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If you read my bibley joke in the name of this Downbeat correctly, you know that Mo Williams will return to the Jazz tonight:
Utah Jazz: Mo Williams expects to play tonight at Cleveland soa.li/EeifHsK
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) March 6, 2013
Truth:
We just need @mowilliams to score at least 2 points tonight and we should be good.
— Kris (@5kl) March 6, 2013
From Jody's article:
While Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin wouldn't say who will start in Big Al's place — Derrick Favors or Enes Kanter — he did mention that Williams will be in the first five if he's able to go.
Uh oh. I mentioned Favors and Kanter, and Corbin not knowing who would start. Begin 300 comments... now. I guess it doesn't really matter who starts the game, its who finishes.... oh i did it again.
It will be interesting to see how the Jazz's young bigs match up agains the Cavs' also young bigs. From last game:
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | +/- |
| Tristan Thompson | 38:07 | .556 | .667 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -5 |
| Tyler Zeller | 37:41 | .500 | .500 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | -17 |
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | +/- |
| Reserves | MP | FG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | +/- |
| Derrick Favors | 24:39 | .636 | .714 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | +5 |
| Enes Kanter | 17:45 | .875 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | -4 | |
| Team Totals | 240 | .500 | .765 | 46 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 109 | |
Pretty good production from Kanter and Favors, in limited minutes.
This game should be taken very seriously if this Jazz squad hopes to eek their way into the playoffs. The Lakers lost last night, so this is an opportunity to gain a game. Currently the playoff picture has the Jazz in 8th place, just 2.5 games ahead of the Lakers, and on a collision course with the Spurs... again. Sporting News has a pretty good bit about just how tough the next few weeks are for the Jazz. Scroll to the bottom of the article here (The paragraph about the Jazz, not the woman who pulled off a replica of the Kate Upton swimsuit issue cover. Focus, people)
If you missed it, and want to relive the Jazz loss to the Bucks, here is a great article by SBN's own Mike Prada, wherein he breaks down the late defensive lapses that lead to J.J. Redick torching the Jazz in OT:
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/5/4067034/jazz-vs-bucks-jj-redick-nba-playoff-race-2013
Finally, watch out for the PG rotations tonight. Mo is back, but will definitely be on shortened minutes for a few weeks. In addition, Tinsley is back from the funeral of his good friend and Rucker Park baller Ali Moe. We have seen how much Watson has struggled the last couple of games. We've also seen how JT was struggling before Watson moved to the starting lineup. Burks has been holding his own and with the Cavs bring Shaun Livingston off the bench at 6'7", this might be a good place for Burks.
**UPDATE**
Tyler Zeller will return for Cleveland Cavaliers against Utah Jazz, but Dion Waiters, Daniel Gibson out:... bit.ly/10fxgpE #cavs
— M.S. Boyer/J. Valade (@PDcavsinsider) March 6, 2013