Game Preview: Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks

Nov 22, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke (3) dribbles during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Utah Jazz (16-32, 6-18 road) @ Dallas Mavericks (29-21, 17-8 home)

Tip Off @ 6:30 p.m. MST

Season Series 2 of 4 (Mavericks 1-0)

Overview

The Jazz have had quite a bit of rest the last couple of weeks. The Jazz have played a total of 4 games in 11 days. They should have no excuse for tired legs going into tonight. However, the rest they have gotten the last couple weeks still might not be enough to stop red hot Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs are winners of 4 of their last 5 games, in part to the great play of Nowitzki.

Over the last 5 games, Nowitzki is on fire! Just take a look at his shot chart. (pic via @ESPNStatsInfo)

Dirk is averaging nearly 30 points per game and is 11-20 from 3 point range over the last 5 games. He only has 1 blue spot on the court and it is from the left corner 3. It shouldn’t even effect anything because he has only taken 1 shot over there. However, if there is ANY sort of bright spot for the Jazz regarding Nowitzki, in the first game against him this season, the Jazz held him to 18 points and 7 rebounds on 35.7% shooting. However, they are going to have a hard time containing him with an injury plagued roster.

Key Matchup: Gordon Hayward vs Monta Ellis

The Jazz have always had troubles stopping or even trying to contain Monta Ellis. In the first game this season against the Jazz, Ellis went for 26 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field. The Jazz will need to try and disrupt his shooting as he is shooting 48% from the field over his last 10 games.

The Jazz will most likely put Gordon Hayward on Ellis to try and contain him. There are pros and cons to this matchup for the Jazz. Ellis is quicker than Hayward is, but Hayward is a great chase down defender and is much bigger than Ellis. However, the month of February has not started off as a good month for Hayward and he might be struggling again tonight. So far in 2 games this month, Hayward is shooting only 25% from the field, scoring only 11.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.

Hayward will need to step up and use his length to try and disrupt Ellis offensively. If he can gain some confidence on the defensive end, maybe it might help him gain some confidence on the offensive end, which will help him, but will help this team drastically.

Conclusion

The Jazz are still unsure if Derrick Favors and Jeremy Evans will be able to go tonight. Favors has missed 3 straight games heading into tonight, all 3 of which the Jazz have lost. In fact, the Jazz have not won a single game this season when Favors is out. This lingering injury for Favors will mean that Enes Kanter will get the start at center for the Jazz. In 22 games this season with Kanter in the starting lineup, the Jazz have lost 21 of those games. However, to help support Kanter’s case, all 22 of those games has been without a full healthy lineup.

With the way Dirk is playing right now, he will be extremely tough to stop. Marvin Williams will have the difficult task of trying to stop him. Marvin played in the Jazz’s last game after sitting out a game due to a heel injury. Marvin should be fine for tonight, but like I said, will have an extremely difficult time containing Nowitzki.

The Jazz are currently on a 3 game losing streak, which might be music to Jazz Tank fans ears. I don’t see them getting a win tonight even if they had a healthy lineup. The Mavs are good at home and Dirk is on fire.

Mavericks 106 – Jazz 92