Jazz notes: Jazz great in Game 6s, Clippers could change starting lineups


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LOS ANGELES — The Utah Jazz didn't hold practice or a media availability with a full day off before they face the L.A. Clippers in a closeout Game 6. Still, a day after another big road win, there's a lot to dig into with regards to this version of the Jazz. Let's take a look at some notes:

Game 6 performance from both teams

One stat that I wasn't aware of until moments before tipoff Tuesday blew me away: in Game 5 situations where the series was tied 2-2, the Clippers were 1-10. And now, they're 1-11.

First of all, I'm surprised that they've had that many chances. It feels like the Clippers were so bad for so long that even when they made the playoffs, they lost quickly, but extending a series to 2-2 indicates they were close anyway.

They're also 3-8 in Game 6s, so that's a very lackluster record. One very notable exception, though: in 2015, the Clippers won Game 6 and Game 7 of the series against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs to advance in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Jazz are 5-0 in series when they're up 3-2, according to 1280's Spence Checketts.

> Jazz are 5-0 all time when leading a playoff series 3-2. TAKE THAT FOR DATA. > > — Spencer Checketts (@1280Spence) [April 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/1280Spence/status/857310383501004801)

Now, that old finance disclaimer definitely applies here: past results do not guarantee future performance. I'm not even sure the two numbers have anything to do with each other. But it's sort of interesting to look at anyway.

Crowd in Game 6

One big factor in the Jazz's favor? Playing Game 6 at home. In his postgame press conference Tuesday, Gordon Hayward talked about how it would be easy to find energy in Game 6, even after a very draining Game 5.

"To be honest, there's going to be so much energy in that building," Hayward said. "Our fans are tremendous, and playing in front of them, I know they're going to be loud. They're going to bring us a lot of energy."

Once again, the Jazz will be giving out T-shirts to every fan in attendance. Preliminary word is that they hope to vary the designs on these shirts if the Jazz are able to continue in the playoffs.

Clippers starters changes?

One definite thing to look for: it looks like Doc Rivers isn't enthralled with how his team's starters have been playing. When he was asked about the Clippers' late game offense stalling, he instead thought the Clippers' early play caused them to be tired at the end of the game

"I have a dilemma early on. Without Blake in the first seven minutes, Chris is the only ball handler on the floor, and that's too hard," Rivers said. "They started out well. I thought Chris got tired early, and so we are going to have to try to do something about that. Either put a guard in early — I thought Austin's (Rivers) minutes on Hayward were phenomenal, but he's got, what, 16 minutes, so you can't do that. Other than that, it's just Luc (Mbah a Moute), and we don't want to wear him out. So it's a tough call for us. But we have to do something there. I think that hurt our offense, the fact that Chris had to bring it up literally every time, and so we have to make an adjustment there."

Okay, so what's the adjustment? Clearly, Rivers doesn't think he can play Mo Speights much, he only played 14 minutes. The man they call Mo Buckets had no buckets Tuesday. Maybe you start Raymond Felton next to Chris Paul, and slide J.J. Redick and Luc Mbah a Moute down a position, and play small? But then the Jazz will probably just attack whoever Felton is guarding.

You could also start Jamal Crawford, but man, that makes their bench completely punchless, and gives the Jazz someone to switch on with their best attackers on the floor.

I think there's going to be a change, but I don't know if it's going to be enough. The Clippers' depth is just such a problem in this series.

Clippers defensive strategy allowing open 3s

The Jazz took 36 threes in Game 5, their second-highest total of the season. They made 36 percent of them, but head coach Quin Snyder and the players were thrilled at the quality of open looks that they were getting.

What was happening? Well, the Clippers were extremely aggressive early in doubling ballhandlers. That meant the Jazz just swung the ball around to the open man. This time, the Jazz usually missed, but that won't always be the case.

Like, here's two examples. On one, it's just a simple pick and roll that DeAndre Jordan tries to trap, freeing up Rudy Gobert to make the right play.

Rewatching, it's crazy how aggressive the Clippers were in doubling Jazz ballhandlers last night. Like, this is just 4-on-3 stuff: pic.twitter.com/OjUsBrkua5 — Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 26, 2017

Or here's the Clippers doubling Gordon Hayward in the post, leading to three passes and a wide open Joe Johnson corner three.

And then they doubled Hayward in the post here, which is just three passes away from a Joe Johnson open corner 3 pic.twitter.com/1tLpEnzwkn — Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 26, 2017

This stuff is easy for the Jazz. Everyone likes passing, can make the quick pass, and is generally pretty good at reading the floor and making the right play. That's why I agree with ESPN's Zach Lowe when he says this:

> Also thought Utah outplayed Clips a bit more than score indicated. Executed their offense really well, missed a lot of great looks. > > — Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe\_NBA) [April 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/857253918291759104)

I also agree with Doc Rivers. "When you look at 36 threes, 25 of them were really good looks. We can't allow that again."

Jazz play without a PG

For two stretches last night that totaled just under four minutes, the Jazz played without a point guard, preferring to play four of their versatile wing players together.

The Jazz finished those minutes with a plus-minus of zero, so we can't really conclude that it was a massive success or anything. But it is an interesting look for the Jazz, and solves a problem of putting an inexperienced player on the floor who might be a liability at one end.

"It's always a little bit nerve-wracking for me to do it, but our guys have confidence in it, so usually I just go with it," Snyder said.

And when I asked Joe Ingles about it, he didn't even know that the no-PG minutes happened, even though he was usually the guy bringing the ball up the floor. So it's safe to say it's a look that the Jazz are comfortable with.

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