The Oklahoma City Thunder can’t afford to lose to the Utah Jazz later tonight, as getting behind 3-1 in the series is close to being a death sentence for any team in the playoffs.
The Jazz have gained a ton of confidence after winning the last two games to go up in the series, 2-1, and for Thunder forward Paul George, it’s clear to him that Oklahoma City will have to tighten up its defense if it wants to avoid falling down a 3-1 hole, per Thunder beat writer Fred Katz.
Paul George on the key to improving defensively tonight: "Effort. I think if we match their effort, the game should be in our favor."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) April 23, 2018
The Thunder’s defensive job in Game 3’s 115-102 loss in Salt Lake City last Saturday was infuriating for the team. Not only did Jazz guard Ricky Rubio dropped a triple-double on them by mustering 26 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds, Utah also shot 52.5 percent from the field and made 13 baskets from deep on a 38.2 percent 3-point shooting percentage.
It is also embarrassing for the Thunder that Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell is having his way on offense in this series. Mitchell has averaged 25.7 points in the last three games, and he will enter Game 4 following a solid 22-point performance in Game 3 in which he also collared 10 rebounds and hit four shots from behind the arc.
It’s one thing for Paul George to say that the Thunder are going to put up a better effort defensively and it’s another to actually do it, but he and his teammates will have to step it up on defense before the situation gets out of hand.
The Thunder are 4-3 in their last seven games in Salt Lake City.
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