Jazz & Lakers rivalry is back! Who ends up on top?

[Lakers_Slapper]

I've been living in Vegas for almost 10 years and a Jazz fan for 30 years. Yesterday I went to put in a sports bet and Vegas lines had Utah Jazz with a projected win total of 49 games and L.A. Lakers at 48.5. Last year the Jazz won 48 and lost 34 games.
Is it just me or does it seem that the Jazz are going to win 50-55 games this year and leave L.A. in the rear view mirrors? I can see L.A. around 47-48, but I don't think they'll be only breaths away from the Jazz.
I am excited to see this old-school rivalry back in action, but I wanted to get everyone's take on the Jazz and Lakers win comparison.

 

[Stoked]

Jazz will fight for #2. Lakers are fighting for 6-8.

It’s not a rivalry yet

 

[colton]

My bold prediction: Jazz win 54 and Lakers miss the playoffs.

 

[MVP]

Jazz will end up anywhere between 2 and 4. Lakers anywhere between 6-11. No rivalry. And not in any future as Lebron is not getting younger.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

We will win 55-60 at least. It’s not close to a rivalry when was the last time LBJ beat the jazz? We own him!!

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

55-60 assuming we are mostly healthy to key players. Can’t go without Gobert for a third of a season. It’s criminal how much worse we are with him out of the lineup

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

If Exum breaks out as a stabilizer in the second unit and Crowder goes back to being Boston Crowder with his shot, how good are we?

 

[Rgiss]

Jazz will end up anywhere between 2 and 4. Lakers anywhere between 6-11. No rivalry. And not in any future as Lebron is not getting younger.

We could find a bit of a rivalry if we played them in the playoffs, though.

 

[MVP]

We could find a bit of a rivalry if we played them in the playoffs, though.

2 seed vs 7th? We would kill them in 5 games the most.

 

[MVP]

If Exum breaks out as a stabilizer in the second unit and Crowder goes back to being Boston Crowder with his shot, how good are we?

Jazz success does not depend on Exum breaking out or Crowder. If Rudy stays healthy, one more year of experience for Mitchell and one more year for Rubio within the system and we are easily second seed. That's what were were in last two month last season, Exum or not.

 

[Rgiss]

2 seed vs 7th? We would kill them in 5 games the most.

yeah, or 3rd vs 6th. I'd still really enjoy the matchup

 

[MVP]

yeah, or 3rd vs 6th. I'd still really enjoy the matchup

No kidding. The best Jazz playoff wins for me always was 4-1 and 4-0 beat down they inflicted on Shaq and Lakers in 1997 and 1998.