Utah Jazz at Miami Heat: Keys to reversing road woes

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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 5: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on January 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Stop Goran Dragic

Considering how lousy Ricky Rubio’s defense has been this season, I always get a little nervous when the Jazz are matched up against a quick and effective opposing point guard. Sure, Donovan Mitchell can help out on the defensive end, but typically Rubio draws the assignment and it’s been a pretty common sight to see him get burned.

And he’ll have his hands full today against Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic, who has been on a tear of late. In the last three games, Dragic is averaging 22.7 points on 47.5 percent shooting from the field and an incredible 47.1 percent from three on nearly six attempts per game. If Dragic is allowed to get hot and strokes the three-ball as he has of late, the Jazz will stand little to no chance of coming out on top.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/948928277195845632

Therefore, it will be critical that Utah steps up and holds him in check. They did no such thing in their recent contest against the Nuggets which saw starting point guard Jamal Murray go off for 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from deep. Likewise in the previous contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, Jrue Holiday, who clocked several of his minutes at the point, went 10-of-16 for 24 points.

In other words, opposing point guards have simply had their way with Utah of late and if Dragic is allowed to match that, the Jazz will likely fall once again.

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