2013 Utah Jazz schedule: Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors face old mentors

Dec. 30 vs. Bobcats -- Jefferson returns to his old stomping grounds as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats. Jefferson left via free agency after the Jazz failed to trade him last season and then made little effort to re-sign him to a hefty new contract this summer. The matchup also offers the Jazz a chance to dictate their lottery position against a team that itself could struggle mightily in 2013-14.

March 10 vs. Hawks -- Jefferson’s old frontcourt mate, Paul Millsap, also left Utah in the offseason. Favors and Kanter have moved into bigger starting roles since Jefferson and Millsap booked it for the Eastern Conference, and each should provide individual intrigue playing against their former mentors.

There aren’t many parts of the season for the Jazz to be cruising along. In the first 19 games of the season, the Jazz play the Warriors, Bulls, Pelicans, Rockets and Thunder twice each. They additionally have games against the Nets, Spurs, Nuggets and Raptors. The only teams of comparable talent are against the Celtics and the Suns, the latter of whom see Utah three times in the first month of the year.

The end of March seems difficult as well, with Utah taking on the Clippers, Spurs and Rockets consecutively beginning on March 14. The next four games sandwich Detroit and Orlando between two meetings with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Relatively to the rest of the schedule, January isn’t so tough on the Jazz. Aside from games against the Thunder, Warriors and Spurs, the month includes games against lower-tier playoff contenders in the Nuggets, Cavs, Pistons, Lakers, Bucks, Wizards and two games against the T-Wolves. There is also a game against the Kings in that 12-game stretch.

Back-to-backs: 21

Season opener: Oct. 30 at home vs. Thunder

Longest road trip: Five games (Dec. 16-23, March 2-8)

Longest homestand: Four games (Jan. 21-31)