In 2022, all eyes are looking towards Phoenix and San Francisco as the two major powers in the West — and for good reason. With guys like Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green, the teams have the star power and experience to win a title.
But when considering contenders for the Lary O’Brien, one team has been largely overlooked: the Utah Jazz. Despite an impressive 26-10 record, they have been a team nobody has talked about.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants to change that.
(per Connor Letourneau of SF Chronicle)
“I think they’re overlooked by a lot of people, just because they haven’t broken through,” Kerr said of the Jazz. “Phoenix was overlooked last year. A lot of people didn’t buy Phoenix’s success, and they went to the Finals.
“I’m a huge believer in Utah, and their ability to get stops with (Rudy) Gobert protecting the paint. Then offensively, they execute like crazy. They shoot a lot of 3’s. They put you in a lot of difficult positions.”
With Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz certainly have a lot of talent, and they will not be an easy opponent for any team to beat.
Unfortunately, last year’s meltdown in the postseason broke faith that Utah is anything more than a good regular-season team and that is unlikely to change unless they can make a deep run.
Still, it doesn’t mean they don’t get any credit. Shaquille O’Neal, for example, once called them the biggest threat in the West.
“Utah,” O’Neal responded when asked who he believes the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers will be in the Western Conference. “I won’t be so hard on Rudy this year. Rudy [is] coming with a vengeance,” Shaq said. “Rudy is coming this year.”
The Jazz have shown extraordinary strength on both sides of the floor this season, and it’s obvious they shouldn’t be counted out.
But until they can prove they win when it matters most, there will always be a line of doubters. It will be up to Donovan Mitchell and company to prove everyone wrong.
We’ll see if they’re up for the task.
