Statistical Showdown: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Utah Jazz

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Jan 14, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Alonzo Gee (33) and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) and center Tyler Zeller (40) fight for the rebound during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-118. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off of a big win in Portland, the Cleveland Cavaliers finish up their current West Coast road trip against the Utah Jazz at the Energy Solutions Arena on Saturday. The Cavaliers, statistically, are a worse team than the Jazz, but I think this game is closer than the statistics indicate below.

Statistics

	Points	Points Allowed	Assists	Assists Allowed	Rebounds	Rebounds Allowed
Cavaliers	95.0 (22^nd)	100.4 (25^th)	19.3 (29^th)	23.1 (25^th)	41.5 (21^st)	42.2 (17th)
Jazz	98.4 (11^th)	98.6 (19^th)	22.8 (9^th)	21.0 (t-8^th)	42.4 (14^th)	40.9 (14^th)

Advanced Statistics

	Offensive Efficiency	Defensive Efficiency
Cavaliers	98.8 (t-98.8)	106.5 (28^th)
Jazz	103.5 (10^th)	104.2 (23^rd)

Four Factors

	eFG%	Free Throw Rate	Turnover Rate	Offensive Rebound Rate
Cavaliers	46.4% (25^th)	19.4 (22^nd)	13.6 % (10^th)	29.6% (7^th)
Jazz	48.6% (16^th)	23.2 (5^th)	14.1% (21^st)	29.9% (6^th)

Players to Watch:

Cavaliers

1. Kyrie Irving

2. C.J. Miles

3. Tyler Zeller

Opponent

1. Al Jefferson

2. Paul Millsap

3. Mo Williams

Key Matchup: Tristan Thompson and Zeller versus Jefferson and Millsap will be an interesting matchup to watch Saturday night. With Jefferson and Millsap being the Jazz’s best players it will be up to Thompson and Zeller to hold their own on the inside. I have full confidence in Thompson, but we will see about Zeller. Jefferson, although smaller, will provide a tough test for the rookie.