Grades of the Game: Game One

/ sgodfrey630

What. A. Game.

Game one verses the Utah Jazz at the Los Angeles Clippers certainly didn’t disappoint. After our playoff hiatus, I had butterflies throughout the day waiting for the late tip. And, man what’s not to love about this season, about this team? I was so proud of the Jazz for playing tough on the road during their first playoff game. They didn’t steal the game, they won it.

Here are some of my grades for the game.

Joe Freaking Johnson A+

Going into the series, many people talked about the lack of postseason experience Utah’s core had. What we failed to hear was a reminder that George Hill played in multiple Eastern Conferences Finals as a Pacer vs the Lebron heat, Boris Diaw has a championship ring as a Spur, and Joe Johnson has played pickup basketball 80 years now.

And how about Joe? Iso-Joe kept the Jazz in it offensively with 21 points on 9-14 shooting, including 3-4 from three, and defensively as he had three steals, a block, and pulled the chair from Blake Griffin.

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Oh, and yeah, he was clutch too. With 1:08 remaining, Johnson hit a nine footer to give the Jazz a 94-89 lead. With 0:0 remaining, he hit a four footer to give the Jazz the win. As the ball bounced up and down and around the rim, I hung in midair but I knew it was going to fall. I accidentally pushed my wife in celebration.

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The First 11 Seconds F

Someone on twitter pointed out that the last eleven seconds were awesome, but the first eleven were the opposite. Awful. Gross. Bummer. Disheartening. Sickening. All of those words. Prayers up to Rudy, who we all know will bounce back and be stronger than ever.

Derrick Favors B

Favors played 32 minutes, his most since March 6. While he looked a little lost a few times, he played a pretty solid game overall. Favors had 15 points, 6 boards, and a block.  During the 3rd Q especially, the pick and roll with Favors was clicking. Defensively, he was OK (DAJ liked dunking on him) but he essentially held his own. And when it mattered most, he made 1-2 free throws, after bricking his two earlier attempts. Overall, his +/- was a 0, which means he didn’t necessarily have a positive, or negative, impact on the game.

He played with a big heart and that’s what gives him the grade bump. He put it all out there, in the big minutes, and was on the court down the stretch, something he hasn’t seen for awhile. He had to battle DAJ down low, and play the “4.5” position (as the coaches like to call it). I’m very curious to see how his body responds for game two. Mentally, I know he is all in. But physically? He could be running in mud by the time Tuesday rolls around.

The Chris Paul Conundrum B+

If Iso-Joe misses at the buzzer, I feel good thinking the Clips win in OT. The reason being? Chris Paul. And if they win in OT, the headlines today are all about the Paul-led comeback.

For three quarters, Paul was passive, opting to set up teammates and run the offense instead of looking to pick and pop, get to the lane, or hit the occasional jumper. He had ten assists at halftime. Once the Jazz built a lead, and the 4th Q hit, Paul hit a different gear.

He scored 10 straight Clipper points, finishing the game with 25. With three minutes left, he hit a three to make it a one-point game, 90-89. With 0:13 ticks left, he got into the lane at will, kissed one off the glass and gave us a tie ball game. He was the only reason they were in the game for half of the 4th Q.

It’ll be interesting to see what Chris Paul plays going forward. If it’s the three quarters, Paul, awesome for the Jazz. If the Clippers want to win however, Paul, and not Griffin, will be the vocal point. I would imagine without a mammoth in the paint (Gobert), Paul will be a little more focused on getting into the paint. He’s an All-Star, future Hall of Famer, and arguable a Top-5 Point Guard ever. When he plays like it, watch out.  When he doesn’t, he’s mad.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Clippers Home Crowd D

Count me not impressed. Watching on TV, the atmosphere didn’t seem too intense, too hostile. At one point in the Clipper comeback, Steve Ballmer got into it but I never felt like the moment got too much for the Jazz.

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And that’s good news. I was impressed that the Jazz didn’t seem fazed by the moment. It was a national TV game, the first game of the playoffs, on the road, you lost your anchor ten seconds in, and yet the Jazz kept their cool and just played basketball. It was a good sign that the moment won’t be too big for this squad. It’s a testament to Quin Snyder and the coaching staff on getting them prepared, it’s a testament to the veterans who were a calming influence, and it’s a testament to guys like Gordon Hayward who have matured and are poised.

And Speaking of G-Time B+

My feelings are mixed. Like Chris Paul, Hayward was a little passive near the beginning of the ball game. He had six points at halftime, but was at least doing all the little things like rebounding and playing good defense. It’s hard to notice his impact when he isn’t scoring, but he does so many other things right –  like being in the right place, making the right pass – that prove he is versatile player. Showing that his impact on the game is more than just a box score, the Jazz were +7 with him on the floor (tied with Hood for the highest on the Jazz which is interesting).

And when the third quarter started rolling, it was Hayward who started the comeback. He took a few jumpers, got to the foul line, and ended the quarter with a cool reserve swish to give him 12 points in the quarter. He finished the game with 19 (a bucket short of his season average) and came up huge with ten boards.

Because he was a little slow going, missed a couple buckets (shot 7-18), and had five turnovers, I’m dropping him from the A-tier. I was glad he led our rally, glad to see him so passionate after Johnson hit the game winner, and certainly glad he is on our team. After Paul, he is the second best player in this series (yes, ahead of Blake Griffin). It was a good start for him as a leader of this playoff team, but he’ll still need to carry this Jazz team, and the load just got slightly bigger without his co-star Gobert.

 

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