NBA Playoffs 2012 – Preview: San Antonio Spurs looking to sweep the Utah Jazz in Game 4
On Monday night at the Energy Solutions Arena in the Salt Lake City, Utah Jazz will play host to the mighty San Antonio Spurs in what can be the last game of this Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Spurs hold a commanding 3-0 lead going into the Game 4 and will be looking to wrap things up away from home and earn the much treasured rest before the start of the second round of the post season.
The odds do seem to favour the outcome of the Spurs sweeping past the Jazz as the veterans from Texas are in spectacular form. Tony Parker being the key contributor in the first three games has been firing on all cylinders. The
French one guard has not been scoring at will, he has also made been a nightmare for the Jazz with his immaculate passing credentials.
After being silent for the first three quarters of Game 3, Parker came to life in the fourth quarter to record 16 points to fashion a Spurs win. And it is not just Parker who has been dominant.
Tim Duncan, even though silently, ‘The Big Fundamental’ has been doing some of his major work down low in the post. In Game 3`s win, Duncan managed 17 points, getting most of them in the first half of the matchup.
The only member of the Big Three who has not had much of a scoring impact has been Manu Ginobili but that does not mean at all that the Argentinean sniper has not been influential as he can take over a game in so many other ways.
In Game 3, Ginobili finished off on the night by hand out 10 assists.
The rest of the Spurs squad has also stepped its game up in the post season. Matt Bonner has been hitting key triples throughout and the starting rookie Kawhi Leonard continues to impress. Other than those two, Danny Green has
been in spectacular form.
Jazz on the contrary seem to be lost at this stage and losing out Game 3 in the second half is mere proof of that fact. They have crumbled under immense pressure of key situations, and lack the much needed experience required to
fight off veteran stalwarts from San Antonio.
The other problem this side is facing at the moment is the lack of consistency. It is not that they don’t score much, but are taking turns to do so. They have so far not produced one team effort in the playoffs and the Spurs have
fed off on that. Devin Harris who had a good Game 3 with 21 points was a no show in the first two games and same can be said for several other players. Gordon Hayward who was playing well at the start only managed 4 points in the third game.
Even though it does look like that Spurs will be able to win 4-zip but if the Jazz side find their rhythm, they might just be able to avert the inevitable for some time.
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