The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets: Keys to getting back on track

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 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 - NOVEMBER 28: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 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) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on DECEMBER 21, 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 – DECEMBER 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on DECEMBER 21, 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) /

Key #1 – Play with confidence

As I just mentioned, the Jazz own a 2-0 regular season series lead over the Denver Nuggets and were able to shut them down with relative ease in the latest meeting. Therefore, even though this bout is set to take place in Denver, the Jazz have to view this opponent in the exact same way – as extremely beatable.

The Nuggets have some solid young talent, but nobody that figures to completely overwhelm any one Jazz player that they’ll be matched up against. Yes, Nikola Jokic will be harder to stop without Rudy Gobert available, but Derrick Favors and the Jazz did just that in the previous meeting.

And although road games have been an absolute issue for Utah, if they want to have any hope of qualifying for the playoffs, they’ll have to stop that trend sooner rather than later. A .188 win percentage in away games simply isn’t going to be enough to get the job done, so Utah needs to believe that they can do better than that and start executing away from Vivint Smart Home Arena right away.

An element of their road woes has been getting off to slow starts and doing so against a formidable Denver team would be equivalent to a death wish. They’re capable of scoring in bunches and capitalize very well on momentum, so Utah needs to come in focused, energized and confident from the onset.

If they’re able to set that tone from the very beginning and maintain it all game long, they may very well take the first step to reversing their dismal play on the road that they’ve exhibited so far this season.

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