Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz 4/8/21 - NBA Picks & Predictions

A couple of likely playoff teams in the Western Conference will do battle when the Portland Trailblazers travel on the road to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have been a surprise dominant force, they had a 9 game win streak snapped with a road loss to Dallas, but still have the best record in the NBA at 38-12. The Trailblazers fell on the road to the Clippers 133-116, dropping to 30-20, and are 6th in the Western Conference. 

Utah has been just a dominant team on both ends of the floor, they’re averaging 116.9 points per game ranking 3rd in the NBA in scoring offense. A lot of that thanks to their ability to shoot the three, the Jazz are second in the NBA in three-point shooting at 39.5%. The only weakness, if you can call it that, is from inside the arc where the Jazz shoot 46.8% from the floor.

A lot of the success of the Jazz offense relies on Donovan Mitchell, he’s averaging 25.4 points per game on 39.6% from three. Mitchell is second on the team in assists dishing out 5.4 per game. The offseason addition of Mike Conley has been a huge boost, he’s averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 assists per game on an efficient 42.1% from three. 

Portland is also a dynamic offensive team that can pour it on an opponent when they’re rolling, they come in averaging 115.2 points per game ranking 5th in the NBA in scoring offense. It has been far from efficient, they’re shooting 44.6% from the floor ranking 26th but have shot the three well coming in 38.2% from beyond the arc, 6th in the NBA. 

Portland has a potent scoring backcourt with the star-power of Damian Lillard, he’s averaging 29.2 points per game whilst shooting 38% from beyond the arc. He’s a volume shooter but is also a key distributor dishing out a team-high 7.7 assists per game, 9th in the NBA. CJ McCollum is the second option, but one of the best second scoring options in the NBA averaging 23.8 points on 45.1% shooting.

The weak point of this Portland team is clear, and it’s their defense that is allowing 115.2 points per game ranking 27th in the NBA in scoring defense. The Trailblazers have allowed opponents to shoot 48% from the floor, 29th in the NBA, and just haven’t been able to defend the paint as they hold teams to 37.3% from three.

Utah is a great defensive team led by a dominant defender in center Rudy Gobert, they’re allowing 107.2 points per game ranking 3rd in the league in scoring defense. They’re holding opponents to just 44.7% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc, ranking 2nd in both. Gobert is blocking 2.9 shots a game and pulling down 13.2 boards, both rank 2nd in the NBA.