Utah Jazz at New York Knicks: Keys to breaking the road curse

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz points from the sideline during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 13, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

Prediction – Knicks 100, Jazz 88

I don’t like to do this very often, but I’m actually going to switch my prediction from my week preview piece that I posted earlier in the week. Rather than pin the Jazz as winners against the Knicks, I now believe that they are going to fall in a 12-point loss.

I had projected that the Jazz would lose to Minnesota, but I never would’ve imagined that they would fall in the disappointing fashion that they did. The performance from Derrick Favors in the win over Brooklyn made me feel slightly encouraged that the Jazz may be OK in the absence of Gobert, but it became quite clear against the Timberwolves that Utah’s success only came because of the Nets’ lack of quality bigs.

Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week Five Outlook, Predictions https://t.co/PmHQSJS1rC pic.twitter.com/17qegRUZLz
— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) November 13, 2017

The Jazz won’t have that luxury against the New York Knicks as I expect Kristaps Porzingis and his teammates to thrive against a Jazz defense that has looked abysmal of late and to be able to overpower a Utah offense that can’t seem to buy a bucket.

Therefore, as much as it pains me to say it, I’m going to instead pin the Knicks as winners in Wednesday’s contest meaning that the Jazz would remain winless on the road.

Next: Utah Jazz react: Late to the party against the Minnesota Timberwolves

Hopefully Quin Snyder can help his team turn things around sooner rather than later in the absence of Rudy Gobert, but based on recent showings I’m feeling less than optimistic. The one bit of positive news is that if Utah can somehow prove me wrong and defeat the Knicks on Wednesday, they’ll improve to a 7-8 record, which just so happens to be exactly what they started at last season.

It was shortly after that point that they went on an impressive run and turned into the solid team that would eventually become the fifth seed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, though, while that’s a nice dream to hope to re-live, I’m feeling less than hopeful considering the current state of the team and what they’ve showed us so far.