Record for the 2021-22 NBA Season

With the release of the NBA schedule for the 2021-22 season, I’m going to give my thoughts on the Jazz’s schedule and my predictions for the year. First off having 26 nationally televised games this year is a step in the right direction for the rest of the country to see the talent that Utah has especially after having the best record in NBA last season. Also, something to see in development through the year is how the loss of names such as Ersan Ilyasova and Georges Niang and the addition of Hassan Whiteside and Rudy Gay. Though I’m saddened to lose these two, the organization knows what is right for the team and with the additions that have been made from the draft, free agency, and summer league, we’re in for a treat this season. With that being said, I believe the Jazz will match or exceed past their win total last season. After a season of unknowns and injuries near the end of the season stretching through the post-season, 52 games should be obtainable now that we’re going back to an 82-game format rather than the 72-game format the previous season. Though that may be a bold statement with some of the moves that had been made through the NBA this offseason, but here is my analysis below for the season (I will be listing wins and loses rather than a score since rosters are not finalized):

Highlight = Home Blank = Away

10/20 Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)

10/22 Sacramento Kings (2-0)

10/26 Denver Nuggets (TNT) (3-0)

10/28 Houston Rockets (4-0)

10/30 Chicago Bulls (4-1)

10/31 Milwaukee Bucks (NBATV) (4-2)

11/2 Sacramento Kings (5-2)

11/4 Atlanta Hawks (6-2)

11/6 Miami Heat (NBATV) (6-3)

11/7 Orlando Magic (7-3)

11/9 Atlanta Hawks (8-3)

Lonzo Ball, new acquisition for the Chicago Bulls.

11/11 Indiana Pacers (9-3)

11/13 Miami Heat (NBATV) (10-3)

11/16 Philadelphia 76ers (TNT) (10-4)

11/18 Toronto Raptors (11-4)

11/20 Sacramento Kings (12-4)

11/22 Memphis Grizzlies (13-4)

11/24 Oklahoma City Thunder (14-4)

11/26 New Orleans Pelicans (14-5)

11/27 New Orleans Pelicans (15-5)

11/29 Portland Trail Blazers (15-6)

12/3 Boston Celtics (16-6)

12/5 Cleveland Cavaliers (17-6)

12/8 Minnesota Timberwolves (18-6)

12/9 Philadelphia 76ers (NBATV) (18-7)

12/11 Washington Wizards (19-7)

12/15 Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN) (19-8)

12/17 San Antonio Spurs (20-8)

12/18 Washington Wizards (21-8)

12/20 Charlotte Hornets (22-8)

Weber State alum. Damian Lillard.

12/23 Minnesota Timberwolves (23-8)

12/25 Dallas Mavericks (ESPN) (24-8)

12/27 San Antonio Spurs (25-8)

12/29 Portland Trail Blazers (25-9)

12/31 Minnesota Timberwolves (26-9)

1/1 Golden State Warriors (NBATV) (26-10)

1/3 New Orleans Pelicans (27-10)

1/5 Denver Nuggets (ESPN) (28-10)

1/7 Toronto Raptors (29-10)

1/8 Indiana Pacers (30-10)

1/10 Detroit Pistons (31-10)

1/12 Cleveland Cavaliers (32-10)

1/16 Denver Nuggets (32-11)

1/17 Los Angeles Lakers (NBATV) (32-12)

1/19 Houston Rockets (33-12)

1/21 Detroit Pistons (34-12)

1/23 Golden State Warriors (34-13)

1/24 Phoenix Suns (NBATV) (34-14)

1/26 Phoenix Suns (ESPN) (35-14)

1/28 Memphis Grizzlies (36-14)

1/30 Minnesota Timberwolves (37-14)

LeBron shooting over new Jazz big man, Rudy Gay.

2/2 Denver Nuggets (ESPN) (38-14)

2/4 Brooklyn Nets (38-15)

2/7 New York Knicks (39-15)

2/9 Golden State Warriors (ESPN) (39-16)

2/11 Orlando Magic (40-16)

2/14 Houston Rockets (41-16)

2/16 Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN) (41-17)

2/25 Dallas Mavericks (41-18)

2/27 Phoenix Suns (ABC) (41-19)

3/2 Houston Rockets (42-19)

3/4 New Orleans Pelicans (43-19)

3/6 Oklahoma City Thunder (44-19)

3/7 Dallas Mavericks (NBATV) (44-20)

3/9 Portland Trail Blazers (ESPN) (45-20)

3/11 San Antonio Spurs (46-20)

3/12 Sacramento Kings (47-20)

3/14 Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN) (47-21)

Luka Doncic, arguably the next superstar of the NBA.

3/16 Chicago Bulls (48-21)

3/18 Los Angeles Clippers (49-21)

3/20 New York Knicks (50-21)

3/21 Brooklyn Nets (NBATV) (50-22)

3/23 Boston Celtics (50-23)

3/25 Charlotte Hornets (51-23)

3/27 Dallas Mavericks (NBATV) (51-24)

3/29 Los Angeles Clippers (TNT) (52-24)

3/31 Los Angeles Lakers (TNT) (53-24)

4/2 Golden State Warriors (53-25)

4/5 Memphis Grizzlies (54-25)

4/6 Oklahoma City Thunder (55-25)

4/8 Phoenix Suns (NBATV) (56-25)

Devin Booker, determined to be back in the Finals.

4/10 Portland Trail Blazers (57-25)

Home Record: (31-11) Away Record: (26-14)

From their success from the previous season and retaining everyone from the starting five, I believe that the Jazz will be able to make another run this season and try to progress further into the playoffs. Donovan Mitchell is determined to bring a championship to Utah and was a big factor when he signed his maximum extension last offseason along with Rudy Gobert. After seeing a small market team in the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Finals over another hot small market team in the Phoenix Suns, I can only imagine the fire in Donovan’s eyes knowing that small markets are making a statement in the NBA.