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

Despite personnel, Thunder aren’t as daunting as some think

I’m really going to make Thunder fans mad on this one… But just bear with me.

First of all, let me make it clear, this Thunder team is exceptional. There’s a reason why they’re fourth in a crowded Western Conference and are certainly one of the feared teams in the playoffs. I wouldn’t be that surprised at all if they ultimately get the best of the Jazz in this series once all is said and done.

However, with big-time names such as Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and even Steven Adams, who I consider a phenomenal player, it’s easy to suppose that the Thunder should be an elite playoff team. They could very well flip a switch and become just that, but their regular season numbers don’t exactly paint that picture.

On the season, the Thunder finished the year with the tenth best defensive rating (104.7), and the eighth best net rating (2.9). Those aren’t bad marks, by any means, but they aren’t as good as the marks of the Jazz (defensive rating of 101.6 and net rating of 4.6). The Thunder have the edge in offensive rating at 107.6 compared to Utah’s 106.2, but their offense isn’t without its faults either.

They’re just 18th in the league in field goal percentage (45.3 percent), 24th in three-point percentage (35.4 percent), 17th in effective field goal percentage (51.4 percent), 21st in true shooting percentage (54.6 percent) and 29th in free throw percentage (71.5 percent). All of those marks are below the efficiency of the Jazz as well.

In other words, the Thunder are far from an efficient team, which perhaps isn’t surprising considering their personnel. They still obviously find ways to score, but their questionable shot selection and difficulty converting at times could play right into the hands of Utah’s staunch defense. Their poor three-point and free throw shooting especially jump out as areas where the Jazz can exploit and capitalize.

Also, the Thunder are in the top half of the league in turnovers per game at 14, while the Jazz are one of the best in the league at takeaways at 8.6 steals per contest, good for fourth in the NBA. We’ve seen Westbrook and George struggle with coughing up the ball in the past and that’s an area where Utah may be able to take advantage as well.

Last of all, and perhaps most simply, let’s not forget that the Thunder and Jazz finished with identical records of 48-34. Although OKC boasts more star power, when all is said and done, the records indicate that these are two very evenly matched teams. Yes, the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, but I think the records clearly demonstrate that the Thunder aren’t necessarily the powerhouse that some suppose them to be.

And although they finished the season with three straight victories, including a gritty one over the Houston Rockets that ultimately earned them home court advantage, OKC went just 5-5 to close out the year. They were inconsistent all season long, including down the stretch, and while George and Westbrook have been exceptional postseason players in the past, it’s unreasonable to expect that all the team’s issues will just disappear come playoff time.

So while I’ll be the first to admit that the matchup between Utah and OKC worries me and certainly isn’t the one I would have chosen, I think it’s important to remember that this year has been far from a cakewalk for the Thunder. They’re a great team, but maybe not as great as one would suppose considering their personnel.

But with all that said, let’s move on now to the key cons facing the Jazz in this series: