Without change, an epic Utah Jazz season could crash and burn this weekend.
There’s something to be said for the Utah Jazz sticking with what got them there — with “there” being the NBA’s outright best record in the regular season at 52-20. But under current postseason conditions, the Jazzmen must mix things up to have any chance of going where they’ve never been: on a stage hoisting a Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Following Wednesday’s 119-111 home defeat in the Western Conference Semifinals, No. 1 seed Utah faces a 3-2 deficit against the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers. Three straight losses have piled up. And a do-or-die road game awaits at 8 p.m. MT Friday.
The Clippers own a 39-point overall advantage in the series. Plus, consider that their latest smooth-sailing victory coincided with two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard being out with a knee injury.
Yes, at this point, Jazz desperation mode feels like an utter necessity.
It’s time to stop clinging to bench players who proved successful before the playoffs. It’s time to stop dwelling on excuses that have put Utah in this predicament; in other words, it’s time to stop sulking about Mike Conley’s extended absence due to a hamstring injury, Donovan Mitchell’s limitations due to ankle concerns, officiating, or whatever else has some folks whining.
Specifically, it’s time for Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder to throw out the suddenly outdated road map and enact three rotation changes, which we’ll now propose here one at a time…