Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon
When: Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Utah Jazz (+6) vs. Portland Trailblazers (-6); total: 193.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: KGW / RTRM+
Writer’s Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers (-6)
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Betting on the Utah Jazz (+6)
The new NBA season hasn’t even started, but the Utah Jazz will already be playing shorthanded in Opening Night. They’ll be without their go-to scorer Gordon Hayward (finger) and probably even power forward Derrick Favors (left knee), who missed the team’s final five preseason games and was limited in their final practice.
Given this situation, the Jazz are expecting their three new veterans in Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw and George Hill to carry a heavier load for the time being. So far, Hill’s been the only one designated as the starter, but Johnson’s bound to get the nod as Hayward’s temporary replacement.
On the bright side, Utah should be able to compensate for their lack of firepower through defense. In fact, their defense, which ranked among the best in the league last season, will likely give them a bunch of second-chance points or a few more possessions that could help them steal one on the road against the favored Trail Blazers.
Moreover, center Rudy Gobert is Utah’s defensive anchor for a reason. He has the length, athleticism and mobility to keep any opposing player from getting any easy layups or jumpers near the paint. But if Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum or any other Portland perimeter player find their outside touch, the Jazz are in deep trouble, especially if they struggle to make their own baskets.
Utah has lost five of its last 10 visits to Portland, going 4-3 ATS in that stretch.
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers (-6)
Damian Lillard wants to be the MVP this season. And what better way to begin his bid for it than leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a victory over the visiting Jazz tonight.
Lillard, without question, is one of the most lethal offensive machines in the league right now. He’s increased his scoring in every season. Last year was his best campaign thus far, racking up scintillating numbers of 25.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 6.8 APG. What’s more, the Utah defense has barely found a way to limit him as the two-time All-Star guard is posting at least 23 points per contest across 15 career games in this matchup.
Apart from Lillard, making the Portland offense (105.1 PPG in the 2015-16 season) scarier is C.J. McCollum, last season’s Most Improved Player. He can be just as deadly as his backcourt mate, most especially if he gets his stroke going. McCollum averaged 20.0 PPG and shot 41.7 percent from the three-point line in the previous year, including 26.3 PPG through four meetings with the Jazz.
As much as how easy it was for Portland to light up the scoreboard, its defense also made scoring easy for opponents, however. The Trail Blazers ranked among the bottom in the league in points allowed per game (104.7), so there’s a fair chance that we might see them on the wrong side of an upset if they continue to give away points.
The Trail Blazers have won their last 15 regular-season openers.
Writer’s Prediction
Portland (-6) wins and covers.
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