Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE
Home may never have felt so good to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz return home tonight after one of the worst playoff losses in franchise history at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. So far, the Spurs have controlled every single aspect of both games in this series. San Antonio has won five of six games this season against the Jazz, with the only loss being a game in which Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker did not play.
Regardless, San Antonio is on a roll, and if Utah wants to make this a series, they better start figuring it out real quick. Al Jefferson, a player of the week in April, has done absolutely nothing in this series. During is POW, he averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds. This series? 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Also, where has Devin Harris gone? Once billed as a next (and better) version of Tony Parker, Harris has all but disappeared this series where Utah vitally needs him to run the offense. In 24 minutes per game, Harris is averaging just 6 points and 1.5 assists. If Utah wants to win a game, Harris has got to step it up.
For each team to win the game, here are three things they should do.
Spurs
- Keep Running the Pick and Roll â€" Utah cannot defend it whatsoever. The Spurs keep getting open shots, so all they have to do is continue running that play to death, and, if their shots fall, the Spurs will be going home from game 3 victorious.
- Defense â€" the Spurs offense has overshadowed their defense, but don’t forget about it. The Spurs have held the Jazz to an average of 87 points in the first two games, while shooting just 38% from the floor, including 26.3% from behind the arc.
- Healthy â€" if San Antonio can stay healthy, the Spurs are going to be in good shape. One freak play that leads to an injury could derail their season.
Jazz
- Where’s the Offense? â€" Utah, in the regular season, was keeping up pretty well with the Spurs. However, in the playoffs, that has been non existent. San Antonio has flat out dominated the Jazz. If Utah wants to win, they are going to have to do it by offensive efficiency, because they cannot stop the Spurs. Speaking of defense…
- Defend the Pick and Roll â€" Utah’s defense has been atrocious against the Spurs pick and roll, and unless they can figure out how to at least slow it done, there is no way the Jazz can win this series. If Jefferson was at least playing some defense here, his offensive deficiencies could be excused. Since he’s not producing offensively, he better start defensively.
- Turnovers â€" San Antonio is forcing over 15 Jazz turnovers per game. Utah, on the other hand, is only forcing 11. Utah has got to flip those numbers into their advantage and getting their transition points, while limiting the Spurs.
All in all, Utah has another tough matchup tonight, and I expect the Spurs to emerge victorious. San Antonio: 108 Utah: 98
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