ESPN's way too early 2021 POWER RANKINGS!

[Joncolton]

1. Lakers
2. Clippers
3. Bucks
4. Nuggets
5. Mavericks
6. Warriors
7. Celtics
8. 76ers
9. Heat
10. Nets
11. Raptors
12. Rockets
13. Utah Jazz
14. Trailblazers
15. OKC

Utah's front office never wavered on its long-term plan to build around Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, despite friction in their relationship that was exacerbated by their COVID-19 diagnoses. That confidence was justified by the chemistry and professionalism the duo displayed in the bubble. It's an easy decision to sign Mitchell to a max extension as he enters the final season of his rookie deal. Extension discussions with Gobert, who is eligible for the supermax, probably will be much more complicated. Limited in ways to upgrade the cast around their franchise cornerstones, the Jazz can't afford to miss with their midlevel exception. -- MacMahon


I don't actually think this is too off (though I would rank the Jazz closer to if not above the Mavericks, as well as the 76ers. If I am a Miami Heat fan - I'd be livid. Overall, I think it's a fair take and assessment.

 

[NAOS]

76ers are too high, but I can’t argue with the jazz at 13. I think they’ll rise during the regular season and then start to look like a team that’ll make it to the second round before taking a knee.

 

[Joncolton]

76ers are too high, but I can’t argue with the jazz at 13. I think they’ll rise during the regular season and then start to look like a team that’ll make it to the second round before taking a knee.

It all comes down to being a 70 win team. But, NEXT SEASON I wouldn't be surprised if the champs end up being a 65-67 win team. It will take the Jazz hitting home runs in both free agency and the draft.

 

[Ben10]

It all comes down to being a 70 win team. But, NEXT SEASON I wouldn't be surprised if the champs end up being a 65-67 win team. It will take the Jazz hitting home runs in both free agency and the draft.

Considering next season is only going to be 72 games (most likely) 64-67 wins would be amazing.


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[jom2003]

Probably too high. At least one of Grizzlies, Suns Pels and T'wolves will figure out what to do with their young and talented squad then bring serious competition to our playoff chance. won't bet on them to just miss every year. except for the kings maybe

 

[LoPo]

The Mavericks and Heat should be switched. Other than that, its a pretty good assessment.

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[LoPo]

How can somebody look at that list and truly believe we are contenders with our current roster?

As it says, we need to hit a home run with our MLE. And stay healthy. And hope for luck with matchups, opponent injuries, etc.

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[Ron Mexico]

The gap between jazz and nuggets is pretty funny to me. Fairly even teams according to the playoffs.

Jazz getting back there 2nd leading scorer and they cant miss as bad as they did on role players in Green and Davis this year. Those simple moves put us right back in things in the playoffs. I am also hopeful we make a few good moves, but who knows.

 

[NAOS]

The gap between jazz and nuggets is pretty funny to me. Fairly even teams according to the playoffs.

Jazz getting back there 2nd leading scorer and they cant miss as bad as they did on role players in Green and Davis this year. Those simple moves put us right back in things in the playoffs. I am also hopeful we make a few good moves, but who knows.

For me, there’s very little difference in being ranked 13th to 9th (and I don’t think we should be ranked higher than 9th). While we narrowly missed a series victory against the Nuggets, I think we also exposed our fatal flaw: perimeter defense. As currently constructed, our ceiling is the 2nd round (unless we catch a lucky break with an opponent injury).

If we manage to fix our perimeter defense, move Mike to the bench, and get mike a Pick n Pop partner, then I could see us rising comfortably into the top 8.

 

[LoPo]

If we manage to fix our perimeter defense, move Mike to the bench, and get mike a Pick n Pop partner, then I could see us rising comfortably into the top 8.

Fixing the perimeter defense - we need one incredible addition or two solid additions

Move Mike to the bench - our FO is too proud to push this move

Get Mike a Pick-n-Pop partner - we can't do that AND add the perimeter defense you mentioned

The only solution would be adding a premier 3 and D wing with the MLE. As of right now, that doesn't exist.

 

[Ron Mexico]

For me, there’s very little difference in being ranked 13th to 9th (and I don’t think we should be ranked higher than 9th). While we narrowly missed a series victory against the Nuggets, I think we also exposed our fatal flaw: perimeter defense. As currently constructed, our ceiling is the 2nd round (unless we catch a lucky break with an opponent injury).

If we manage to fix our perimeter defense, move Mike to the bench, and get mike a Pick n Pop partner, then I could see us rising comfortably into the top 8.

Its impossible to outright rank teams in this. You have to have tiers. I would say we are in the same tier as Denver who is 4th. Its really a crap shoot with most of the teams. We are a not contenders without a real solid move or two, but we are just below that. I could justify bumping a lot of teams down or up.

We as Jazz fans see our biggest flaws and beat ourselves up too much for them and get our hopes too high. Everyone is real down on the team after the postseason. If we had won out that series and been competitive (which I think we would have been) in the next round people would be very high on this team and we were very very close to that.

 

[NAOS]

Its impossible to outright rank teams in this. You have to have tiers. I would say we are in the same tier as Denver who is 4th. Its really a crap shoot with most of the teams. We are a not contenders without a real solid move or two, but we are just below that. I could justify bumping a lot of teams down or up.

We as Jazz fans see our biggest flaws and beat ourselves up too much for them and get our hopes too high. Everyone is real down on the team after the postseason. If we had won out that series and been competitive (which I think we would have been) in the next round people would be very high on this team and we were very very close to that.

I’m not considering “people” and “their reactions or overreactions”. I’d defend the idea that, outside of all that noise of public reaction, the jazz exposed a fundamental flaw that will keep them out of the higher tiers. Denver may be too high on this list, but their offense has put them into the higher tier; and they have young and improving players filling out a depth that goes considerably beyond ours at the moment.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I give zero effs about preseason rankings

 

[Ron Mexico]

I’m not considering “people” and “their reactions or overreactions”. I’d defend the idea that, outside of all that noise of public reaction, the jazz exposed a fundamental flaw that will keep them out of the higher tiers. Denver may be too high on this list, but their offense has put them into the higher tier; and they have young and improving players filling out a depth that goes considerably beyond ours at the moment.

I know that is how you feel. I dont see it as dire as you. By far our biggest weakness was our depth. Replacing that goes a long long way. A solid veteran 3/4 and a Center would have been huge for us. We were also missing our 2nd best offensive player. We were also a very good offense, in the regular season just about the same as the nuggets. In the playoffs we were by far the best offense.

 

[NAOS]

I know that is how you feel. I dont see it as dire as you. By far our biggest weakness was our depth. Replacing that goes a long long way. A solid veteran 3/4 and a Center would have been huge for us. We were also missing our 2nd best offensive player. We were also a very good offense, in the regular season just about the same as the nuggets. In the playoffs we were by far the best offense.

And yet, our defense kept us out of the next tier. If we don’t fix that, it’s clear where our ceiling resides. And there’ll be some hard choices when it comes to fixing that (moving Mike to the bench chief amongst them). It’s certain that getting Bojan back doesn’t address the defensive inadequacies.

Denver will also retain a higher rank because they have the pieces to make a major acquisition that addresses their holes. We certainly don’t have that capital, so...

 

[Ron Mexico]

And yet, our defense kept us out of the next tier. If we don’t fix that, it’s clear where our ceiling resides. And there’ll be some hard choices when it comes to fixing that (moving Mike to the bench chief amongst them). It’s certain that getting Bojan back doesn’t address the defensive inadequacies.

Denver will also retain a higher rank because they have the pieces to make a major acquisition that addresses their holes. We certainly don’t have that capital, so...

I dont see our defense as awful as you do. I think it can be fixed with a little better depth and role players. Along with Rudy staying involved. Get Favors back and another 3/4 who can defend well and I think our defense is right back there. Ideally you move Mike for a better fit player, I think he still has decent trade value.

Denver can make some moves and get better, they do have very tradeable pieces. I dont really like their top two players that much though. But they have great role players all around. I think Denver got hot shooting at the right time. They are a poor 3 point shooting team usually.

 

[NAOS]

I dont see our defense as awful as you do. I think it can be fixed with a little better depth and role players. Along with Rudy staying involved. Get Favors back and another 3/4 who can defend well and I think our defense is right back there. Ideally you move Mike for a better fit player, I think he still has decent trade value.

Denver can make some moves and get better, they do have very tradeable pieces. I dont really like their top two players that much though. But they have great role players all around. I think Denver got hot shooting at the right time. They are a poor 3 point shooting team usually.

The problem with Favors and this hypothetical 3/4 is that it will be very difficult for either of them to be on the floor down the stretch of close games. Who are they replacing in the lineup? Also, getting Favors and retaining JC leaves a mere pittance for this 3/4, so he won’t be at the talent level offensively to get major minutes.

Due to the pre-Xmas plans, I’d put the probability of a Conley trade at less than 5%.

 

[Ron Mexico]

The problem with Favors and this hypothetical 3/4 is that it will be very difficult for either of them to be on the floor down the stretch of close games. Who are they replacing in the lineup? Also, getting Favors and retaining JC leaves a mere pittance for this 3/4, so he won’t be at the talent level offensively to get major minutes.

Due to the pre-Xmas plans, I’d put the probability of a Conley trade at less than 5%.

I'm not that high on JC. He wasn't helpful in the playoffs and I don't think he's that helpful overall. I want to re-sign him but mostly as a trade chip later. Depends on the situation at the end of the game and how players are doing. Favors or some other defensive/rebounding 4/5 can replace anyone except Gobert on defensive only last possessions.

As far as Conley goes I have no idea what the front office thinks. I think he has decent trade value but that doesn't mean much. We're likely to get a better trade for him at the trade deadline as well.