Utah vs. New Jersey Prediction Thread

[InNETSweTrust]

<font size="2">Season Stats:</font>

New Jersey:

PPG: 88.5 Opp PPG: 88.5
FG%: .431 Opp FG%: .433
RPG: 39.2 Opp RPG: 41.6

Utah:

PPG: 92.3 Opp PPG: 91.2
FG%: .454 Opp FG%: .435
RPG: 41.9 Opp RPG: 35.9

<font size="2">New Jersey's Concerns/ Utah's Strengths:</font>

1. Somebody rebound that ball! Their highest performer in this department is K-Mart with 9.6 per game. He'll need help against the trio of Harpring (8.1 rpg), AK47 (7.8 rpg) and Ostertag (9.0 rpg)
2. K-Mart is coming off a 12 and 5 performance against Memphis. Jefferson with 4 points and J-Kidd with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
3. Jason Collins and Richard Jefferson are listed as questionable for this game. Luscious Harris is probable. Kittles needs to step up big time!
4. They are coming off one of the most embarrassing losses ever. Morale surely is very low.
5. AK47! He's had two 5 x 5's. That's 5 or more numbers in 5 positive statistical categories.

<font size="2">Utahs's Concerns/ New Jersey's Strengths:</font>

1. Carlos Arroyo against a battle-tested Jason Kidd.
2. Kittles (who's seventh in the league in steals) defending Stevenson (who's averaging 11.7ppg).
3. The Nets fastbreak. If they keep Ostertag in the game, they'll have difficulties catching up with NJ's big men capable of running as well.

<font size="2">Key Match-Up:</font>

Kerry Kittles:
11.7 ppg
3.6 rpg
2.7 apg

DeShawn Stevenson:
11.5 ppg
2.9 rpg
1.7 apg

Now I could've picked K-Mart vs. AK47 as the key match-up. However, this match-up will spell a great difference. With R-Jeff, Collins and Harris's injuries, Kittles needs to step up big time in order for New Jersey to win the game. I don't see any way for New Jersey to win this one if they don't take this road. Kittles needs to shut down this guy and score around 20 points (more if K-Mart doesn't deliver) to have a chance.

<font size="2">Prediction:</font>

I'd love to pick New Jersey as the winner. However, let's be realistic. Injuries will play a great deal. Even if the they play, they'll have a hard time against the healthier Jazz team. Morale in the NJ camp is low and I don't see things changing anytime soon. I'm expecting another dominating performance by AK47 and New Jersey as usual will lose because they'll give up too many rebounds. Utah by 10+ points.

<font size="2">On a Side Note:</font>

Utah has won four in a row over the the Nets, 16 of the last 17 and eight straight trips to New Jersey.

nba.com preview

 

[Stockton]

This should be an interesting game, Utah are playing a day after a loss to the Wizards and Jerry will be letting them know about it. They normally play well after a loss but it is the day after. NJ are coming off a bad loss and both teams want the win bad. I think this game will be won or lost at the PF spot between K-Mart and AK47 but Ostertag will have a big game for Utah and Utah win by 6.

 

[Henacy]

Great Job in nets we trust, I personally think we are going to come together as a team tonight & put on a great preformance against on of the league's scrapiest teams. I think Harris will have one of his better games of the season. A Will has to step up as well.