Utah Jazz Have Back-To-Back Big Opportunities
The Utah Jazz have two key match-ups against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference in the space of three days. The results of these two games could have an enormous impact on the outcome of the season.
In under an hour, the Utah Jazz will take on the Portland Trailblazers who currently reside in seventh place in the Western Conference. Two days later, they’ll face off against the Houston Rockets, who hold the eighth spot. To say these two games are pretty important would be an enormous understatement.
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These are the type of games that could be season-defining.
The sixth through ninth seeds (where the Jazz currently reside) in the Western Conference are currently separated by just one game. Back-to-back wins (and a loss by the sixth-seeded Mavericks) could potentially propel the Jazz all the way up to sixth place.
However, aside from seeding, these games are key for the Jazz just to maintain their place in the playoff race. Not only is every win vital at this point anyway, but with how close these teams have hung to one another all season, head-to-head victories could prove essential. Utah already trails Portland 1-2 this season and trails Houston 0-2. The Jazz can even up the series in their final match-up against their division rivals with a win tonight. Against Houston, they’ll have Tuesday’s game as well as a contest on March 23rd to knot that series up.
The biggest challenge against the Blazers will undoubtedly be Damian Lillard. The 2016 All-Star snub is playing with an enormous chip on his shoulder as evidenced by his 51-point outpouring in Portland’s victory over the Golden State Warriors (do the Warriors EVER do anything to help Utah out?) that helped the Blazers maintain their half-game lead over the Jazz.
It will be interesting and key to see how Jazz newcomer Shelvin Mack performs as opposing point guards have surely had their way against Utah this season. Mack ideally will provide a bigger and more athletic body to slow down prolific guards such as Lillard. With tonight being his first game in a Jazz jersey, it will be intriguing to see how big of a role Coach Snyder entrusts him with in his debut.
The struggling Rockets should present less of a challenge than the red-hot Blazers despite the “star power” carried by James Harden and Dwight Howard. The Jazz weren’t at full-strength when they played Houston the first two times and still kept it close. The game will be on Utah’s home court and their energy and hustle should prove effective against a lackadaisical Houston team.
It may only be a two-game stretch, but that doesn’t change its significance for the Jazz. Not only will beating these two teams that are battling with them for the final two playoff positions provide a boost in the standings, but it will also provide them with some cushion as they take on the ever dangerous San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
Next: Shelvin Mack In Uniform Against Portland Trail Blazers
The All-Star break is over and the Jazz are undoubtedly in for an uphill battle as they look to not only grab a playoff spot, but hopefully advance up the standings to a more favorable first round match-up. Their first two games following the break were night and day different. Hopefully the team that showed up against the Celtics in the second game is the one that comes out in these upcoming games.
Their playoff hopes might just depend on it.