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Utah Jazz at Philadelphia 76ers: Keys to keep momentum rolling

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was created using a variable plane lens.) Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was created using a variable plane lens.) Joel Embiid
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers photos the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 18, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers photos the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 18, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Key #2 – Find a way to contain Joel Embiid

For the second straight time this season, Jazz fans will be deprived the excitement of watching Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid go head-to-head. That’s disappointing news from a pure entertainment value standpoint, but even more worrisome for Utah’s chances at victory. As my J-Notes colleague John Keeffer pointed out yesterday, it means that it will be absolutely critical that Derrick Favors (as well as Utah’s other bigs) step up to keep the prolific big man in check.

On the season, Embiid is pacing the Sixers with 22.8 points on 51 percent shooting from the field while adding 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 blocks. He’s a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor and when he gets a little bit of confidence, he can seem virtually impossible to stop. He and Ben Simmons have also built a nice chemistry so far this season that’s made him even more of a threat to opposing teams.

One nice thing about Embiid from the Jazz’s perspective, though, is that he’s shooting just 26.2 percent from behind the arc. The Jazz have struggled to contain three-point shooting as it is, particularly from stretch-bigs that pull Favors and Co. away from the paint, so while Embiid certainly can’t be ignored out there, it’s good to know that he isn’t absolutely annihilating teams from the three-point line.

Still, even if it’s not by making long-range buckets, Embiid has plenty of weapons in his arsenal that will allow him to destroy his opponents. Thus, Favors and his Jazz teammates will absolutely need to make it a point of emphasis to keep him in check. If the Jazz can’t stop Embiid, it will open up the floor greatly for the hot-shooting 76ers and will likely spell doom for a Jazz team whose defense has been sub-par for the most part of late and whose offense lacks the firepower to come back from behind.

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