ESPN's Kevin Pelton looked at the projected win totals for NBA teams for the upcoming season using ESPN's real plus-minus, and the projection has the Utah Jazz making the playoffs.
The Jazz are looking at 44.7 wins and the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference according to the numbers, just narrowly ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans at 44.2 wins and the Portland Trail Blazers at 43.8 wins.
"After losing Gordon Hayward, the Jazz have gone further toward emphasizing defense," wrote Pelton. "In addition to trading for RPM favorite Ricky Rubio and drafting promising perimeter defender Donovan Mitchell, Utah added defensive-minded reserves Thabo Sefolosha and Ekpe Udoh.