Clippers, Jazz both want to be each other


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SALT LAKE CITY — In life, it’s easy to want what someone else has.

Whether it’s a big house, a fancy car or a familiar NBA franchise, it’s easy to want the benefits of someone else’s circumstances.

Wednesday’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz saw both coaches looking at the opposing sideline with envy. Clippers coach Doc Rivers wants the tradition and history of the Jazz franchise for his squad, while Jazz coach Quin Snyder wants the Clippers’ All-Star roster.

The Clippers continue to build themselves as a premier team in the league, and Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin is the starting forward for the West team. They also improved one of the Western Conference’s best records, moving to 32-14 after a 94-89 victory over the Jazz, giving Utah another thing it wants from Los Angeles.

Snyder spoke glowingly of the Clippers’ roster. Snyder said the Clippers are a team to be envied in the NBA.

“One of the things that makes them such a unique team is they play to their strengths at every position,” he said. “The way the whole team is conceived offensively is unique, and that’s why they’re the top offensive team in the league. (Defensively), they’ll continue to apply themselves as competition continues to come up.


In other Jazz news, Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert, and Dante Exum were all selected to take part in All-Star weekend festivities.

“They’re a veteran team. When you play them, they know everything you’re doing, and their players are that savvy. They’re a team for us that’s a great test, every time we play them.”

The Clippers didn’t play to form in the first quarter, as Utah held a 26-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. Unlike a lackadaisical start to Monday’s loss to the Boston Celtics, Utah shot 57.9 percent in the first period.

Utah took a 50-49 halftime lead, playing solid defense against the Clippers. Los Angeles finished with a 44.7 shooting percentage for the game, and made just 4-of-14 3-point shots in the first half.

The Jazz took a 66-59 lead in the third quarter after a momentum-changing sequence by Joe Ingles. Ingles led Utah on a 3-on-1 break, finishing it with a behind-the-back pass to Enes Kanter for a 3-point play.

Ingles said the pass was just a play made in the moment.

“It was just a read in the game,” said Ingles, who finished with 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds. “I was going to lay it up, and (my defender) came across late. It was all I could do really, or I would have missed the layup.”

Enes Kanter finished as Utah’s highest scorer, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Kanter said he’s prided himself on his recent readiness to play.

“I can see it in (Snyder’s) eyes that he wants to play me, and he wants to play other guys,” he said. “We have four really good bigs, and all of them, when they’re out there, they do an unbelievable job. I’m just out there playing hard and giving 100 percent.”

The Clippers and Jazz were tied at 85-85 with over four minutes left, but Los Angeles closed on a 9-4 run to earn the win.

Kanter said it simply was a matter of making and missing shots.

“They just made some shots, and we just couldn’t,” he said. “The rest of the game we guarded them pretty well, but for the last four minutes, they made some tough shots.”

#UJ1

A subplot in the fourth was Kanter getting tied up with Griffin, resulting in a technical foul being called on the Clippers’ star.

Utah’s players were quick to move away, and Snyder said the team discusses how to handle heated situations frequently.

“I think it’s important to have composure and find a balance between composure and emotion,” he said. “Where you’re not just laying down, you’re playing tough and playing physical, but you’re not going overboard where your team is getting penalized for losing your temper.”

As they continue to move up the standings in the West, Clippers coach Doc Rivers is pleased with the direction his team is taking, and said as much in his comments. However, while the Clippers have strong recent history, Utah has a long-standing reputation of success.

Rivers said he’s hopeful his franchise can build a tradition of winning like Utah did with Hall-of-Famers John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan.

“We don’t have any history,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to build, and it’s just going to take time. (We) have good names, but they weren’t great when they were here.”

Utah rests Thursday, but will face league-leading Golden State Friday. Going into a five-game stretch of tough matchups before the All-Star break, Snyder said he’s hopeful the effort his team showed against the Clippers will carry forward.

“You’re never OK with losing, but if we get that type of effort over the next five games, it’s a matter of time till we start having the success,” he said. “If we keep banging on the door like this, one of these nights were going to (make shots), and then have a breakthrough game like that.”

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