Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Keys to the Game
Key Match-up – George Hill and Damian Lillard
Although George Hill has had his ups and downs since returning from the concussion and lip laceration he suffered on New Year’s Eve, he finally appeared to be turning things around in the latter part of Utah’s most recent four-game winning streak. Even in the loss to Boston, he put up exceptional numbers and looked much more like the Hill of old.
Then, however, the game against the Clippers happened and suddenly all the previous doubts surrounding Hill returned. He went just 2-of-11 in that contest and was an appalling -31 for the game.
Even w/ perhaps his worst game of the season last night, George Hill has great +/- Per 100 Poss. stats:
— Nik Valdiserri (@NickyV05) February 14, 2017
On court: +11.8
On/Off Net: +10.9
So George Hill will have to be much-improved and perform more like he did in Utah’s recent blowout wins over Atlanta and New Orleans if the Jazz are to have any chance of slowing one of the best point guards in the NBA in Portland’s Damian Lillard.
The Weber State product has once again been filling it up this season as he’s averaging a career-high 26 points per game and a 43.8 percent field goal percentage. His shooting from behind the arc is slightly down this season, but given all the cold-blooded daggers that Lillard has hit throughout his career, there’s no questioning that he’s a capable and dangerous three-point threat.
So if Utah is to have any shot of containing the Blazers, they’ll need to find a way to win the point guard battle. Hill hasn’t fared well against either of the past two point guards he’s faced – Isaiah Thomas and Austin Rivers – so going up against Lillard will give him an exceptional and crucial chance to redeem himself.