All the buzz this past summer when NBA free agency began was Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s decision to join the Brooklyn Nets. While Nets fans certainly have reason to be excited for the future, their season has not gotten off to the start that they had hoped for after landing arguably two of the top five prized free agents this year. Especially after their strong play at the end of last season that pushed them into the playoffs.

The Nets (4-5) have looked like a team that is still trying to figure out how to manage enormous expectations while at the same time trying to gel with a new team dynamic of having a “go to” star in Irving on the roster. That doesn’t mean that they will just roll over and hand the game over as they have had some impressive wins this year so far. Their most recent win on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard’s 60 points shows just how resilient and tough this team can be.

The Jazz (7-3) on the other hand, while not making as big of a splash, are looking like they may have signed the most underrated free agent of the offseason in Bojan Bogdanovic. Things have not always been pretty in this young season but the Jazz find themselves with as good of a start as they could have hoped for in the tough Western conference.

The team has started to gel and the players on the team seem to be more comfortable in their new roles. Mike Conley is averaging 18.2 points and 3 assists with and eFG% of 54.3% in the last 5 games and Bojan Bogdanovic is averaging 21.8 points per game with and efficient eFG% of 59.4% for the season.

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Game Info

When: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 • 7:00pm MT

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena • Salt Lake Ciy, UT

TV: AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain

Radio: 97.5 FM | 1280 AM The Zone

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Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Mountain Mike vs Uncle Drew

The key matchup in this game will be Mike Conley vs. Kyrie Irving. Conley has always been an underrated defender and it will be interesting to see if he can slow Irving down. That task will be easier said than done as Kyrie has been having a monster season so far, but at least the Jazz have their defensive anchor Rudy to prevent some of Irving’s fanciful, dribble penetration moves that makes him such a dangerous scorer.

Kyrie Irving has gotten the best of Mike Conley in past matchups, but Mike Conley has tended to do better at home when playing against Kyrie. However, does Utah feel like home yet to Mike? We’ll soon see. The benefit of rest for Kyrie and the effects of a back to back for Mike should not be overlooked.

Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

Will offensive rebounding play the heel tonight?

The Nets are without Caris Levert in this game but are still a very tenacious team with good rebounders all around. With the well documented struggles the Jazz have with rebounding so far this season (though on this Jazz winning streak, they have not reared their ugly head), it will be key for the team to players like DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen (who has the league’s best fro) away from the offensive glass. According to Cleaning The Glass, the Brooklyn Nets are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league, BUT there’s a catch.

DeAndre Jordan has been horrendous on defense this year. Yeah, he’ll attack the offensive glass, but he’ll give up a lot more for that offensive rebounding. When Jordan steps onto a court, his team gives up 10.3 points per 100 possessions more points on the defensive end and scores 13.5 less points per 100 possessions on the offensive end. That’s a swing of -23.9 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass. If Utah can get Jarrett Allen in foul trouble, Jordan walking off the bench will be the sweetest of Jazz tunes.

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Mandatory Highlight

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Game Thread Ground Rules

Welcome to the SLC Dunk Game Thread.

Dunkers know how this thing works, but for you lurkers ready to make the jump to Dunker, we have a few guidelines. Remember to follow our community guidelines (no swearing, trolling, excessive use of Jerry Sloan’s name in vain, no personal attacks, no debates about Utah liquor laws, etc.). Remember to have fun. Anyone who dare blasphemes that Tim Duncan was a Power Forward (this means you, Pounding the Rock), Ben Simmons can hit threes, Gordon Hayward should not be booed, Exum Island isn’t a 5-Star resort, Donovan Mitchell is Monta Ellis 2.0, men should never cry, or John Stockton is not the best point guard of all-time will receive an automatic ban. Just kidding. But seriously.