WCQF | (4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs Utah Jazz (5) | UTA 4-2

[Pillendreher]

Rubio, Mitchell, Ingles, Favors, Gobert, O'Neale, Crowder and now Exum is healthy. Every one of these guys are rated as top defensive players. In fact as of January when Gobert came back from the injured list Utah has the #1 defense in the entire league.
Unfortunately we've not been able to see this current roster play okc.
OKC plays a ton of iso with Westbrook, Carmello, and George. Iso offense is traditionally the easiest to defend.
I'm really curious to see if Billy Donnovan will try to avoid mid range jumpers as that's the Jazz traditional method. Utah defensively will run teams off the 3, and keep Favors and Gobert in the paint. Most players try to avoid them and in turn take more mid range shots. Utah defensively forces more mid range shots then any other teams.
I'm really excited to see how these games play out with 3 very good iso players going against the Jazz defense.

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Nobody on the Jazz roster can check Russ, PG13 or Melo in isolation or PnR with any sort of regularity whatsoever and they can all be deadly in the midrange game

They've had by far the best defense in the league since Gobert returned.

That's not per se contradicting what he's saying tho. You can't claim that they 'can't guard us' - their team defense is too good to be helpless defensively. But you can make the argument that when it comes to certain matchups, they could struggle with things. Even with Roberson, when our defense was absolutely elite (Roberson-George-Adams was just as good defensively as Rubio-Mitchell-Gobert - just a 1pp100p difference in DRtG), we for example struggled with bigs that could shoot because it dragged Adams out of the paint and forced Anthony to defend (in space).

Personally, I don't see anybody hanging with Westbrook on that team. The biggest challenge won't be 1-on-1 defense by the Jazz, but their ability to take away shots at the rim: Since Gobert came back, they have allowed the fewest FGA in the restricted area and also the 3rd best opp FG% on those shots. Coincidentally, they've allowed the 2nd most in the paint (non-ra) FGA and the 2nd most midrange FGA over that same span.
So what I'm worried about isn't Rubio guarding Russ. I'm worried about their help around the rim.

[bondom34]

Nobody on the Jazz roster can check Russ, PG13 or Melo in isolation or PnR with any sort of regularity whatsoever and they can all be deadly in the midrange game

They've had by far the best defense in the league since Gobert returned.

That's not per se contradicting what he's saying tho. You can't claim that they 'can't guard us' - their team defense is too good to be helpless defensively. But you can make the argument that when it comes to certain matchups, they could struggle with things. Even with Roberson, when our defense was absolutely elite (Roberson-George-Adams was just as good defensively as Rubio-Mitchell-Gobert - just a 1pp100p difference in DRtG), we for example struggled with bigs that could shoot because it dragged Adams out of the paint and forced Anthony to defend (in space).

Personally, I don't see anybody hanging with Westbrook on that team. The biggest challenge won't be 1-on-1 defense by the Jazz, but their ability to take away shots at the rim: Since Gobert came back, they have allowed the fewest FGA in the restricted area and also the 3rd best opp FG% on those shots. Coincidentally, they've allowed the 2nd most in the paint (non-ra) FGA and the 2nd most midrange FGA over that same span.
So what I'm worried about isn't Rubio guarding Russ. I'm worried about their help around the rim.

I'm talking about their team defense being able to contain okc. If Russ or pg gone for 40 and nobody else scores they still lose. Utah's really good.

[RunOKC]

Okc in 5

[Thunder Up]

Rubio is one of the better PG defenders in the league... that does not mean he can check Russ, because nobody can, he will be blowing past him all series.

Donovan or Ingles or Favors on Melo and PG13? Lol, come on. Their team defense is cool but it won't matter in the half court vs this talent shooting from three and the midrange... and if Billy is actually intelligent and runs 2Pat with the starters it will make Rudy useless

[ThunderBolt]

I hope the players have more respect for the jazz than some of these posts. Russ doing whatever he wants doesn’t automatically equate to a good performance.

[Thunder Up]

I hope the players have more respect for the jazz than some of these posts. Russ doing whatever he wants doesn’t automatically equate to a good performance.

We are a clear matchup problem for the Jazz. They're a cool team, better suited to play someone like the Blazers or a first round match-up with a Curry-less Warriors. They don't stand a chance in this series if OKC doesn't play like complete trash when it comes to shot making

[slick_watts]

I hope the players have more respect for the jazz than some of these posts. Russ doing whatever he wants doesn’t automatically equate to a good performance.

We are a clear matchup problem for the Jazz. They're a cool team, better suited to play someone like the Blazers or a first round match-up with a Curry-less Warriors. They don't stand a chance in this series if OKC doesn't play like complete trash when it comes to shot making

we are below league average at shot making this season and utah is #1 at shot defense in games that rudy gobert plays.

[Pillendreher]

[ThunderBolt]

Finally including Steven Adams in the core group. Just one more change and we’ll be fine.

[Pillendreher]

Finally including Steven Adams in the core group. Just one more change and we’ll be fine.

I don't think Grant is ready to be part of a Big 5, yet.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Finally including Steven Adams in the core group. Just one more change and we’ll be fine.

No. They should not add Donovan.

[NetsWorld]

Will be a tough series but Thunder will take it in 6. No one can contain Westbrook.

[oken]

Will be a tough series but Thunder will take it in 6. No one can contain Westbrook.

Except his own self.

[AGE1207]

Based on all the talent u guys have got, we don't stand a chance. We will put up a fight though.

Good luck!

[bondom34]

Based on all the talent u guys have got, we don't stand a chance. We will put up a fight though.

Good luck!

Same! Quite a few of us admire your team as well. Was hoping to see you beat up someone else.

[n8boz]

Will be a tough series but Thunder will take it in 6. No one can contain Westbrook.

Do you notice his teammates standing around and watching him? I've noticed it a bit but I don't watch okc a lot.

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[n8boz]

Most of us can't stand him. There's no offense at all and he's pretty much a talker who was friends with Presti so got the job without anyone else interviewing. He's awful.

And yea that's pretty much the offense. You'll see it from the bench too, Felton isos are great. And lineups are...not ideal.

Does Donvan play a strict minute schedule or is he more prone to make changes? Like does he look for many strategies roster wise?

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Donovan's substitution strategy is to throw **** at a wall, see what sticks, then do the opposite.

Hahah that's awesome

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[Pillendreher]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/heres-what-will-decide-the-thunder-jazz-series/

[Reign23]

I feel okc in 7. hope BD plays pat and grant more and decrease the minutes of the backup SGs t-ferg and abrines.

Russ 40
Brewer 25
PG 40
Melo 32
Adams 35

Felton 20, Grant 26, Patterson 22

[Pillendreher]

Adams' play is going to be very important. They gotta find ways to either get Gobert out of the paint so Russ can attack (he should, anyway; even if he misses more than usual, you gotta go at them) or take advantage of Gobert focusing on Russ.