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 and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 3, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 3: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 3, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Stop Houston’s backcourt

This final key is likely much easier said than done considering that the Rockets boast two likely future Hall of Famers as their starting one and two guards in Chris Paul and James Harden.  Harden has been playing at an MVP level all year and even though Houston looked solid even while Paul was out with an injury, now that he’s back he has them humming even more.

Harden is putting up an astounding 31.7 points per game this season on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.5 percent shooting from deep. He’s also dishing out 9.7 assists per game while nabbing 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals. In other words, The Beard is doing a little bit of everything to pace his team.

CP3 meanwhile isn’t putting up all that incredible of scoring figures – just 12.4 points per game – but he’s doing so at a highly efficient three-point shooting clip of 42.5 percent. He’s also dishing out a team-high 9.8 assists, so he’s clearly getting his teammates involved in a big way.

And both of these players have had unbelievable success against the Jazz in the past, so stopping both of them along with several other capable role players is going to be a tough task for Utah. The good news is that the Jazz recently defeated Chris Paul and his former LA Clippers team in the postseason last year, and last season, the Jazz actually matched up exceptionally well against the Houston Rockets and won two of three contests.

If they can somehow dig deep and rediscover that success once again on their home court to shut down Harden and Paul, then there’s a chance that Utah could very well come out on top.

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