Utah Jazz Week Twenty-Three Outlook, Predictions

3/27 Utah vs. New Orleans

8:30 pm MT – TNT

Opponent record: 31-42

Season series: Jazz lead 2-0

The biggest buzz surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans since the All-Star break has of course been relating to their trade deadline acquisition of center DeMarcus Cousins. At the time the trade went down, the Pelicans were well within striking distance of the final playoff spot in the West and many speculated that the addition of Boogie could help them surge their way up the standings.

However, that hasn’t exactly been the case. While it’s logical to presume that it’ll take time for Cousins and the Pelicans to adjust to one another, the team has been pretty disappointing with him on the roster. Since the trade, New Orleans has gone just 5-8 with Cousins in the lineup and actually has won all three games in which he was sidelined, including Sunday’s blowout win over the Nuggets.

That has put the Pels at 31-42 on the season which is four games back from eighth place. With just nine games left to play for New Orleans and given that they’ll be competing with a hot Denver team (last night’s loss notwithstanding) and a Portland team that’s desperate to bust its way in as well, it’s looking pretty unlikely that they’ll make it.

Nevertheless, the Pelicans are still a dangerous squad that, while it may be too little too late, is seeming to get some of its kinks worked out. New Orleans has played well of late as they’ve won four out of their last five and six out of their last eight, which included victories over the Rockets, Grizzlies, Trail Blazers and of course Sunday against the Nuggets.

Therefore, the Jazz will have to be on their toes and obviously be much more prepared than they were against LA on Saturday if they hope to win. Generally, Rudy Gobert has fared very well against DeMarcus Cousins (whose status is up in the air after he was sidelined Sunday against Denver with an ankle sprain) and Derrick Favors has proven to be a tough match-up for Anthony Davis, so under normal circumstances I would see this one as a probable win for the Jazz.

Such was surely the case the last time these two squads met as Gobert and Favors both started for Utah and were able to hold Cousins to just 5-of-15 shooting and Davis to 7-of-17 shooting in what was an ugly but well-earned 88-83 Jazz win.

However, with Favors, who has been vital for the Jazz in contests against the Pelicans, already being ruled out for tomorrow’s game, I’m feeling a little bit worried about Utah’s chances.

Their frontcourt (outside of Rudy Gobert, of course) has played very poorly of late and with Boris Diaw, Trey Lyles, Jeff Withey and Joe Johnson being Utah’s only options for stopping Davis and Cousins (assuming he plays) outside of the Stifle Tower, I could see this game being a tough one for the Jazz.

Not to mention, Gordon Hayward has also been listed as questionable for the contest with a quadriceps contusion and his absence would be devastating as well. Nevertheless, Coach Snyder said following the loss to LA that he thought that Hayward would be fine, so we’ll have to wait and see how that one plays out.

I hate to seem like a pessimist and put too much stock into Saturday’s loss and Utah’s recent play, but I have a bad feeling that without Favors and given New Orleans’ hot play of late, the Jazz may very well drop this one. It’s certainly a game they ought to win, but Utah’s inconsistency of late has been troubling, so I’m going to go out on a limb (one which I hope is terribly wrong) and pin the Pelicans as narrow victors in Monday’s contest.

My Prediction: Pelicans Win

Final Score: New Orleans 97, Utah 93