Super Bowl Sunday is now only two days away and everyone is weighing in on the Super Bowl odds and their NFL picks. With all the hype surrounding the big game, it can be easy to miss some interesting matchups that could be possible playoff previews in the NBA. This Saturday the Utah Jazz host the Denver Nuggets in a battle of two underrated hot teams.
Denver Nuggets (33-16, 2nd in Western Conference) @ Utah Jazz (30-18, 4th in Western Conference)
Betting Services (*note lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing)
Spread: Jazz -1.5
Over/Under: 205
Money Line: Jazz – 140, Blazers +110
Key Matchups
PG: Chauncey Billups vs. Deron Williams
Chauncey Billups was named to the western Conference All-Star team as a replacement for the injured Chris Paul (out 4-6 weeks with knee surgery). Billups played through a loss to a tough Phoenix team with a strained ankle and couldn't get his shot going (5-14, 11 points and four assists). Billups should be fine and said he will play in this matchup. Billups is averaging a career high 19.4 points a game and has become the leader of this Nuggets team.
Deron Williams is also an All-Star and has played exceptionally well this year (18.9 PPG, 9.7APG, 4.0 RPG). The Jazz are 11-1 in their last 12 games and Williams play has been a big part of that. He is both an excellent facilitator and defender while being a fierce competitor
Advantage: Even
SG: J.R. Smith vs. Ronnie Brewer
Smith is usually this team's sixth man, but with an ankle injury to Carmelo Anthony sidelining him for another game, Smith will either get the startor play the majority of the minutes at the two-guard spot. Smith is a top-notch athlete with great dunking and shooting ability. He takes chances on defense and sometimes lets his emotions control his play. Smith has been much improved in those areas however, compared to previous seasons.
Ronnie Brewer is a long defender at the two guard spot and is one of the game's better young role players. Brewer averages ten points a game but is not asked to be a primary scorer. His size matches up well with the offensive minded Smith.
Advantage: Even
SF: Arron Afflalo vs. Andrei Kirelenko
Afflalo has been a revelation coming over from Detroit for spare parts. Afflalo was an All-American at UCLA but his game allegedly didn't translate very well to the next level. Well Afflalo has shown he has superior on-court awareness and has become an excellent shooter and a sneaky good defender. His play in Melo's absence has really kept the Nuggets ship sailing upright.
AK-47 may not be the top defender that he once was, but can still guard most opponents very well especially on the post. Melo is the type of offensive player that AK would have a tough matchup with, but Afflalo is a little smaller and doesn't have the moves to shake and bake this cagey veteran defender consistently on his home court.
Advantage: Jazz
PF: Kenyon Martin vs. Carlos Boozer
K-Mart has seen his career revitalized in the past couple of seasons with Billups passing him the ball and running the court. Martin is still an athletic defender and a big banger down in the paint. He also plays well in the transition offense and is a better shooter than many believe (47.5%).
Carlos Boozer will likely return to the Jazz lineup after sitting out three games with a tweaked hammy this past week. Boozer has once again had a terrific season and he's one of the best low post players in the game. He has nice range on his jump shot and has to be covered from just inside the perimeter. He also is a very good passer with 3.3 assists a game to go along with 19 points and 10 rebounds a contest.
Advantage: Jazz
C: Nene vs. Mehmet Okur
Nene has been solid for the Nuggets this season and has really come into his own as a center in the NBA. Averaging 14 points and 8 boards a game while shooting an impressive 58% from the field Nene is almost always a factor in the game. His play can sometimes be erratic and he doesn't have much range to his shot but most teams in the NBA would kill for a big man like Nene.
Memo Okur is a unique type of center. Memo does not play primarily from down low like most centers as he is a very good outside shooter (44% FG, 40% 3PT). Okur is coming off an 11-13, 28 point night against a very good Blazers team and looks poised to do the same against a team that does not have size on the perimeter.
Advantage:Jazz
Bench: Ty Lawson, Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Malik Allen, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman vs. Paul Millsap, C.J. Miles, Ronnie Price, Kyle Korver, Wesley Matthews
Both teams' benches have players that can make big impacts in any game. Rookie PG Ty Lawson has picked up right where he left off at UNC and has been scary good in his time subbing for Billups. Birdman adds flair and shot-blocking to a team that is already strong in the paint.
Jazz PF Paul Millsap is one of the league's best bench players year after year and will likely get a chance to start soon. Kyle Korver is a sharpshooter from three and can change a game's momentum with the flick of his wrist.
Advantage: Even
Prediction: The Jazz have a great home record (21-6) and while the Nuggets are a strong team, without Carmelo Anthony, they are not elite. I like the Jazz to hold off the Nuggets in a high scoring affair.
Final: Jazz 116 – Denver 108. Take the Jazz and the over.
