The Worldwide Leader has spoken–the Utah Jazz will not return to the NBA Playoffs next season. A grim proclamation for fans expecting Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert to lead the team to the promised land in 2015-16, but one that ESPN sees as the likely outcome.
According to ESPN Forecast, the Jazz will finish the season with a 40-42 record. In the predicted standings, this good for ninth in the Western Conference behind Dirk Nowitzki and the 41-41 Dallas Mavericks and one spot above Jeff Hornacek‘s Phoenix Suns squad–
While some would call the prospect of missing the playoffs by one game following a meager two-game improvement for the Jazz an unlikely scenario, the ESPN Forecast panel has an impressive track record with prediction (just ask them).