NBA PLAYOFFS: Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors ($25 Prize!)
UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD IS sprin********@gmail.com CONGRATULATIONS!
December 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20, left) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Prizing:
1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card
2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card
Overview:
On Tuesday, May 2nd, the Utah Jazz will be on the road to take on the Golden State Warriors in game one of their Western Conference playoff series.
The Crowd:
“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Warriors 112.0 – Jazz 100.3 with an over/under of 212.3.
Statistics (2016-17 season):
Point differential: Warriors +11.6 (1st) > Jazz +3.9 (6th)
Points per game: Warriors 115.9 (1st) > Jazz 100.7 (28th)
Points allowed per game: Jazz 96.8 (1st) > Warriors 104.3 (11th)
Field Goal Percentage Offense: Warriors 49.5% (1st) > Jazz 46.6% (9th)
Three Point Percentage: Warriors 38.3% (3rd) > Jazz 37.2% (tied for 8th)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: Warriors 43.5% (1st) > Jazz 44.3 (2nd)
Turnovers committed per game: Jazz 12.9 (tied for 11th) > Warriors 14.4 (22nd)
Turnovers forced per game: Warriors 14.8 (1st) > Jazz 11.5 (tied for 29th)
Rebounds per game: Warriors 44.4 (tied for 7th) > Jazz 43.2 (tied for 19th)
Assists per game: Warriors 30.4 (1st) > Jazz 20.1 (28th)
Summary:
This is certainly an intriguing match-up because the Warriors lead the league in scoring (115.9 PPG) and the Jazz allowed the fewest amount of points (96.8 PPG). Golden State has gone (8-2) in their last ten head to head games with Utah. The Warriors have had a week off to rest and get Kevin Durant healthy after sweeping the Portland Trailblazers. Durant only played in two of four games but still managed 21.0 points per game in just 28.0 minutes. Stephen Curry (29.8 PPG and 6.5 APG) did a great job picking up the scoring load as well as facilitating. For the playoffs, Golden State is averaging 119.5 points per game while allowing 101.5.
Utah is averaging 98.9 points per game while allowing 97.7. Gordon Hayward (23.7 PPG and 7.3 RPG) is a phenomenal talent but the Jazz will need another primary scoring option to keep pace with the high scoring Warriors. The Warriors are averaging nearly 9.0 rebounds per game more than Utah in the playoffs. Rudy Gobert can be a game-changer for Utah with his shot blocking ability on the interior. Golden State’s up-tempo play and proficient shooting from the perimeter should limit Gobert’s effectiveness. I like the Warriors to win game one at home.
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