Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors 12/27: Picking up the pieces
![OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Kevin Durant #35 and Jordan Bell #2 of the Golden State Warriors slap hands after Durant blocked the shot of LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers late in the fouth quarter of an NBA basketball game at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Kevin Durant #35 and Jordan Bell #2 of the Golden State Warriors slap hands after Durant blocked the shot of LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers late in the fouth quarter of an NBA basketball game at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2a129e089c87c330845445f8670f89a0f7dbeb67640db901e1fca6147790a425.jpg)
Key No. 3: Fight for 48 minutes
The Utah Jazz simply cannot afford to play a partial game and expect to win. The Jazz must show up from tip and be there to play throughout the night. But the same energy and effort must be present coming out of the second half as well.
If the shots aren’t falling, the defense needs to clamp down and look for stops. And then they need to take advantage in transition, which hasn’t been the Jazz forte.
Ricky Rubio, known for his transition play and court vision, has been atrocious in transition. Mostly resulting from carelessness and lack of focus (see the theme?)
Bottom 10 in points per transition possession (min. 50 possessions)
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) December 26, 2017
Dion Waiters (0.89)
DeMarre Carroll (0.89)
Jae Crowder (0.88)
Dejounte Murray (0.87)
Mike James (0.87)
Josh Jackson (0.87)
De'Aaron Fox (0.84)
Ricky Rubio (0.82)
Dario Saric (0.72)
Lonzo Ball (0.66)
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- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
If the Jazz want to win, they’ll need to fight. But alas, I don’t see them winning, even if they put up a fight.
Prediction: Warriors win, 121-95