The J-Notes
Fansided

Who Should Utah Jazz Fans Cheer For to Earn the Eighth Seed?

By Jared Woodcox

Jan 26, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrate with the rest of his team after taking the lead in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz won 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrate with the rest of his team after taking the lead in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz won 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Apr 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) congratulate each other after a 96-88 win over Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) congratulate each other after a 96-88 win over Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers

Games Back From Eighth Place: 1.5

Key Strength: Dynamic Backcourt

Key Weakness: Defense

It’s still amazing to me that Portland has gone this long without righting the ship enough to claim the final spot in the Western Conference playoff mix. Given how well they played last season, their incredible backcourt duo and their exceptional coach, I’ve thought for weeks that they would finally surge their way back in.

Nevertheless, the Blazers continue to struggle to find any kind of consistency and still find themselves in 10th place in the conference, 1.5 games out of playoff contention.

And though Portland was able to give Golden State some trouble last season in the playoffs, winning one game and hanging tough in a couple others, they certainly haven’t been much of an obstacle this season. Golden State swept the regular season series 4-0 against Portland, with the first two victories coming in extreme blowout fashion.

In the latter two, Portland was able to compete somewhat better, losing by eight and two points, respectively, but overall the Blazers have been thoroughly outmatched.

Of course, the one glimmer of hope that Portland has is their electric backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Those two are not only phenomenal NBA players, but have the confidence and swagger to believe themselves capable of knocking out Golden State. Unfortunately, while those two may be able to do some damage themselves, the lackluster talent around them makes Portland less than daunting.

Not to mention, Portland as a team, including that dynamic backcourt duo, has been absolutely dismal defensively this year allowing opponents to put up 110 points per game.

And that is an absolute recipe for disaster against a Warriors team that thrives offensively, leading the league in both points and field goal percentage. Although Portland has some solid scorers of their own, their inability to put the clamps on and force Golden State to execute under pressure would likely make them easy slaughter in a seven-game series.

And while none of these teams have much of a shot against Golden State, in terms of at least wearing down the Warriors prior to a potential second-round match-up against the Jazz, Portland’s soft defense would do little to accomplish even that.

Home/Jazz News