I had this as a post in another thread and thought it would be interesting to track our performance relative to the greatest Jazz team of all time, the 64-18 Stockton and Malone team that took us to the finals for the first time in 1997. So I copied out my content from that post and pasted it here and will update it now and then as we finish out this historic Jazz season!
I will update various parts this post and add the changes in color to be easy to find.
So, a comparison.
The 96-97 Jazz team had the best record we have recorded as a team for a season, at 64-18, which is a 78.0% win percentage. For our current team that would translate into 56 wins. That is the target. The 96-97 team had a record of 55-17 through 72 games.
So, some milestones.
Here are the records for the 96-97 team through each set of 10 games for the season, compared to our run this year:
Through 10 games
Then = 8-2
Now = 6-4
20 games
Then = 17-3
Now = 15-5
30 games
Then = 22-8
Now = 24-6
40 games
Then = 27-13
Now = 29-11
So we have a better record than our first finals team through 40 games no matter what happens in the next game. But we are on a lower overall winning percentage as a season through 40 games, at 76.% vs 78% on the season for the 96-97 team.
Here is how the 96-97 team stacked up through the next sets.
50 = 36-14 (38-12)
60 = 44-16 (44-16)
70 = 53-17
72 = 55-17
We are currently winning at a 73.33% rate, and at that rate here is where we would end up.
50 = 38-12
60 = 44-16
70 = 51-19
72 = 53-19
82 = 60-22 (hypothetically)
So at our current win rate we are on track to be even with the 96-97 team on the season, through 72 games of course. This would translate to 62 wins in an 82 game season, still 2 games behind the 96-97 team, as they went 9-1 over their last 10 games that year.
Fun fact, the 96-97 team recorded TWO 15-game winning streaks on that season, one at the beginning and one near the end, winning 19 of their last 20 games. Just flat out dominant. Of course for the 20 games after game 20 they lost 11 of 20 in a really rough stretch. So dips happen to the best of them.
It is still hypothetically in reach to hit 60 wins this season, and be far and away the best Jazz team ever (regular season that is) by far!! That would be 68 wins in a normal 82 game season. I really think they can do it if they can find their mojo. (Welp they didn't find their mojo. 60 wins is out of reach. Best we could do now is win out and end at 56-16, which would equate to 64 wins, essentially matching the 96-97 team.)
It might take another move at the trade deadline (or now, buy-out market) to get us much beyond the 2nd round of the playoffs, but the regular season Jazz crown is in sight!
I will update various parts this post and add the changes in color to be easy to find.
So, a comparison.
The 96-97 Jazz team had the best record we have recorded as a team for a season, at 64-18, which is a 78.0% win percentage. For our current team that would translate into 56 wins. That is the target. The 96-97 team had a record of 55-17 through 72 games.
So, some milestones.
Here are the records for the 96-97 team through each set of 10 games for the season, compared to our run this year:
Through 10 games
Then = 8-2
Now = 6-4
20 games
Then = 17-3
Now = 15-5
30 games
Then = 22-8
Now = 24-6
40 games
Then = 27-13
Now = 29-11
So we have a better record than our first finals team through 40 games no matter what happens in the next game. But we are on a lower overall winning percentage as a season through 40 games, at 76.% vs 78% on the season for the 96-97 team.
Here is how the 96-97 team stacked up through the next sets.
50 = 36-14 (38-12)
60 = 44-16 (44-16)
70 = 53-17
72 = 55-17
We are currently winning at a 73.33% rate, and at that rate here is where we would end up.
50 = 38-12
60 = 44-16
70 = 51-19
72 = 53-19
82 = 60-22 (hypothetically)
So at our current win rate we are on track to be even with the 96-97 team on the season, through 72 games of course. This would translate to 62 wins in an 82 game season, still 2 games behind the 96-97 team, as they went 9-1 over their last 10 games that year.
Fun fact, the 96-97 team recorded TWO 15-game winning streaks on that season, one at the beginning and one near the end, winning 19 of their last 20 games. Just flat out dominant. Of course for the 20 games after game 20 they lost 11 of 20 in a really rough stretch. So dips happen to the best of them.
It is still hypothetically in reach to hit 60 wins this season, and be far and away the best Jazz team ever (regular season that is) by far!! That would be 68 wins in a normal 82 game season. I really think they can do it if they can find their mojo. (Welp they didn't find their mojo. 60 wins is out of reach. Best we could do now is win out and end at 56-16, which would equate to 64 wins, essentially matching the 96-97 team.)
It might take another move at the trade deadline (or now, buy-out market) to get us much beyond the 2nd round of the playoffs, but the regular season Jazz crown is in sight!
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