Memphis Grizzlies fans are probably the happiest people in the world right now after their team beat the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their first-round duel. Not only did they steal homecourt advantage, but they seemed to have figured out a way how to beat the number one team in the league.
However, they Grizzlies shouldn't rest on their laurels. Not just because this is a seven-game series, but the Jazz weren't really in the best shape in Game 1. As such, being the great team as they are, they will iron out the creases from their performance in Game 1. Fans should not fret one bit because Donovan Mitchell and crew will make the right adjustments moving forward.
Jazz 3-point Shooting Will Normalize Soon
The Jazz shot just 12-of-47 from deep on Sunday. You don't have to be a basketball expert to admit that this was the main reason for their defeat. Jordan Clarkson, one of their best 3-pointers, was 0-of-8. Mike Conley was 3-of-11 and Joe Ingles was 3-of-8.
The fact that the Jazz were still shooting the ball amid their obvious struggles can actually be seen as a positive. It means that they were still playing their game, still trusting all the work they put in the offseason to perfect their strokes.
In the regular season, they shot at a decent 38.9 percent clip from deep which ranked fourth in the league. They drained 16.7 3-pointers per game which is the league's best. Jazz fans should stop blaming their team for continuing to jack up shots. The 3-pointer is one of the main reasons why the team has been so successful. And it doesn't make sense to stray off this playstyle on basketball's biggest stage.
As such, expect the Jazz's stroke to return in the coming games. Clarkson, Ingles, and Conley will get their rhythm back. Head coach Quin Snyder will also make key adjustments.
No Donovan Mitchell in Game 1
Everyone knows that Donovan Mitchell is the best player for the Jazz. Yes, the team has a pretty deep roster with excellent role players. But in the NBA, stars play a very huge role in the playoffs. Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the regular season. He also shot 43.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from deep. Mitchell is hungry for that Larry O'Brien Trophy so you can almost expect these averages to go up in the postseason.
Apart from the offense, Mitchell has developed into one of the leaders of the Quin Snyder-coached squad. Having a strong vocal leader like Mitchell is critical especially when their backs are against the wall or even if they're up by a small margin. Leaders like Mitchell will be there to remind his Jazz teammates to keep the pressure up until the final buzzer sounds.
Dillon Brooks scoring 31 points is an outlier
Props to Dillon Brooks for dropping 31 points in Game 1. This is way above his average of 17.2 points in the regular season. We may see another performance like this from Brooks. But the chances are very slim. Brooks still hasn't developed a consistent play. No doubt he'll continue to produce for the Grizzlies against the Jazz, but it'll likely be within his regular-season averages.
Follow Us
Subscribe