Utah Jazz 2012-13 Schedule: Monthly Breakdown and W-L Predictions

A very strong 2011-12 campaign by the Utah Jazz and a brief but very unexpected trip to the postseason have given Utah fans cautious optimism that the post-Deron Williams rebuilding project was a brief one. 

The Moneyball-esque acquisitions of Mo Williams, Marvin Williams and Randy Foye should immediately solidify the Jazz's three-point shooting and perimeter defense; two of the team's major flaws last year.

The overachieving of the current roster combined with the three new faces in town have Jazz Nation giddy for the 2012-13 season to start, and the recent release of the 2012-13 schedule has only fanned the flames of excitement. 

If you're looking for a comprehensive, start-to-finish breakdown of Utah's schedule, highlighting the marquee matchups and a win-loss prediction for all 82 contests of the regular season, you've come to the right place. 

November Schedule

Wednesday, October 31 vs. Dallas Mavericks

Friday, November 2 at New Orleans Hornets

Saturday, November 3 at San Antonio Spurs

Monday, November 5 at Memphis Grizzlies

Wednesday, November 7 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Friday, November 9 at Denver Nuggets

Saturday, November 10 vs. Phoenix Suns

Monday, November 12 at Toronto Raptors

Wednesday, November 14 at Boston Celtics

Friday, November 16 at Philadelphia 76ers

Saturday, November 17 at Washington Wizards

Monday, November 19 vs. Houston Rockets

Friday, November 23 vs. Sacramento Kings

Saturday, November 24 at Sacramento Kings

Monday, November 26 vs. Denver Nuggets

Wednesday, November 28 at New Orleans Hornets

Friday, November 30 at Oklahoma City Thunder

Key October/November Games

Wednesday, October 31 vs. Dallas Mavericks

Utah's opening bout of the season will be significant for a number of reasons.  It will be the first litmus test of how well head coach Tyrone Corbin has integrated new faces Mo Williams, Marvin Williams and Randy Foye.  It will be a great opportunity to beat a playoff-caliber team on the second night of a back-to-back.

It will also be a rematch of Gordon Hayward and Delonte West.

Last season, Delonte West got a technical foul for inexplicably sticking his finger in Hayward's ear; a move that was seemingly unprovoked.  West will be sure to get an "ear full" from the vociferous Utah crowd.

Saturday, November 3 at San Antonio Spurs

Utah's first road game of the season will be against the perennial-powerhouse San Antonio Spurs. 

Utah has had miserable luck against San Antonio ever since the sun set on the Stockton and Malone era.  Just last season, Utah's lone win against the Spurs was with San Antonio's "big three" of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker sitting out. 

Will this new-look Jazz squad make a bold statement early in the season by downing the Spurs, or will they go back to being San Antonio's speed bag?

Wednesday, November 7 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Despite not being a division rival of the Jazz, the Lakers are arguably Utah's most hated rival as far as the fans are concerned.  While every hard-fought victory is appreciated, a triumph over the hated Lakers squad always tastes a little bit sweeter than the others.

Utah will look to continue their new-found momentum against the Lakers, drawing from the first road win against L.A. in several years in their last meeting.

Friday, November 23 vs. Sacramento

Jimmer comes back home!

While Jimmer Fredette's disappointing rookie campaign rubs quite a bit of the luster off this matchup, there will still undoubtedly be a strong contingent of Brigham Young University faithful in the stands of Energy Solutions Arena cheering vigorously for their beloved former Cougar, Fredette.

Utah will need to look past the circus that Fredette brings to town and take care of business at home against an inferior team. 

Friday, November 30 at Oklahoma City

Kevin Durant and company will undoubtedly begin the season with a monstrous chip on their collective shoulder due to losing to the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.  A team pre-loaded with that much talent is that much more dangerous with a healthy dose of angry motivation fueling them on.

Conversely, the underdog Jazz will have little to lose and huge gains to be made in this contest with the favorites to win the Northwest Division.  If Utah can score an early-season knockout of the Thunder on the road, it could set the tone for a regular-season rivalry that could be much closer than people anticipate.

October/November W-L Predictions: 9-8

Wins: Mavericks, Hornets, Suns, Raptors, 76ers, Rockets, Kings, Nuggets, Hornets

Losses: Spurs, Grizzlies, Lakers, Nuggets, Celtics, Wizards, Kings, Thunder 

Preview and Predictions for October/November

Best One-on-One Matchup of November

The Al Jefferson-Kevin Garnett rivalry dates back to Kevin Garnett’s arrival to the Celtics, which was facilitated by Boston’s willingness to deal Jefferson to Minnesota as the centerpiece of that deal.

In the last meeting between the two squads, things between Jefferson and Garnett were noticeably tense, and things got chippy on more than one occasion.

Jefferson and the Jazz will collide with Garnett and the Celtics on the second game of Utah’s four-game, east coast road trip. 

Utah’s Best-Case Scenario for October/November

With Derrick Favors continuing to assert himself as a disruptive and defensively dominant interior presence, and with the three newcomers to the Jazz fitting in seamlessly, Utah shockingly plants their flag on the summit of the Western Conference.

A balanced offensive attack, dramatically improved perimeter defense and hot three-point shooting help the Jazz to a red-hot 13-4 record, highlighted by huge wins against the Spurs and Thunder.

Utah’s Worst-Case Scenario for October/November

An early catastrophic frontcourt injury and the inability of the Jazz to play cohesively will lead them to a dismal 5-12 record at the end of November. 

Coach Tyrone Corbin’s headaches only increase as young wing players and newly acquired veterans squabble over minutes, causing discord among teammates and creating a rift in the locker room. 

December Schedule

Saturday, December 1 at Houston Rockets

Monday, December 3 vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Wednesday, December 5 vs. Orlando Magic

Friday, December 7 vs. Toronto Raptors

Sunday, December 9 at Los Angeles Lakers

Wednesday, December 12 vs. San Antonio Spurs

Friday, December 14 at Phoenix Suns

Saturday, December 15 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Tuesday, December 18 at Brooklyn Nets

Wednesday, December 19 at Indiana Pacers

Saturday, December 22 at Miami Heat

Sunday, December 23 at Orlando Magic

Wednesday, December 26 vs. Golden State Warriors

Friday, December 28 vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Sunday, December 30 at Los Angeles Clippers

Key December Games

Tuesday, December 18 at Brooklyn Nets

The showdown against the new-look Nets has several intriguing storylines.  First and foremost, Deron Williams faces off against his old team and will have a few new teammates in addition to the home crowd as weapons that he will wield against his former club.

Second, don't discount Derrick Favors' motivation to make his former club sorry they made his experience in New Jersey an unpleasant one by including his name in trade rumors since the moment he got there. 

Finally, the reloaded Nets should be a good indicator of how much progress the Jazz have made up to that point.

Wednesday, December 19 at Indiana Pacers

To me, the Pacers have always seemed to be the "Jazz of the East"—a relatively small market club that isn't an uber attractive free-agent landing spot, yet always manages to wring every ounce of potential, talent and production out of their players. 

This game will be Utah's second game of a back-to-back, and will be a very tough test of Utah's mental toughness and physical resilience.

Also of note, this will be a homecoming of sorts for former Butler standout, current Jazz wing and Starcraft enthusiast Gordon Hayward. 

Saturday, December 22 at Miami Heat

I expect the first contest against the Heat to be mentioned on every team's B/R preview.  It's a foregone conclusion that all other 29 NBA teams will have the date on which they square off against LeBron and company circled.

The Utah/Miami matchup will be an interesting basketball experiment.  Miami proved the "Stars & Scrubs" model of constructing an NBA roster is a feasible one by winning the 2012 NBA Finals.  Utah will counter with a much deeper and better balanced roster that lacks a true superstar.

Utah will have a marked advantage in the frontcourt considering they have one of the deepest pool of big men in the league, while that is perceived as Miami's Achilles' heel.  Miami will counter with two world-class wing players who are sure to give fits to Gordon Hayward, Marvin Williams and anyone else unlucky enough to draw Wade or James on defense.

Wednesday, December 26 vs. Golden State Warriors

Utah could've added another promising young athlete to their team if not for a coin flip.

Golden State tied with Toronto for the seventh-worst record in the NBA and had to have their pre-lottery draft positions determined by a coin flip.  Had Golden State lost that coin flip, their pick would've slipped to eighth and gone to the Jazz, barring Golden State winning a top-three selection.

Utah will have that additional motivation on their side when the Warriors come to town.  Golden State may have the biggest disparity between their floor and ceiling due to so much of their success depending on players with histories of injury.

If Golden State can keep Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry healthy, they may find their way into the playoffs in 2013. 

Utah will try to make sure it's not at their expense. 

Sunday, December 30 at Los Angeles Clippers

Utah's last game of 2012 will be the back end of a home-and-home series with the Clippers.  With so many non-playoff teams in the West making apparent improvements in the offseason, the fight amongst last year's playoff teams to not be the odd team out will be even more intense than usual.

This will also be an opportunity for former Clipper Mo Williams—who felt unfairly pushed out of the rotation by the acquisitions of Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups, as well as quality play from Eric Bledsoe—to stick it to his old team and prove they made a big mistake in unceremoniously bumping him down the depth chart. 

December W-L Prediction: 9-6 (18-14)

Wins: Rockets, Magic, Raptors, Suns, Grizzlies, Nets, Magic, Warriors, Clippers

Losses: Clippers, Lakers, Spurs, Pacers, Heat, Clippers

Preview and Predictions for December

Best One-on-One Matchup of December

To say things with Dwight Howard and the Magic are uncertain is an understatement.  If Dwight still finds himself on the Magic when the Jazz come to town, then Jazz fans will undoubtedly be excited to see if Derrick Favors can hold his own against Howard; a player Favors is being compared to with increasing regularity.

Utah's Best-Case Scenario for December

The Jazz respond well to a December schedule filled with tough road games.  Improving team chemistry and the emergence of Derrick Favors as one of the best young big men in the league carry the Jazz to an 11-4 December record, including a mammoth win against the defending champion Heat. 

Utah's Worst-Case Scenario for December

The tough schedule and lack of experience combine to make Utah's December one they'd like to forget.  A lack of chemistry and the inability to notch a win over any favored teams causes Utah to limp to 2013 with a 5-10 December mark. 

January Schedule

Wednesday, January 2 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Friday, January 4 at Phoenix Suns

Saturday, January 5 at Denver Nuggets

Monday, January 7 vs. Dallas Mavericks

Wednesday, January 9 at Charlotte Bobcats

Friday, January 11 at Atlanta Hawks

Saturday, January 12 at Detroit Pistons

Monday, January 14 vs. Miami Heat

Saturday, January 19 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Wednesday, January 23 vs. Washington Wizards

Friday, January 25 at Los Angeles Lakers

Saturday, January 26 vs. Indiana Pacers

Monday, January 28 vs. Houston Rockets

Wednesday, January 30 vs. New Orleans Hornets

January Key Games

Wednesday, January 2 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Former longtime Jazz man Andrei Kirilenko will face off against the team he played 10 years for after one year of playing overseas for CSKA Moscow. 

Kirilenko is one of several new faces that will be donning a Timberwolves jersey for the first time this year.  Minnesota also has signed or traded for Chase Budinger, Brandon Roy and international phenom Alexey Shved. 

It appears Timberwolves GM David Kahn took Kevin Love’s comments about being tired of losing seriously.  Kahn was very aggressive in acquiring three players whose upsides are equaled by varied levels of uncertainty. 

Shved has never played in the NBA, Kirilenko hasn’t played in an NBA game since the 2010-11 season and Brandon Roy is attempting to come back after retiring for a year due to a degenerative knee condition.

There will only be room for either the Jazz or the Timberwolves to be the surprise team of the Northwest Division, and their first tangle will shed some light on which team is better

Saturday, January 5 at Denver Nuggets

By early January, a general playoff picture should be beginning to take shape.  There will
certainly be plenty of time after that for teams to get hot and rattle off double-digit winning streaks, but the majority of the playoff picture should become clear. 

With the cream of the NBA rising to the top, divisional games become that much more important.

Utah will have their hands full with the balanced attack of the Nuggets.  If Utah can grab a win in the Pepsi Center, it could make a huge difference later in the season.  

Monday, January 14 vs. Miami Heat

Getting the champs on your home floor will make an already raucous Jazz home crowd even more of a factor than they already are. 

If Utah can somehow steal the first matchup in Miami, the opportunity to sweep the season series with the Heat at home will certainly create a playoff atmosphere in the middle of the season.

Friday, January 25 at Los Angeles Lakers

The third and final matchup between the Lakers and the Jazz could very well be Utah’s last chance to notch a win over the big-city bullies. 

Beating L.A. in the Staples Center requires a herculean effort for any time, but the Jazz may be able to catch the Lakers in a midseason lull; something the Lakers seem to slip into like clockwork every year.

Monday, January 28 vs. Houston Rockets

This matchup is notable because Jazz fans, coaches and players have no idea what the Rockets will look like at this point in the season.  They could stand pat and have the same roster makeup as they currently do, in which case the Jazz should be favored against a much younger and more inexperienced squad.

However, it’s no secret that Rockets GM Daryl Morey covets Dwight Howard more than Gollum wanted that troublesome ring.  Will Morey be able to acquire his “precious” by late January?  If so, the acquisition would immediately add Houston to the list of potential playoff contenders in the wild, wild west. 

January W-L Prediction: 10-4 (28-18)

January Wins: Timberwolves, Suns, Nuggets, Bobcats, Pistons, Cavaliers,
Wizards, Lakers, Rockets, Hornets

January Losses: Mavericks, Hawks, Heat, Pacers

Preview and Predictions for January

Best One-on-One Matchup of January

No one will ever say Gordon Hayward is on the same level as Kobe Bryant.  Despite the large chasm in terms of international recognition and legacy, Hayward proved to be one of Utah's more successful defenders when trying to stop Bryant and was a big reason for Kobe's shooting woes in Utah's victory over the Lakers on March 18, 2012. 

Utah's Best-Case Scenario for January

Utah cruises to a sizzling 14-2 record in January, assisted by a cupcake schedule and unusually good health.  Utah's depth and balance play a key factor in a huge win over Kobe and the Lakers.

Utah's Worst-Case Scenario for January

Utah lets the opportunity to climb back up the rankings slip by them and only manages to get out of January with a 8-8 record despite a very favorable schedule. 

February Schedule

Friday, February 1 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Saturday, February 2 at Portland Trail Blazers

Monday, February 4 vs. Sacramento Kings

Wednesday, February 6 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Friday, February 8 vs. Chicago Bulls

Saturday, February 9 at Sacramento Kings

Tuesday, February 12 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Wednesday, February 13 at Minnesota Timberwolves

Tuesday, February 19 vs. Golden State Warriors

Saturday, February 23 at Los Angeles Clippers

Monday, February 25 vs. Boston Celtics

Wednesday, February 27 vs. Atlanta Hawks

February Key Games

Friday, February 1 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Utah’s first matchup against division rival Portland comes almost halfway into the season.  The late start to the Utah-Portland season series necessitates the Jazz and the Blazers seeing a whole lot of each other late in the season.

Their February 1 bout will be the first game in a back-to-back, home-and-home series between the Jazz and the Blazers.  A win to kick off the season series will go a long way in determining how the rest of the contests between the rival squads will go. 

The contest will feature a sizeable battle on the block, as LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Jefferson
will face off.  

Friday, February 8 vs. Chicago Bulls

Though the departures of Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver will spell the end of Chicago being referred to as “Utah Jazz East,” the early February showdown between the two teams will still be of note.

This could be a trap game of sorts for Utah, as Chicago could have the record of a fringe playoff team at best but boast one of the best point guards in the league, as Derrick Rose could be back from injury at that point. 

Utah faces the high-risk, low-reward possibility of tangling with a team much better than their record indicates. 

Tuesday, February 12 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The gravity of this game needs little explanation.  Utah will be battling midseason fatigue and
yearning for the respite the All-Star break will provide when the defending Western Conference champs come to town. 

Wednesday, February 13 at Minnesota Timberwolves

Utah could be running on fumes by the time this game rolls around.

This game, the second of a back-to-back, will put Utah’s depth and conditioning to the test.  The second look at Minnesota’s completely reformed roster will be Utah’s last contest before the All-Star break, which will net Utah five glorious days of rest. 
 

Monday, February 25 vs. Boston Celtics

In Utah’s second and final contest against the Boston Celtics, Utah could be catching the aging and somewhat thin C’s at just the right time. 

Then again, if history repeats itself and Boston rounds into championship-contending form toward the end of the season, Utah could be competing against Boston right as they’re turning on the jets.

In either case, it’s sure to be a physical battle, with Kevin Garnett and Al Jefferson renewing their heated rivalry. 

Projected February W-L Record: 7-5 (35-23)

Wins: Trail Blazers, Kings, Bucks, Kings, Warriors, Celtics, Hawks

Losses: Trail Blazers, Bulls, Thunder, Timberwolves, Clippers

Preview and Predictions for February

Best One-on-One Matchup for February

Though they’re at vastly different points in their career, Mo Williams and Brandon Jennings have several similarities.  Both are atypical point guards who can get very hot very quickly, and both can score in bunches.

Sure, it’s not a red-hot rivalry with a storied past, but the Mo Williams-Brandon Jennings matchup that will take place on February 6 will be quite interesting to see. 

Utah's Best-Case Scenario for February

Utah continues to roll behind young stars Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, complemented by frontcourt vets Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap.  Utah wraps up a moderately difficult February at 10-2. 

Utah's Worst-Case Scenario for February

The wheels completely come off the Utah Jazz Express.  Tempers flare and fingers are pointed as the team limps into March after a dismal 3-9 showing in February. 

March Schedule

Friday, March 1 vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Monday, March 4 at Milwaukee Bucks

Wednesday, March 6 at Cleveland Cavaliers

Friday, March 8 at Chicago Bulls

Saturday, March 9 at New York Knicks

Monday, March 11 vs. Detroit Pistons

Wednesday, March 13 at Oklahoma City Thunder

Saturday, March 16 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Monday, March 18 vs. New York Knicks

Wednesday, March 20 at Houston Rockets

Friday, March 22 at San Antonio Spurs

Sunday, March 24 at Dallas Mavericks

Monday, March 25 vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Wednesday, March 27 vs. Phoenix Suns

Friday, March 29 at Portland Trail Blazers

Saturday, March 30 vs. Brooklyn Nets

March Key Games

Saturday, March 9 at New York Knicks

The first of two Jazz-Knicks slugfests in March will be on the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden.  The contest will undoubtedly be hard-fought, as both teams should find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt, barring injury.

This is a matchup similar to Jazz-Heat, in that it will be a well-balanced team lacking a superstar against a team with two superstars and a handful of other guys. 

Saturday, March 16 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Utah and Memphis always seem to be competitive, but this contest should have the intensity turned up a few notches.

Two tremendously deep and talented frontcourts will do battle down low for big man supremacy.  Gasol, Randolph and Speights vs. Jefferson, Millsap and Favors could end up all cancelling each other out.  In that case, the battle may be won on the wings. 

Sunday, March 24 at Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks don’t need any help being a tough draw for Utah, but they’ll get some assistance from Utah’s schedule.

This contest will be the third in a three-game Texas road trip.  As all three Texas teams could be playoff contenders, Utah will certainly come into this one battered, bruised and ready to get out of the Lone Star State and back to the Beehive State. 

Saturday, March 30 vs. Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams' “homecoming” of sorts may actually be overshadowed by the playoff implications of this game, as both teams should be in the hunt for a spot. 

Deron Williams’ return to his former stomping grounds will only further fuel his desire to beat his old team. 

March Projected W-L: 10-6 (45-29)

March Wins: Bobcats, Bucks, Bulls, Pistons, Thunder, Knicks, 76ers, Suns, Trail Blazers, Nets

March Losses: Cavaliers, Knicks, Grizzlies, Rockets, Spurs, Mavericks

Preview and Predictions for March

Best One-on-One Matchup for March

Not since the days of Andrei Kirilenko have the Jazz had someone long and athletic enough to give scoring forwards fits. 

In March, new Jazz acquisition Marvin Williams will see Carmelo Anthony twice.  If Williams can contain Anthony and hold him to a poor shooting percentage, that alone may be worth the price of his contract.

Utah's Best-Case Scenario for March

The Jazz inch closer and closer to locking up a playoff spot, and they continue their excellent yet consistent play.  New acquisitions Marvin Williams and Randy Foye lead Utah to a solid 12-4 record in March thanks to some hot shooting.

Utah's Worst-Case Scenario for March

Playoff hopes have long since been dashed, and frustrated Jazz fans watch sulkily as Utah trudges through March, picking up a paltry five wins and suffering 11 losses. 

April Schedule

Monday, April 1 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Wednesday, April 3 vs. Denver Nuggets

Friday, April 5 vs. New Orleans Hornets

Sunday, April 7 at Golden State Warriors

Tuesday, April 9 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Friday, April 12 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Monday, April 15 at Minnesota Timberwolves

Wednesday, April 17 at Memphis Grizzlies

April Key Games

Tuesday, April 9 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Since OKC missing the playoffs is completely out of the question, Utah will be hoping that OKC will have solidified their playoff seeding by this point, rendering the game pointless for OKC. 

They will hope this because there will be a great chance Utah hasn’t even clinched a playoff berth by this point, let alone a definite seeding. 

A star-less Thunder squad will be a sight for sore Utah eyes. 
 

Wednesday, April 17 at Memphis Grizzlies

This is it.  This is the very last regular-season game for the 2012-13 Utah Jazz.  Chances are high that something will be riding on this game.  With all the roster changes that have been made, logic dictates there will be a massive logjam after the top four or five teams in the West. 

Memphis and Utah might be jockeying for higher seeding, or they may be fighting tooth and nail for one final playoff spot.  Either way, they’ll almost certainly be fighting for something, and what a season finale that will be!

April W-L Prediction: 5-3 (50-32)

April Wins: Trail Blazers, Warriors, Thunder, Timberwolves, Grizzlies

April Losses: Nuggets, Hornets, Timberwolves

Final Regular-Season Prediction

If my calculations are correct, I've predicted the Jazz will finish with a record of 50-32.  That record should get them a top-four seed in the Western Conference. 

Utah would be thrilled with a 50-32 mark, and while many may think that's an awfully optimistic prognostication, the Jazz have the talent to do it if they can keep their primary pieces intact and can seamlessly incorporate their new pieces. 

My final bold prediction is that Utah continues to improve from last year and wins a first-round playoff series against division rival Denver, only to be bounced out of the playoffs in a grueling seven-game series by the Los Angeles Lakers.