Holding out hope

Though nothing is set in stone quite yet, it’s looking more and more like the Jazz might open this year’s NBA playoffs in a No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed first-round Western Conference matchup with the Houston Rockets.
Just like last year.
And ‘ at least for now ‘ the Jazz, just like last year, do not hold homecourt advantage.
But with three regular-season games remaining for both teams, including the Northwest Division-champion Jazz’s tonight against Denver and a Utah-Houston meeting on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena, there remains a chance that that still could change.
Jazz point guard Deron Williams, for one, is holding out hope it will.
‘We’ve got three more games,” Williams said, ‘and one of them’s against Houston, so we can catch a game right there, and hopefully they lose to somebody else.
‘If we win (the season series with Houston), we’ve got the tie-breaker,” Williams added. ‘That’s the way I look at it.”
Houston (54-25) currently holds a two-game lead over 52-27 Utah, which is guaranteed a top-four seed ‘ but not homecourt advantage ‘ by virtue of winning its division.
The Jazz’s other regular-season game is their finale, coming Wednesday night at San Antonio.
Houston’s other two: Sunday night at Denver, and Wednesday night at home vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.

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