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Utah Jazz: Three reasons for optimism, three reasons for panic after Game 1

By Jared Woodcox

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

In the Utah Jazz’s Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, there were certainly some major areas of concern, but also significant reasons for optimism moving forward.

As soon as it became official that the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder would be battling one another in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, Jazz fans knew their team was in for a tough series. The Thunder boast a trio reputed stars in Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony as well as several other nice pieces on their roster including the oft unheralded big man extraordinaire Steven Adams.

OKC is a gifted team that has several players that are capable of making life miserable for the Jazz, and they did just that in Game 1 of the series on Sunday night. Despite an exceptional start for the Jazz, which saw them jump out in front by as many as 12 points, and a solid game from rookie Donovan Mitchell who finished with 27 points on 50 percent shooting on the night, not a lot went well for Utah overall as they would trail by as much as 18 in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling 116-108.

However, amid those definite reasons for concern, the reaction to the disappointing Game 1 loss shouldn’t be purely doom and gloom as there were also a good number of positive takeaways from Utah’s performance. As such, allow me to explain three reasons Jazz fans should be optimistic for the rest of the series as well as three reasons why panicking might be justified based on what we saw in Game 1:

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