Denver twice, just like Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Dallas or even the two Los Angeles teams… Apart from an easier double confrontation against Houston, the Jazz’s schedule was not good to start the season.
Nevertheless, the young Jazz troupe devoured him with appetite, for a record of eight victories in eleven games!
“I love that our team keeps winning no matter who is on the pitch”
Sunday evening again, to go and achieve the double in Los Angeles, which had not been done since 1990, Utah bet everything on its collective, with a well-balanced effort in attack, but above all a breathless final sprint in defense to extinguish definitely already shaky Clippers.
“Finding ways to win as a team is a lot of fun”says Will Hardy on the Jazz website. “For us, it was in defense at the end of the game. They scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, only 6 in the last five minutes. I thought our guys really fought until the end (…) I love the fact that our team continues to win, no matter who is on the field. These guys want to win. They don’t care who’s on the field as long as we win. We are very proud of this group, of their way of sticking together. »
In addition to the veterans who have again done their share of the work as good professionals, starting with Mike Conley (17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) and Lauri Markkanen (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists), it is Collin Sexton who made the difference in the last quarter with his aggressiveness towards the circle and his strength on the play in percussion.
Will Hardy did not hesitate to bring out Jordan Clarkson in the last quarter, yet 23 points at 8/15 on shots, in favor of the “Young Bull” from Ohio. Author of his best score of the season at 22 points, Collin Sexton improved the confidence of his staff with 9 points in the last five minutes of the match, to definitively seal the victory of his team.
“I have the feeling that we fought well”, confirms Collin Sexton. “We didn’t lower our heads when Paul George made difficult shots. We just have to play the transition and focus on the defense to get stops collectively (…) In the end, sometimes I will be on the field in the fourth quarter, other times not. I just have to stay ready and stay in the moment the whole game. »
“The spacing is the biggest difference for us”
Despite 21 stray balls that gave the Clippers 25 points, the Jazz managed to tighten the screw defensively, to make up for their mistakes on the other side of the field.
Just as he managed to hold the bar despite the Clippers’ comeback between the third and fourth quarters, when a 10-point advantage vanished, turning into a 4-point outlay…
“Lauri did a really good job of getting Paul George to work in attack, and not just getting in tough shots but also getting the ball,” picks up Will Hardy. “Of his eleven 3-point shots, not all of them were defended perfectly. Some simply missed the mark. »
Clearly not expected so high at the start of the season, the Jazz nevertheless continues its merry way, scratching the Western Conference where it appears in an unexpected 2nd place after two big weeks of competition. For Mike Conley, it’s very simple that Utah has thwarted the odds since the start of the school year.
“The spacing is the biggest difference for us”, explained Mike Conley before the match. “We are so selfless that the ball is constantly circulating and bouncing from player to player. Each of our five guys can outflank their defender by dribbling to create play.”
