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Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards: Keys to the Game

By Jared Woodcox

Mar 11, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends against Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 114-93. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends against Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 114-93. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 18, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) dribbles as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 103-89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) dribbles as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 103-89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction – Jazz 101, Wizards 94

Perhaps I’m reading too much into the win over the Bucks, but the Jazz looked incredibly solid. Minus a rusty Rodney Hood, pretty much every other player seemed to just click. Derrick Favors had a 2015-16 caliber game, Dante Exum was sharp and efficient, and Utah’s big three of Hayward, Hill and Gobert were all superb.

Of course, there’s no doubting that it’s easier to look and play good against bad teams – you get more open looks, they miss easier shots, etc. – but against Milwaukee, and on several other occasions this year, the Jazz have simply looked more cohesive and fluid against middling teams than against the good teams they’ve struggled so much against.

Could this be partly due to the good teams boasting a defense capable of flustering the Jazz? You bet. But to me, the biggest difference has been a question of confidence. Sometimes Utah appears to come into games against the likes of the Grizzlies, Celtics, Thunder, etc. as if they have their tails between their legs.

It seems almost as if they know they can beat the mediocre teams, but have yet to garner that belief that they can beat the best of the best. Nevertheless, if that confidence from the Milwaukee game can carry over to tomorrow’s bout against Washington and then continue to grow from there as Utah takes on OKC on Tuesday and beyond, it could truly shape this Jazz team into something dangerous.

Although in my week preview I pinned the Jazz as losing to the Wizards given the fact that Utah has struggled against such elite teams in the past, I’ve decided to change that prediction and instead project the Jazz as winners by a score of 101 to 94.

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Perhaps I’m being a bit too optimistic based off of just one game against a less than daunting opponent, but something in Utah’s swagger against Milwaukee is making me feel good about their chances against Washington.

If they come in with confidence, continue to receive good performances from guys who have struggled such as Exum and Favors and can get a solid lift out of their bench that is much superior to Washington’s, I can undoubtedly see Utah coming away with a win.

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So while there’s no questioning that tomorrow’s bout will be a tough contest, if the team that showed up Friday comes ready to play tomorrow, then Utah should be able to pull off a big win against a rising opponent.

Such a victory would be important for a number of reasons, but more than anything it will be good to see Utah begin to reverse their fate against top teams in the NBA. With the whole team finally active and healthy, it’s time for the Jazz to finally prove to the league just what they’re capable of doing.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com

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