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'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and I couldn't be bothered to write a lot for this game. The Utah Jazz aren't a great road team, but you have to win the games that are being handed to you. The Oklahoma City Thunder were thinking Championship, but with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook out they sit last in the Western Conference, and 2nd last in the league right now.
They are on a six game skid and would love to win one before Turkey day. The Jazz have lost three in a row, and aren't feeling that good about themselves either.
Starters:
- Trey Burke vs. Reggie Jackson
- Alec Burks vs. Andre Roberson
- Gordon Hayward vs. Lance Thomas
- Enes Kanter vs. Serge Ibaka
- Derrick Favors vs. Steven Adams
Honestly, when our guys are clicking (like what we saw in the preseason), I think our team is pretty dag good. I really haven't watched a lot of Lance Thomas in my life, but I think G-Time should have a 'return to form' game against him. His last five haven't been that impressive.
Bench:
- Dante Exum vs. Sebastian Telfair
- Joe Ingles vs. Jeremy Lamb
- Steve Novak (?) vs. Anthony Morrow
- Trevor Booker vs. Nick Collison
- Rudy Gobert vs. Kendrick Perkins
The Jazz have mostly been going 9 deep since Rodney Hood went down, and I presume that they will probably do so again tonight unless there is some monkey business. Their bench has more experience, our guys are more freaky. Dante is a huge guard who is quick. Trevor Booker is super fast and thick. Rudy Gobert is as long as The Shums' downbeats. (IN a good way!) But in terms of NBA resume, their side has done some nice things out there. Obviously, their bench would look even better if they didn't have to start some of their better bench players.
Oh well.
Utah's bench has been very quiet this season, so I like them, but think that OKC's guys will play a larger role in this game.
Intangibles:
They are at home, and injured. We are on the road, and playing against a ref who historically calls a lot of whistles on our squad.
Derrick Stafford, Mark Lindsay and Eli Roe will work up their Thanksgiving appetite by officiating #UTAatOKC tonight. @slcdunk
— BC (@bjcseven) November 26, 2014
Will be interesting to see % of calls vs Utah Stafford makes (who I've always thought to be a "Jazz hater" as much as a ref can be) @slcdunk
— BC (@bjcseven) November 26, 2014
In the only Jazz game Stafford has worked this year, he made 70% (7/10) of his foul calls against the Jazz. @slcdunk #RefNerd
— BC (@bjcseven) November 26, 2014
Yup. That could be the game right there. We'll see though.
Fearful Prediction:
Alec Burks continues to shoot poorly, and doesn't get to the line much in this game. Also I am going to have gastric distress from Thanksgiving dinner.