DAY THIRTY-ONE - The Spurs flexed their muscles and dominated the Jazz in game one with stifling defense and big games from Ginobili and Duncan. Facing the prospect of going down 0-2 to the relentless Spurs, the Jazz need to steal a win tonight in San Antonio.

Jazz at Spurs, 9:00 PM, ESPN
Winner: Spurs
Thoughts: I'd like to be defiant. I'd like to stubbornly say that this will indeed be that close series I predicted, and all the naysayers doubting the Jazz's chances against the Spurs were wrong, but I've been quickly bitch slapped back into submission by a tremendous game one performance by the Spurs. After going six games against the run and gun Warriors, the Jazz got a shock when faced with the Spurs defense, and players like Boozer especially struggled. Furthermore, dealing with Tim Duncan down low also proved a problem for the Jazz. Duncan went 9-15 from the field for 27 points, and generally looked like he had an easy enough time against the Jazz defenders. Contrast that with Boozer who, despite a decent 20 point game, seemed out of rhythm. The 108-100 score makes it seem closer than it was, the Spurs were clicking on all cylinders and players like Kirilenko and Okur seemed to revert back to their non-factor selves. Deron Williams played great, and the Jazz did rally slightly towards the end, but game one proved that San Antonio is not about to take Utah lightly even for a second.

Neither of these teams falter of fluctuate much, so I expect to see a lot of same tonight, except for maybe a better performance from Boozer, but Kirilenko and Okur I can't be sure about, thus I'm taking San Antonio. Spurs win.

* all times Eastern

Jordan's Playoff Picks so far:
40/66 - 61%

Tomorrow's game:
No games.