SF: Joe Ingles vs. Corey Brewer
This is where the tides begin to turn for the Jazz.
Despite suffering a sprained knee in OKC’s season finale against Memphis, Corey Brewer is expected to play in Game 1 against the Jazz.
Brewer has really played well in his increased role with OKC in relief of the injured Andre Roberson. While he is not a game changer, Brewer does enough to help make sure all of the Thunder’s other pieces work well together.
His physicality will be key in a series that promises to be a knock-down, drag-out event.
Joe Ingles, similarly, acts as an anchor for his squad.
Ingles’ experience and consistency on both ends of the floor will be crucial to Utah’s chances. His ability to open up the floor with his 44 percent three-point shooting will be huge for the Jazz. Consistent outside shooting should provide Mitchell with some much-needed lanes to get easy, confidence-building buckets.
After a few recent “highlights”, Ingles also appears to believe he has improved in his above the rim play…
Joe Ingles rocking a new shirt after his dunk yesterday pic.twitter.com/04v64HUfha
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 9, 2018
Mr. DunkLife himself has also become Utah’s best passer as of late. Ingles is second on the team with 4.8 assists per game and has averaged over seven per game since the beginning of April. Seriously, what CAN’T Joe do?
(Insert coffee cup emoji here).
All jokes aside, Ingles’ all-around game and consistency should be a steadying force for a young Jazz squad.
Advantage: UTAH