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Utah Jazz: Ranking Utah’s potential playoff matchups

By Tyler Thorpe

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors of the Utah Jazz of the Golden State Warriors at vivint.SmartHome Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors of the Utah Jazz of the Golden State Warriors at vivint.SmartHome Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 08: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is blocked by Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center on February 8, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 08: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is blocked by Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center on February 8, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

1. New Orleans Pelicans

Utah vs New Orleans: 3-1

Much like matchups against the Spurs or Timberwolves, this potential series is becoming more and more unlikely as the season winds down.

Jazz fans, however, should be chomping at the bit for any chance to play New Orleans in the postseason’s opening round. Not only would it feature two of the league’s most talented young big men in Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis, it would also provide Utah with its best chance to advance to the second round.

Utah is 3-1 this season against the Pels including 24 and 17-point wins in their two most recent games.

Despite a tough schedule, New Orleans has played well recently. Their success, however, doesn’t go much deeper than Davis and Jrue Holiday.

The current playoffs format allows coaches to key in on certain players and matchups more so than in a regular season game. Quin Snyder should have no problem assessing effective ways to disrupt the Pelicans’ inside-outside punch.

Utah already boasts one of the league’s most stifling defenses. If Utah can continue to find ways to score at an efficient clip, I don’t see a Pelicans-Jazz series going longer than six games.

Prediction: Jazz win 4-2

Next: Bleacher Report calls Utah Jazz “the team no one wants to face in the playoffs”

Who would you most like to see the Jazz play in the first round? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me your thoughts @TylerDThorpe.

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