve role, and, along with Talen Horton-Tucker could form the type of 'Bench Mob' most teams do not have.

Clarkson and Horton-Tucker would provide an immediate answer for offensive production of the bench and could make even this somewhat depleted Jazz roster a force for a playoff run.

It's just food for thought before the Jazz get ready to tango with Luka Doncic and the Mavs Tuesday night. Tip-off is at 6:30 pm MDT.

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