Jazz vs Trail Blazers: 3 Storylines to Watch

On Saturday night, the Utah Jazz play the Portland Trail Blazers at home in what’s been an eventful preseason. Plenty of questions still need answers, with the first regular season game less than two weeks away.

What should Jazz fans keep an eye on heading into Utah’s home opener? Let’s examine.

Closure on Starting Backcourt

I have a hunch that the starting backcourt in tonight's game will be the dual that begins the game when Utah faces the Sacramento Kings on October 25.

Jazz head coach Will Hardy has chosen to go with Talen Horton-Tucker and Collin Sexton in the first two games, but he also hinted the next three games will be more telling on how it shakes out.

“As a staff, these next three days at home are going to be important to really kind of put our flag in the sand and say, 'Hey, this is how we're going to go at the beginning of the year," Hardy said.

It’s that time to start refreshing your social media feeds as we approach tip-off tonight. Answers are coming soon.

Where’s the Love for the Rookies?

Summer League sensation Keyonte George has gotten some run in Utah’s first two preseason games, but what about Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh?

The pair of first-round picks appear to be destined for the G-League to begin the season. Hendricks has only logged 17 minutes in two games, while Sensabaugh has yet to see the court.

Is this the game where Sensabaugh makes his Jazz debut? Does Hendricks get to share court time with some of the regulars? It’s a development to keep a close eye on.

Does New Acquisition John Collins Get More Involved?

Utah shelled out big bucks when they traded for Collins from the Atlanta Hawks earlier this summer. Collins scored only eight points on nine shot attempts over his first two contests in a Jazz uniform.

You’d expect more volume from a player that’s on the books for 26 million this season. Does Hardy make a conscious effort to get Collins more involved? Utah’s long-term success this year partly hinges on Collins being a big part of what Utah is able to do in their offensive half-court sets.

The tip-off for tonight's game is 7:00 MT.

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