Three-point focused Utah Jazz dominate inside vs Wizards
When NBA observers think of the Utah Jazz, they probably envision a relentless barrage of three-point shots. It’s a reasonable association: the squad is emphasizing three-point shooting to the tune of historic efficiency. With that said, this group’s interior dominance can’t be understated either.
Rudy Gobert’s stat line from last night, while impressive, won’t turn any heads. The 20 points and 11 rebounds he contributed to a dominant 123-98 Jazz win over the Wizards reflect the type of performance we expect from the fringe MVP candidate. Sure, he scored above his average, but we already knew Gobert was capable of this type of performance.
His backup, Hassan Whiteside, was the real story of last night’s game.
Utah Jazz dominate interior for 48 minutes
Whiteside finished the game with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. Most impressively, he managed all that production in a mere 20 minutes.
Hassan Whiteside has had, to say the least, a strange NBA career. He’s gone from undrafted, to viewed as a potential star on the Miami Heat, to maligned and criticized league wide for his uneven play and perceived lack of maturity.
Putting all of that aside, it can’t be denied that Whiteside is a productive player. He could probably contend for a starting position on a handful of NBA teams. Having him as a backup is a luxury for the Utah Jazz.
Whiteside replicates much of what Gobert brings to the table: elite rim protection, rebounding and general interior dominance. His skill set allows Quin Snyder to have his team control the paint for 48 minutes if he chooses. Last night, the benefits of that luxury were on full display.
NBA teams often favor an inside-out offensive approach. The ability to generate easy layups and dunks forces a defense to adjust in a way that allows that team easier three-point attempts.
Nothing came easy for the Washington Wizards in this game. Having an elite rim protector on the floor for 48 minutes allowed the Jazz’s perimeter defenders to stay on their men with great success. All told, the Wizards mustered a measly 98 points, and shot 8/25 (32%) from deep for that exact reason.
Utah Jazz come away with another blowout win
This was the Jazz’s seventh consecutive victory, and if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve seen that most of those victories have come fairly easily. The interior dominance we’re highlighting has been a big part of the equation, but of course, no NBA team in 2021 gets very far without an elite offense.
Luckily, the Utah Jazz have one. Last night’s 123 point performance was ho-hum in comparison to some of the totals they’ve put up over what is now a 7-game winning streak. Their 13/39 (33.3%) three-point shooting was passable. Donovan Mitchell 28 points on 10/20 shooting and 4/9 three-point accuracy.
Big whoop. These Utah Jazz, somehow, hold an even higher offensive standard than the one they met last night.
That’s exactly what makes them NBA Championship contenders.
The Utah Jazz may have been expected to beat this inconsistent Washington Wizards team, but they still deserve credit for delivering. They’ll look to do the same against the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night.
