Game Thread Jun 08, 2021 08:00PM MT: Jazz vs. Clippers - Game 1

[NAOS]

It’s hard to use the regular season matchups against the Clippers as a model for how this series will go because they really only played one or two games against one another at full health. The better model would be to look at how we played against PHX, since they, too, have two masterful playmaker-scorers that like to operate out of the midrange.

Go back and watch those games. You can literally see—very plainly—Booker catch the ball beyond the 3pt line, surmise that a 3pt shot is not readily available, and then choose a spot in the midrange that he wanted to get to. The bottom line is that he got to that spot pretty much all the time. And we know what CP does.

The jazz will need to give Kawhi and PG different looks. I expect to see some more zone. I hope the jazz get more physical and get LAC deeper into the shot clock + off their preferred spots. They need to make the refs blow the whistle and establish the physical limits. If LAC is hitting a high percentage of threes (as they do) or gliding into the midrange with 12 seconds left on the shot clock.... then we are not in good shape.

 

[infection]

Added to all of this: they’re going to go small and pull Rudy out of the paint as much as possible.

If they hit consistently from outside (which they can), then this could work well for them. If they go cold for any duration of time, however, this could get ugly quick. But if they're pulling Rudy out to make him ineffective in the paint, then my out of the box counter would be having Rudy go man-to-man on Kawhi.

 

[infection]

It’s hard to use the regular season matchups against the Clippers as a model for how this series will go because they really only played one or two games against one another at full health. The better model would be to look at how we played against PHX, since they, too, have two masterful playmaker-scorers that like to operate out of the midrange.

Go back and watch those games. You can literally see—very plainly—Booker catch the ball beyond the 3pt line, surmise that a 3pt shot is not readily available, and then choose a spot in the midrange that he wanted to get to. The bottom line is that he got to that spot pretty much all the time. And we know what CP does.

The jazz will need to give Kawhi and PG different looks. I expect to see some more zone. I hope the jazz get more physical and get LAC deeper into the shot clock + off their preferred spots. They need to make the refs blow the whistle and establish the physical limits. If LAC is hitting a high percentage of threes (as they do) or gliding into the midrange with 12 seconds left on the shot clock.... then we are not in good shape.

I'd say the biggest difference, which is what ultimate has made the back-breaker against Phoenix, is that they don't have someone throwing lobs to an Ayton with each contest. This is countered by better/more three point shooting, though. But the most deadly issues for us against Paul has been the midrange combined with the Ayton/Capela lob that puts Rudy in no-man's land.

 

[NAOS]

I also wonder if we won’t try a few stunts like we have against Westbrook’s teams and against Dallas this year—i.e. have Rudy “guard” their weakest 3pt shooter. This allows him to play as a Giannis-esque defensive rover.

 

[NAOS]

If they hit consistently from outside (which they can), then this could work well for them. If they go cold for any duration of time, however, this could get ugly quick. But if they're pulling Rudy out to make him ineffective in the paint, then my out of the box counter would be having Rudy go man-to-man on Kawhi.

I certainly wouldn’t rule that out. But I don’t think it’s likely to be a good option for more than a few possessions. It might be a good wrinkle, though.

 

[NAOS]

I'd say the biggest difference, which is what ultimate has made the back-breaker against Phoenix, is that they don't have someone throwing lobs to an Ayton with each contest. This is countered by better/more three point shooting, though. But the most deadly issues for us against Paul has been the midrange combined with the Ayton/Capela lob that puts Rudy in no-man's land.

Zubac isn’t a lob threat, but he can punish you on the offensive glass very much like Ayton did.

 

[Alpy]

 

[Alpy]

We need a really good Joe game.

 

[framer]

Listening to a lot of the national people, most of the people who actually know who Georges Niang is are giving the Jazz proper respect.

 

[Jingled]

 

[Jingled]

The last 3 times we've made it to the second round we've had to start the series without our starting point guard. This year with Conley, 2017 with George Hill (toe) and 2018 with Rubio (hamstring). I believe Hill and Rubio both missed the entire series. Just really tough luck.

 

[NUMBERICA]

We need a really good Joe game.

Need.