Predictions: Win total, Hardy, hardware & more

October 23rd, 2023 | by Steve Godfrey

Steve has predictions — including one about Will Hardy’s frustration level. (Rick Egan, The Salt Lake Tribune)

The Jazz’s 2023-24 season begins in a little over 48 hours. Here are three big predictions for the season, plus a few more rapid fire ones. 

The Jazz will exceed 34.5 wins

According to Vegas Bets and DraftKings, the odds are set at 34.5 at -140 (bet $140 on the over, win $100). 

With a fast start, last season’s new-look Jazz surged forward with a 10-2 record that eventually slowed down for the team to finish with 37 wins. 

Why then would year two of that squad, under year two of coach Will Hardy, with year two of Lauri Markkanen as an All-Star and year two of Walker Kessler lead the Jazz to dip below that mark, let alone 34 wins? 

The Jazz have six quality guards to start or bring off the bench, plus added John Collins this off-season as a key addition that makes their frontcourt pretty tough. Yes, they play in the West, with at least 12 teams talking themselves into the playoffs conversation, but I can’t see the Jazz’s depth and work ethic intentionally tanking games and losing out on a play-in spot. 

In addition, one of the main media day blurbs to pop out was from Markkanen who said the focus is playoffs. It’s the next step. It’s a personal goal. It’s the team goal. The franchise isn’t in win-or-else mode quite yet, but they must feel pressured and be held accountable to show growth. Not only to appease their new guy but also the front office and fanbase, too. Therefore, 34 wins don’t equate to a playoff berth, so I have to believe the squad will be fighting for more and exceed that mark. 

Will Hardy and Technical Fouls

It was Dec. 6 and the Jazz were home playing the Portland Trail Blazers. Jordan Clarkson went up hard in attack of the rim, was hit and hacked as he collided with two Blazers, and then fell hard onto his back as the game continued and no foul call occurred. In defense of his flame-throwing guard, Hardy called a time-out and lashed out at referee Tony Brothers.

Merry Christmas, coach: that’s when Hardy got his first technical of his career. 

While I am not sure how many technical fouls Hardy ended the season with, here’s my gusty prediction: Mr. Nice Guy will get one before Dec. 6. Why? I’m feeling a Thanksgiving hangover as the Jazz will take on Phoenix, Phoenix, Lakers, and then back-to-back battles with the Pelicans in late November amidst the leftover turkey sandwiches for days (especially as some of these games will be the first of the new In-Season Tournament).

For more on Hardy, check out my earlier piece on what we can look for in year two, while also checking in on the trend of hiring new, young names to head coaching gigs. 

End-of-Season Awards

Keyonte George wants Rookie of the Year, but I’m not sure if he’s ever met Victor Wembanyama. There’s some buzz for John Collins to give the Jazz back-to-back Most Improved Player hardware, but I’m not ready to hop on that bet yet. What I want to do is claim this as the year Markkanen gets on an All-NBA team. Last year the big man was just outside of the top 15 by two spots. If the Jazz are to take a leap, it will be because the Finnisher continues his ascent into stardom, something that is reasonable to expect if he stays healthy and remains confident.  

Rapid Fire: Bullet Point Style

  • The Jazz are +6,000 to win the Northwest Division, +25,000 to win the Western Conference, and +50,000 to win the NBA Championship. I will give you some free financial advice: don’t place those bets; they are not happening. 
  • Clarkson scored 45 points, his career high, two seasons ago after he went 7-13 from deep against the Sacramento Kings. Last year, he never eclipsed 40, as the season high was a 38-point performance against the 76ers, when he interestingly went 3-12 from deep. I’m willing to bet big this year, he tops the half-dollar and gets a 50-nugget game. 
  • Picking for JC again, he needs just 43 more threes made to pass up Gordon Hayward for 4th on the all-time leaderboard. Let’s say he does so in 50 games, that would put him at 300 games in a Jazz jersey while it took Hayward 516 to get to his spot on the board. 
  • If I were to ask you who Butch van Breda Kolff was, you might guess a historic character from The Sound of Music. Incorrectly, of course, you would never begin to remember he was the coach of the Jazz from 1975-1977. If Hardy simply doubles up from last year’s total and adds 37 more wins to his resume, he would tie Butch and sit outside the top five of career wins as head coach of the Jazz franchise. A little more far-fetched and 50 wins this season would help Hardy crack the top five and replace the legend Elgin Baylor with (only) Jerry Sloan, Quin Snyder, Frank Layden and Ty Corbin to go. 
  • Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Kris Dunn will each take a turn as starting point guard this season. In fact, let’s get crazy: why not say that George and Clarkson will as well?

Happy Jazz week, my friends. Here’s to the 2023-2024 season! 

Comments are closed.

© 2024 Salt City Hoops. All Rights Reserved.