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The Utah Jazz regular season schedule has officially dropped (NBA commissioner Adam Silver is especially relieved to complete the schedule now that LeBron has made his free agency decision), which doesn't deliver any major surprises -- the number of games and matchups against specific teams are always determined by division and conference affiliation -- but does set the timeline for some of the most headline-worthy matchups of the year.
And wasting no time is the revenge battle with Walker Kessler and his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, which is set for October 25, just three games into the season and one game removed from the Jazz's home opener against the Pelicans on the 23rd. Utah's opening stretch is incredibly favorable, in fact, matching up against Memphis (twice) and New Orleans -- two likely lottery teams -- in the first four games of the year.
So that Los Angeles clash will draw plenty of attention from Utah, a team that will be sincerely playing to win for the first time in years.
Seeing Walker Kessler, the formerly longest-tenured Jazzman, suit up for a different team will be uncomfortable at first glance -- and not only because the Lakers uniform is notoriously unflattering when donned by caucasian hosts. He was a face of the franchise; Walker Kessler was the anchor of Utah's post-Gobert era, and he left with little fanfare.
One of the best rim-protecting centers in the game today, Kessler was a constant in trade rumors while the Jazz remained annual sellers at the trade deadline. Now that he's actually gone, Utah has a few question marks at the center position, but no uncertainties about their intentions for the upcoming season.
Los Angeles will be a playoff contender this season, making the third game of the year stand out from the early season pack. It's a test for the Jazz -- one that could set expectations for the team either good or bad moving forward.
Though I didn't feel this part of the schedule warranted an entire article, AJ Dybantsa's return to Utah should be a marquee game of the season.
Not only for his return to the Beehive State, having gained popularity and a local following with the BYU faithful, but his matchup against number-two pick Darryn Peterson, one of Dybantsa's primary competitors for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Dybantsa and the Wizards come to the Delta Center on Saturday, February 27.
Continue reading...
Utah Jazz Revenge Game vs Los Angeles, Walker Kessler
And wasting no time is the revenge battle with Walker Kessler and his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, which is set for October 25, just three games into the season and one game removed from the Jazz's home opener against the Pelicans on the 23rd. Utah's opening stretch is incredibly favorable, in fact, matching up against Memphis (twice) and New Orleans -- two likely lottery teams -- in the first four games of the year.
So that Los Angeles clash will draw plenty of attention from Utah, a team that will be sincerely playing to win for the first time in years.
Seeing Walker Kessler, the formerly longest-tenured Jazzman, suit up for a different team will be uncomfortable at first glance -- and not only because the Lakers uniform is notoriously unflattering when donned by caucasian hosts. He was a face of the franchise; Walker Kessler was the anchor of Utah's post-Gobert era, and he left with little fanfare.
One of the best rim-protecting centers in the game today, Kessler was a constant in trade rumors while the Jazz remained annual sellers at the trade deadline. Now that he's actually gone, Utah has a few question marks at the center position, but no uncertainties about their intentions for the upcoming season.
Los Angeles will be a playoff contender this season, making the third game of the year stand out from the early season pack. It's a test for the Jazz -- one that could set expectations for the team either good or bad moving forward.
AJ Dybantsa makes his Utah homecoming
Though I didn't feel this part of the schedule warranted an entire article, AJ Dybantsa's return to Utah should be a marquee game of the season.
Not only for his return to the Beehive State, having gained popularity and a local following with the BYU faithful, but his matchup against number-two pick Darryn Peterson, one of Dybantsa's primary competitors for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Dybantsa and the Wizards come to the Delta Center on Saturday, February 27.
Continue reading...
