Oct 3, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) and forward Ed Davis (17) during the third quarter at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
10/25 Utah at Portland
8:00 pm MT – Root Sports/League Pass
Opponent record: 0-0
Season series: Tied 0-0 (Jazz lost preseason 0-2)
As was already mentioned, Utah starts out the season against a divisional foe that has become all too familiar, particularly over the last month during preseason. The Jazz faced the Blazers twice in October with a loss coming in both the road and home contests.
Of course preseason and the regular season are two completely different animals, so assuming that the Blazers are significantly better than the Jazz based on those two games is likely not accurate.
Nevertheless, Portland does boast one of the best backcourt duos in the league in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, along with an onslaught of athletic talent and, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most underrated coaches in the league in Terry Stotts. So there’s no questioning that this is a formidable team.
Despite being picked to finish among the bottom of the league last season following LaMarcus Aldridge’s departure, Lillard, Stotts and Co. were able to carry the Blazers to the fifth seed in the West and into the second round of the playoffs.
And while last season was great for the Blazers, there’s several indications that this year could be even better. Thus, an undermanned Jazz team might have a rough go opening on the road against this savvy and skilled team. Not to mention, the Moda Center which is almost always filled to capacity is one of the toughest places to play in the league.
For the Jazz to have a chance, the likes of George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Dante Exum will have to have an exceptional defensive game and make life miserable for the Blazers’ backcourt.
On offense, Utah will need Rudy Gobert to step up big time (particularly if Favors is absent) in the match-up against Mason Plumlee, something he did rather well in preseason, finishing with 10 and 15 points in the two match-ups in limited minutes.
Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks the shot of Portland Trail Blazers forward Mason Plumlee (24) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
In both preseason contests, the Jazz kept it close, but ultimately the Blazers pulled away and triumphed. I expect a similar result in the season opener, considering the Blazers level of talent and the challenges facing Utah in terms of injuries and adapting to new players.
My Prediction: Blazers Win
Final Score: Portland 96, Utah 91
recent Deseret News article</a>, he had a very accurate quote:</p>
<p><em>“It doesn’t mean we can’t win; what it means is your margin for error becomes very, very small, and I think that’s where we are.”</em></p>
<div class="pullquote">
“It doesn’t mean we can’t win; what it means is your margin for error becomes very, very small, and I think that’s where we are.” – Quin Snyder
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<p>So although there has been a lot of hype and high expectations surrounding the Jazz going into this season, there’s also a very good chance that they face some bumps along the way, especially early as they attempt to deal with injuries and cohesion among new teammates.</p>
<p>However, if they can minimize their margin of error as Coach Snyder said, they could still keep themselves afloat in a difficult Western Conference.</p>
<p>Because even with a potentially difficult start, there’s no reason the Jazz can’t reach their elevated potential by midseason once players come back healthy and team chemistry has reached its apex. So while Jazz fans may have to temper their expectations somewhat during the season’s early-going, they by no means should get discouraged in the opening months.</p>
<p>With that being said, let’s take a look at the three Utah Jazz contests in the opening week of NBA regular season action and how the team will likely fare.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/10/24/utah-jazz-weekly-predictionspreview-week-1/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 10/25 Utah at Portland </a>
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worst loss of his career and tied the Lakers’ worst-ever franchise loss</a> with a breathtaking 123-75 victory.</p>
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<p>Although the Jazz probably won’t put up that kind of a win this time around, I do expect an exceptional performance and a convincing victory in the home opener. Not only will the Jazz be out for revenge, but they’ll be playing their first real game on their brand new court in front of an amped-up audience that has been long anticipating the start of this new year.</p>
<p>The game will be a Blue Out for those attending the game at Vivint Arena, and for those who will be checking out the game from the comfort of their couch, blue apparel is definitely still welcomed as well.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wear BLUE for home opener. Plus BLUE Edwards, BLUE glow stick giveaway, BLUE sleeved pride jerseys, BLUE T-shirts, and BLUE carpet entryway. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/10/24/utah-jazz-weekly-predictionspreview-week-1/2/"https://t.co/sXEgBLyYPt">pic.twitter.com/sXEgBLyYPt
<p>— Utah Jazz Doing Good (@JazzDoingGood) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/10/24/utah-jazz-weekly-predictionspreview-week-1/2/"https://twitter.com/JazzDoingGood/status/789852242568327169">October 22, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>With the up-and-coming Jazz out to prove themselves in front of 19,000+ passionate Jazz fans while taking on a young, rebuilding and Kobe-less Los Angeles Lakers team that has a long ways to go before they re-enter the contender conversation, I’m expecting a big win for the Jazz in this one in which they’ll set the tone on their home court for the season.</p>
<p><strong>My Prediction: Jazz Win</strong></p>
<p><strong>Final Score: Utah 101, Los Angeles 83</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/10/24/utah-jazz-weekly-predictionspreview-week-1/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Utah at Los Angeles Clippers 10/30 </a>
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5 Utah Jazz players make ESPN’s Top 100 for 2023-2024
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</ul>
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<p>So with my somewhat optimistic view, I have the Jazz starting out the season at 2-1, with a close loss to the Blazers, a big win at home over the Lakers and a narrow victory on the road against the Clippers. Sunday’s game is the one I feel iffiest about, so I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Utah start out 1-2.</p>
<p>While the injuries are certainly an unpleasant surprise, it will give the Jazz reserves a chance to prove their mettle. If they can step up to get the team off to a good start in the first week of the season, it will work wonders for the whole team’s confidence moving forward.</p>
<p>How do you think the Jazz will fare in Week 1 of the 2016-17 NBA season? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/10/24/utah-jazz-weekly-predictionspreview-week-1/2/"https://twitter.com/jwdcx2336">Twitter.">