It’s possible we experience a yawn or two during the Utah Jazz vs. Philadelphia 76ers game this evening, but if I see an opportunity to add money to my wallet, who am I to argue?
Utah Jazz vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Betting on bad teams isn’t the most fun way to spend a night, but when a pair of struggling squads face off, any semblance of a positive trajectory is worth considering, especially when one team assumes a significant underdog role.
To say the 76ers have mailed it in is undershooting things. This team has lost 12 of their past 13 games, and while they aren’t the only team losing in bunches, their lack of effort on the defensive end is there for the whole world to see.
- Last 16 games: 123.5 rating
- 16 games prior: 1118.8 rating
- 16 games prior: 111.3 rating
Nobody is going to argue that the Jazz are going to light it up on a per-possession basis, but at the very least, they are trying to execute a plan. Over the past eight games, the Jazz has increased their pace by 4.5% from their 20 contests prior and that is a trend I’m willing to invest (lightly) in when facing this version of the 76ers.
Tyrese Maxey continues to sit, and that means games like Thursday night in Boston (34.7% of their shots came from Kelly Oubre Jr. or Lonnie Walker IV) are likely to continue. The argument here isn’t that the Jazz possess superior talent, but do they not have at least as much upside on their active roster?
I honestly don’t know, and that’s the point. The players being asked to carry the offensive workload on both of these rosters are unproven at best, and that creates a wide range of potential outcomes.
Jazz Injury Report:
OUT – Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)
OUT – John Collins (low back – injury management)
OUT – Elijah Harkless (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)
OUT – Walker Kessler (rest)
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (low back -…
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 8, 2025
I’ll embrace that variance when I’m catching a touchdown and fading a team that hasn’t shown many signs of life since the All-Star Break. Philadelphia has won twice over the past five weeks – one was a two-point win over Dallas in a weird scheduling spot and the other was the never-forgotten Quentin Grimes 44-piece (24 shot attempts) against the Warriors.
It’s easier to take this bet to the window if you view it as a wager against the 76ers, as opposed to one on the Jazz. Yes, Utah is tanking at a high level, but we don’t have much evidence that the 76ers are capable of beating anyone right now, let alone by margin. I’ve published a lean for the Cavaliers/Bucks game if you want to invest in a more high-profile game today – but why not do both?
Pick: Jazz +7