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Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Keys to keep win streak alive on Star Wars Night

By Jared Woodcox

March 05, 2016: New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) drives to the basket during the NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. (Photograph by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
March 05, 2016: New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) drives to the basket during the NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. (Photograph by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 29: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after being ejected after his second technical foul during the first half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 29: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after being ejected after his second technical foul during the first half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Key #2 – Keep New Orleans off the glass

Surprisingly, despite the fact that the Pelicans boast two star big men in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins who average 11 and 12.5 rebounds per game, respectively, they aren’t all that great of a rebounding team as a whole. They are just 15th in the league in rebounds per game (43.5), 18th in rebound percentage (49.7) and 18th in rebound differential with a negative mark of -0.5.

However, although many of the Pelicans’ stats stay pretty consistent in both their wins and their losses, surprisingly their rebound numbers are quite different. In wins, they’re nabbing 46.9 whereas in losses they’re only putting up 39.7. That’s a difference of nearly seven boards per game which is pretty substantial.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/936751450922762240

In other words, one of the keys to stopping the Pelicans from having their way is to keep them off the glass as best as possible. New Orleans is in the top half in the league in second chance points, so making sure they’re unable to get an edge in rebounding is an effective way to halt a chunk of their offense as well.

The Jazz have actually been a worse rebounding team than the Pelicans this season with a rebound percentage of 47.8 and a differential of -3.7, so this is going to be no easy task, especially with Rudy Gobert out of the mix. However, Utah was recently able to get the better of a Denver Nuggets team that’s been one of the best rebounding teams in the league this season, so if they can take that kind of performance and apply it tonight, they could put themselves in a great spot to win.

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