Small Forward: Joe Ingles vs. Trevor Ariza
As I mentioned above, Joe Ingles will find himself trying to slow down Harden for most of the night. His positional counterpart, however, won’t provide the same offensive potency.
In his 13th season, Trevor Ariza remains a solid role player. Ariza averaged nearly 12 points per game during the regular season and shot 36 percent from three.
Ingles, however, is much more than a role player. The Australian has proven to be a Swiss Army Knife type of player on both sides of the floor.
Ingles’ lock-down defense, floor spacing shooting and ability to run the offense make him one of Utah’s most valuable pieces. Without Rubio, Ingles will need to shoulder even more of the load offensively. The good news is, Ingles has proven to be fantastic at taking on a point-forward role for the Jazz.
Look for a heavy dose of high pick and rolls with Ingles leading the show, which might not be such a bad thing for the Jazz?
Ingles’ composure and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor tilts this matchup in Utah’s favor.
Advantage: Utah