W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Utah Jazz

NyDailyNews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 30th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz

Pre Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be playing the Utah Jazz on Saturday night looking to bounce back from a rough blow out loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, where they were beaten easily 109-87.

- Starting to Slip Away


The Atlantic Division is the goal for the Nets to try and hop their rivals the New York Knicks, and hopefully at the same time grab the second seed in the Eastern Conference, but that is starting to slip away from the Nets. The New York Knicks are now on a seven game winning streak, and even though that the Nets aren’t playing bad right now the Knicks are starting to pull away, and the Nets now trail them in the division by three and a half games.

- They are playing for Something Too

The Utah Jazz were able to pick up a big win on Friday night on the road in Portland against the Trail Blazers, and with that win they move back into the 8th seed in the Western Conference with the tie breaker over the Los Angeles Lakers. Like many other West Coast teams the Nets have played on this road-trip the Jazz are a completely different team at home, as they are (26-9) at home, and (11-27) on the road. Utah will certainly be motivated in this game, as their shot to make the playoffs is very much still alive, and for them every game means something.

- Williams Return

Deron Williams will be heading back to Utah, where he played for five full seasons before getting traded to the then New Jersey Nets. In Williams’ first trip back to Utah last season he did not play very well, as he shot just three of 15 from the field in a Nets loss. His stats overall against his former team haven’t been very good, as in three games he is only averaging 15.7 points per game, and is shooting under 35%. Williams has been playing very well since the All-Star break, and there will sure to be some boo’s for him, so he maybe motivated to try and have a big game against his former team.

- The Joker

Reggie Evans has come alive for the Nets in the last two games, with back to back big double-doubles. Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Evans had probably the best game of his career with 22 points and 26 rebounds. To follow up the 20-20 game Evans played very well against the Nuggets, a he had 15 points and 16 rebounds. The Jazz frontline is very big and tough with Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, so it will be interesting to see if Evans can replicate his previous two great games.

This game is another big one for the Nets, as the Jazz will give them a tough game on their home court, but for the Nets one big positive is the Jazz don’t like to run, which are the teams the Nets have played well against this season.