The Utah Jazz are in for a tough first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there are more reasons for optimism than one might think.
Although the regular season finale ended in disappointing fashion for the Utah Jazz as they were handily defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers to lose the third seed and home court advantage as well as drop to fifth place in the West, there’s no questioning what a special year it has been. Less than three months ago, Utah looked dead in the water but instead they finished the year winning 29 of their last 35 games, an incredible feat.
And while third place and home court advantage would have been a sweet reward after such a turnaround, the Jazz are still in a good spot. Especially when you consider that they were the fifth seed in the West last year and doing so once again proves they underwent very little (if any) regression this season after losing their two leading scorers from a year ago, there’s really nothing to complain about.
However, the Jazz are still certainly in for a challenge in the first round of the playoffs as they’ll face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but a squad comprised of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony certainly isn’t one to be trifled with.
It’s a matchup that I’ve personally been concerned about for a while, but it’s certainly more favorable than what many previously thought would be Utah’s ceiling of finishing in seventh or eighth to take on the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.
And now that it’s a reality, the Jazz will simply have to get prepared for the challenging yet exciting task ahead. The good news is, while OKC is certainly a tough matchup, playing them may not be as dreary as originally supposed. There are, in fact, a number of advantages Utah has in the matchup to go along with some potential struggles.
With that being the case, let’s dive in to the pros and cons of a Jazz-Thunder series:
pic.twitter.com/T7UnLU9T46
<p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/984298344074784768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>It’s a matchup that I’ve personally been concerned about for a while, but it’s certainly more favorable than what many previously thought would be Utah’s ceiling of finishing in seventh or eighth to take on the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.</p>
<p>And now that it’s a reality, the Jazz will simply have to get prepared for the challenging yet exciting task ahead. The good news is, while OKC is certainly a tough matchup, playing them may not be as dreary as originally supposed. There are, in fact, a number of advantages Utah has in the matchup to go along with some potential struggles.</p>
<p>With that being the case, let’s dive in to the pros and cons of a Jazz-Thunder series:</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Jazz have been in this situation before </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68277" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68277" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F671316296-la-clippers-v-utah-jazz-game-three.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 21: The Utah Jazz celebrate during the game against the LA Clippers during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Pros:</h3>
<h4>Jazz have been in this situation before</h4>
<p>You’ve certainly heard the mantra that history repeats itself, right? Well then, I have some great news for you. This year’s series between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder mirrors last season’s showdown between the Jazz and LA Clippers in a number of ways.</p>
<p>Allow me to explain —</p>
<p>First of all, the obvious is that once again the Utah Jazz are the five-seed whereas their opponent is the four-seed and has home court advantage. Sound familiar? Such was the case last season as Utah was five and LA was four. Not only that, but last season both teams finished with the same record (51-31) and the Clippers only got the higher seed by merit of a tiebreaker. Same story this year – both Utah and OKC are 48-34.</p>
<p>If we’re really going down irony lane, the Clippers also won the regular season series 3-1 last year, just as OKC did this year, but more on that later.</p>
<div class="embed "><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/I1JvL0VtoG0?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Furthermore, just like last year’s Clippers squad boasted a star-studded roster that included <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paulch01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Chris Paul</a>, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/griffbl01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Blake Griffin</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordade01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">DeAndre Jordan</a>, the Thunder are loaded with stars in the likes of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. That abundance of star power made LA the heavy favorites, just like OKC is in the eyes of most national media members and casual observers as well.</p>
<p>My point with all this? Just as I said, history is known to repeat itself and the Jazz find themselves in a very similar situation to last season. If they were able to overcome what was a bad regular season matchup, a star-studded opposing roster and failing to earn home court advantage last year, there’s no reason why this similarly talented team can’t do the same once again.</p>
<p>And particularly after you see the rest of these pros, I think you’ll see just why.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Regular season series doesn't tell the full story </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h4><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-68278" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_560,w_850/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F01%2F897867000-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-utah-jazz.jpg.jpg" alt=""></h4>
<h4>Regular season series doesn’t tell the full story</h4>
<p>One of the major concerns among Jazz fans going into this series is that the Oklahoma City Thunder won the regular season series 3-1. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely some legitimate reasons to be worried about that as the Thunder created some matchup problems for Utah in all three of those losses.</p>
<p>However, as <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/10/utah-jazz-examining-a-first-round-date-with-the-thunder/">my J-Notes colleague Tyler Crandall described in a recent piece</a>, it’s also safe to say that none of those four games was a good indication of what we should expect for the upcoming playoff series. He summed it up extremely well in his piece which is accessible via the link in the tweet below, so allow me to just summarize here.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Utah Jazz: Examining a first round date with the Thunder <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/eiQCXZZfhe">https://t.co/eiQCXZZfhe <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/uCDVkiRTx8">pic.twitter.com/uCDVkiRTx8
<p>— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/TheJNotes/status/983724660213690368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 10, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>The Jazz won the first contest, but it was very early in the year and OKC was definitely going through some major growing pains as they looked to assimilate their three stars. Some might argue those growing pains still haven’t been resolved, but it was particularly bad early in the year. With that game taking place so long ago, it’s hard to compare it to the current teams, so even though Utah won that contest, there’s not a lot to take away from it.</p>
<p>In the second contest, the Jazz were playing on the second night of a back-to-back and led for almost the entire way before falling apart late in the contest and giving the game away. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert</a> was also in between injuries and less than one hundred percent, making this a less than accurate depiction of who the Jazz really are.</p>
<p>In the third contest, Utah was without both Rudy Gobert and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Donovan Mitchell</a>, which as you might expect, made for one ugly contest in which the Jazz were blown out of the water. That’s what tends to happen when your two best players aren’t in action. If the Jazz could take on a Westbrook-less and George-less Thunder team every time, it’d probably result in a blowout more often than not as well.</p>
<p>In the final contest, Mitchell returned but Rudy was still absent. Utah did better than the previous contest, but still fell short.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">3rd game – Dec 20th Jazz have been on road since Dec 9th. Thunder crush Jazz 107-79 Jazz start Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood while having no Rudy Gobert</p>
<p>4th game – December 23rd – Thunder in SLC – No Rudy Gobert, Jonas Jerebko starts. Rodney Hood plays 31 minutes, Johnson 24</p>
<p>— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/Lockedonsports/status/983943856604569601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 11, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thunder have not played the Jazz without Andre Roberson<br>Jazz haven't played the Thunder with Jae Crowder<br>Rudy Gobert played 1.5 games of the 4<br>Thunder have played their best basketball in the last week<br>Jazz are very different than they were on Dec 23rd</p>
<p>— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/Lockedonsports/status/983944180769656832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 11, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Beyond just looking at those games individually, it’s also important to look at both teams as a whole since those four contests. Obviously the Jazz got thrashed by just about everyone in December, not just the Thunder, and it’s apparent how much better they’ve been in the latter part of the season. They did just close out the year 29-6 after all.</p>
<p>With Gobert back and healthy, Utah’s defense has been revamped and dangerous. It’s no stretch whatsoever to say that they’re an entirely different team. The same could be said about OKC, but not exactly for the better. In all four contests, wing defender extraordinaire <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/roberan03.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Andre Roberson</a> was in action. However, after suffering a season-ending knee injury, he obviously won’t be active for the playoffs.</p>
<p>OKC still has an excellent wing defender in Paul George, but there’s no denying that Roberson presented problems for the Jazz, as he did for all teams. From the start of the season up until the game where Roberson was hurt on January 27th, the Thunder posted the fifth best defensive rating in the league at 103.1. In the span since then, they dropped all the way to 15th at a rating of 107.</p>
<p>Utah, meanwhile, has been the absolute opposite. Since the fateful loss to the Atlanta Hawks back on January 22nd and in conjunction with Rudy Gobert’s return, the Jazz have posted the league’s best defensive rating by a landslide of 96.5. That’s nearly five points per 100 possessions better than the mark of the second-best Philadelphia 76ers during that span. Not to mention, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/crowdja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Jae Crowder</a> is a new addition who the Thunder have never faced in a Jazz uniform.</p>
<p>To make a long story short (I know, too late), these are two completely different teams that haven’t seen one another since December. While there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the matchup OKC presents, my advice to Jazz fans would be to not let the regular season bouts hold too much bearing in their opinion about how well Utah will play against them.</p>
<p>Back in December, the Jazz didn’t even look like a playoff team. Fortunately, that’s not the same team we’re dealing with now. Utah is much-improved while OKC is without their pesky wing defender. Bearing that in mind, it’s nice to know that the Thunder’s 3-1 regular season series win doesn’t hold much weight.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Quin Snyder &gt; Billy Donovan </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68279" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68279" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F941636604-los-angeles-lakers-v-utah-jazz.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 03: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz gestures on the sideline in the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Lakers 117-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Utah Jazz will have the coaching edge</h4>
<p>I might have some OKC fans upset with me on this one, but honestly I think my opinion here is largely the consensus outside of these two fanbases – the Jazz will have a significant edge on the coaching front. No disrespect to Billy Donovan, but he’s far from maximized the talent on his roster and, despite the star power, his team has several glaring weaknesses that Quin Snyder should be able to exploit, including their reliance on iso ball.</p>
<p>Snyder has been considered one of the brightest young basketball minds in the game and has consistently exceeded expectations by overcoming roster turnover, injuries and other obstacles. The incredible turnaround he orchestrated this season has him right in the thick of the Coach of the Year discussion. In a coaching chess match between Snyder and Donovan, I’m taking the former every time.</p>
<p>His ball-movement focused system is hard to game plan against and his brilliant schemes and strategies that will almost certainly progress and develop as the series goes on will be hard for the Thunder to overcome.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What about Quin Snyder vs. Billy Donovan? <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/HWg6NYOh1X">https://t.co/HWg6NYOh1X
<p>— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/tribjazz/status/982452595938611200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 7, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>By no means is Donovan a bad coach by any stretch of the imagination. However, his team certainly doesn’t rally to him like Quin’s does and, Billy’s ability to get the most out of his roster isn’t nearly as fine-tuned.</p>
<p>Despite the fact that the Clippers boasted an arguably more talented roster than the Jazz last season (much like OKC this season), there’s next to no argument that a big reason why <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/riverdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Doc Rivers</a> and the Clippers lost to Utah was because they were thoroughly out-coached by Quin Snyder. If the Jazz arise victorious against the Thunder this time around, I presume it will largely be for the same reason.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Home court advantage can be misleading </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68281" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F898951432-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-utah-jazz.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder controls the ball during their game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Home court advantage can be misleading</h4>
<p>The Clippers would have been the favorite in last year’s series regardless of whether they had home court advantage or not. Once they had it, though, hardly any fans were picking the Jazz to come out on top. But in the end, we all saw how that one turned out.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_68238" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/TheJ-Notes/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<p>For me, home court advantage can be a little misleading. Sure, if you just take care of business at home, you win the series. That’s the idea, right? Easy peasy.</p>
<p>But when you think about it, it also puts some extra pressure on the home team not to screw it up. Drop one of those first two games and all of a sudden it’s a long time before you’re back on your home court again and it’s the opposing team that now has earned home court advantage.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what Utah did last year by stealing Game 1 from the Clippers in one of the most memorable playoff games in Jazz history. Suddenly, the pressure was on LA to win on the road rather than on Utah to defend home court. Ironically enough, the Jazz would go on to only win one home game the entire series, while three of their victories came on the road. Home court advantage ultimately meant little to either team in that series.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Amazing year for the Jazz. The season was 100% a success independently of what happens in the playoffs. Organization, coaches, players, etc. should all be extremely proud of what they've accomplished.</p>
<p>— Mark J. Wahlen (@Mark_WahlenNBA) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/Mark_WahlenNBA/status/984294275805401088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Of course, I realize the Thunder and last year’s Clippers aren’t the same team and I’d probably do well to stop comparing them (there’s just so many parallels!). However, this same principle applies that rather than the pressure of defending home court being on the Jazz from the get-go – a Jazz team that features a starting backcourt that may be somewhat nervous and uptight since it has never played a single postseason game, no less – they’ll get two chances to pull themselves together and steal a game on the road.</p>
<p>And Utah has been surprisingly solid on the road since their turnaround. Prior to the season finale loss to Portland, the Jazz had won 15 of their last 16 contests away from home. If that trend continues, then maybe starting on the road won’t be a bad thing at all!</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, OKC is glad they have home court advantage and overcoming that fact is going to be tough for the Jazz. Chesapeake Energy Arena is a much tougher place to play than the Staples Center was last year. In fact, it’s one of the toughest away arenas in the league.</p>
<p>However, what I hope you’ll take from this is that giving up home court advantage isn’t the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination. It wasn’t last year and it won’t be this year.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Corey Brewer is hurting </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68285" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68285" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F942116184-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-boston-celtics.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BOSTON, MA – MARCH 20: Corey Brewer #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Corey Brewer is hurting</h4>
<p>After Andre Roberson went down, the Thunder were in desperate need of an additional perimeter defender. They found the perfect candidate when they signed veteran <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/breweco01.html" ref="nofollow">Corey Brewer</a> to their squad.</p>
<p>However, in the final game of the regular season, Brewer went down with a potentially serious knee injury that forced him to leave the game early and was eventually described as a knee sprain.</p>
<p>This could have been a much bigger blow to the Thunder, but it appears they dodged a major bullet as Brewer doesn’t plan to miss any time. It was announced Thursday that he plans to play in Game 1 on Sunday.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources: Oklahoma City guard Corey Brewer will receive treatment on sprained knee over next few days and plans to play in Game 1 of the playoffs against Utah on Sunday.</p>
<p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/984526219302621184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Corey Brewer has become a surprisingly key piece of OKC, so this is a bullet dodged for them. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/QaW8MvgEzE">https://t.co/QaW8MvgEzE
<p>— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/984526456926515200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>If Brewer wasn’t going to be in action, it would have been a big plus for the Jazz as he provides the Thunder with yet another solid perimeter defender that can slow down Mitchell and Utah’s other wings. However, the fact that he’s laboring and likely won’t be at 100 percent could still be a slight advantage for the Jazz.</p>
<p>If the Jazz are able to capitalize on a less than healthy Brewer, it could help them have a major edge against a Thunder defense that has deflated significantly since Roberson went down.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Despite personnel, Thunder aren't as daunting as some think </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h4><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-68287" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_560,w_850/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F12%2F897860460-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-utah-jazz.jpg.jpg" alt=""></h4>
<h4>Despite personnel, Thunder aren’t as daunting as some think</h4>
<p>I’m really going to make Thunder fans mad on this one… But just bear with me.</p>
<p>First of all, let me make it clear, this Thunder team is exceptional. There’s a reason why they’re fourth in a crowded Western Conference and are certainly one of the feared teams in the playoffs. I wouldn’t be that surprised at all if they ultimately get the best of the Jazz in this series once all is said and done.</p>
<p>However, with big-time names such as Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and even <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/adamsst01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Steven Adams</a>, who I consider a phenomenal player, it’s easy to suppose that the Thunder should be an elite playoff team. They could very well flip a switch and become just that, but their regular season numbers don’t exactly paint that picture.</p>
<p>On the season, the Thunder finished the year with the tenth best defensive rating (104.7), and the eighth best net rating (2.9). Those aren’t bad marks, by any means, but they aren’t as good as the marks of the Jazz (defensive rating of 101.6 and net rating of 4.6). The Thunder have the edge in offensive rating at 107.6 compared to Utah’s 106.2, but their offense isn’t without its faults either.</p>
<p>They’re just 18th in the league in field goal percentage (45.3 percent), 24th in three-point percentage (35.4 percent), 17th in effective field goal percentage (51.4 percent), 21st in true shooting percentage (54.6 percent) and 29th in free throw percentage (71.5 percent). All of those marks are below the efficiency of the Jazz as well.</p>
<p>In other words, the Thunder are far from an efficient team, which perhaps isn’t surprising considering their personnel. They still obviously find ways to score, but their questionable shot selection and difficulty converting at times could play right into the hands of Utah’s staunch defense. Their poor three-point and free throw shooting especially jump out as areas where the Jazz can exploit and capitalize.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If I'm a Jazz fan, I'd rather have to defend Westbrook over 7 games than Lillard….that dude is a special shotmaker</p>
<p>— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/tribjazz/status/984273932365611008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Also, the Thunder are in the top half of the league in turnovers per game at 14, while the Jazz are one of the best in the league at takeaways at 8.6 steals per contest, good for fourth in the NBA. We’ve seen Westbrook and George struggle with coughing up the ball in the past and that’s an area where Utah may be able to take advantage as well.</p>
<p>Last of all, and perhaps most simply, let’s not forget that the Thunder and Jazz finished with identical records of 48-34. Although OKC boasts more star power, when all is said and done, the records indicate that these are two very evenly matched teams. Yes, the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, but I think the records clearly demonstrate that the Thunder aren’t necessarily the powerhouse that some suppose them to be.</p>
<p>And although they finished the season with three straight victories, including a gritty one over the Houston Rockets that ultimately earned them home court advantage, OKC went just 5-5 to close out the year. They were inconsistent all season long, including down the stretch, and while George and Westbrook have been exceptional postseason players in the past, it’s unreasonable to expect that all the team’s issues will just disappear come playoff time.</p>
<p>So while I’ll be the first to admit that the matchup between Utah and OKC worries me and certainly isn’t the one I would have chosen, I think it’s important to remember that this year has been far from a cakewalk for the Thunder. They’re a great team, but maybe not as great as one would suppose considering their personnel.</p>
<p>But with all that said, let’s move on now to the key cons facing the Jazz in this series:</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Jazz have struggled in OKC </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68288" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68288" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F944985574-memphis-grizzlies-v-oklahoma-city-thunder.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 11: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates with the fans while leaving the court after getting a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 11, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Cons:</h3>
<h4>Jazz haven’t won in OKC in nearly eight years</h4>
<p>So remember how I said there’s a chance that losing home court advantage could potentially turn into a blessing in disguise? Well that was the glass half full approach. The glass half empty approach is this – the Jazz haven’t won a game in Oklahoma City since October 31, 2010. Yep, you read that correctly, it’s been nearly eight years.</p>
<p>Utah has lost 14 consecutive contests within Chesapeake Energy Arena. In fact, since the Seattle Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City, the Jazz have won just two contests there in all, making for a record of 2-17 all time. That’s a little worrisome, to say the least.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Jazz know they face a daunting task in their first round playoff matchup with Oklahoma City. But they're also not the same team that dropped three of four to the Thunder during the regular season. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/TWkeVElb0r">https://t.co/TWkeVElb0r <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://t.co/xrjnHjUKJ6">pic.twitter.com/xrjnHjUKJ6
<p>— Salt Lake Tribune Sports (@sltribsports) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/sltribsports/status/984564304279027712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>However, while the Thunder are typically nearly indomitable on their home court, this season they went just 27-14, one game worse than the Jazz did at home, which hopefully means that Utah can take advantage. Last season, the Jazz were facing similar historical struggles on the Clippers’ home court (not quite as bad, but still) and they were able to overcome them. With Quin’s crafty coaching and Utah’s resolve, I could see them doing so once again.</p>
<p>Still, Loud City is one of the toughest places to play in the league. Combine that with Utah’s putrid history there and it’s certainly a major reason for concern.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Thunder have most talented players </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68290" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-68290 size-large" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F899294652-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-utah-jazz.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23:(EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talks with Russell Westbrook #0, Carmelo Anthony #7, and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after the game on December 23, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Thunder have the most talented players</h4>
<p>OK, I made Thunder fans mad at me earlier, now it’s time to turn on my own (though I suspect several will agree with me as well). As great as several of Utah’s individual players are including Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, Utah’s strength lies in the power of their team as a whole. However, it’s indeed the Thunder who have the most talented players on the court in Russell Westbrook and Paul George.</p>
<p>I know, I know, I’m going to get murdered by a lot of Jazz fans for putting both of them ahead of Gobert, and while you could certainly argue that Rudy is the most important player on the court and without a doubt the best rim protector, as far as being able to create shots, take over games and will their team to victory, Westbrook and George have the most impressive track record and talent.</p>
<p>And while I prefer Utah’s team-first approach and believe that it could be a huge advantage for them when all is said and done in this series, there’s also no disputing that having the two best offensive players could lead to the Thunder having an edge that will be hard to overcome. The Jazz will need to have an answer for both of those players all along the way.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rudy Gobert on the loss: "The physicality, getting hit, that's what we're going to get when we get to OKC. I think it was a good way to get acclimated to what we're going to get."</p>
<p>— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/984308733214769157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>There’s two bits of good news to this, though. As good as both Westbrook and George are, neither of them is known for being particularly clutch. In a close late-game situation, this could certainly benefit Utah. Not only that, but you could say that last season’s first-round matchup was the same way, with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin being the two most talented players on the court.</p>
<p>Utah’s team-first approach worked there (I acknowledge that Griffin’s injury helped, too) and it very well could work again. But one thing is certain, the Jazz can’t sleep on OKC’s two main stars. They’ve been known to do major damage in the postseason, and if left unchecked, it could spell the Jazz’s doom.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Steven Adams </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68291" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68291" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F944907426-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-houston-rockets.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 07: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder takes the court in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 7, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Steven Adams</h4>
<p>Let me start this out by saying that I think the narrative among several Jazz fans regarding Steven Adams isn’t entirely correct. Because of how exceptional Adams was in OKC’s December 5th victory over the Jazz compared to how much Gobert struggled, an assumption has arisen that Steven Adams ‘dominates’ Rudy Gobert.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_68238" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/TheJ-Notes/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<p>Such was certainly the case in that game as Adams went for 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting while Gobert finished with a paltry five points on two field goal attempts. However, it’s important to remember that Gobert was far from 100 percent in that game as he was still recovering from his former leg injury.</p>
<p>Even if he had been 100 percent, it’s never wise to assume how two players match up against one another based on just one contest. Adams and Gobert only faced each other one other time this season, back on October 21, and in that game, Rudy finished with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 13 rebounds while Adams put up just nine points on 3-of-6 shooting with five rebounds.</p>
<p>If you go back to last season, the two players were relatively average against one another, but Gobert had a slight edge. In three games against OKC (Gobert sat out one contest), Rudy averaged 12.3 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 69.6 percent from the field. In those same three contests, Adams put up just 10 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">man steven adams is so underrated</p>
<p>— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin23) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/blakegriffin23/status/982804194406141953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 8, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>In other words, with the exception of that one contest on December 5th when Rudy was less than healthy, saying that Adams dominates the matchup is quite the stretch. However, setting that all to one side (this is the cons section after all), let’s not deny that Adams is an absolute beast and he is sure to cause problems for Gobert and the Jazz during this series.</p>
<p>In my mind, Adams is one of the most underrated big men in the league. And while he doesn’t pull Rudy out of the paint or kill the Jazz with his jump shot, he’s still effective in several other ways, much like Gobert is for Utah. At 13.9 points and nine rebounds per game, he’s a force to be reckoned with and is also an exceptional rim protector and screen assist-man.</p>
<p>Although Melo is often considered the third member of OKC’s Big-3, I often like to think of Stevens as their true third best player. He does so much to make the Thunder better and very well could cause Gobert issues with his physicality and unrelenting nature.</p>
<p>Again, Adams isn’t Gobert’s Kryptonite or the one who spells doomsday for him by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that Gobert has won the matchup the past two seasons. However, he’s undoubtedly one of the Thunder’s most valuable players and could do plenty of damage in a playoff series.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Individual matchups are worrisome </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68292" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68292" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F944893466-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-miami-heat.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/04/944893466-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-miami-heat.jpg-850x560.jpg 850w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/04/944893466-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-miami-heat.jpg-768x506.jpg 768w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/04/944893466-oklahoma-city-thunder-v-miami-heat.jpg.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MIAMI, FL – APRIL 09: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action moving the ball up the court with Paul George #13 during the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on April 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Westbrook’ Paul George</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>Individual matchups are worrisome</h4>
<p>I’ve just concluded chatting about Gobert and Adams, and that’s certain to be a pretty even match. However, there are plenty of other individual matchups across the board that should cause concern for Jazz fans.</p>
<p>Beginning with Russell Westbrook, who is going to be able to contain him? <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rubiori01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Ricky Rubio</a>? Donovan Mitchell? <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Dante Exum</a>? I’m sure they’ll all get their turn, but I think we all know who has the edge there. I’m sure <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Joe Ingles</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Royce O’Neale</a> will get a chance as well as others, but there’s no questioning that he’s a tough cover for anybody.</p>
<p>The same goes for Paul George, and it’s even more frightening to consider that George may draw the primary assignment of covering Mitchell on defense. George is not an easy guy to score on and will present a challenging matchup on both ends of the floor.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reasons for optimism for the Jazz vs. OKC. </p>
<p>• OKC won’t pull Gobert out of the paint. </p>
<p>• Jazz won’t run into a lot of defensive mismatches. </p>
<p>• OKC likely won’t blitz Jazz with three point shooting. </p>
<p>• Jazz can match up with Steven Adams every minute he’s on the floor.</p>
<p>— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/984452092990402561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Then there’s Carmelo Anthony, and while he isn’t exactly the most deadly of the Thunder players, he can still fill it up if he gets going, and he’s punished the Jazz in the past. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/favorde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Derrick Favors</a> may have his work cut out for him defending him out to the the three-point line, but luckily the likes of Crowder and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jerebjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Jonas Jerebko</a> will be waiting in reserve to slow the stretch-four down as well.</p>
<p>The Jazz have answers for each of these guys, but some of them are shaky at best. The Thunder have an extremely potent starting lineup that presents some daunting matchups that will test Utah to the absolute core. To overcome this, the Jazz will need to force OKC’s shooters into inefficient outings and overwhelmingly win the battle of the bench.</p>
<p>Although shooting percentage and bench play are weaknesses for the Thunder, those tasks will still be easier said than done especially considering all the talent that OKC is able to roll out in their starting five as well as have on the floor at all times.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Prediction </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_68293" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68293" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F04%2F944982536-memphis-grizzlies-v-oklahoma-city-thunder.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 11: Jerami Grant #9, Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate on April 11, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Prediction</h3>
<p>Now for the fun (and hard) part. Honestly, there are a lot of reasons for optimism in this series as I pointed out in the first half of this article. And just as these two teams finished neck-and-neck in the standings with an identical regular season record of 48-34, I think this series is going to be neck-and-neck as well.</p>
<p>However, when all is said and done, I’m worried that the Thunder’s incredible home court atmosphere and dazzling talent of Russell Westbrook and Paul George will end up being too much for the Jazz. Utah’s team-centric play and the coaching advantage they enjoy with Quin Snyder will make them potent, but at the end of the day, I’m picking them to fall just short in six games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p>
<p><strong>My Prediction: Thunder in 6</strong></p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-okc-pros-cons-first-round-series-against-okc/"https://thejnotes.com/2018/04/12/utah-jazz-hawks-joining-summer-hornacek-fired/">