The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 17 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 3: Derrick Favors #15 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz celebrate a win against the San Antonio Spurs on February 3, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 3: Derrick Favors #15 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz celebrate a win against the San Antonio Spurs on February 3, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 31, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 31, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2/11 Utah at Portland

7:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 29-23

Season series: Jazz lead 1-0

The Portland Trail Blazers have been a bit of an interesting team this year. Their solid 29-23 record has them firmly in sixth place in the West. They boast an All-Star in Damian Lillard and a fringe All-Star in C.J. McCollum, creating one of the most potent backcourts in the NBA. Of late, they’ve won seven of their last ten, so it certainly appears that all should be well in Rip City.

However, they’ve had some struggles against fellow playoff teams, partially evidenced by their 4-5 division record, and have dealt with their fair share of inconsistency this season. Still, they typically enjoy a staunch home court advantage and playing in the Moda Center has been far from easy for the Utah Jazz. They’ve lost both contests there the past two seasons and have had an extremely hard time shutting down Portland’s prolific backcourt in those games.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/959593599917797377

And considering that, aside from a recent spurt, the Jazz have struggled on the road overall, it’s hard to see them suddenly finding success in Portland considering how poorly they’ve played there in the past. The Jazz were able to eke out a narrow victory over the Blazers in Salt Lake City early in the season thanks to an amazing game from Ricky Rubio, but that may be hard to replicate in such a hostile environment.

This is an important divisional game that could have playoff implications and I believe that it’s one the Jazz absolutely can win. But considering their road struggles and how well Portland tends to play at home, I think this one is going to go the way of the Blazers.

My Prediction: Blazers Win

Final Score: Portland 103, Jazz 95

Next: Jazz vs Spurs reaction: O’Neale and Rubio carry Jazz to 5th straight win

So while you might think I’d follow my usual trend and jump on the overly optimistic bandwagon after a stunning 3-0 week last week, instead I’ve decided to play it more conservatively by pinning Utah to go 2-2, remembering that this Jazz team could very well come back down to earth, especially with a tough week that features three of four games on the road.

Is it possible that this team has truly turned the corner and is therefore capable of beating all four of these opponents? Certainly! Do I hope they prove me wrong and do just that? Of course! Do I think that’s reasonable? Not exactly…

Nine wins in a row is a crazy thing to suppose will be accomplished by a sub-.500 team, so it’s more than likely that Utah drops one or more of its road contests this week. But even if they go 2-2 or an even better 3-1, they will still be in a decent spot considering how their schedule eases up in the coming weeks.

Let’s hope that the Jazz can continue rolling and keep pushing towards the postseason.

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