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Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers Playoff Preview: Player Comparison

By Jared Woodcox

Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) defend Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) under the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

With the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers set to face off in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, here’s a look at how each team’s players will fare against one other in individual match-ups.

Although the Utah Jazz still have a minuscule chance of earning the fourth seed with a win of their own against the Spurs and a little help from Sacramento, regardless of whether they finish fourth or fifth, their first round playoff opponent is set. Much to the dismay of several Jazz fans they will indeed be matched up against the Los Angeles Clippers, who have more than had their way with the Jazz, not only this season but over the course of the past six.

Therefore, Utah will likely be facing an uphill battle if they hope to advance to the second round of the playoffs and a date with the Golden State Warriors, er, the winner of the Golden State – Portland series, I mean (it’ll be the Warriors).

For one reason or another, the Utah Jazz simply haven’t been able to match up well against the LA Clippers. In all honesty, I think a large part of it is mental, but it’s clear that the Clips’ physicality has been part of the issue as well.

Whatever the case, I thought it would be worth while to take a look at each key member of these two respective teams and compare how they individually match up against one another and which players have the advantage.

The Clippers have the edge over the Jazz in terms of winning the regular season series three games to one and while Utah has been one of the most banged up teams in the league, a fact which very well could have contributed to some of their losses to LA, the Clips had their fair share of health issues this season as well.

Therefore, for these intents and purposes, we’ll be operating under the assumption that each player brought up here will be in full health and ready to go for the postseason. That seems highly unlikely, especially in the instances of Derrick Favors who’s looked off all season long and Rodney Hood who’s struggled incessantly with injuries. Even Gordon Hayward and George Hill’s recent bouts with injuries are reasons for concern.

Nevertheless, as the saying goes, hope springs eternal, so we’ll hope that all four of them can be right as rain in a matter of days to start out the playoffs and also while considering the individual match-ups of these two teams.

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