Round 1, Game 1: Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks

Post #1 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 7:51 am

Now that the seeding is set (at least when it comes to the Jazz), we know the Jazz will face the Mavs in the first round.

Earlier this season, someone said the Mavs would win a series against the Jazz and I disagreed. I'm less certain of it now. We'll see how it goes but it should be a fun series, at least.

Post #2 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 8:56 am

Read on Twitter

Post #3 » by **FJS** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 11:27 am

Luka is hurt, and this is huge for them and for us. Probably he will play, but he could reinjury or play less than 100%.

Still, any options give us more chances to advance.

You only have to remember us playing with less than 100% Mitchell and Conley last playoffs.

Crunch 99 · Post #4 » by **Crunch 99** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:05 pm

In order for the Jazz to advance in the playoffs this season, imo Coach Snyder needs to move away from the tradition of settling on a single eight man playoff rotation and minutes before the playoffs begin, which he doesn't change regardless of the opponent, regardless of game situations and regardless of individual matchups. We've got at least 11 guys ready to play and contribute, 14 if you count Butler, Paschall and NAW. (The only reason I might not count Butler, Paschall and NAW is that they were not getting as many meaningful rotation minutes down the stretch as the first eleven players and it is unrealistic to play everyone.)

Post #5 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 2:10 pm

Mavericks Optimistic Luka Doncic's Calf Strain Is Not Serious
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/266471/Mavericks-Optimistic-Luka-Doncics-Calf-Strain-Is-Not-Serious

TNJazz · Post #6 » by **TNJazz** » Mon Apr 11, 2022 6:34 pm

Crunch 99 wrote:In order for the Jazz to advance in the playoffs this season, imo Coach Snyder needs to move away from the tradition of settling on a single eight man playoff rotation and minutes before the playoffs begin that he doesn't change regardless of the opponent, regardless of game situations and regardless of individual matchups. We've got at least 11 guys ready to play and contribute, 14 if you count Butler, Paschall and NAW. (The only reason I might not count Butler, Paschall and NAW is that they were not getting as many meaningful rotation minutes down the stretch as the first eleven players and it is unrealistic to play everyone.)

As I was listening to the Portland game, Big T Bailey said basically the same thing. He thinks the Jazz need to take advantage of their deep bench and go with what will give them the best opportunity to win, rather than a set group fo 8 players. I too believe there are 11 players who could be mixed and matched better than a simple smaller rotation. Let situations help dictate the better matchups. I also agree about Butler, Paschall and NAW, although Butler has done really well of late with Forrest out and is a better offensive option, and Paschall is a terrific bully-ball player, who has been terrific almost every time he has gotten the chance. NAW is really, IMHO, the only player who should not get much meaningful playing time this year.

I will give props to getting through the season and being fully healthy. Now they need to make that count!

Catchall · Post #7 » by **Catchall** » Tue Apr 12, 2022 3:23 am

The Jazz need to focus on themselves and not misdirect focus on Luka's injury. It's likely that Luka will miss at least the first two games, but the Jazz need to be the aggressor and try to take control of this series early.

Denizfeital · Post #8 » by **Denizfeital** » Tue Apr 12, 2022 1:49 pm

Inigo Montoya wrote:Mavericks Optimistic Luka Doncic's Calf Strain Is Not Serious
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/266471/Mavericks-Optimistic-Luka-Doncics-Calf-Strain-Is-Not-Serious

I would think this means exactly the opposite. They are pretending going full mode against us where they know something is not right.

Let's see.

I am honestly optimistic about these series.

Go Jazz!

Catchall · Post #9 » by **Catchall** » Tue Apr 12, 2022 7:31 pm

Denizfeital wrote:
Inigo Montoya wrote:Mavericks Optimistic Luka Doncic's Calf Strain Is Not Serious
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/266471/Mavericks-Optimistic-Luka-Doncics-Calf-Strain-Is-Not-Serious

I would think this means exactly the opposite. They are pretending going full mode against us where they know something is not right.

Let's see.

I am honestly optimistic about these series.

Go Jazz!

Following the MRI, the Mavs are saying that there is a calf strain and no timetable for Luka's return. If they want to play mind games and make the Jazz wonder if Luka is going to play or not early in the series, they can list his status as 'day-to-day' or 'questionable' for the start of the series. Either way, the Jazz aren't stupid. They know that even a low-grade calf strain takes 10 days at least and that pushing Luka to return early is a really bad idea.

Jazz know they can go up 3-0 and end this series early.

Read on Twitter

Catchall · Post #10 » by **Catchall** » Tue Apr 12, 2022 8:16 pm

Luka didn't practice today. He's staying off the court and is receiving treatment. The calf strain doesn't appear to be very minor, and it's very likely that he's going to be out for the next 7 or 8 days, at least. Luka will need to be cleared for on-court activity, then for full contact. If he can't practice at full speed, there's no way the Mavs are going to put him out there.

Realistically, I think Luka is going to miss Games 1, 2 and 3. If the Jazz jump out to a 3-0 series lead, Luka will likely be done for the summer.

Catchall · Post #11 » by **Catchall** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 6:26 am

Series schedule and TV schedule have been released. If the Jazz start the series strong, they could take a 3-0 series lead 8 days from now. At that point, I think the Mavs would just shut Luka down for the summer.

Also, the Jazz/Mavs series has been banished to NBA-TV for Games 2 and 3. Sixers/Raptors, Warriors/Nuggets and Grizzlies/T'wolves take the TNT slots on Monday and Thursday. Read into that what you will. It's possible that the networks aren't banking on Luka being available early in the series.

Read on Twitter

Post #12 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:20 am

Catchall wrote:Series schedule and TV schedule have been released. If the Jazz start the series strong, they could take a 3-0 series lead 8 days from now. At that point, I think the Mavs would just shut Luka down for the summer.

Why would they do that after we let Denver win a series in which we led 3-1?

Catchall · Post #13 » by **Catchall** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:39 am

Inigo Montoya wrote:
Catchall wrote:Series schedule and TV schedule have been released. If the Jazz start the series strong, they could take a 3-0 series lead 8 days from now. At that point, I think the Mavs would just shut Luka down for the summer.

Why would they do that after we let Denver win a series in which we led 3-1?

Because no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. Ever. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit isn't all that uncommon.

Post #14 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:49 am

Catchall wrote:
Inigo Montoya wrote:
Catchall wrote:Series schedule and TV schedule have been released. If the Jazz start the series strong, they could take a 3-0 series lead 8 days from now. At that point, I think the Mavs would just shut Luka down for the summer.

Why would they do that after we let Denver win a series in which we led 3-1?

Because no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. Ever. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit isn't all that uncommon.

If there is a first time to do it, the Jazz are a very good candidate to do that against.

Crunch 99 · Post #15 » by **Crunch 99** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:06 pm

Catchall wrote:Luka didn't practice today. He's staying off the court and is receiving treatment. The calf strain doesn't appear to be very minor, and it's very likely that he's going to be out for the next 7 or 8 days, at least. Luka will need to be cleared for on-court activity, then for full contact. If he can't practice at full speed, there's no way the Mavs are going to put him out there.

Realistically, I think Luka is going to miss Games 1, 2 and 3. If the Jazz jump out to a 3-0 series lead, Luka will likely be done for the summer.

Thanks for the updates.

Hindsight is great, but I agree with Dallas fans who claim Coach Kidd was foolish to keep playing Doncic in the final game of the season after GS had already taken control of their game against NOP. Doncic went down at 2:24 left in Q3 after 29 minutes of action.

The GS v NOP game started the same time as the Spurs v Dallas game. Ingram, JV and Herb Jones didn't play at all while McCollum only played the first six mins of the game, taking two shots with zero points before sitting. McCollum never appeared in Q2 and he didn't come out to start the second half. So it was clear way before Doncic got injured that NOP was not playing to win whereas Golden State's Thompson, Poole and Green were playing to win.

I was glad to see our coach smartly gave our own high usage, high mileage guy, Mitchell, a rest for the last game.

TNJazz · Post #16 » by **TNJazz** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:19 pm

Crunch 99 wrote:
I was glad to see our coach smartly gave our own high usage, high mileage guy, Mitchell, a rest for the last game.

Agree it was a good call to rest DM and Bogey, our #2 scorer. While it was possible to end up as the 6 seed, the probability of everything lining up wasn't statistically relevant just to possibly avoid the Suns in round 2. Bad move for Kidd, I think he was trying to do the same and avoid the Suns in round 2, but the risk was not worth it, and it looks as if the gamble backfired. Looking at TV schedule, with Donćik likely out for at least 2, probably 3-4 games, and the poor pay of the Jazz since January, relegating them to NBATV is what should be expected. If they win this series, they will be back in primetime, and if they lose, :banghead:

the season will have been a complete failure.

Catchall · Post #17 » by **Catchall** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 4:18 pm

Inigo Montoya wrote:
Catchall wrote:
Inigo Montoya wrote:
Why would they do that after we let Denver win a series in which we led 3-1?

Because no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. Ever. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit isn't all that uncommon.

If there is a first time to do it, the Jazz are a very good candidate to do that against.

Coming back from an 0-3 deficit is such a longshot that it wouldn't justify putting Doncic at any risk and having him play.

dr0welf · Post #18 » by **dr0welf** » Thu Apr 14, 2022 1:49 am

Hopefully Luka makes it back as I'd rather beat them with Luka then without.

If he does make it back we might have to learn how to deal with a floppy Doncic. Isn't their some new wave therapy for that problem??...

Watch on YouTube

Catchall · Post #19 » by **Catchall** » Thu Apr 14, 2022 2:50 am

Sportsbooks are starting to give the Jazz odds at -300 to win the series.

Catchall · Post #20 » by **Catchall** » Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:54 pm

With Dallas shifting its rotation to accommodate Luka being out, look for the Jazz to have a rebounding advantage, as well as an advantage in bench production. Mavs are going to have to compensate for their lack of size and depth with energy and effort. Josh Green and Sterling Brown probably get regular minutes.

If the Mavs go small, the Jazz need to punish them in the paint. It doesn't just have to be Rudy and Hassan. It can be our guards going to the rim, or putting in Eric Paschall to do his wrecking-ball routine. We can also put in Hernangomez to attack the offensive glass.