The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards: Keys to sweeping season series

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 4: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz goes to the basket against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 4: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz goes to the basket against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 07: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in action during a NBA game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2017 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. (Photo by Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 07: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in action during a NBA game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2017 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. (Photo by Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) /

Key #2 – Clean up the turnovers

It’s hard to nit-pick after a dominant victory. After all, given that the Utah Jazz stomped the Wizards in the way they did by 47 points, it’s pretty obvious that not a whole lot went wrong and that Utah dominated in nearly every facet of the game. However, one area where the Jazz allowed the Wizards the edge was in the turnover battle.

In this season’s previous match-up, Utah turned the ball over 16 times compared to Washington’s 13. It obviously didn’t hurt them much then, but if the Jazz replicate that amount of carelessness with the ball, it could very well come back to haunt them tonight.

On the season, the Wizards are ninth in the league in forcing opponent turnovers at 15.3 per game and seventh in the league in points off turnovers at 17.9 per contest. In other words, Washington excels at forcing turnovers and they’ve been able to convert off of them quite well to generate a considerable amount of easy points per game.

With how much Utah has struggled on both ends of the court, they can neither afford to waste possessions by simply giving the ball away, nor can they allow their opponent to get any easy points off of those giveaways. If the Jazz aren’t able to take care of the ball, they’ll be playing right into Washington’s capable hands and likely removing all chances of being able to earn a season sweep over the Wizards.

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