As awful as Booner is these days, he did nail it when he said these are the games the Jazz must win to be in the playoff race. The Jazz can't afford to lose to bottom feeders from the Eastern Conference. Especially since the schedule is so hard the first few months of the season, the Jazz need every win they can get.
It's amazing to see the product of a legit NBA head coach instilling excellent defensive principles and the team buying in. There is definitely something special brewing because the Jazz still aren't quite clicking offensively. There have been spurts the last two games, but once Hayward gets on track I think the Jazz can start to roll.
As it stands now, the Pelicans look awful and in desperate need of Tyreke Evans to return.
I didn't anticipate Minnesota being in the hunt for the final couple playoff spots, but Rubio looks transformed and excellent - and Towns is already a factor. I'm almost ready to say they will also be in the mix with the Jazz, Suns, Mavs, Pelicans and (maybe) the Blazers.
