The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz 2018-19 Preseason Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 24: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker 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 - SEPTEMBER 24: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
PORTLAND, OR – September 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 24, 2018 at the Memorial Coliseum 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 – September 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 24, 2018 at the Memorial Coliseum 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) /

10/7 Utah at Portland

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

By the fourth game of the preseason slate, the Utah Jazz will face perhaps their toughest challenge of the mix. Not only will they take on a talented Portland Trail Blazers squad, but they’ll do so on the road for the first time of the 2018-19 season.

Portland is a notoriously hard place to win as their rowdy fans will look to spur their team on to a great start that will hopefully produce a second straight season in the top-3 in the West. Quite frankly, while I believe the Blazers will yet again be a good team this year with the likes of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum leading the charge, I highly doubt they’ll be able to finish that high this time around.

Nevertheless, they’re a scrappy squad with an exceptional coach and a ruthless home court. Their daunting backcourt will provide a good early test for Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell, and if Jusuf Nurkic has continued to improve his game, he’ll be a nice matchup for Rudy Gobert.

When all is said and done in this contest, I’m pinning the Blazers to come out on top as Utah works to get accustomed to playing on the road. However, it should be a closely-fought bout and truly could go either way.

My Prediction: Blazers Win

Final Score: Portland 98, Utah 92

Home/Jazz News