NBA Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz 2014-15 Season Preview, Prediction

Utah Jazz Season Preview

Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz made a little splash in free agency by re-signing sharpshooter Gordon Hayward. Many people questioned whether Hayward was worth the big contract and now is his time to prove it. Can Derrick Favors be Utah's second scorer or will they be a guard-oriented team?

5. Offseason Subtractions

Marvin Williams
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5. Offseason Subtractions

Marvin Williams
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Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams, Jamal Tinsley, Brandon Rush -- The Jazz weren't effected much by free agent departures, losing all role players. The Marvin Williams experiment never quite worked out in Utah.

4. Offseason Additions

Utah Jazz
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4. Offseason Additions

Utah Jazz
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The Jazz added Australian guard Dante Exum and three-point specialist Rodney Hood through the NBA Draft, helping solidify the backcourt. Through free agency Utah added more scoring with the addition of Jordan Hamilton, Steve Novak and Trevor Booker. All five of the new additions should compete for minutes off the bench for the young Utah Jazz.

3. Starting Five Projection

Utah Jazz
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3. Starting Five Projection

Utah Jazz
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Trey Burke (PG), Alec Burks (SG), Gordon Hayward (SF), Derrick Favors (PF), Enes Kanter (C) -- Utah's starting rotation will look similar to last season's starting five. With another year together the Jazz should be improved but are still a year or two away from being legitimate playoff contenders. The Jazz will need production from their entire starting five if they will compete for the playoffs.

2. Bench Rotation

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2. Bench Rotation

Utah Jazz
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Rodney Hood and Rudy Gobert should be the first two players off the Jazz bench. Hood had a pretty nice preseason and should see a lot of minutes in his first season. Utah will need production from Gobert on both sides of the ball, and the French center will have to stay healthy as Utah is thin in the post. Will highly-touted guard Dante Exum be a part of Utah's rotation?

1. Win Prediction

Utah Jazz
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1. Win Prediction

Utah Jazz
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While the Jazz should be a better team than last year, they remain a year or two away from being legitimate contenders. Utah is headed in the right direction with a nice core of young and talented players, but Gordon Hayward is their only proven scorer. Who will step up?
2014-15 Prediction: 35-47

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