NBA: Utah Jazz VS Los Angeles Clippers Pick and Predictions 11/06/2022

Game: 10:15 PM ET,  Sunday, November 6th, 2022

Venue:  Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass

Jazz: 7-3, 2nd place Western Conference

Clippers: 5-4, 8th place Western Conference

DraftKings:  Point Spread: Clippers -3.5; O/U 221

PointsBet: Point Spread: Clippers -3.5; O/U 221

Fanduel: Point Spread: Clippers -3.5; O/U 221

Jazz: SF Lauri Markkanen, PF Kelly Olynyk, C Jarred Vanderbilt, SG Jordan Clarkson, PG Mike Conley

Clippers: PF Marcus Morris SR, SF Paul George, C Ivica Zubac, PG Reggie Jackson, SG Norman Powell

An NBA Western Conference matchup between the two biggest surprises of the 2022-23 season.  The Utah Jazz got rid of their two stars of the last several seasons in SG Donovan Mitchell and C Rudy Gobert… the return was pieces and picks.  Everyone and their mother assumed this meant a rebuilding year with the ultimate goal of landing the #1 pick in the NBA draft.  Yet after 10 games played the Jazz are 7-3 for second place in the Western Conference, they have resurrected the star potential of PF Lauri Markkanen… and they have found a shot blocking machine in rookie C (and bench player) Walker Kessler who they got for the 20th pick in the draft…. But it is more than that.  With Donovan Mitchell gone the role of team star is up for grabs… and not just Lauri Makkanen has thrown his hat into the ring.  SG Jordan Clarkson is playing better, PG Mike Conley is playing better, combo guard Collin Sexton who came over from the Cavaliers with Makkanen has had some big games after missing all of last season with injury.  The magic of “addition by subtraction” is that sometimes a team gives up or loses a star player (Donovan) and suddenly all those role players get a chance to have the ball once and a while… The results can be staggering.   The Los Angeles Clippers were favored by Vegas to win an NBA Championship this season because they were so deep and competitive at the end of last season while 3 of their star players were out with injury… the thinking was take a deep and competitive team and add three star high scoring players (Leonard, George, and Powell) and the result must be the best team in the league!  However… the reverse of “addition by subtraction” is of course “subtraction by addition”... and that is exactly what has happened in Los Angeles.  When Kawhi returned along with Paul George, Norman Powell, and new addition PG John Wall… the team no longer needed to play those gritty role players that had made them competitive last season.  And suddenly… they aren’t what we imagined.  Gone is the heart.  Gone is the grit… Grit is sitting alongside Terrance Mann and Nicolas Batum on the bench.  Unfortunately SF Kawhi Leonard is once again experiencing knee pain in his surgically repaired right knee… Kawhi is again on the bench without any idea of when he will return…. And true to the Clipper form.. with Kawhi out of the line-up… They have won 3 straight games.  It may be time for the Clippers to sit down with Kawhi and discuss a medical retirement.. Paul George is enough of a star to lead the team… and Mann and Powell could use the shot at being a permanent part of the starting line-up.

The Utah Jazz are screwing up their chances at landing C Victor Wembanyama with the #1 pick in the NBA draft in the best possible way.  They are winning.  The Jazz beat the Los Angeles Lakers 130-116.  This band of nobodies took down LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis and had fun doing it.  PF Lauri Makkanen had 27 points, SG Jordan Clarkson had 20 points, and Collin Sexton had 17 points.  The kids had fun.  The Lakers made it a game during a 3rd quarter run that almost tied the score… but the Jazz pulled away again and never got too worried.  The Jazz are also getting real actual stats and minutes from NBA journeyman Kelly Olynyk… who has been folded into so many trades over the last 5 seasons that even his family isn’t quite sure who he plays for.  The Jazz are good.  For real good. And the Jazz are fun.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won 3 straight games.  It directly correlates with Star player Kawhi Leonard being out with more knee trouble.  This can not be stated loudly enough.  Kawhi hasn’t played in a year… he didn’t look like himself in the 4 games he did play.. And now he is out again with more pain in that same knee.  The Clippers best path forward is to prepare this team for every step of the season as if Kawhi WILL NEVER PLAY for them again.  That is the only responsible thing to do.  If Kawhi does return to the roster at some point.. HE MUST ONLY BE A BENCH PLAYER.  Kawhi’s health is important, but the team’s health is also important. Moving forward to a lineup that plays Norman Powell and possibly Terrance Mann more is a healthier path for the Clippers.  They beat the Spurs in their last game 113-106 while getting 32 points from Paul George and having 5 other players score in double figures.  The Clippers are deep.  Before that they beat Houston and before that they beat Houston.  So they have won 3 straight games against two of the league's worst teams. Still better than losing any of them.

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Our prediction for Sunday, November 6th is….  Clippers 117 - Jazz 114

The Key to betting the Clippers is understanding that Kelly Olynyk will be forced to try and stop Paul George. When that doesn’t work?.. The Jazz will shuffle and reshuffle defensive adjustments.  That is exactly what happened in Utah’s losses to Denver and Dallas.. A 30 point a game type all-star overwhelmed the Jazz from one spot.   Bet on the Clippers.

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The Jazz are 7-1 ATS as an underdog this season.

The Clippers are 1 OVER and 5 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 this season.

Jazz: SG/PG Collin Sexton.  Collin Sexton is shaking off a lot of rust since missing all of last season. The year before that he was a 20+ ppg starter for Cleveland… he looks like he will return to that level of production… which may force a trade of PG Mike Conley by the trade deadline.  

Clippers: C Ivica Zubac.  Often overlooked C Ivica Zubac is a 10 ppg, 12 rbs guy.  He is not the best Center in the league but he is a rock for the Clippers.  

Jazz: Will “I forgot my ID” Hardy

Clippers:  Ty “Will Kawhi ever play for me?” Lue