The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz Weeks 17 and 18 Outlook: Can Jazz enter ASB on a high note?

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 23: The Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 23, 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 23: The Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 23, 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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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 04: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Rudy Gobert #27 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 4, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 04: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Rudy Gobert #27 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 4, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

2/9 Utah vs. San Antonio

3:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 32-23

Season series: Tied 1-1

The Jazz and Spurs have split blowout victories in the regular season series so far. Both teams play sound defense, are extremely well-coached and are right in the thick of the playoff race, so expect this to be a highly entertaining bout.

The aspect that I’m most looking forward to is that, with no small amount of controversy, LaMarcus Aldridge qualified for the All-Star Game over Rudy Gobert. Considering that Aldridge is having only a so-so year by his standards and that the Spurs are actually worse in both defensive and net rating with him on the court versus when he’s off, it’s not hard to see why people are upset that LaMarcus made it over Rudy.

So I full-on expect this to be a revenge game for Gobert as he aims to prove a point and solidify his All-Star snub. Seeing him go off against the Spurs would be an absolute delight.

San Antonio is an interesting matchup for the Jazz because while Utah tends to force teams into midrange shots, the Spurs actually are quite capable of making those shots. Therefore, the game could really come down to whether or not the Spurs shots are falling or not. Ideally, Utah will have an appropriate game plan in place in order to come away victorious and stifle a prolific Spurs offense that’s ranked fifth in the league.

This contest will no doubt be a battle as Utah aims to contain both Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan and could very well be coming back from changes following Thursday’s trade deadline. Nevertheless, I like Utah’s odds of defending their home court in what will be a crucial game for momentum going into the All-Star break.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 103, San Antonio 97

Next. 2/12 at Golden State. dark

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