The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Keys to finishing the month strong

By Jared Woodcox

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 16: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rallies his teammates in huddle prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena on December 16, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 16: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rallies his teammates in huddle prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena on December 16, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz gestures to the officials in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz gestures to the officials in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Get Donovan Mitchell and Rodney Hood back on track

In the first game that Donovan Mitchell sat this season, the Jazz got absolutely obliterated by the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a scary contest that showed just how offensively-challenged Utah is without the breakout rookie star. When Utah went on to face the San Antonio Spurs the very next night, many expected a similar blowout loss. However, instead Rodney Hood rose to the challenge, posting one of his best games of the season with 29 points on 50 percent shooting.

From there, though, he went on to have two horrible games which saw him go 3-of-14 from the field and 2-of-8 from deep for nine points against OKC and then 4-of-17 from the field and 2-of-7 from deep for 10 points against Denver. They were both discouraging outings that had Jazz fans groaning about Hood’s potential return to an inconsistent nature.

However, he did have a better performance against Golden State with 26 points, so hopefully that’s a sign that he’s righted the ship already, but Utah will definitely need him to be firing on all cylinders on Saturday against the Cavs.

And the Jazz need Hood to play well in conjunction with Donovan Mitchell. It’s seemed of late that when one of these guys has shined the other has faltered, most notably in the latest contest against Oklahoma City. And while Mitchell played extremely well in that contest against the Thunder, there’s no questioning that he’s been in a bit of a funk of late.

He had just six points in limited minutes against Houston (presumably as he dealt with the toe injury), then only 13 in Denver in a game where he struggled to get going and, finally, 17 in Golden State, but on just 6-of-17 shooting from the field and 1-of-5 from deep. After starting the month out on fire, it seemed only a matter of time before Donovan came back down to earth a bit, but the Jazz will need him to be back to his electrifying offensive ways on Saturday.

And if both he and Hood, Utah’s two leading scorers, can somehow both get it together and score upwards of 40 combined points, it could very well be the ultimate key to a Utah victory against such a superior team.

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