PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 12: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings is introduced during a pre-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 12, 2018 at Moda Center, in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
10/17 Utah at Sacramento
8:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass
Opponent record: 0-0 (2-4 in Preseason)
Season series: Tied 0-0 (Jazz won 1-0 in Preseason)
As we saw quite clearly on Thursday night, the Sacramento Kings could be in for a long season. There’s undeniably some talent in their ranks, but their overall lack of experience, depth, shooting and defensive intensity will make it hard for them to compete at anything resembling the highest level this upcoming year.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see the Kings ultimately finish at the bottom of the Western Conference this year, especially considering the improvements that the teams that finished below them in 2017-18 made this summer. Each of the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks ought to be more competitive this upcoming season, while it will undoubtedly be a rebuilding and developing year for Sacramento.
The Jazz made light work of the Kings in preseason as they simply didn’t have an answer for Rudy Gobert, and Utah’s suffocating defense prevented Sacramento from ever finding a semblance of a shooting stroke. They shot just 34.4 percent from the field on the night and an appalling 16.7 percent from deep. The Jazz led by as many as 44 points and ultimately prevailed 132-93.
Sure, it was a preseason game so the results have to be taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, considering the youth and less than frightening nature of Sacramento’s starters and lack of talent among the reserves, I think it was a pretty accurate depiction of what we could very well see in this regular season bout.
The likes of De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, and the currently injured Bogdan Bogdanovic (his absence will be an extreme blow) are dazzling young talents that may have a bright future. But for now, expect the Kings to be outmatched all season long, beginning with Wednesday’s opening contest against the Jazz.
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<p>— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/10/13/utah-jazz-2018-19-week-one-outlook-predictions/2/"https://twitter.com/hoopshype/status/1050795985415344128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>In the Warriors’ first game of 2018-19, they host the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team many experts have pinned above the Jazz this year, so those two contests should serve as a nice measuring stick between three teams that expect to challenge for top spots in the West.</p>
<p>In all honesty, I think the Jazz can win this game. The Warriors will want to get off to a good start, but let’s be real, they don’t exactly start caring all that much until the postseason comes around. Meanwhile, the Jazz are bringing a cohesive bunch with a lot to prove that will want to establish a habit of defending home court from the get-go. Not only that, but Utah dominated Golden State in the regular season last year, and we could see those winning ways put into practice once again this time around.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I unfortunately am going to have to go with the Warriors picking up the W in this one. The Jazz may very well challenge Golden State throughout the season, but with the 2018-19 campaign being so new, I think we’ll see an excited and focused Warriors team that will be too much to top. It’s no secret that they’re the most talented team in the league, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them pull out this early win over the Jazz on Friday.</p>
<p>Regardless of the outcome, though, I think we’ll see a close one as two giants in the West seek to set the tone and assert their dominance in this early matchup.</p>
<p><strong>My Prediction: Warriors Win</strong></p>
<p><strong>Final Score: Golden State 107, Utah 102</strong></p>
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<p>So it may not be the most exciting way to start the season, but I’m pinning the Jazz at a pedestrian 1-1. However, when you start out against one of the best teams the league has ever seen, logging an early loss is nothing to be ashamed of. If the Jazz fall on Friday, you can still bet that they’ll put together an impressive 2018-19 campaign.</p>
<p>Not only that, but I could very well be dead wrong. A motivated, improved and deep Utah Jazz squad could very well come out firing on all cylinders and bring the hammer down on the Warriors. Let’s hope that such is exactly the case and it’s myself and my predictions that start out 1-1 instead of the Jazz.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">