The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets: Keys to bouncing back from a tough loss

By Jared Woodcox

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 5: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets talk after the game on November 5, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 5: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets talk after the game on November 5, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 3: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets shoots a basket against during the first half of the basketball game against Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center December 3, 2017, 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. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 3: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets shoots a basket against during the first half of the basketball game against Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center December 3, 2017, 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. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Defend the three-point line

In the first match-up between these two teams the Houston Rockets thoroughly thumped the Jazz, winning by a score of 137-110. It was a special night for the Rockets as they simply could not miss, principally James Harden who put up a career high 56 points on an astounding 19-of-25 outing. But he was far from the only one getting in on the action as Houston finished the night shooting 23-of-39 (59 percent) from three as well as 48-of-81 (53.9 percent) from the field.

When a team is hot, it’s hard to do much about it. To their credit, the Jazz actually had a decent shooting night themselves as they went 38.2 percent from deep, but ultimately it wasn’t nearly enough to match wits with the red hot Rockets. Therefore, this time around the Jazz will need to do a much better job of dominating the three-point line.

Interestingly enough, the Rockets are just 14th in the NBA in three-point percentage at 36.5 percent. For reference, the Jazz just so happen to be number three at 38.8 percent. However, even if Houston’s accuracy isn’t always dead on, they can still bury opposing teams by the pure volume of threes that they take. They lead the league in three-point attempts with 44 per game. That’s over 10 more than the second-ranked Brooklyn Nets. That’s a huge difference!

In other words, the Rockets very much live and die by the three. They chuck up a lot of them and, fortunately for them, they tend to make plenty to be able to overwhelm their opponents. Therefore, Utah needs to be prepared for such an attack. The Rockets are going to be raining threes regardless, but if Utah can suffocate them on the perimeter and force them into an off-shooting night, they could very well find a way to sneak past a dangerous Houston squad.

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