The J-Notes
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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 11: Jerami Grant #9, Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate on April 11, 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 11: Jerami Grant #9, Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate on April 11, 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) /

Optimism – Thunder shot out of their minds, could be an anomaly

One of the biggest reasons why Utah should be somewhat optimistic following this game is that in all, the Thunder played a much more efficient game than they tend to. While that does raise some concern about Utah’s defense, there’s also no denying that some of what George and his teammates were pulling off on Sunday was simply a result of a superb shooting outing from PG and a hot hand from the rest of his squad.

George shot well above his season averages with a 65 percent night from the field and an astounding 72.7 percent outing from deep while he shot 43 percent and 40.3 percent from those two areas, respectively, on the regular season. His regular season numbers are solid, make no mistake about that, but even they aren’t anywhere close to what he was able to pull off on Sunday.

This should make Jazz fans optimistic, because George will probably come back down to earth and if he does, Utah will likely capitalize. In a game where the Jazz ultimately fell by eight points, they allowed PG to score over 14 points more than his season average. If his magic shooting wears off, it ought to bode well for a Jazz team that likely would have been in a great spot if George shot closer to his averages.

And that story doesn’t just apply to Playoff P, but rather to most of the rest of the team. Despite the fact that the Thunder finished the regular season just 24th in three-point percentage (35.4 percent) and 29th in free throw percentage (71.5 percent), they certainly didn’t look that way in Game 1. OKC finished the game shooting a scorching 48.3 percent  (14-of-29) from three and 87 percent (20-of-23) from the foul line.

Sure, as I said, in some regards that hot shooting raises concerns about Utah’s defense, but it also means that according to the Thunder’s regular season trend over the course of 82 games, they’re not typically that great of a shooting team. Therefore, Jazz fans should feel optimistic that the Thunder will undergo a regression to the norm. And if OKC’s shots go on to not fall in the awe-inspiring fashion that they did on Sunday, then it will completely shift the tide of the battle between these two teams in favor of the Jazz.

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