Key #2 – Capitalize on turnovers
The last time the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat faced off, make no mistake about it, it was an ugly game. Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field (the offensively-challenged Jazz shot just 33.8 percent) as the game went back and forth in a sort of defensive slug-fest. The game was tied heading into the final period, but the Heat used a 27-17 fourth quarter effort to win a low-scoring 84-74 game.
The 74-point output was at one point viewed by Jazz fans as a low point of the season. If only that were the case…
Utah’s inability to put up points in that contest was even more frustrating considering that the Miami Heat turned the ball over 20 times. Even so, the Jazz struggled to generate much easy offense at all as those 20 giveaways produced just 15 points.
And, as it turns out, turning the ball over isn’t an issue that was unique to Miami in that game. They are in the bottom ten in the league in turnovers, coughing it up 15.2 times per contest. Therefore, the Jazz, who are fifth in the league in opponent turnovers, need to not only force the Heat into giving the ball up, but then go down the floor and convert on those easy opportunities.
Considering it’s been such an issue for the Jazz to score of late, doing so may be their only chance of topping the Heat, despite the fact that Miami hasn’t been much of a high-scoring squad themselves this season.