Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Tuesday, April 18th, the Utah Jazz will take on the Los Angeles Clippers in game two of their Western Conference playoff series.  The Jazz hold a (1-0) series lead.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Clippers 104.3 – Jazz 99.2 with an over/under of 203.5.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Clippers +4.3 (4^th) > Jazz +3.9 (6^th)

Points per game: Clippers 108.7 (6^th) > Jazz 100.7 (28^th)

Points allowed per game: Jazz 96.8 (1^st) > Clippers 104.4 (12^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Clippers 47.5% (2^nd) > Jazz 46.6% (9^th)

Three Point Percentage: Clippers 37.5% (tied for 6^th) > Jazz 37.2% (tied for 8^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Jazz 44.3 (2^nd) > Clippers 45.2% (11^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Clippers 12.5 (7^th) > Jazz 12.9 (tied for 11^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Clippers 12.6 (22^nd) > Jazz 11.5 (tied for 29^th)

Rebounds per game: Jazz 43.2 (tied for 19^th) > Clippers 43.0 (21^st)

Assists per game: Clippers 22.5 (tied for 15^th) > Jazz 20.1 (28^th)

Summary:

This might be perhaps the most evenly matched series in the entire NBA playoffs.  Utah squeaked out a 97-95 road victory over the higher seeded Clippers when Joe Johnson connected on his buzzer beater.  The Clippers are (7-3) in their last ten head to head games with the Jazz.  Utah is one of the elite defensive teams in the NBA ranking 1^st in fewest points allowed per game (96.8) and 2^nd in field goal percentage defense (44.3%).  The big concern for the Jazz is their star center Rudy Gobert who suffered a knee injury in game one.  The MRI revealed no ligament damage and Gobert is listed as questionable for the rest of the series.  The loss of Gobert would be monumental for the Jazz as he is one of the league’s premier rim protectors.   I think Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will be able to impose their will on the interior with no shot blocking presence.  For as strong as the Jazz are defensively they lack players that can create their own shot beyond Gordon Hayward and George Hill.  I like the Clippers to bounce back and even the series.

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