The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Pros and cons of the first-round series against OKC

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball over Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during their game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball over Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during their game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 03: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz gestures on the sideline in the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Lakers 117-110. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 03: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz gestures on the sideline in the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Lakers 117-110. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Utah Jazz will have the coaching edge

I might have some OKC fans upset with me on this one, but honestly I think my opinion here is largely the consensus outside of these two fanbases – the Jazz will have a significant edge on the coaching front. No disrespect to Billy Donovan, but he’s far from maximized the talent on his roster and, despite the star power, his team has several glaring weaknesses that Quin Snyder should be able to exploit, including their reliance on iso ball.

Snyder has been considered one of the brightest young basketball minds in the game and has consistently exceeded expectations by overcoming roster turnover, injuries and other obstacles. The incredible turnaround he orchestrated this season has him right in the thick of the Coach of the Year discussion. In a coaching chess match between Snyder and Donovan, I’m taking the former every time.

His ball-movement focused system is hard to game plan against and his brilliant schemes and strategies that will almost certainly progress and develop as the series goes on will be hard for the Thunder to overcome.

By no means is Donovan a bad coach by any stretch of the imagination. However, his team certainly doesn’t rally to him like Quin’s does and, Billy’s ability to get the most out of his roster isn’t nearly as fine-tuned.

Despite the fact that the Clippers boasted an arguably more talented roster than the Jazz last season (much like OKC this season), there’s next to no argument that a big reason why Doc Rivers and the Clippers lost to Utah was because they were thoroughly out-coached by Quin Snyder. If the Jazz arise victorious against the Thunder this time around, I presume it will largely be for the same reason.

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