Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks

Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA

When: Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): AT&T Sportsnet – Rocky Mountain, Fox Sports Southeast | 92.9 The Game, 97.5 FM, 1280 AM The Zone.

Utah Jazz (Away)

Head Coach: Quin Snyder {All-Time 218-180 | UTA}

The Utah Jazz are making a serious case to climb to the top of the Western Conference. With a record of 41-29, the Jazz are seventh in the West but are just three games back of the Houston Rockets who are third. A half game separates them from the Oklahoma City Thunder who are just above them in sixth place.

The Utah Jazz have put on an impressive run of matches in order to come back into the competitive half of the Western Conference. Over the last ten games, the Utah Jazz are 7-3. A recent four-game run has propelled them into the position to overtake their divisional rivals the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Utah Jazz will face off against a revitalized Atlanta Hawks squad who has, comparative to their record, played well since the All-Star Break. The Jazz will have to contain the Hawks’ electrifying duo of Trae Young and John Collins if they hope to take a match from the home squad.

Atlanta Hawks (Home)

Head Coach: Lloyd Pierce {All-Time 24-47 | ATL}

The Atlanta Hawks currently sit twelfth in the Eastern Conference. With a record of 24-47, the Hawks are still mathematically capable of making the NBA Playoffs, but it seems an inevitability that they become lottery bound. Regardless, the Hawks have shown some promise in this losing season.

The Atlanta Hawks are 4-6 in their last ten games. Despite a losing record overall, they’ve taken some impressive games from the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Lakers. While they’ve been dominated by superior teams in certain match-ups, the Hawks have been able to grind out wins expected of more veteran teams than themselves.

When the Hawks take on the Utah Jazz they will be taking on a club motivated to take another win to climb up the Western Conference ranks. The Jazz have the advantage over the Hawks at almost every position, but the Hawks should be able to challenge the Jazz’s 28th ranked shooting pace with their own up-tempo play.

What’s At Stake?

The Atlanta Hawks and the Utah Jazz maintain a rather competitive all-time series. Over 76 regular season games, the Atlanta Hawks lead the Utah Jazz 40-36.

A win for the Jazz would bring them level with the Oklahoma City Thunder who are sixth in the West.

A win for the Hawks would leave them exactly where they are in the Eastern Conference table.

Questions to answer

Can anyone slow down Gobert?

How will the Hawks face their difficult schedule?

We are going to compare the Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

Rudy Gobert Was Named Western Conference Player of the Week

For the first time in his career, Rudy Robert was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year and French international averaged 16.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while leading the Jazz to an impressive 3-1 record.

Gobert was rightfully disappointed at the news he wasn’t an All-Star this year. This season Gobert is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals while owning his lowest turnover rate since he was a sophomore. He’s had brilliant performances against the Suns (18 points and 20 rebounds) and the Nets (23 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks) to solidify his status as one of the leagues most fearsome big men.

The Atlanta Hawks are not a team that maintains the personnel that can stop Rudy Gobert in the paint. The combination of length and strength in the paint are almost unmatched in the NBA. If the Jazz can orchestrate an offense that can service Gobert in the pick-and-roll, expect him to dominate once again.

Atlanta Has The Second Toughest Remaining Schedule

The young Hawks may not be eliminated from the playoff race yet. However, with Atlanta’s remaining schedule it is very likely the team will finish the season on a low note. Of their eleven remaining games, the Atlanta Hawks will face teams with an average win rate of .608. Second only to the Brooklyn Nets.

They will be tested to their limits, despite realistically having nothing to play for the remainder of the season. They lost a slow game to the Orlando Magic on Sunday, who are still fighting for a playoff spot. If the Hawks can’t compete with the hungry teams left in their schedule, it’ll be a rough last month.

Trae Young was the only Hawk to show up in their last match, posting 20 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes of play. Usual force on the inside John was incredibly quiet by his standards, totaling only 10 points and 7 rebounds in just 20 minutes. Both players are needed for the Hawks to be competitive, especially against a Jazz defense led by Rudy Gobert.

Utah Jazz Roster Notes

G Dante Exum – 15 Mar 2019 – Out (Right Knee Pain) – An MRI revealed a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and will be out indefinitely according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

F-C Derrick Favors – 18 Mar 2019 – Day To Day (Hamstring) – Favors left Monday’s (Mar 18) game and will not return.

Atlanta Hawks Roster Notes

F-C Miles Plumlee – 18 Mar 2019 – Out (Left Knee Pain) – Plumlee has been ruled OUT for Tuesday’s (Mar 19) game.

F Alex Poythress – 18 Mar 2019 – Out (Right Ankle Sprain) – Poythress has been ruled OUT for Tuesday’s (Mar 19) game.

F Omari Spellman – 3 Mar 2019 – Out (Left Ankle) – The Hawks announced Spellman will miss at least the next four weeks.

Head-to-Head: Ricky Rubio (UTA) vs Trae Young (UTA)

The leading playmakers of their respective clubs, Trae Young and Ricky Rubio, will be key factors in this matchup. Their teams run smoother with them at the helm and have been known to struggle without their offensive creation. Their production will be a key factor in each teams success.

Ricky Rubio

Point Guard | 6-4, 190lb (193cm, 86kg) | Spain | Exp. 7 Years

12.6 PPG | 6.1 APG | 3.7 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 2.8 TOV | .395 FG% | .315 3P%

Since his return from injury on March 13th, the Minnesota Timberwolves are yet to lose a game. In the two matches Rubio missed, the Jazz lost by nine and ten. With him out of the lineup and sole playmaking duties falling to Raul Neto or Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz struggle. He may not be a massive threat from three, but Rubio is such a crafty and intelligent playmaker that he is one of the Jazz’s most indispensable players.

Trae Young

Point Guard | 6-2, 180lb (188cm, 81kg) | Oklahoma | Rookie

18.4 PPG | 7.7 APG | 3.6 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 3.9 TOV | .415 FG% | .335 3P%

While Trae Young may just fall short of the rookie of the year award, he has certainly made his case in the second half of the season. His shooting has improved and his playmaking sense has become almost telepathic with John Collins on the court. He is still a liability on defense, but Young has shown that he may very well be the Curry-esque point guard he was touted as coming out of college.

Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks Predictions and Odds

The oddsmakers have the Utah Jazz favored over the Atlanta Hawks by 7, with an over/under of 110.