The Thunder were down 3-1 coming into Game 5 against the Utah Jazz at home. Everyone knew how huge of a game this would be for Russell Westbrook and the Thunder organization after losing two straight in Utah. The Thunder and the Jazz both started off the game very nervous it seemed as it took about 3 to 4 minutes before any team scored. Donovan Mitchell was leading the charge against the Thunder as he’s played like a 10-year veteran instead of a rookie. Mitchell has been the one player that has been able to set the tone for the Jazz but with Billy Donovan making the proper adjustments and putting Paul George on him that slowed him down a bit. Mitchell was being contained but what OKC didn’t do in the first half was communicate on the defensive end. They allowed Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles to get hot from the 3 point line and were looking lost on the defensive end. Every time the Thunder were playing defense they collapsed to Rudy Gobert like he was Shaq in the early 2000’s. While the Thunder were giving all that attention to Rudy Gobert he was able to find the open player when OKC gave him multiple defenders. The Thunder were getting sucked into the paint leaving players on the Jazz roster open for anything they wanted in the 1st half. Jae Crowder made a huge difference as he finished the game with 27 points for Utah but OKC quickly caught on to what he was doing on the offensive end. The Thunder weren’t able to shut down Utah’s 3 point ball in that first half and that was something that really hurt OKC as they trailed going into the 3rd quarter. Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 23 points and was able to get to his spots but PG-13 wasn’t letting him go off how he did in this series.
Coming out in the second half of the Jazz were going for the haymaker as they scored a quick 5 points putting OKC down by 25 points. At this point, fans in the Chesapeake Energy Arena were getting worried. The one person that wasn’t worried about being down and counted out was Russell Westbrook. The MVP came out of that timeout and knocked down back to back 3 pointers that gave OKC fans hope. After Westbrook hit those three-pointers the Thunder locked in defensively swarming the Jazz like they haven’t done all series. The Thunder were in the passing gaps and were playing like a brand new team. The defense led to offense as Paul George was able to get a 3 point play off a Jazz turnover and you can feel the momentum shifting in the arena. Another huge difference in this game was the fact that OKC got Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert in foul trouble as both weren’t able to be aggressive at all or in the game. Russell Westbrook and Paul George took full advantage of that and punished any defender in front of them. The Utah Jazz was losing that lead and it seemed as though every timeout that Snyder called made things worse because Westbrook/PG-13 were feeding off the crowd energy. Russell Westbrook had a look in his eyes like I’m not to be denied and was willing this team to the victory. This was the breakout game that everyone expected from Russell Westbrook coming into the series against Ricky Rubio. Once Westbrook hit that 3 pointer to tie the game at 78 heading into the 4th quarter the roof came off the arena.
The Jazz wasn’t able to get any type of offense going as the Thunder were playing championship caliber defense in that 4th. Paul George was locking down Mitchell and Westbrook was doing the same with Rubio. Westbrook and Paul George finished with a combined 79 points and took over the game. Both Westbrook and George were able to do anything they wanted from 3 pointers, layups, and mid-range. If they can play with this intensity in Utah and take the crowd out of the game early anything is possible. This team has been fighting all season and series so it will be nothing but spectacular if they bring it back for Game 7. Billy Donovan had Carmelo Anthony on the bench during the 32-7 comeback to get OKC back in the game but Melo is due for a breakout game as well. The Thunder will need a huge effort from the Big 3 in Utah for them to stay alive. Utah has been playing their game it’s just the fact that OKC showed up on the defensive end in that second half and changed this series completely from a momentum standpoint. Both Westbrook and Paul George played the whole second half so they will be ready to continue to fight.
The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Game 1 locked in and focused on trying to stop the Utah Jazz. The Thunder have a couple of mismatches at multiple positions on paper and proved that they had what it takes to get the job done on both ends. OKC’s success started off slow as the Utah Jazz came out looking like the more experienced team. Donovan Mitchell came out playing like he was a 10-year veteran playing in his 100th playoff game early scoring at will. That Utah energy and offensive efficiency died down quickly once OKC’s Big 3 settled in. Paul George was engaged on both ends of the floor and was able to do anything he wanted tonight against the Jazz. Paul George warned the OKC media about “Playoff P” and we were able to see exactly what he was talking about tonight. PG-13 had the 3 point shot going tonight as he finished 8-11 from behind the arch and was able to create space off his lethal crossover. When George has the crossover going like he did tonight no defender can stay in front of him. Joe Ingles tried to challenge Paul George on the defensive end and we found out early that he couldn’t handle PG-13 at all. The Thunder as a whole played amazing defense and were able to use their steals and blocks to start the transition game. This was one of the Thunders best games on the defensive end and they were able to use their size and experience to their advantage.
Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony complimented Paul George’s breakout game tonight with a combined 44 points. Russell Westbrook was able to dominate Ricky Rubio on both ends of the floor at ease. When Westbrook is coming at you full force all night it drains you and you can tell that’s what happened with Rubio. The Thunder forced someone else besides Donovan Mitchell to beat them tonight and it didn’t happen. Ricky Rubio shot 5-18 from the field on the night and wasn’t able to get any offense going at all. Westbrook has been locking in on defense since the Houston game last week and he’s taking the defensive end personal. Carmelo Anthony has been able to get his offense going but it’s his defense that has been super impressive in this win streak OKC’s on right now. Melo has been rebounding and defending at a high level and when the Big 3’s clicking like this no one should be able to stop them.
Donovan Mitchell was the bright spot for Utah tonight but he was hurt in the process. He went to the locker room to have his pinky toe examed and he was able to come back but was in obvious pain. Mitchell finished the game with 27 points and was trying to put the Jazz on his back like he’s done all season but they came up short. Mitchell is a special rookie and he was able to get some good looks on Corey Brewer but he needs someone else to help out and take some of the load off. Rudy Gobert was having a decent game but was in a lot of foul trouble early.
Paul George let it be known that he’s a different beast in the playoffs and if he continues this throughout the postseason it could be scary for the NBA. PG-13 finished with 36 points on the night and was playing like he was on fire from NBA Jam. In Game 2 the Thunder will need to keep playing through Paul George and continue to try and let someone else besides Donovan Mitchell try to beat them again.
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)
