Bench
Do second units even matter in the postseason? Of course they do. While the rotations tend to tighten up as the playoffs begin, depth gives your team options and flexibility.
Neither team boasts an elite bench unit, however, bench play can be the shot in the arm that lifts a team to a surprise win in a tough playoff series.
Let’s take a quick look at both unit’s performance during the regular season…
OKC’s bench ranks 29th in scoring, averaging 26.4 points per game.
Utah is 17th, adding 34.9 points per game.
In terms of plus-minus, OKC is an even 0.0. That is good enough for 13th in the NBA.
Utah’s bench, by comparison, ranks fifth in the league with a plus-1.0 average plus-minus.
Another factor to consider is the fact that Utah’s bench has gotten noticeably better over the season’s second half. Not only did the unit add Jae Crowder‘s 9.7 points per game, they also got Dante Exum back from injury. Both players look primed to be heavy contributors to Utah’s playoff run.
Craig Bolerjack: Jazz bench & coaching a real advantage vs the Thunder https://t.co/6NrGXd265I
— 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone (@KSLSportsZone) April 13, 2018
Again, the advantage goes to the Jazz. And this one doesn’t feel all that close.
Advantage: UTAH