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Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Keys to a vital home win

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter in a 105-99 Jazz win at Staples Center on October 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter in a 105-99 Jazz win at Staples Center on October 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Key #2 – Control the boards

In the previous matchup between these two teams, the Utah Jazz dominated the rebounding battle by a count of 49-39. However, that wasn’t exactly indicative of these two teams’ proficiency at cleaning the glass as the Lakers have been exceptional on the boards all season long. They are second in the league with 46.4 rebounds per game, seventh in rebound percentage at 50.9 and sixth in rebound differential at plus-1.7.

Each one of those marks is higher than those of the Jazz, meaning that Utah will need to take care of business on the boards if they hope to win. The aforementioned Randle and Kuzma have played a large role in LA’s proficiency at cleaning the glass, so if the Jazz get too complacent, it could very well open up the floodgates for a young and hungry team that will almost certainly play hard and look to earn as many wins as they can to close out the season.

The Jazz were fantastic on the boards in their previous contest against Minnesota, so if that carries over again in this battle against the Lakers, they will have a great shot at coming out on top.

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