The round two Western Conference playoff series between the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors starts on Tuesday at Oracle Arena in Oakland. The Jazz just ended their seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, while the Warriors have not played since April 24, after disposing of the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 in the first round.<\/p>\n
Do the Jazz have any chance of winning this series against the stacked Warriors? Let\u2019s take a closer look at this David versus Goliath matchup in the West.<\/p>\n
The Warriors won the regular season series against the Jazz 2-1, including a 30-point thrashing on Dec. 20. Oddly, that blowout was the only one of the three meetings in which the Jazz\u2019s All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward <\/strong><\/a>played. He was held to only 6 points in the contest. Rudy Gobert\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>was the Jazz\u2019s anchor in all three matchups, scoring 17, 17, and 18 points, respectively \u2013 a notch above his regular season average of 14.0 points per game.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, the Warriors\u2019 Stephen Curry <\/strong><\/a>and Kevin Durant<\/strong><\/a> led all scorers in the three meetings between the teams, with Curry averaging 26.3 points per game and Durant 19.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The Jazz must find a way to contain these two superstars and the Warriors\u2019 number one ranked offense <\/a>if they want to survive in this series.<\/p>\n Adding to the challenges facing the Jazz, the Warriors had the second-best\u00a0defense<\/a>\u00a0in the NBA during the regular season. They held the Jazz to just 94.0 points per 100 possessions in their three games, Utah’s lowest mark against any Western Conference opponent.<\/p>\n The Jazz are no defensive slouch themselves, allowing\u00a0the fewest points per game (96.8) and ranking\u00a0third in defensive efficiency (105.3). However, their slow pace has led to them averaging\u00a0the third-fewest points per game at 100.7, as they rank\u00a0last in the NBA in possessions per game <\/a>(94.7).<\/p>\n When Draymond Green\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>is not kicking people<\/a> in the groin\u00a0or insulting NBA legend Charles Barkley<\/a>, he actually plays extremely impressive basketball. During the regular season, Green averaged 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. He performed particularly well against the Jazz, racking up double-doubles in two of the three meetings between the teams. Green is also widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the league. He runs the floor well, and on any given night, he can come up big with points, rebounds and\/or assists. Green is the ultimate role player.<\/p>\n Veteran Boris Diaw\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>is simply no match for Green, and he’ll likely see limited minutes in favor of reserve Joe Johnson<\/strong><\/a>, who is coming off a fantastic first-round performance against the Clippers. Green will have an easier time slowing down Johnson\u2019s offense than the Clippers did, though. This matchup heavily favors the Warriors.<\/p>\n Zaza Pachulia\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>is a veteran center who averaged 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Warriors during the regular season. Pachulia is solid, fundamental, and reliable, but has hardly been a contributor\u00a0to Golden State’s success.<\/p>\n Gobert, on the other hand, has been front and center in the Jazz\u2019s resurgence and recent success. He\u2019s an elite defender and rebounder who, in his fourth year with the Jazz, led the NBA in total blocks (214) and blocks per game (2.6). In addition to his impact on defense, Gobert averaged a career-best 14.0 points a night and led\u00a0the league in true shooting percentage at 68.3 percent. Gobert has the clear edge in this matchup. If he stays healthy and out of foul trouble, and dominates the paint, the Jazz should stay competitive.<\/p>\n Hayward\u00a0solidified his All-Star status\u00a0during the Jazz’s series against the Clippers. Not including\u00a0Game Four, in which Hayward played just nine minutes due to illness, he averaged 27.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in six games, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range. Hayward was also highly effective from the foul line, sinking 95 percent of his free throws.\u00a0 During the regular season, Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.<\/p>\n Durant is arguably the best player in the NBA.\u00a0In the regular season, he averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He missed\u00a0the later part of the season due to\u00a0a Grade Two sprained MCL <\/a>on his left knee,\u00a0and is\u00a0still nursing a left calf strain he suffered in the Warriors\u2019 Game\u00a0One win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.<\/p>\n Kevin Durant's left calf discomfort started late in the third quarter in Game 1. Played\/scored through it, but issue apparently lingered pic.twitter.com\/2ldgMclKYQ<\/a><\/p>\n — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 18, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nKey Matchups<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Draymond Green vs. Boris Diaw \/ Joe Johnson<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Zaza Pachulia vs. Rudy Gobert<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Kevin Durant vs.\u00a0Gordon Hayward<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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