Key Performer – Gordon Hayward
The last time Utah and Houston met, the Jazz’s offense was carried by Gordon Hayward. He finished the game with 31 points going a brilliant 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep. Although Trevor Ariza is a solid one-on-one defender, Houston’s team defense isn’t exactly phenomenal and they have few others equipped to slow Hayward.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned in my preview piece yesterday, Houston’s defense is better than people give them credit for as they rank in the top half of the league in defensive efficiency ahead of several significantly talented playoff teams.
.@GordonHayward finished with 31 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds tonight. #TakeNote#HOUatUTA https://t.co/WhdvoboQTZ
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 30, 2016
Therefore, it won’t necessarily be an easy night for Hayward, but he’s still far and away the most talented player on the court aside from James Harden and of course there’s no way a dismal defender such as The Beard will be tasked at all to mark Utah’s All-Star forward.
Unfortunately, while Hayward spoiled Jazz fans by putting up seven games of 25 points or more in an 11-game month of February, he has yet to do so in recent contests in the month of March and thus has looked a bit off offensively. There’s a good chance that will need to change if Utah hopes to pack enough offensive punch against Houston tomorrow and it’s not unrealistic to say that the Jazz will need one of those stirring 25-point performances out of Hayward in order to win.