The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Most intriguing individual matchups series – Southeast Division

By Jared Woodcox

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz tries to stop Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on January 12, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz tries to stop Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on January 12, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NANJING, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 09: Nicolas Batum(R) #5 of France shoots against Joe Ingles #7 of Australia during 2nd round Group L match between Australia and France of 2019 FIBA World Cup at Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium on September 09, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
NANJING, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 09: Nicolas Batum(R) #5 of France shoots against Joe Ingles #7 of Australia during 2nd round Group L match between Australia and France of 2019 FIBA World Cup at Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium on September 09, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images) /

Charlotte Hornets: Nicolas Batum vs. Joe Ingles

For a brief moment I was tempted to pin Terry Rozier vs. Mike Conley as the key individual matchup to keep tabs on here as Rozier was far and above the Hornets’ biggest splash this summer as they will hope he can somehow replace the production of former Charlotte great Kemba Walker. However, I’m not much of a Scary Terry believer myself and I believe Conley will easily dominate that matchup, especially now that Rozier is tasked with shouldering such a load on a team so lacking in talent.

Therefore, for this intriguing matchup, I’ve opted to go with one that will be a bit of a heated rematch from a pair of contests we saw in this summer’s FIBA World Cup action – Nicolas Batum versus Joe Ingles.

Batum’s France and Ingles’ Australia had a pair of heated contests against one another in FIBA play with each team rising victorious in one. Unfortunately for Ingles and the Aussies, their loss came in the more important bronze medal game, but both were still exciting bouts.

Those matchups, along with the 10 NBA games in which Ingles and Batum have faced one another in their careers, has created a nice little rivalry for the two particularly with the pride they take in their countries and in their individual games. Therefore, as both go head-to-head as guys who hang their hats on shooting and defense, they’ll be a fun pair to watch do battle this upcoming season.

Batum had a nice bounce-back year shooting from the perimeter last season as he finished at 38.9 percent, though in many ways he’s failed to live up to the expectations (not to mention his hefty contract) as a veteran leader for the Hornets. Meanwhile, Joe has proven himself as a far more reliable shooter and something of a jack-of-all-trades for the Jazz.

Given that both of these guys are capable of filling it up in a hurry and have a familiarity with one another that goes back longer than many of Charlotte’s players have even been in the NBA, this will be the matchup to watch whenever the Jazz and Hornets face off.

Scheduled Contests:

  • 12/21  Utah at Charlotte
  • 1/10 Charlotte at Utah
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