The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: What went right/wrong in Game 2 vs. OKC

By Jared Woodcox

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 18 - Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz exchange a hug after Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 18 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 Sr./NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 18 - Donovan Mitchell #45 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz exchange a hug after Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 18 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 Sr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz calls game plays against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference in the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 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. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quin Snyder;
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz calls game plays against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference in the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 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. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quin Snyder; /

Jazz couldn’t find three-point shot

Despite being one of the better three-point shooting teams during the regular season at 36.6 percent, the Jazz simply couldn’t find the bottom of the net from long range on Wednesday. Derrick Favors surprisingly went 2-of-3 and Ricky Rubio lit it up by going 5-of-8, but the rest of the team struggled mightily – Utah finished the night just 9-of-29 (31 percent) from distance.

Take away the somewhat rare hot shooting from the aforementioned pair of guys and that clip would have looked a lot worse. Ingles went 1-of-4, Mitchell went a horrific 0-of-7, Jerebko went 0-of-2 while Crowder went 0-of-3.

Once again, Utah was able to thrive in other ways to allow them to overcome their poor three-point shooting, but failing to drop the deep ball certainly isn’t a habit they’ll want to get into. Fortunately, OKC, who is a notoriously bad three-point shooting team, barely did better than the Jazz at 31.4 percent.

The Thunder can be dangerous on offense by relying on their other strengths, though, so if Utah is going to produce the necessary firepower to keep up with them, it will be crucial that they find their touch and convert more efficiently from deep. Fortunately, I don’t foresee Mitchell or Ingles having as off of a night from behind the arc as they did Wednesday, so if the Jazz won without those shots falling, imagine what they can do if those two revert back to the norm.

The Jazz overcame their poor three-point shooting night by outmatching the Thunder in several other ways, which is exactly what I’ll touch on next.

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