The Utah Jazz are a mess. The Mavericks have outplayed the Mavs through the entirety of the series regardless if Luka Doncic has been there or not. The Jazz have little time to get back on track with the Mavs leading the series 3-2. Following the 102-77 blowout loss in Game 5, the Jazz must get organized and prepare for their performance on their home court.

 

The Game 5 blowout was one that the Jazz must quickly wipe from their memory. It was a massive blowout in which Utah was outplayed in just about every category. The starting five of the Jazz combined for just 37 points and the team never held a lead in the game. Utah must put this behind them and refocus ahead of Game 6 if they are to have any chance. There is a lengthy list of adjustments for the Jazz to make, but with Game 6 right around the corner here are three predictions for what to expect.

Jazz-Mavs Game 6 Predictions

Jazz will shoot above 40% on three-pointers

The three-pointers have not fallen for Utah this series. This has been one of the calling cards for the team this season as they ranked second in the NBA in three-point attempts with 39.8 per game. The Jazz also ranked 11th in three-point percentage at 35.9% per game.

Game 5 was a historically bad shooting performance for the Jazz. The 77 points they scored was their lowest scoring all season and they made just 29 total field goals. Utah was just 3-30 on attempts beyond the arc which is the worst shooting performance in recent postseason history. Donovan Mitchell led the way with his 0-7 shooting performance and also registered a -38 plus/minus rating which is the worst of any Jazz player in postseason history.

The level of play from the Jazz has been poor, but the shooting splits have been unsustainably bad. Utah has seven players on the roster who shot 35% or better from beyond the arc in the regular season. Look for them to feed off the home crowd and connect on more of their long-range shots.

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Donovan Mitchell does not play

Tensions have continued to rise between Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. The rumors of his desire to play in a bigger market have made their way around all season, and the disappointing postseason performance surely hasn't quieted these reports. There have been questions surrounding Mitchell's relationship with Rudy Gobert and what his long-term desires are.

The Jazz superstar was forced to leave Game 5 early after seemingly grabbing at his hamstring. MRIs were negative on the hamstring and the Jazz appears to be optimistic about his availability moving forward. It was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski that  Mitchell is also dealing with bruising on both of his quads.

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More details are sure to come out regarding his health, but Mitchell looks checked out already. The Jazz star has not found his stride through the entirety of the series and looks ready to get a start on whatever his postseason plans may be.
Jordan Clarkson will score 30+
If anyone is going to go down shooting it is Jordan Clarkson. The 29-year-old is averaging 18 points per game and has been a bright spot for the team. Regardless if Mitchell is active or not, Clarkson will be counted on to play a major role in Game 6. He also has shot the ball effectively in the matchup which has been a rare sight on this Jazz team. Clarkson is 7 for 18 on three-point attempts and he must stick to his identity as a volume shooter in the matchup.
The Jazz are in desperate need of offense and Jordan Clarkson is the guy to answer. The 29-year-old has had a nice career revival in Utah and is in the final year of his standard contract. While he has a $14.2 million player option for next season, don't be surprised if he opts out in search of an even bigger payday. Stepping up as the Jazz's leading scorer and proving why he is worth that money would be a major statement for Clarkson.
The Jazz appear to be in shambles right now but the series is still not over. They have won two or more games in a row on ten different occasions this season and this is all Utah needs to do to keep their season alive. Quin Snyder will need to get his team organized and make some notable adjustments if they are to have any chance of this. Look for a spark from Jordan Clarkson to help with this and for the team to get back to the three-point threats they have been all season.