Jazz vs. Nuggets 4/25/10

Deron Williams looks to lead the Utah Jazz to a 3-1 series lead tonight as the Jazz host the Nuggets

Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz

NBA Western Conference Playoffs, Round One, Game Four - Jazz lead series 2-1

April 25, 2010 at 9:30 pm ET - EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT (TNT)

The Line: Utah -2.5  Over/Under 213

The Nuggets hope their second time out at the Energy Solutions Arena will be more positive, after getting worked for quarters 2-4 in game three in Utah. 

The Jazz executed some great screen offense on Friday night in Utah in addition limiting Carmelo Anthony, and were able to coast to a 105-93 victory.   Kenyon Martin was able to make some noise on the glass, grabbing 13 rebounds, but couldn't get going offensively with just 1-7 shooting.  Five Jazz players scored in double figures compared to Denver's two, and game three was all Jazz.

Denver will try to regroup and avoid the 3-1 hole that could make advancing to the second round a difficult goal to obtain.  Kenyon Martin should produce more tonight after a game to shake off some rust.  JR Smith will need to be lively for this Denver bench if offense will decide their road fate.  The Nuggets have shown little commitment to the defensive side of the ball, and stopping Deron Williams and Utah's crafty screen plays will be difficult.  If the Nuggets want to win tonight on the road, they'll simply need to fire on all cylinders and outscore the Jazz.

The Jazz look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, and perhaps buy some time for Andrei Kirilenko to rejoin them in the next round.  They were gelling at a high level on Friday, and the home court advantage that propelled them to a 32-9 record there during the regular season became quickly apparent.  Flustering Melo and forcing him into foul troulble was a huge key to their success.  Deron Williams looks to be the best point guard in the league right now, and with Boozer by his side and Paul Milsapp stepping up, the Jazz look to be a tough force to contain in Salt Lake City.

Denver is a strong enough team to come out and push to even the series tonight.  Utah is a difficult place to play, and the Nuggets will hope to combat the crowd noise and intensity of the Energy Solutions Arena fans to hit fire scoring.   Since Denver's best ammunition is scoring a lot of points, and I expect them to come out firing tonight (against a Utah team that can score themselves), I think we see this total go over tonight.  With totals of 239, 225, and 198 through the first three, it would seem that scoring is in decline in this series.  But I think tonight's game mirrors games one and two more closely than game three, simply due to the fact that I expect a much improved game out of Denver tonight.  They may be struggling to gameplan against the Jazz without George Karl, but if the Nuggets get hot they can still light up the scoreboard with the best of them.

Brian Fitz's Pick: Over 213

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Nuggests and Jazz
written by Debbie @ Happy Maker, April 25, 2010

Mitch from where I am sitting it would be nice if the Nuggets could pull this off. How ever I not sure the Nuggets can do it. I think it hurt them when the coach got sick and had to take leave.

As they say it isn't over until it is over, so maybe!!!!!!
Debbie

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