Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz Preview: Injuries, How to Watch

The Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of a really choppy travel schedule. After playing at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, they traveled to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Tuesday. Now it’s back at home against Utah on Friday, then it’s on to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. Then back home for the Spurs, then away for the Suns, home for the Nuggets and then off to San Antonio. Crazy. Part of that is due to post-tournament scheduling, but it’s a pretty difficult stretch of play that has the Blazers having to cover big miles multiple times just to play a single home game.

The Utah Jazz stumble into town after losing five straight and nine of their last 10. On Tuesday, they were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder 133-106. The only thing the Jazz have going for them right now is that they are in a prime position to land a top draft pick in what is considered a very strong draft class. Unless management screws it up.

Portland Trail Blazers (8-14) vs. Utah Jazz (4-17) – Fri. Dec. 6 – 7 p.m. Pacific

How to watch via antenna or cable: Check out your options on the Rip City Television Network

How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else

Trail Blazers injuries: Donovan Clingan, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III (out); Scoot Henderson (questionable)

Jazz injuries: Taylor Hendricks, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Filipowski (out); Micah Potter (questionable)

SB Nation partners: SLC Dunk

Reader questions about Blazer’s Edge

Max Kirchner:

What is the worst genre of jazz?

NBA franchise.

Conspirator5:

As bad as the Blazers have been this season, we already have twice as many wins as the Jazz. Have jazz fans reached the point of pitchforks and torches yet? Who do they blame?

Honestly, my reading of the situation is that fans are, by and large, relieved that they seem willing to get a high draft pick rather than make a trade to push them into mediocrity. However, management may have other ideas (see “What others are saying” below).

Kodiak62:

The Utah Jazz last made it to the WCF in 2007. What is your prognosis if they make a return visit?

2050? I just don’t see a path forward until they land high draft picks for several seasons – and then they have to strike. As Blazers fans know, it’s not easy, but so far the Jazz aren’t really trying.

Is there a state with less live jazz music than Utah? (Alaska: “Hello? I’m here. Am I not a state?”) And is there any chance New Orleans will ever get the name back?

Salt Lake City is not nearly as square as some might think. There is even talk of a “thriving” jazz scene. As for the name, I just don’t see any change. The club has had too much success and the name is too deeply rooted in Utah to make such a change. It’s a bit like the Lakers. It’s not that there aren’t lakes in Los Angeles, but lakes are pretty low on the list of what everyone thinks of when they think of the city.

Thanks as always for the questions!

What you should pay attention to

Will Utah show up? The jazz is really, really bad. That doesn’t mean they’ll choose the Blazers. The Jazz might take a look at their game plan and realize that the Blazers might be one of their better chances to win. The Blazers, on the other hand, have a rare opportunity to play against a team that is clearly superior to them. Will they come out with some fire or will they sleepwalk? I wouldn’t bet against the Blazers in this game, but the chances of a very ugly game are non-zero.

What others say

Zach Harper of The Athletic (subscription required) summarizes the jazz so far:

Shouldn’t the Jazz be competitive early before taking over the tank for Cooper Flagg? Maybe this team isn’t that talented.

Will jazz simply embrace evil? Maybe not if this report from Shamit Duas Substack is some clue. You really wanted Brandon Ingram?

Multiple league sources have told me that the Pelicans and Jazz were deep in negotiations that fell through due to Ingram’s lack of desire to re-sign in Salt Lake City.

Since jazz is terrible, Michael Scotto from Hoopshype Look at who might be on the trading bloc.

Due to collective bargaining agreements, star striker Lauri Markkanen cannot be traded until the offseason at the earliest after he signs his contract extension. With that in mind, all eyes are on Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Collin Sexton.