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

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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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 15: the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15, 2018 at the Moda Center 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 – MARCH 15: the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15, 2018 at the Moda Center 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 Trail Blazers

I feel like I was one of the few who was high on the Trail Blazers dating all the way back to the preseason. They ended last year extremely well with Jusuf Nurkic and I’ve always felt like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum don’t get even as much credit as they deserve as one of the best backcourts in the league. Figure in an underrated coach in Terry Stotts and a respectable bench, and I had high hopes for this team.

They started out somewhat slow, but they’ve bounced back in a big way and are currently one of the hottest teams in the league as winners of 11 straight which has propelled them rather comfortably into the third seed in the West. When I say comfortably, it’s only two games, but considering how congested the West is, that feels like about a five-game cushion.

But as good as Portland is, the Jazz actually happen to own the tiebreaker over them with a 2-1 lead. Utah faltered against them in their first contest after the All-Star break in a loss that snapped their 11-game win streak, but the Jazz played extremely well against them in two exciting games earlier in the year.

Therefore, I can’t wait to see what comes of the final game of the season on April 11 which will pit these two red hot teams against one another. As of right now, I would feel nervous about this matchup in the playoffs considering how well Portland is playing and simply because of how daunting Lillard can be, but a good performance in that final contest could change my mind.

Then again, depending on how the seeds are playing out by then, such as if the Blazers already have the third seed locked up, it may turn into a meaningless contest for them in which they rest players. That would make it hard to know how to size up a Jazz-Blazers series.

But based on what we know right now, I would be alright with this matchup. I don’t think it’s as ideal as, say, the one against the Pelicans, but I’d rather Utah face off against Portland than Oklahoma City. Lillard and McCollum have had their fair share of electrifying performances against the Jazz, but Utah has also had several games where they’ve held them in check.

I really think this one would be an evenly matched series that could go either way. It would make for a fantastic series, but as far as feeling confident that Utah would arise victorious, it wouldn’t be my top choice.

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