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Utah Jazz-Pelicans: Keys to winning the series matchup against the Pels

By John Keeffer

Utah Jazz v Indiana PacersINDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 07: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 7, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah Jazz v Indiana PacersINDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 07: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 7, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. /
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Make the Pelicans play at your pace

Since DeMarcus Cousins suffered  a season ending Achilles injury, the New Orleans Pelicans have been an entirely different team. As dominant of a player as Cousins is, he forced the Pelicans to play the game slower. With him out of the lineup, they have played at the fastest pace in the NBA, and are scoring a league best 115 points per game.

This is the polar opposite of what the Jazz would like to do. Utah has routinely been one of the slower teams in regards to pace of play over the last few seasons, and are currently the fourth slowest team in the league. They prefer to get into the half-court, and run their motion offense.

Slowing the pace also allows the Jazz to establish a set defense, where they have been the best defense in the league since the return of Rudy Gobert in January.

Whether or not Anthony Davis plays during the Sunday night matchup, the Pelicans are going to look to push the ball up and down the floor. The Jazz will need to effectively find a way to force the Pelicans out of their normal style of play and into a battle of half-court basketball, which gives the Jazz a huge advantage.

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