The matchup between the Thunder and Jazz will be more exciting than everyone is expecting. The OKC Thunder are clicking on all cylinders right now and the shooters have been red-hot heading into the postseason. The Jazz have been clicking as well heading into the postseason as they won 6 of the last 7 games. Both teams want to set the physical tone in the paint and on the perimeter to get the upper advantage on the opposition. These teams know each other very well especially with being in the same division. The Thunder have the season series edge on the Jazz winning (3-1) in the 4 games played this season. That was the regular season and this is now the playoffs where it’s win or go home. This will be Donovan Mitchell’s first taste of the postseason but this will also be the first playoff game for OKC’s Big 3 playing together as well. One thing the Oklahoma City Thunder have an advantage in this series is playoff experience and instant offense. In the playoffs, OKC’s Big 3 playoff career stats combined are 70 PPG, 14.6 APG, 21.1 RPG. The Utah Jazz only have 4 years of experience in their starting lineup with 2 players in Rubio/Mitchell that will be making playoff debuts in OKC Sunday. The Thunder Big 3 combined has 23 years of playoff experience combined.
Below is a breakdown of matchups position by position and who will win that matchup and why including each teams bench.
Starting Point Guard Matchup – Russell Westbrook vs Ricky Rubio (Matchup Winner: Russell Westbrook)
Russell Westbrook is the reigning MVP and Ricky Rubio will have his hands full trying to guard or score on “The Brodie”. Russell Westbrook has locked in on the defensive end and he’s also playing within the offense finding his teammates with ease. Russell Westbrook is a matchup nightmare for anyone that wants to take the challenge of trying to stop him. Westbrook has one of the best mid-range jumpers in the game and he can easily blow by any defender. Ricky Rubio isn’t known for his defense or his offense but he’s able to find his teammate for assists. The biggest problem for Rubio is the fact that Westbrook stays in the passing lane and his intensity on the defensive end will make it tough to find his teammates at times. The way that Westbrook played all season and especially the way he ended the season shows that he will do anything to lead his team to victory. A lot of people don’t give Westbrook credit for his leadership and I don’t know why. All season Westbrook has led this team through the ups and downs. Westbrook put the team on his back and leads them inside and outside the locker room. Westbrook is the engine of this Thunder train and if the Utah Jazz want a chance to even stop this train they would need to double him. The problem with that is now Westbrook has help in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony which makes it tough on any opponent. Westbrook finished the season averaging 25.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 10.1 APG and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon especially if Rubio doesn’t get help on the defensive end.
Starting Shooting Guard Matchup – Paul George vs Donovan Mitchell (Matchup Winner: Paul George)
Paul George gets the nod in this matchup just off the fact he reminded the media today that we haven’t seen “Playoff P”. On a serious note, PG-13 has found his shooting mojo as of late and it’s at the right time for the Thunder playoff run. Paul George is one of the best two-way players in the world and he will use the (ROTY) Mitchell as an example of how it is to lock up in clutch moments. Once Andre Roberson went down for the season Paul has picked it up defensively and has taken the challenge to guard the other teams best player. What people don’t get about PG-13 is that deflections/steals lead to easy buckets for him to get his offensive game going. When PG is being aggressive in games getting to the line 10+ times in a game the Thunder are 10-1 on the season and if he continues to attack it could be a quick round for Mitchell and Utah. When PG has his shot going early that opens up every element of his game from attacking, playmaking, and his confidence. Donovan Mitchell will have a huge task on his hands guarding Paul George but has a chance to slow him down a little bit. You can’t stop a player like PG you just hope to contain him and that’s what Mitchell will have to do. On the flip side, Paul George will have to defend Mitchell who averaged 20.5 PPG as a rookie and played amazing all year. Paul George will get physical with Mitchell and try to get him off his game early in games to knock his confidence down a couple notches. Mitchell will have to prove that he can lead the Jazz in 4-7 straight games against OKC and I don’t see that happening especially since PG is swarming you on defense. Mitchell is a rookie and doesn’t know the intensity of the playoffs yet and will make some mistakes because of lack of intensity. This will definitely be a great matchup but Paul George has the upper advantage overall.
Starting Small Forward Matchup – Corey Brewer vs Joe Ingles (Matchup Winner: Joe Ingles)
Joe Ingles has a slight advantage in this matchup because of his extended role on his team. Corey Brewer has been with the Thunder for only 16 games and will need to continue at the pace he’s been playing at in the playoffs. Brewer hurt his knee the other night against the Grizzlies and we don’t know if that will play a factor in his playing style. Brewer can defend and knock down 3 pointers for the Thunder but can he do it for 4-7 games straight against Ingles who means so much to this Jazz team. Joe Ingles will try to make it hard on Brewer with his playmaking ability, aggressiveness to the rim, and his knockdown shooting. Ingles is the emotional leader for this Jazz team and if he gets his confidence going he can get the better of Brewer in this matchup. Both players average about the same amount of points (10 PPG) with their respective teams and the player that gets their game going will boost that squad. Joe Ingles has a bigger role on his team and the Jazz depend on him more for offensive purposes as for Corey Brewer he takes what the defense gives him. Overall this should be a great matchup to watch for that isn’t star-studded in this series.
Starting Power Forward Matchup – Carmelo Anthony vs Derrick Favors (Matchup Winner: Carmelo Anthony)
Carmelo Anthony hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2015 with the New York Knicks and this will be his moment to put the NBA on notice. People have always labeled Melo as a ball stopper and when he came to OKC he sacrificed his ball-dominant style for this very moment to be in the playoffs. Carmelo has made the adjustments and will showcase his new playing style on a Derrick Favors that isn’t used to guarding a scoring threat like Carmelo in a series. This is a total mismatch for Favors because Melo can beat you anyway offensively once he gets the ball in his spot you’re at his mercy. Melo has been able to change his game to play off of Westbrook and PG but that has given him more energy to play on the defensive end as well. Melo increased his dunks and blocks this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder which shows he still has what it takes to prove doubters wrong. Favors will have his hands full on both ends and will have to use his post moves to advantage if he wants to at least make a serious impact in the series. The way that Westbrook and Anthony attack those boards it will be hard for Favors to have a consistent double-double effort in this series. Favors won’t be able to body Melo in the paint like he does other players that guard him because Anthony is stout and unmovable at times on the block. Carmelo Anthony will be able to draw Derrick Favors away from the basket which will leave him on “Melo Island” where he can get beat with the jumper or the quick first step of Melo. When you take Favors away from the basket it leaves the Jazz struggling on the defensive end when people attack the rim. Overall Carmelo Anthony will be feeling right at home in this matchup especially since the game slows down in the postseason.
Starting Center Matchup – Steven Adams vs Rudy Gobert (Matchup Winner: Toss Up)
This matchup between Steven Adams and Rudy Gobert will most definitely be EPIC!!! It’s very rare in the NBA to get a good matchup at the center position nowadays since the way the game has evolved into a permieter dominated sport. With that being said we get to see one of the most improved players (Big Kiwi) against one of the best defenders in the NBA (Eiffel Tower). This matchup can go both ways because each player has a post presence and great post moves. This matchup will come down to who is playing better at the rim and helping their teammates the most on the defensive end. Steven Adams has the smooth offense with a mini hook and catching alley-oops from Westbrook but Rudy Gobert also can dunk on opponents and shoot the occasional mid-range jumper. Both have improved on their skill set and it will be a great matchup in the paint. The thing that would help Adams in this matchup if I can choose one would be the fact that OKC has slashers that will cause Gobert to help on defense leaving Adams open a lot more. Rudy Gobert has stepped his game up as seen in last years postseason so we will have to see both of them in action in Game 1 and re-evaluate this matchup. This is one of those matchups that everyone will be looking forward too in the entire postseason.
Bench Matchup – OKC Thunder Bench vs Utah Jazz Bench (Matchup Winner: Thunder Bench)
The Thunder bench has more experience as a unit and has found their identity. Jerami Grant and Raymond Felton have been able to put the Thunder bench on their back and hold it down in moments when Westbrook, George, and Anthony need rest. The Thunder may be without Alex Abrines who has been great as of late but OKC’s bench is clicking at the right time as a whole. On the other end, the Jazz has players like Crowder and Exum who can get hot at times but haven’t been consistent on a nightly basis. The Thunder have been able to put together a great number of games at the end of the season which have boosted the benches confidence. If Grant and Felton can continue to play at this high level the Thunder bench will be fine. It’s going to come down to who’s bench has less responsibility in this series and with OKC’s firepower, it’s going to have the Jazz bench scrapping to try to stay in games by the time they come in the game.
I have the Thunder winning this series 4-1 as I believe the Thunder will have a lot of mismatches to expose in this matchup against Utah. If the Thunder continue to shoot the way they did to end the season this should be a quick round before they run into the 2nd round opponent. Westbrook, Anthony, and George formed together this summer to play for this very moment and I don’t see the Utah Jazz doing anything to pose a threat to their road to the NBA Finals.
Photo Credit: (Nate Billings, The Oklahoman) (Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman) (Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports)
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