Portland Trail Blazers open final stretch against Utah Jazz

Tonight at 6:00 p.m. PST, the Portland Trail Blazers start the final stretch of the season on the road, visiting the Utah Jazz. The Trail Blazers went into the All-Star break on a two game winning streak and have won four of their last five games. The Jazz have lost three of their last five but have been highly competitive. The game can be seen on CSNNW and heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM.

The Trail Blazers were active before yesterday’s trade deadline, as were the Jazz. The Trail Blazers acquired Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a few beloved Trail Blazers. We have seen the last of Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, and Victor Claver in Portland. The addition of Afflalo and Gee might not be the blockbuster deal fans were hoping for but it does seem to add skill and depth to the bench.

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Both new additions will likely not play tonight in Utah. The long delay from Trail Blazers’ basketball makes this game seem like the start of a new season, which is exactly the mindset the Trail Blazers should have. Aldridge, Lillard, and Matthews all participated in the 2015 NBA All-Star weekend and should be feeling eager to continue their pursuit of another successful season. The extended break allowed players to rest and no one will benefit more than Batum. A lingering wrist injury has hindered his play all season and hopefully the rest helped get his body and mind right. He was sporting a noticeable tan at Wednesday’s practice.

As mentioned, the Jazz also head into tonight’s game missing a few pieces due to the trade deadline. The Jazz sent Enes Kanter and Steve Novak to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Jazz got Kendrick Perkins back in the trade but are planning to buy out his contract, making him a free agent. Kanter had grown increasingly disgruntled with the organization and requested to be traded. Although the loss of a 22 year-old near 7-footer hurts, it does open the door for Gobert to have a permanent spot in the starting lineup. We’ll see if the trade pays off for the Jazz in the long run.

This will be the second meeting of the season (and month) between the Trail Blazers and Jazz. The first game was back and forth from start to finish. The Trail Blazers held on for a narrow 103-102 victory at home. Hayward lead the Jazz with 27 points while Lillard lead the Trail Blazers with 25 points. That was the first game back from injury for Lopez, who’s absence had a far greater impact than many thought.

There are a couple of matchups that will have an impact on the game. The first has to be at the small forward position. If there is one thing Batum needs to do tonight, it’s figure out a way to contain Hayward. All the focus is on his offensive struggles but he may receive a boost with some solid defense that leads to easy transition buckets. Hayward was playing very well before the All-Star break, recording 30+ points in two of his last three games. He nearly recorded a triple-double in each of his last two.

Feb 3, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez (42) reacts after being fouled by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

The center matchup could prove to be important as well. Lopez has been very productive in the pick-and-roll game since he’s been back. He has scored double-digit points in every game since his return, and the pick and roll game with Lillard has looked much better when Lopez is setting the screens. Gobert is a very talented young player and will get his chance to prove that he’s a valuable piece now that Kanter is out of the picture. Over his last six games, Gobert has averaged 7.2 points and 7.8 rebounds while playing reserve type minutes. His biggest flaw is his tendency to get in foul trouble. The Trail Blazers should attack him in the paint in hopes of getting him benched early.

The Trail Blazers will need to come out strong and confident after the lengthy break. If they can contain Hayward and get off to a fast start, while winning the battle in the low-post, they should be in position to win the game.

Next: Arron Afflalo: A perfect fit for the Blazers' bench