HOUSTON — While it certainly factored into the sluggish start that greased the skids to their demise in Game 1
http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-allen-jersey , the Utah Jazz were inundated with a number of causes behind their loss to the
Houston Rockets on Sunday in addition to the absence of starting point guard
Ricky Rubio.
Defensively, the Jazz were overrun by the Rockets’ exceptional 3-point shooting (17 for 32) and victimized early by some leaky transition defense.
Rockets guard James Harden again tormented the Utah defense, cashing in seven 3s
en route to a game-high 41 points, and the Jazz lacked energy in the first half
following a short turnaround from the completion of their first-round series
against the Oklahoma City Thunder less than 48 hours prior to tipoff.
But the Jazz clearly missed Rubio, despite recording 20 assists on 38 field goals. While rookie guard Donovan Mitchell and veteran swingman Joe Ingles
produced five assists each, and Utah received steady play from guards Dante Exum
and Alec Burks off the bench, the Jazz didn’t quite have that same verve that
Rubio provides with his ball-handling skill and passing acumen.
.tpClipInfo > * { display: none !important; }.tpPlayer { display: none !important; }.tpReleaseList > * { display: none !important; }.tpReleaseModel > * { display: none !important; }.tpNavigation > * { display: none !important; }.tpSearch > * { display: none !important; }.tpCategoryModel > * { display: none !important; }.tpHeader > * { display: none !important; }.tpCategoryList > * { display: none !important; }“I think it makes Donovan handle the ball more than they would like,” said Rockets forward Trevor Ariza
Thomas Rawls Color Rush Jersey , who drew the primary defensive assignment on Mitchell. “He’s their dominant scorer at this point so when he has to handle
the ball and get everybody involved in the game, it kind of takes away from him
scoring the ball all the time or being aggressive all the time.”
The Jazz also missed the defensive presence of center Rudy Gobert, despite the fact that Gobert logged 35 minutes in the 110-96 loss. A Defensive Player of
the Year candidate and league leader by a healthy margin in defensive real
plus-minus, Gobert was a non-factor on that end, failing to record a block for
the first time this postseason and just the eighth time overall.
Gobert averaged 2.3 blocks and ranked second in the NBA in block percentage (6.0), yet the Rockets had success attacking the rim with Gobert stationed there
to defend it, shooting 8 of 9 with Gobert within three feet of the rim. The key
to their success? Doing what comes naturally.
“We just try to be us as much as possible,” Rockets guard Chris Paul said. “I think James said it after last game: We’ve seen just about every defense you can
have this past season
Lamar Jackson Jersey Ravens , so if they switch, we adjust. If you back (up to protect the rim), we adjust. We just keep playing.”
Utah, conversely, can’t afford to maintain the status quo. The Rockets rode robust shooting to a 27-point, first-half lead and continued to exploit a Jazz
defense that has stifled almost every other opponent. Harden averaged 34.3
points on 55.4 percent shooting against Utah during the season and looked
alarmingly at ease attacking the Jazz off the dribble and from the
perimeter.
Rubio, out with a left hamstring strain, won’t be available to save the Jazz on offense. Defensively
DJ Moore Color Rush Jersey , Utah understands exactly what is required to ensure a superior performance.
“It takes all five guys on the court communicating, that’s for sure,” Jazz forward Jae Crowder said. “But you have to accept it. So, if they’re
cross-matching and they’re running back you just got to demand the guy (to
defend in transition) and stick with him for that possession and work it out.
And that causes every guy on the court to know each guy’s tendencies and what he
likes to do.
“So, you have to communicate on the court very well in the situation that we’re putting ourselves, which is in transition and working itself out in the
half court and getting these guys in front of us and making it as tough as
possible.”
The addition of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to the Hockey Hall of Fame has prompted sharp pushback from some former players angry about the league’s
handling of head injuries.
Bettman joined Martin Brodeur, Jayna Hefford, Willie O’Ree
http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marshall-newhouse-jersey , Martin St. Louis and Alexander Yakushev in the Hall of Fame class of 2018
announced on Tuesday. Bettman has overseen the NHL’s expansion from 24 to 31
teams and surge in annual revenue from $437 million to $5 billion in a
quarter-century overseeing the NHL. His tenure also has included three lockouts
of the players and increased controversy over concussions.
A federal lawsuit against the league , consolidated from five cases filed in 2013, has sought class action status for pursuit of damages for mental and
physical health problems plaguing former players who experienced head trauma
during their careers. The plaintiffs have alleged the league failed to warn its
players of the long-term risk of brain damage that may have been suffered in
action on the ice.
.tpClipInfo > * { display: none !important; }.tpPlayer { display: none !important; }.tpReleaseList > * { display: none !important; }.tpReleaseModel > * { display: none !important; }.tpNavigation > * { display: none !important; }.tpSearch > * { display: none !important; }.tpCategoryModel > * { display: none !important; }.tpHeader > * { display: none !important; }.tpCategoryList > * { display: none !important; }Two more retirees, Daniel Carcillo and Nick Boynton , recently filed their own federal lawsuit under similar arguments. They were among the vocal critics
on Tuesday of Bettman’s impending induction, using their Twitter accounts to
express disgust about the honor for the NHL’s top official since 1993.
”I can’t get over what a slap in the face this must be to the families of Steve Montador, Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard
Riley Sutter Capitals Jersey , Bob Probert & Wade Belak,” Carcillo tweeted , referencing five former players who were suffering from brain damage
and died prematurely by causes that included overdose and suicide. ”Gary Bettman
had a hand in every death by withholding info about the risks of doing their
job.”
Boynton questioned the election and called on the Hall of Fame to return all the personal items he donated to the museum from his career.
”This is not something I want to be a part of,” Boynton tweeted .
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