Utah Jazz Backcourt To Face Similar Challenge Against The Warriors
Both George Hill and Joe Ingles played integral parts in the Utah Jazz’s seven game series win over the LA Clippers. They now shift their focus from guarding one exceptional backcourt to another.
George Hill provided something in the Utah Jazz’s first round series that has been hard to come by; health and consistency. With Gordon Hayward’s food poisoning interrupting an otherwise outstanding series and Rudy Gobert’s problems with knees, ankles and fouling out, Hill managed to be productive every night.
The Jazz will need in more of the same during their second-round match-up with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Hill played just one game against Stephen Curry this season and it was Game 81 of the season coming off an injury. He played a measly 19 minutes, but had a solid outing and shot exceptionally from the perimeter. He scored 20 points on just nine field goal attempts and made five three-pointers on the night as well.
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Steph Curry came away with 28 points in 30 minutes of play, but the telling statistic was Hill’s plus/minus being one point greater. After having to guard Chris Paul in seven straight games, guarding the two-time MVP, Stephen Curry might not seem as daunting of a task.
Joe Ingles proved his value against the LA Clippers and made it known that his free agent status should become a top priority this offseason. He didn’t have the series he wanted from beyond the arc, shooting a lousy 10 from 30 (33 percent) from long range. However, he sure made a mark on the defensive end.
Outside of Game 5 when he got loose, J.J. Redick was of no effect, averaging just 6.3 points in the other six games. It was clear from the first possession of the series that he had his work cut out with Ingles guarding him. On that first play that set the tone for the series, Redick game off a curl screen out of the corner, got open from 20 feet and was rejected by Joe from out of nowhere.
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Klay Thompson has a better floor game than Redick, but they do play a similar style. They are both primarily three-point shooters that cut hard and are two of the best off-ball movers in the NBA. Hopefully, Ingles’ length and basketball IQ can bother Thompson in a similar way to J.J. Redick.
The objectives when guarding Steph Curry are fairly obvious to any common basketball fan; keep very, very close to him on the outside. Contrary to the general consensus, he is NOT a good finisher around the rim. He has a tendency to attempt and miss scoop layups when he is wide open. It seems he finishes better with contact and a hand right in his face. If I had a dime for every time a commentator said “Curry missed the layup. You won’t see that too often”, I’d be writing this from my mansion on the island I own. Okay…too much? Fine, but I’d be at least three dollars better off.
I’m taking nothing away from the fact that he is a great player, it’s just a weakness that the Jazz can try to exploit. Thompson may not have the MVP status that his fellow splash brother can flaunt, but he has a better all around game. He doesn’t miss layups, he is the better defender with better length and is essentially a better team player. He is the extra option behind Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green that can be counted on at all times.
Next: Utah Jazz Depth May Be a Mirage
So the team that Utah play against has changed drastically, but parts have remained quite similar. Lets see how the starting backcourt of George Hill and Joe Ingles can pair up with the splash brothers in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.