NBA Saturday– Nuggets-Jazz Preview

While the Super Bowl odds are gaining attention across America, so are the Utah Jazz. Coach Jerry Sloan’s team has won 11 out of its last 12 games to creep within just two games of the Northwest Division lead. A ballclub that was fighting for its playoff life now finds itself in the top four of the Western Conference standings. It all makes for a five-star showdown as the Jazz host the Denver Nuggets, the Northwest Division leaders, this Saturday evening in Salt Lake City.

Nuggets @ Jazz

Saturday, Feb. 6

Bookmaker Odds (Bookmaker Review): No line (as of yet)

Whereas NFL betting picks have been thrown into confusion on the eve of the Super Bowl because of the health status of Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, the outlook for Nuggets-Jazz should not be too clouded. Yes, Denver will have a very frail Carmelo Anthony on the bench. The dynamic superstar – if he plays at all (and that’s not a certainty) – won’t be hugely effective, and that immediately represents a big plus for Utah.

On the other side of the injury divide, the Jazz haven’t suffered without their leading scorer and rebounder, Carlos Boozer (19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds). Despite Boozer’s absence over the course of the past three games with a strained right calf, Utah has simply stayed the course. Sloan’s roster is continuing to work very hard at the defensive end of the floor, and with point guard Deron Williams handing out stacks of assists – as was the case in a 13-assist effort on Wednesday against Portland – the Jazz are making sweet music in their halfcourt offensive sets.

Just how hot is Utah’s offense right now? The Jazz haven’t scored under 100 points since a 97-96 win against Cleveland on Jan. 14. A great many NBA observers had them dead and buried in mid-December, but the sons of Salt Lake City have persevered long enough and hard enough to shake off a miserable Autumn and enjoy the fruits of their labors in winter.

For the Nuggets, the outlook isn’t so rosy, despite the fact that coach George Karl’s squad sits in second place in the Western Conference. Whereas Utah has thrived without Boozer, Denver has struggled in Carmelo Anthony’s absence.

The Nuggets split their past four games and are still reminding themselves what it’s like to perform when big No. 15 is unavailable. On some days – such as a Jan. 31 rout of San Antonio – a role player (Kenyon Martin, with 27 points and 11 boards) has managed to take charge in place of Melo and lead Denver to a richly satisfying victory. On other days, this emotionally unpredictable team from the Mile High City did nothing at the offensive end of the floor and displayed precious little resilience against credentialed foes.

Utah might lack Boozer, but it seems that Denver misses Melo to a much greater extent. The fact that Utah is rested, and that Denver will be playing this game one day after taking on the Los Angeles Lakers, should enable the Jazz – relatively free from jet lag and stress – to thump Denver on Saturday night.

Online basketball betting pick: Jazz