The Utah Jazz (4-4) tip off against the Orlando Magic (4-5). It's the second night of a back to back for the Jazz, and also the third game in four nights for them. The Orlando Magic have had the night off yesterday, and are finishing up a small two game homestand. I honestly am just not into "it" right now. Both teams feature rising young stars for the French basketball team, Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier. Not only are they BFFs in the NBA, but also have to be downcast today because of the on-going terrorism that's taking place in Paris right now. It's too much to actually follow the heartbreaking information that's coming out over the internet.
It's awful.
Doing bad things is bad. But sports shines a different light, the competition and excellence of human nature. Tonight there is a game.And it's a game that should help us forget the more serious things we have to face.
No Rodney Hood for the Jazz, and no Dante Exum either. Rudy Gobert is still a game time decision. For the Magic we won't see Victor Oladipo, Jason Smith, or C.J. Watson.
We are going to see an interesting match-up between Elfrid Payton and Raul Neto / Trey Burke. But most people will rather focus on the inside play. Orlando has stretch ability with Channing Frye (and Aaron Gordon and Tobias Harris). They also have size with Nikola Vucevic. It would be a good challenge for the evolving Jazz bigmen Derrick Favors, Gobert, Trey Lyles, and Trevor Booker.
However, if Utah's going to win this game it's going to need continued excellence from Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks. Fournier, Mario Hezonja, and Roy Devyn Marble are not all at their level. Fournier is great, and will be playing with motivation tonight. He has the ability to fill it up.
He will be a tough cover.
But again, my heart is not into this game with what's happening all around the world right now. And for that I apologize. Utah should win this, especially with Oladipo being out. But you never know.