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Western Conference NBA Playoffs Preview – LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz

By Matthew Hallett

Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) sets a screen for Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defends in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) sets a screen for Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defends in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Key positional Match-ups

Small forward

The most pivotal dual for the contest is the dual at small forward between Gordon Hayward and Luc Mbah a Moute. Hayward is the offensive wheelhouse of the Utah Jazz. George Hill does take pressure off at times but without Hayward succeeding, the Jazz do not have a good chance.

Hayward has only been available for three of the four game series. In the two games where he scored 13 points or less, the Jazz were beaten. In the game where he scored 27 points, the Jazz won. I know that this is a small sample size but when All-Star Hayward is firing, the Jazz are a different outfit.

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When Mbah a Moute is having his way, the Jazz offense tends to stutter. Considering they have the third worst in the NBA, this is not a good thing.

Center

The center match-up is slightly less pivotal, but for the Clippers to stop the Jazz, Jordan is going to have to stifle the Stifle Tower. In the last ten games, Gobert has averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks per game. In that time the Jazz have gone 7-3.

Due to Jordan being a player who plays close to the basket, Gobert will be defending inside the paint rather than on the perimeter. This is where he is most comfortable and where the Jazz need him.

Jordan will also need to out-rebound Gobert if the Clippers are to prevail. Gobert is the third best in the NBA this season on the offensive glass with 3.9 per game. Jordan is slightly worse in seventh with 3.6 per game.

On the defensive end, DeAndre Jordan is the second best in the NBA with 10.0 defensive rebounds per game, edging out Gobert who is sixth with 8.9 per game. The battle of the boards will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this series.

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