Keys to overcoming the mighty San Antonio Spurs in the first round hurdle for Utah Jazz: NBA Feature
With the regular season over and the playoff fixtures decided, the eight seeded Utah Jazz will go up against the number 1 ranked San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. Even though it may seem as an unachievable task
but there are a few factors that the Jazz will need to concentrate on to be able to provide a fare battle to the mighty Spurs.
First off, whoever out of the two back court players, Devin Harris or Gordon Hayward will face the responsibility of guarding the extremely quick, Tony Parker, will need to stop the veteran`s penetrating dives in the entire matchup.
Along with doing their work on the defensive end, the combination of these two players will have their work cut out and it will be a true test of mental toughness as they try to be patient against the Spurs defense.
Hayward who has been averaging 11.8 points per game in the season will be required to step his game up in a major fashion in order for his team to have a chance. On the other hand, Devin Harris who has averaged almost a similar
number of points, 11.3 per game in the season, will be required to live up to the expectations, which brought him to Salt Lake City outfit in the first place.
Then there is the big man Al Jefferson. He will be expected to continue his excellent form which pretty much was the main factor, because of which the Jazz are in the playoffs. He will also be required to do a bit of double teaming
on ‘The Big Fundamental’, Tim Duncan of the Spurs. Even though it will be a very difficult task to completely shut down Duncan, however Jefferson will have to do his best to limit Duncan`s influence on the game.
Two other players that will need a lot of stepping up for the Jazz are, Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap. Favor will be required to step up majorly on the offensive end and if he is able to do that along with the defensive qualities
he possesses, it just might work out for Utah.
Millsap, who has been averaging 16.6 points in the season, will be looking to continue making a sizable input to the Utah cause. Along with the scoring prowess, Millsap will be required to clean up the glass thoroughly.
Let`s not forget one of the most important things to do in the particular matchup will be to contain the influence Manu Ginobili has in the series. If the Jazz are able to contain the Argentinean sniper, it will serve to their
advantage in a convincing way as Ginobili is the key ingredient to the Spurs dominance.
Even though the Jazz players are on high spirits in facing off against the Spurs, including Hayward who seems to be not at all fazed by the reality of playing in the playoffs for the first time in his career, when asked about the
task at hand, this is what Hayward had to say.
“For us, we're just going to compete and play hard. We've proven we can beat the best teams if we do things our way, so that's what we're going to have to do. ... It's going to be exciting. It's going to be fun. It's going to be
a challenge. It gives us a chance to shock the world. So we have to be ready for it." – Hayward
When asked to have a say on the matter, Jazz`s head coach Tyrone Corbin described their matchup with the Spurs as a very arduous task but did contemplate that they will be coming out ready for this challenge as well.
We have taken into view as to how the Jazz can enable themselves to cause the biggest upset in the playoffs, however, failure to do any of these things can result in a thrashing for the team from Salt Lake City.
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