Key #1 – Win every 50-50 opportunity
When looking at Miami’s 2017-18 stats, they have been overwhelmingly mediocre across the board. Considering that they’re sitting at an equally mediocre 5-6 record, that should come as little surprise. Also unsurprisingly, the Heat are quite similar to the Jazz (who have been equally mediocre so far) in a number of ways.
For example, the Jazz are 18th in the league in three-point shooting (35.1 percent) while the Heat are 19th (34.8 percent). Meanwhile, they’re both tied in plus/minus at -1.5 which is 19th in the league and are also tied in turnovers per game (which has been a huge area of weakness for the Jazz) at 16.9, 25th in the league.
In other words, both teams have had some similar struggles and some comparable weaknesses that may lead one to suppose that both squads are rather evenly matched. With that being the case, it will be absolutely vital that the Jazz find any way possible to gain an edge over their upcoming Eastern Conference foe. And one of the main ways they can do just that will be to execute in the small things, make the extra effort play and win any and all 50-50 opportunities that might turn momentum in the slightest.
Jazz // Heat // FRIDAY
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 9, 2017
🎟🎟 https://t.co/E3VsyiTgcx#MIAatUTA pic.twitter.com/g0r5y4ki0c
The biggest concern facing the Jazz in this purported bout between rather evenly matched teams is that recently the Heat have been playing pretty well whereas the Jazz have been playing awful. With exception to a poor outing against Golden State, Hassan Whiteside has been playing well since returning to action from an early-season injury and he could very well help spark the Heat to an exceptional run that will see their mediocrity thus far take a significant leap.
Which is a perfect segue into the second key…