With the inevitable suspensions coming to Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith and Nene Hillario, the Jazz can pretty much expect to win the Northwest division of the NBA. Not that the Jazz needed this to accomplish the victory, they currently have a four game lead against their division rival. But it is significant.

The way the rules are currently constituted, division leaders are guaranteed to be seeded no lower than forth when playoff time rolls around. Come playoff time, that could mean the difference between playing the Spurs/Mavs/Suns or the Lakers/Rockets/Warriors. This is a big development.

I have discussed it before, but the Jazz are only 1.5 games from being the fifth seed instead of the first. Being virtually assured at worst to have the forth seed in the West is great news for Jazz fans.