The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz Week 23 Outlook: Four-game road trip vs. lottery squads

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 27: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the LA Clippers on February 27, 2019 at vivint.SmartHome 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 - FEBRUARY 27: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the LA Clippers on February 27, 2019 at vivint.SmartHome 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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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: David Fizdale of the New York Knicks high-fives Damyean Dotson #21 during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2019 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: David Fizdale of the New York Knicks high-fives Damyean Dotson #21 during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2019 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

3/20 Utah at New York

5:30 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 14-56

Season series: Jazz lead 1-0

Let’s face it, the New York Knicks have little left to play for save a hope and a dream that free agency will be kind to them this summer and that perhaps they’ll get lucky and land Zion Williamson in the draft. Beyond that, they’ve essentially solidified themselves as the worst team in the NBA, not only because they hold the league’s worst record, but because the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns have shown significantly more life of late whereas the Knicks have simply rolled over.

True, they did get a win on Sunday over the Los Angeles Lakers, but a disinterested LeBron James, a disengaged Lakers squad and a ‘dead-man-walking’ coach in Luke Walton are about as much in the thick of the ‘Tank for Zion’ race as the Knicks are. Make no mistake about it, despite Sunday’s lucky victory, this New York squad is an abysmal group this year.

As such, barring an absolutely horrific collapse, the Jazz should get a rather easy win in this one. They certainly did the first time around with a 129-97 beat-down in Salt Lake City where they outscored New York 71-34 in the first half. Sure, rookie Kevin Knox is a promising prospect and often erratic guards Dennis Smith Jr. and Emmanuel Mudiay can get hot once out of every 10 games, but there’s truly little else the Jazz need be afraid of.

With such being the case, I’m expecting the Jazz to similarly win big once again. The Knicks are nearly as bad on their home court as they are on the road, with just seven wins in each scenario, so even home court advantage will likely be non-existent.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 124, New York 98

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