‘Utah Jazz are the best team in the western conference’, NBA analyst bets against the LA Clippers
The exhausted Los Angeles Clippers will meet the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday at Vivint Arena. The Clippers enter Tuesday’s clash fatigued but reinvigorated after a first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks that concluded in a 126-111 victory in Game 7.
On Sunday, homecourt advantage came in handy as they held off a 46-point barrage from Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. After defeating the upstart Memphis Grizzlies 4-1 in their opening-round series with a 126-110 victory on Wednesday, the Utah Jazz has been waiting for their next opponent.
Donovan Mitchell: Can he make a difference, again?
Donovan Mitchell, who had 30 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, was the difference-maker once again. And apparently, the NBA analyst, Stephen A. Has full trust in Mitchell.
Recently, during a talk show on ESPN, Stephen said, “I believe in Donovan Mitchell. Everything is predicated on Donovan Mitchell. If he is not playing, all bets are off. But with him on the court with the Utah Jazz, they are something special to behold.”
Jazz are the best. Are they?
Stephen was asked whether there are any chances of victory for the Clippers. In response, the 53-year old Basketball pundit said, “I’m not doing that (being hopeful of Clippers’ win against the Jazz). You are going to have to show me you can beat the Utah Jazz. I think the Utah Jazz are the best team in the western conference. I think they will beat Phoenix or Denver. I definitely think they will beat the Clippers.”
“You’ve got to show me you can take these brothers out because I believe in this Utah Jazz because Quin Snyder as a coach, is well-deserved”, he concluded.
Are the Clippers’ chances next to nil?
The Clippers’ shockingly tight series with the Mavericks may well have equipped coach Tyronn Lue and his team for what is coming. If they want to contend for the NBA Championship, their matchup with the Utah Jazz will be much more difficult.
Against the Mavs, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George averaged 32.1 and 23.6 points per game, respectively, with Reggie Jackson (15.4 points per game) giving plenty of help. The rest of the LA Clippers members were muted for much of the series, and they can’t afford to do so against the league’s best squad.
As they confront the imposing presence of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert in the paint, Lue will have to make sure his perimeter scorers are on target. The Los Angeles Clippers have the sixth-best offense in the playoffs (119.7), but they will need to improve their execution in the semifinals if they are to win the series.
What’s there for the Jazz?
Following a startling first-game defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Utah Jazz went on a four-game winning streak to outscore their opponents en route to this semifinal series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Mitchell led a balanced scoring onslaught for the Jazz, with six players averaging double figures.
Although the Los Angeles Clippers are a stronger and more experienced team than the Grizzlies, the Utah Jazz has the league’s second-best offensive rating of 123.4, trailing only the Brooklyn Nets. This isn’t the same Jazz squad that suffered in the playoffs last year, and they’re determined to prove it.
