Utah Jazz 2012 NBA Preview:
It’s a new day in Salt Lake City, but don’t call the loss of Deron Williams last year to the Nets a cause for rebuilding for the Jazz. That’s because the Jazz can contend now with one of the strongest front court cores in the league between big men Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap, Mehmet Okur and last year’s first round pick Enes Kanter. As for the guard play, the Jazz did receive former All-Star Devin Harris in the trade for Williams, and his leadership and defensive skills are what the Jazz are looking for most. There are a lot of new and moving parts in Utah, but with some time under their belt together, the Jazz could be the team to look out for in 2011-12.
Recommended Jazz Games
Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings (January 28) – Jimmer Fredette returns to Salt Lake City with Kings.
Jazz vs. Miami Heat (March 2) – Bosh, James & Wade are bigger than the circus when they come to town.
UTAH JAZZ FRANCHISE FACTS:
Founded: 1974
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Stadium: EnergySolutions Arena
Conference: Western Conference
Division: Northwest Division
Mascot: Bear
Dancers: Jazz Dancers
Notable Players: John Stockton, Karl Malone
Utah Jazz Championship Titles: 0
Utah Jazz Conference Titles: 2
See Also:
Utah Jazz Playoff tickets
Utah Jazz Season Preview History
UTAH JAZZ EXPERIENCE:
The Jazz have have made great strides in the National Basketball Association ever since their relocation in Utah in 1979. The Jazz played in New Orleans from 1974-79, where they unfortunately experienced difficulty finding a viable venue at which to play their games and a less-than receptive fan base. This eventually led the NBA to relocate the franchise to Utah, where it has since then made quite an impression on local basketball enthusiasts.
Upon moving to Utah in 1979, the Jazz immediately started to show signs of improvement. Sluggish economic conditions at the time hurt the franchise financially, but the team appeared to have high hopes despite finishing their inaugural season with a losing record. In the 1980 NBA Draft, the Jazz were given the second pick, which gave them the opportunity to begin rebuilding their roster.
Utah began to work out its monetary difficulties as the 80s drew to a close, and the team began to show depth and talent as well. The team was able to make it to the playoffs in the 1983-84 season and they nabbed the division title. In 1985, Utah made one of the best draft picks in franchise history – Karl Malone. The legend quickly became a pivotal contributor on the court and joined forces with John Stockton, who was drafted a year before. By the end of the decade, the Jazz had proven that they were a notable contender in the NBA.
Still without a championship, the Jazz continued to make trades and use their draft picks to better their team into the 90s. Utah made two trips to the NBA Finals: once in 1997, then again in 1998. Although the team showed great promise, the Jazz failed to bring home the title to Utah. They also lost both championships to the Chicago Bulls, which at the time was led by the iconic Michael Jordan.
Despite the losses in the Finals late in the decade, the Jazz continued to show signs of life heading into the new millennium. Between 2007 and 2010, Utah gained playoff berths each year, proving that the team still has a strong desire to bring a championship home to Utah.
Utah Jazz Ticket Information:
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