A ho-hum start to the year and injuries to key players notwithstanding, the competition in the Western Conference has become every bit the gauntlet pundits predicted after an eventful offseason. Right now, Nos. 4 and 10 on the West table are separated by just 1½ games and, despite their own injuries, the Utah Jazz are right in the thick of things.
If they wish to remain there, they’ll need to put their best foot forward against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Although the Jazz have been one of the Association’s hottest teams, winning 11 of 14, they’ve managed to let a couple of games get away recently.