The Jazz are primed for a run. The team's defense is the pits so far, and
Jerry Sloan still has a ways to go in order to flesh out a rotation he's
comfortable with, but this is still a sleeping giant.
Utah's
played 32 games, but 17 of those have been on the road,adidas Superstar 3G, and they're about to
start a four-game homestand. The team has the ninth-best record in the Western
Conference, but they also boast the sixth-best point differential,
and that's significant. All signs point to a team that is getting over a
significant injury, still figuring out how to fit three new faces (a
suddenly-included Andrei Kirilenko, second-year wing Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver
and his nice teeth) into the rotation, and ready to get back to where they
belong.
Now,Adidas ClimaCool Running Shoes, "where they belong" isn't among the top two or three teams in the West,
and (again) this team's defense is still pretty lousy, but this is a team that
is better than its record, and the Jazz should have a field day against a Pacer
team that will give up on defense for stretches (in spite of their average
overall defensive standing) and likes to take it easy on opposing defenses by
putting up a lot of shots.
"Should" have a field day. Let's see if it happens. This is a 20-point win
for the Jazz if they get it right, but it's on Sloan's bunch to see it through.
Reminder: We'll have a liveblog running during Thursday night's action.
Second reminder: Chicago's
Chris Duhon is shooting 5-35 since being inserted into the starting lineup.
Utah: 18-17, 92.5 possessions per
game (9th), 112.6 points scored per 100 possessions (4th),
109.3 points allowed per 100 possessions (24th).
Indiana: 16-19,adidas Originals Formel 1, 96.6 possessions per game (2nd), 105.8 points
scored per 100 possessions (14th), 106.8 points allowed per 100
possessions (13th).
Related: Game to pay attention to
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