Utah Jazz: Four major adjustments for Game 2 to avoid 2-0 hole

HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 29: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets greets fans as he walks off the court after Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on April 29, 2018 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Slow James Harden

I’ll take ‘Things that are easier said than done’ for 500, please, Alex!

But seriously, while stopping superstar James Harden goes without saying, it’s also much easier said than done. He’s one of the most talented offensive players in league history and has an absolutely mind-blowing gift of punishing opponents in isolation.

In some instances in Harden’s 41-point outpouring in Game 1, the Jazz played great defense on him, but his offense was simply better. However, at other times, he wasn’t forced to work hard enough.

Mike D'Antoni, asked about Jazz not having an answer for James Harden. "You can put a list of about 28 other teams that don't have an answer, either. There's no answer. He might play bad because he's human, but there's nothing that you can conceivably come up with to stop him."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 1, 2018

Quin Snyder asked what can generally be done to get @JHarden13 out of his comfort zone: "You can ask him to miss. You say 'please James will you miss this time down.' See if he's like magnimous enough to do u a favor." Snyder also used "baseball analogies since we're in Houston." pic.twitter.com/5RSFmwygZi
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) May 1, 2018

And while you can rest assured that Harden is going to find a way to get his own, making him work for those points is exactly what Utah needs to do. Whoever is set to guard him needs to take away his air space entirely and do their best to do so without fouling – no easy task! It would be wise for Quin Snyder to throw different defenders on him throughout the game to constantly change what Harden finds himself up against.

Not only that, but the Jazz should make it a point to attack him when he’s on defense, ideally to put him in foul trouble but at a minimum to wear him out on that end in hopes that it will affect his offense.

Harden is a phenomenal player that has punished the Jazz far too many times. And while stopping him is a difficult task, it can be done if Utah will just wear him down, make him work for every shot and reduce his efficiency.