Assuming the Warriors are the top team in the Western Conference, who is the second-best squad?
David Griffin, the former general manager of the Cavaliers, believes the answer is pretty simple.
"I think Utah is going to be very, very good," Griffin said Wednesday on KNBR 680." Utah, to me, is clearly the second-best team in the West. I don't particularly think it's even close, and the reason is because they've had all kinds of continuity.
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"Dante Exum is finally healthy now -- what he offers them in the way of versatility is critical, particuarly with the matchup with the Warriors. Quin Snyder would be a guy that I would pick to be Coach of the Year.
"When you look at how good they are defensively when they're healthy -- they can throw something unique and special at Golden State that nobody else can, and that's elite rim protection."
Some in the media have picked Utah to finish as high as third in the West, but I haven't seen anybody as bullish as Griffin (I picked the Jazz to come in fourth).
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The former GM definitely is correct about the continuity and elite rim protection (Rudy Gobert was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year last season). But the concern for the Jazz would be Gobert's ability to defend on the perimeter if the Warriors involve him in a plethora of ball screens with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson.
We all remember what happened in Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference semifinals:
And in Game 3:
But the Jazz definitely are a dangerous/legit team, and it will be tough for anybody to go into Utah and steal a win (the Warriors lost by 30 points and 40 points at Vivint Smart Home Arena last season).
We will find out if Golden State can accomplish just that Friday night ...
Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller