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OKC Thunder – Utah Jazz battle for fourth seed: 2 critical matchups

By Matthew Hallett

Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz drives around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the OKC Thunder during a game . (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz drives around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the OKC Thunder during a game . (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Battle of the bigs.

When the OKC Thunder takes on the Utah Jazz the first thing that comes to mind is the battle between Rudy Gobert and Steven Adams. It is one of the few times that Adams is actually matched up physically in the entirety of the season.

Gobert is a traditional center. He averages 15.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He shoots the ball incredibly well from the floor going at an incredible 69.8 percent from the floor. Mind you, when you shoot 83.6 percent of your shots from 0-3 feet, your percentage should be good.

He has dunked 206 of his 353 field goal attempts, this is always going to help get your percentage up. Adams is one of the few players who has the strength and body to keep the Jazz center away from the hoop.

Adams keeps opposition centers interested by running the floor hard; he is often one of the first down the court in transition. Now that he is healthy, he is setting rock hard screens again and putting his body into getting every rebound he can.

Gobert, on the other hand, is starting to look tired, according to one of the Jazz radio announcers. If his reaction to the OG Anonuby elbow at the end of the last game is anything to go by, he is losing his cool too. This matchup within the game is going to be fascinating.

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