The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors: Keys to a preseason victory

By Jared Woodcox

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 26: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against the Utah Jazz on January 26, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 26: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against the Utah Jazz on January 26, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON- JANUARY 26 – .Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz tip off above the black and gold colours in first half action. T (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- JANUARY 26 – .Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz tip off above the black and gold colours in first half action. T (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

The Utah Jazz will be in for a tough preseason challenge as they host Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.

The Utah Jazz dismantled the Perth Wildcats of Australia’s NBL in easy fashion in their first preseason contest. The visiting squad was very much outmatched as they fell in blowout fashion by a score of 130-72.

However, Utah’s next preseason contest is almost certain to be quite a bit more difficult as they find themselves facing legitimate NBA talent this time around in the form of the visiting Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were an excellent squad last year as they finished with the number one seed in the East and have now added offensive and defensive superstar Kawhi Leonard to their mix.

The Raptors also looked pretty solid in their first preseason action against the Portland Trail Blazers as they defended home court to win 122-104. Not only does Toronto have a deadly two-man attack in Kyle Lowry and Leonard, but the rest of their starting lineup is solid and they boast one of the most formidable benches in the league.

As such, even in a preseason game, the Jazz figure to have their hands full. They looked good against Perth and, to their credit, executed extremely well regardless of the lackluster competition. But they’ll need to elevate their game to a new level entirely if they hope to come away with their first win over an NBA team and remain perfect in the preseason.

In order to do so, it will be imperative that they excel in these three key areas–

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