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Utah Jazz: Previewing each potential first-round playoff matchup

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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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the first half against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on March 11, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the first half against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on March 11, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have been yet another interesting case as many presumed they would be in big trouble after DeMarcus Cousins went down with an Achilles injury. The Pelicans had been surging, and in fact logged an impressive win over the Houston Rockets in the very game that they lost Cousins. However, instead of falter, the Pels have actually flourished since then, going 12-8 over that span which included an impressive 10-game win streak.

At the height of their streak, they climbed all the way to the fourth seed in the West. However, between a missed game from Anthony Davis which resulted in a loss to the Washington Wizards and a pair of unfavorable run-ins with the Jazz and Spurs, who both beat the Pelicans, New Orleans has dropped back down to sixth in the West.

And honestly, while a 10-game win streak is impressive regardless of the opponents, the Pelicans didn’t play the most daunting of foes during that stretch. The Jazz own a 3-1 lead over them this season giving them the tiebreaker, and I really think that Utah would match up extremely well against them in the playoffs.

Sure, Anthony Davis gives any team, including the Jazz, major problems. He’s just that good. However, at least the Jazz have more of an answer for him than most in Rudy Gobert. Derrick Favors has also held his own against The Brow on several occasions. In the last contest against New Orleans – a decisive one that gave Utah the tiebreaker – the Jazz were able to overcome Davis’ hot start and hold him scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Considering that Utah and New Orleans are separated by just a half-game, there’s a pretty good chance that these two teams could meet up with one another in the first round, be it in the 4-5 or perhaps the 3-6 matchup. And honestly, considering the substantial likelihood of it, this is actually the matchup that I’m most rooting for.

The Jazz have played well against New Orleans this season and I am confident in Utah’s ability to hold Davis in check and outmatch a lackluster Pelicans bench to win a playoff series against them. Aside from the less realistic matchups of Denver or LA, this is the one I’d most like to see and the one that I’d feel the best about Utah arising victorious.

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