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Utah Jazz vs. Indiana Pacers: Keys to the Game

By Jared Woodcox

Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (L) and forward Derrick Favors (15) and forward Joe Ingles (2) react to defeating the Indiana Pacers in overtime at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 122-119. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (L) and forward Derrick Favors (15) and forward Joe Ingles (2) react to defeating the Indiana Pacers in overtime at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 122-119. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Joe Johnson (6) and center Boris Diaw (33) react in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Joe Johnson (6) and center Boris Diaw (33) react in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Stat – Rebounds

The Jazz were able to take advantage of a poor rebounding team in the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night and will have an opportunity to do similarly in Saturday’s contest against the Pacers. Indiana comes in at 27th in the NBA in rebounds per game at 42.1, despite playing at the ninth fastest pace in the league.

The Jazz meanwhile, are up to 21st in the NBA in rebounding despite playing at the league’s slowest pace. Rudy Gobert and Co. were able to outrebound the Mavs 53-42 in Utah’s most recent victory and they should be able to punish the Pacers on the boards as well.

That is exactly what happened to Indiana in their most recent loss as the Lakers completely out-hustled them on the boards grabbing 51 compared to the Pacers’ 37. It’s extremely difficult to win games with that kind of rebound differential.

But that’s been the story for the Pacers nearly all season. In wins, they’re just barely topping their opponents on the boards, grabbing 44 rebounds compared to giving up 43.4. In losses, however, the Pacers are grabbing just 40 rebounds while allowing their opponents to log nearly nine more at 48.9 rebounds per game.

Given the fact that even in wins the Pacers are barely finding a way to top their opponents in rebounding, the Jazz have to look to take a huge advantage here. Although the Jazz are 21st in the league in rebounds, they’re 8th in the league in rebound differential, grabbing nearly two rebounds per game more than their opponents.

Rudy Gobert has obviously played an enormous role in this so if he can continue his dominance on the boards and get some help from his teammates, the Jazz could find themselves quickly shutting down the Pacers just as the Lakers did last night and several teams have done all season.

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