The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets: Keys to snapping Clutch City’s streak

By Jared Woodcox

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz share a moment after the game between the two teams on December 18, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz share a moment after the game between the two teams on December 18, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the ball during warm ups before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the ball during warm ups before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

Key #2 – Shut down James Harden

Speaking of things that are easier said than done, if the Jazz hope to have any shot of winning tonight’s game, they’ll need to cut the head off the snake and shut down MVP frontrunner James Harden. Harden is putting up a brilliant campaign this season and is the principal reason why the Rockets find themselves atop the Western Conference. Sure, Chris Paul and the rest of the Clutch City gang have been impressive, but no one can hold a candle to The Beard.

Harden is averaging an astounding 31.3 points per game on the season to go along with five rebounds and nine assists. He can rattle off a triple-double at seemingly any time and has scored 20 or more points in nine of the last ten games, 30 or more in five of the last ten and 40 or more in two of the last ten. Oh yeah, and 11 games ago? He put up the first ever 60-point triple-double, which included 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

So, yeah, that little thing I mentioned about shutting him down being easier said than done? Well, I think you get the point.

In Utah’s first bout against the Rockets, they came nowhere close to slowing him down as he exploded for 56 points on 19-of-25 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from deep. However, while it didn’t end up being enough by any means, the Jazz did do a respectable job on Harden in the next two meetings. He was held to 29 points on 42.1 percent shooting from the field and just 33.3 percent from deep in the second meeting and 26 points on a dismal 35.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep in the third.

Nevertheless, even through some inefficiency, Harden and his stellar teammates were able to earn double figure victories over the Jazz. Even so, Utah showed some vast improvements against him in the last meeting, so if they can find a way to render him similarly inefficient, it will give them their best possible chance of arising victorious.

Stopping James Harder is never an easy task and one way or another, he’s going to find a way to get his fair share of points (most likely at the free throw line). That doesn’t change the fact, though, that forcing him into an inefficient night from the field and behind the arc is likely the only chance the Jazz will have of winning the contest.

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