Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Keys to the Game

Given the struggles the Utah Jazz have had against the LA Clippers, it is going to take a monumental effort if they hope to come away victorious and win this battle for the fourth seed in the West.

I’m not typically a big fan of hyperbole, but all exaggeration aside, tomorrow’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers could very well be the biggest game of the year so far for the Utah Jazz. In the thick of a tightly contested playoff race, the Jazz find themselves in fourth place in the Western Conference but with just a one-game lead over the Clippers.

Thus with a win Monday night, the Jazz would increase their lead to two games. With a loss, however, they fall out of fourth entirely, surrendering the spot once again back to LA.

While of course there will still be 15 games left to play after the match-up against the Clippers, if the Jazz hope to end up with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, it’s a very real possibility that tomorrow’s contest will be a must-win. Particularly given the strength of Utah’s remaining schedule, adding another game to the win column by taking out the Clippers would provide the Jazz with some much-needed cushion.

Unfortunately, Utah is already 0-2 against LA this season and looked absolutely flat-footed in both contests. What’s worse is, as I mentioned in my week preview piece from this morning, the Jazz are just 2-17 against the Clippers over the course of the past six years.

Maybe that would allow one to argue that it’s about time that some of these games start going the Jazz’s way, but in all reality the Jazz seem to have some sort of mental block when they play the Clippers that has apparently prevented them from playing with any semblance of confidence.

Nevertheless, Utah will have to find a way to look past that if they hope to log a crucial victory tomorrow. It’s no secret that the Jazz have struggled against upper-echelon teams in the West all season long and although they appeared to buck that trend by beating Houston last week, they fell right back into their old ways with a loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Sure, Rudy Gobert was a last-minute scratch in the contest with leg soreness, but that was no excuse for the fact that all five of Utah’s starters apparently forgot to show up. Regardless of who is or isn’t healthy for Monday’s bout (which given Utah’s luck this season, you never know whose turn it may be to be sidelined tomorrow) the Jazz better be aware of the importance of this game and come out with intensity and a sense of urgency.

Because it’s going to take everything they have to be able to excel in the following key areas and come away with a much-needed statement win over the Clippers and thus maintain their spot in fourth place in the West.