Wolves at Utah GDT

[60WinTim]

It's a bit early, but Horton just posted a clip from shoot-around this morning. Rudy was did not look dressed for practice and was not shooting. My guess is he is out for tonight.

So, who is your favorite to get some spare minutes in the frontcourt tonight? Luka? Leonard? Minott?

I am kind of surprised the Wolves have yet to make a move to beef up the frontcourt with KAT out.

The Wolves are in pretty good position to secure a top-3 seed - an important endeavor to avoid playing the #5 seed in the first round, which is likely the Pelicans. That #5 seed will be whoever is playing the best out of the Pelicans, Kings, Mavs and Suns.

Of course, it starts with winning these two games in Utah!

[Wolvesfan21]

Garza time though he was in street clothes last game. Does he have a little injury also?

I wouldn't rule out the 1 seed. Though the Nuggies will be tough to beat when we are hampered by injuries. We got three against them I believe, so that series will largely determine if we can get a top 1-2 slot. Of course you got to take care of business against Utah to have that matter.

[FNG]

Beating a team twice in the span of 3 days is tough to do, but Utah seems to be much more focused on draft position than winning ball games. Before last night's close win over Atlanta, their only 2 wins in the previous 13 games were against bottom dwellers Washington and SA. Lauri, Clarkson and Dunn didn't play last night, and I don't expect they will tonight. Maybe Rudy doesn't play and we have to survive Naz and Luka on defense, but I think we have enough to beat a bad Jazz team that won a close game last night against a team playing without it's first, third and 6th highest scorers.

Gotta win these next two, because traveling to play at home against Denver Tuesday is going to be a challenge.

[FNG]

Garza time though he was in street clothes last game. Does he have a little injury also?

I wouldn't rule out the 1 seed. Though the Nuggies will be tough to beat when we are hampered by injuries. We got three against them I believe, so that series will largely determine if we can get a top 1-2 slot. Of course you got to take care of business against Utah to have that matter.

You're right that the 3 games remaining against Denver will be critical, WF, but the schedulers have not been kind to us in this instance. 2 of the 3 games are in Denver, and we are on the back end of a back to back in two of them also. I think we would finish first if somehow we were able to sweep all three games, but right now I'm forecasting 3 losses. Nothing is impossible though, and wouldn't it be fun to sweep the Nuggets!

[FNG]

Haha, now John Collins is resting tonight too...so 3 of the Jazz's top 4 scorers will be out tonight.

[Q-is-here]

Haha, now John Collins is resting tonight too...so 3 of the Jazz's top 4 scorers will be out tonight.

These games still scare the hell out of me though because the guys Utah does play are probably all fighting for their next contract or want to move up a spot in the rotation. They tend to play their asses off and have nothing to lose.

[kekgeek]

Officially no Rudy tonight. Has not practiced and not playing against Utah is not a good sign

[Q-is-here]

Officially no Rudy tonight. Has not practiced and not playing against Utah is not a good sign

Not having Rudy or KAT means Finch has to go to the complete other end of the spectrum in how the team plays. Play smaller, play faster, pack the paint a bit more to help Naz and Garza out defensively, etc.

[FNG]

Haha, now John Collins is resting tonight too...so 3 of the Jazz's top 4 scorers will be out tonight.

These games still scare the hell out of me though because the guys Utah does play are probably all fighting for their next contract or want to move up a spot in the rotation. They tend to play their asses off and have nothing to lose.

Yeah, I always have the same fear, Q. But then again, these young hungry Utah guys haven't been winning, even though they are playing hard. They beat Atlanta last night, but the Hawks were missing most of their stars. I just don't think the Jazz have enough talent to hang with us tonight...even without Rudy and KAT.

Nice tribute for Conley before the start of the game!

[Q-is-here]

There's that deceleration move Tim likes!