Game Thread Jun 12, 2021 06:30PM MT: Jazz at Clippers - Game 3

[NAOS]

So, here's the thing, though. If he isn't back until the WCF is that because they're going to risk it and sit him expecting Utah to still win or is he unable to play atm?

If it's the latter, and Utah either wins this series Monday or Wednesday (so sweep or in five), and the Suns sweep the Nuggets, will he be ready to go for game one of the WCF, which could be as early as Wednesday?

If he's not, if he still needs at least a week to heal, do we want to wrap up this series so quickly with the Clippers knowing we could be playing the first two games of the WCF without Conley?

If the LAC series goes 6 or 7, it becomes more challenging, for sure, and more risky for the Jazz to lose, but could mean a fully healthy Conley if they advance.

If that's the reality here, Conley really needing more time to rest, then a quick series with the Clippers could put the Jazz in a 0-2 hole vs the Suns before he even returns.

You don’t tank playoff games for any reason.

 

[framer]

Watch Bojan tonight. Clips are going to throw the kitchen sink against Mitchell tonight. Bojan has been straight killing it, looking like he did in that stretch last year where he was superhuman. He has no fear of the Clippers or Kawhi either. He's gonna get off 20 shots this game.

 

[Sean]

You don’t tank playoff games for any reason.

I never said tank, tho?

I only pointed out how we're all cheering for a quick series but it may be advantageous for the Jazz, if Conley really isn't good to go, to have this series go longer so they can get him fully healed up before the WCF.

Clearly, I'm hoping Utah wins today and Monday to sweep the Clippers but no doubt, a quick series end could also mean opening the WCF without Conley and that scares me more than the Clippers series going six or seven games.

 

[Gameface]

I never said tank, tho?

I only pointed out how we're all cheering for a quick series but it may be advantageous for the Jazz, if Conley really isn't good to go, to have this series go longer so they can get him fully healed up before the WCF.

Clearly, I'm hoping Utah wins today and Monday to sweep the Clippers but no doubt, a quick series end could also mean opening the WCF without Conley and that scares me more than the Clippers series going six or seven games.

This series going 7 games means that we might not even play the Suns. It also means that the Clippers have fully taken over the momentum in the series.

No thanks.

This series going long scares me more than starting the next series without Conley. The more of these intense, physical and emotional games the Jazz play the bigger the chance that it'll be more than just Conley on the injured list.

 

[jazz4life1992]

I never said tank, tho?

I only pointed out how we're all cheering for a quick series but it may be advantageous for the Jazz, if Conley really isn't good to go, to have this series go longer so they can get him fully healed up before the WCF.

Clearly, I'm hoping Utah wins today and Monday to sweep the Clippers but no doubt, a quick series end could also mean opening the WCF without Conley and that scares me more than the Clippers series going six or seven games.

The Jazz should ABSOLUTELY try to end this series as quickly as possible. You cannot think about things like that at this point.

You do realize the NBA wants more than anything a Nets-Clippers Finals right? You cannot let this thing go long to 6-7 games if possible.

You see what happened to Dallas in Game 7 in LA with some of those calls?

 

[Sean]

Six or seven. The point is that there might be a silver lining if the Jazz can't win in four or five - and frankly, I suspect this series is likely to go at least five or six than end in a sweep.

 

[Sean]

The Jazz should ABSOLUTELY try to end this series as quickly as possible. You cannot think about things like that at this point.

You do realize the NBA wants more than anything a Nets-Clippers Finals right? You cannot let this thing go long to 6-7 games if possible.

You see what happened to Dallas in Game 7 in LA with some of those calls?

lol I never said the Jazz shouldn't end this series as quickly as possibly. I'm a fan. I have zero power over what the Jazz do. My wondering if this series ending in six instead of four might benefit the Jazz longterm has zero, and I mean this literally, zero baring on what happens these next few games. None. Absolutely, positively zero impact on the games.

To clarify: I don't control the outcome. I have no say in how this series is going to go. What I might think could possibly maybe sort of be beneficial to Conley's full rehab prior to the WCF is irrelevant to how the Jazz will play tonight or Monday or beyond.

Zero relevance. None whatsoever.

As a fan, if I was given the option to choose whether the Jazz win this series in five, but will be without Conley in game one vs Phoenix, or this series goes six but the Jazz will have a fully healthy Conely back for game one vs the Suns? I might feel better with option two knowing this Suns series is going to be a real ****ing battle.

But let me clear here, and I can't stress this enough, my wondering these things has zero to do with what is actually going to happen. It's possible Conley is good to go right now and the Jazz are just not wanting to risk it knowing they've got a good lead on the Clippers, while also establishing they can beat them without Conley. It's also possible Conley is more injured than we know and won't be back for the WCF regardless.

That's all. I'm just throwing out positives to this series going a bit longer just in case Utah doesn't win these next two games (and since they're Vegas dogs tonight, I'll assume with a loss they'll be Vegas dogs Monday, so in that regard, Utah sweeping or winning in five is still not the expected outcome regardless).

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

My bet is Conley wouldn’t come back until WCF if we make it.

He traveled with the team. I bet he’s planning on playing one of these games.

I’d guess they will delay it until they know they need him... if we drop a game I’ll bet he comes back. Maybe not though. Up 2-0 with 2 shots to beat them in LA they might be looking at this as a championship run now and not a “survive this series and worry about it later” thing.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Phoenix looks ready to wrap their series tomorrow. We need to keep the pressure on... a win tonight and the Clips can start booking Cancun flights... it’s a two for one game if we win... Must Win Game!

 

[fishonjazz]

Six or seven. The point is that there might be a silver lining if the Jazz can't win in four or five - and frankly, I suspect this series is likely to go at least five or six than end in a sweep.

There also might be a silver lining in sweeping the clippers and conley not being ready and heading into the series with suns without conley. That silver lining being that the jazz might continue to have a better win loss record without conley than they do with him.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Alright so I’ve worked up some superstitions this playoffs that seem to be working. Years ago during the Houston series we won in seven games we lost the three games I watched at my house but won the four I watched at my in laws... when I sat on a certain side of the couch.

My current weird things I have to do:

I have to watch the game downstairs on my spot on the couch.

I have to wear my dark mode shorts.

I have to have Tostitos hint of lime chips on the couch for consumption.

I also buy a random topshot of the opposing team before the game... like some sort of weird voodoo curse.

It’s worked for 6 straight games... why does all this stuff work? I don’t know the science of it all but it is surely the explanation for why we are winning.

 

[Avery]

I’d be perfectly happy stealing one of the next two. I kind of envisioned us dropping tonight, picking up G4 and ending this at home.

Would love to win tonight, but won’t be pissed if we don’t as you can’t win them all.