This series is gravy. Mitchell is a superstar and will be even better next year. We have turned to a new page in franchise history, and started out on an incredible note. Jazz have really set themselves up for long term success. This season will benefit us for years to come. Couldn't have asked for a better start to mitchell's career, and it will pay dividends. He will be unstoppable next season. He already is.
If we can play well in it and make it competitive that will be extremely impressive. Houston is a very good team and their defense is going to give us fits. OKC's poor defensive schemes and collapses (and headhunting Melo) is what allowed us to control most of those games, we won't have that in Houston.
My big fear is that the jazz will play great defense, not be able to score, and then Houston will inevitably go on a run at some point and we won't have an answer. Worst case scenario is these games are competitive the first half and then the Rockets cook us in the second and we roll over. Would not be surprised if that happens tomorrow. Rockets are rested, mitchell, ingles, and gobert will likely be gassed in the second half--especially with no Rubio. Really hard to figure out what to do without Rubio.
Can't afford Exum stretches in this series. Really can't afford mistakes. With no rubio, I don't know what we do. I mean I do--Ingles runs the offense, Mitchell touches the ball every time. This might actually work really well when the starters are on the floor. But Rubio not playing takes away any depth. We were, at most, seven deep with Rubio. Now we are six--Mitchell, Ingles, Gobert, Favors, Crowder, and Royce. Royce and Crowder HAVE to shoot well for us to compete. We will need someone out of those six to step up--Burks, Neto, Jerebko, Exum. I don't know who it is going to be. Burks seems like the best candidate.
Favors and Gobert have to be dominate defensively and offensively. That seems like the key. Our front court size is the one area where we have an advantage. If the jazz can get it going inside we have a chance. If not we don't. gobert and favs can't get in foul trouble--obviously.
Going to be fun!