The J-Notes
Fansided

10/6 Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns: Keys to the Game

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 31: Joe Johnson (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 31: Joe Johnson (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 4: A general view of the arena before the preseason game between the Utah Jazz and the Maccabi Haifa on October 4, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 4: A general view of the arena before the preseason game between the Utah Jazz and the Maccabi Haifa on October 4, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Prediction – Jazz 98, Suns 89

As I mentioned, this will be a great test for the Jazz, but given their depth and staunch defense, I think they’ll have a clear edge over a Phoenix team that doesn’t exactly bring the heat defensively and will likely lack the offensive weapons to overwhelm the Jazz. Nevertheless, it is preseason and really anything could happen, so it’ll be interesting to see how both teams respond to one another.

If this were a regular season game with both teams at full strength, though, I’d definitely pin the Jazz as winners, so I’ll stick to that in these circumstances as well. Even if Utah plays a lot of its second and third string guys for most of the contest, those guys, such as Dante Exum, Alec Burks and Jonas Jerebko, have actually looked pretty solid, so I still believe in them to get the job done. Therefore, I’ve got Utah coming away with a nine-point victory.

Next: Three-Point Threat Episode 15: Utah Jazz Preseason, GM Survey, All-Star Format

From here, the Jazz will take on the Suns yet again in Phoenix on Monday, then play in a preseason back-to-back as they’ll visit the Los Angeles Lakers the following day. After that it’s just a week until the NBA regular season kicks off and eight days before Utah’s regular season opener.

The countdown clock is swiftly ticking down and while these upcoming three preseason games will help bide the time, it’s a relief to know that the start of real, meaningful Jazz games is just around the corner.

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