The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Previewing each potential first-round playoff matchup

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 15: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz talks to the media on the court after the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 15, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 15: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz talks to the media on the court after the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 15, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MARCH 11: Wilson Chandler #21 and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shake hands before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MARCH 11: Wilson Chandler #21 and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shake hands before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets

Of all the teams on this list, the Denver Nuggets are probably the least likely squad that the Jazz will face in the first round for the simple fact that they’ve taken the biggest downturn that now has them in 10th place in the West and they therefore may not even qualify for the playoffs. About the only realistic shot of this matchup happening would be if the Jazz surge all the way to third or fourth in the West while the Nuggets turn things around and finish sixth or fifth.

It would be pretty impressive if Utah were to pull off the former of those two requirements. For Denver to hold up their side of the bargain would be nothing short of miraculous. They’re just a game back of the playoffs, but have a tough schedule remaining that starts out with a daunting seven-game road trip which begins Saturday in Memphis.

Not all the teams they’ll face on their trip are tough foes, but being on the road for that many games is a challenge regardless, especially considering how up and down, and at times unfocused, the Nuggets have been this year. That’s been especially true on the road where they’re just 11-21, easily the worst mark of any of the playoff hopeful teams.

They’re also just 5-5 in their last 10, which is why they’ve plummeted down the standings in the closely contested West where there is little to no margin of error. Some of those recent losses have been doozies, such as the defeats to the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers who overcame a late Denver lead to win.

In other words, the Nuggets are not only on the outside looking in, but have appeared weak lately, which leads me to believe they won’t make it into the postseason once the dust settles. But anything could happen, so let’s suppose the Nuggets get hot and the Jazz stay hot and this comes to fruition, is this a matchup Jazz fans should like?

The two teams tied in the regular season series with two wins apiece, but Utah’s two defeats came during their brutal December to early January stretch when the victories were few and far between. The Jazz are certainly a different team since then, and while the Nuggets have some dangerous players, overall I find this a favorable matchup for Utah.

Nikola Jokic is a great player, but Rudy Gobert has tended to do well against him. Paul Millsap is exceptional as well, but so far his fit in Denver has been iffy. The Nuggets backcourt of Jamal Murray and Gary Harris is daunting, but their lack of playoff experience could end up being a significant crutch. Denver’s bench is also nothing to write home about and I think Utah will have a solid edge in that department.

And as I said, the Nuggets have been abysmal on the road, including dropping both games in Salt Lake City this year. That’s not a tell-all come playoff time, but it could definitely hurt them as Vivint Smart Home Arena isn’t an easy place to win anyway. Denver could give Utah problems, but at the end of the day, I believe the Jazz would have more going in their favor that would give them the edge.

It’s a long shot that these two will face off in the first round of the playoffs and Denver actually has a ways to go if they even hope to qualify for the postseason, but if things fall together such that these two face off, Jazz fans should feel confident with that matchup.

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