The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz Week 14 Outlook: Can the Jazz keep on rolling?

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz celebrates with his team during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 12, 2019 at Vivint Smart Home 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz celebrates with his team during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 12, 2019 at Vivint Smart Home 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 4: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz drives down court during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 4, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jazz defeated the Cavaliers 117-91. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 4: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz drives down court during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 4, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jazz defeated the Cavaliers 117-91. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1/18 Utah vs. Cleveland

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

Opponent record: 8-35

Season series:  Jazz lead 1-0

As foreign as it feels considering how travel-heavy the Jazz’s schedule has been so far this year, Utah will only play the single road game in LA this week before returning home. And Friday’s contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers won’t only be the final game of the week, but it will also be the first of a four-game home stand which will resume in Week 15.

The last time that the Jazz faced off against the Cavs, it wasn’t exactly pretty, as Utah trailed by as many as nine in the first half and were down a point at halftime. But in the second half, particularly in the late third and early fourth quarters, the Jazz turned on the after burners and took care of Cleveland in the way one might have expected. When all was said and done, the Jazz won by a whopping 26 points after leading by as many as 34.

Considering that the Cavs currently boast the worst record in the Association, as well as the worst road record, and are the worst defensive team in the league by a landslide with a defensive rating of 117.2 – nearly four points per 100 possessions worse than the 29th-ranked New York Knicks – this should absolutely be an easy win for the Jazz. Sure, they’ll have to deal with familiar faces Rodney Hood and Alec Burks who are accustomed to playing at The Viv, but beyond that, there isn’t a whole lot for the team to be worried about.

That said, they can’t afford to get complacent as they appeared to in the first half of the previous meeting in Cleveland. As long as they avoid that, though, this should be yet another easy win for the Jazz.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 120, Cleveland 99

Next. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz break Bulls for fifth win in six games. dark

So, yes, I’m leaning towards optimism and pinning the Jazz to go 3-0 this upcoming week, which, knowing my track record, probably means they’ll implode on themselves this week. Sorry, Jazz fans.

The Clippers game worries me a little bit as they were hot before their recent slide and playing on the road in the West is never easy, and injuries could play a big factor in the contest against Detroit. But I still have a hard time seeing the Jazz do any worse than 2-1. And if fortune is with both myself and the Jazz, they’ll indeed be able to pull off the 3-0 week, which would also equate to a six-game winning streak.

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