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Tonight the Utah Jazz need to get their butts and brains in gear, and break out of a two game losing streak. After all, you're not going to make the playoffs in the West by going 1-2 every week from here on out. They will have a tough task as they start their four game road trip against the 3rd team in the East, the Boston Celtics. (It doesn't get much easier as they face the 2nd best team in the East in the next game . . . but whatever.) The Jazz beat the Celtics last time they played in a closer than we hoped for match in the #801. The Celtics will be looking to even up the score with a win tonight. Boston has a 34-11 lead on the Jazz in their gym, and really it's never been an easy place to win. Utah can take some solace in that they have a win already on the proverbial, nascent beasts of the East. They were swept last season by the Celtics.
It's a Butler University reunion as Brad Stevens, the head coach of the Celtics, gets to go up against two of his players from that NCAA Championship game team -- Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack. Aside from those pleasantries, we have the connection between Jared Sullinger and Trey Burke who were high school team mates. I don't know how tight those guys are now, but the friends you have from a young age are usually the ones you keep.
Boston has won three of their last four, and are looking for their third in a row. It should be a tough game on the glass. Utah will be without Trevor Booker, Boston without Kelly Olynyk. The Jazz will also be without Dante Exum, Alec Burks, and Tibor Pleiss. Tibor isn't injured, he's just in Idaho.
It's going to be something to see Shelvin go up against the All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas. Jae Crowder (son of former Jazzman Corey Crowder) going up against Gordon Hayward will be fun. But really, I want to see our bigs Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert have good games against Amir Johnson and Sullinger. Our bench needs help. Theirs? They have some weapons.
I am hoping for a win. But I could be wrong.