The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at LA Clippers: Keys to beating wounded Clips

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on October 24, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on October 24, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 28: Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz shakes hands after defeating the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 28: Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz shakes hands after defeating the Denver Nuggets on November 28, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Seize momentum immediately

No matter how resilient a group of players may be – and I expect the remaining healthy Clippers players to be just that – it’s always hard to bounce back when your best player gets hurt. LA had been struggling even with Blake Griffin. Without him, they may be doomed this season and will likely feel pretty down coming into this contest.

With that being the case, the Jazz can’t let a scrappy and potentially hungry Clippers team get any momentum rolling whatsoever. Instead, they need to start the game out fast and kick them while they’re down, so to speak. It’s definitely going to take them time to adjust without Blake Griffin leading the way, so Utah should look to take advantage of that fact and get off to a quick start.

In Utah’s latest wins, they’ve done a much better job of avoiding slow starts and they’ll need that to continue if they hope to earn just their second road win of the year. It wouldn’t be unexpected to see the Clippers come out somewhat downcast and sluggish without Griffin around to propel them, so rather than let a defeated team get any rhythm, Utah will need to nip that in the bud right away and leap out to a lead right from the game’s onset.

Taking control from the start of the contest will likely lead to a manageable lead all throughout the game.

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