ICYMI: now on the cusp of a series win, things can go really right or horribly wrong. Read the scenarios on how it can all go wrong and how it can all go right. And then cross your fingers and pray to the basketball gods for it to all go right.

It all comes down to this.

Hours before tip, Salt Lake will be buzzing as throngs of people will jam into Vivint, put on their free white t-shirt, and lose their vocal chords before the 8:30 tip screaming in excitement. The lights will go dark, the starters will be announced, and fire will blaze as we cheer for “Our Utah Jazz.” This is it, baby. One last home game. It’s all you could really hope for. They did the dirty work and won two on the road, a tough task after they lost one at home. They’ve controlled the series, looked the better team for most minutes, and now have an opportunity to seal the deal in front of a rowdy fan-base, for (hopefully) the last wrestle with these pesky (whiny) Clippers. It’s one more Friday night, one more home game, but perhaps the last of the series.

Let’s do it.

Who will be the first to have a melt-down?

The most important questions must go first and this is certainly the most pressing. There are four logical options.

A) Doc Rivers. Picture this: the Jazz open the game on an 8-0 run (George Hill three, Hayward three, Hill missed three but Gobert offensive rebound and put back dunk on DeAndre Jordan that is so powerful Gobert can’t help but salute), Rivers takes a quick timeout  just two minutes into the game. He looks at each of his Clippers, realizes he may never coach this group again, and signals for Blake Griffin to check in. “But Coach,” he stammers, “My toe…” Rivers interrupts, “I don’t really care. You’re playing.” The results are mixed. The Clippers look discombobulated, especially since they let Griffin check in and play in street clothes. The Jazz are up 26-13 to end the 1st Q. Doc takes his clipboard, breaks it in half over his knee, tears his ACL and MCL in that knee, and simply says, “Whatever. I’m done” while limping out of the arena.

B) Chris Paul.  Picture this: late in a close game, Gordon Hayward goes up high for another huge offensive rebound, jumping over Chris Paul to get it. Chris Paul is embarrassed. He flops to the ground, hoping for a call. Doesn’t get it. He crawls over to Hayward, who happens to be on the floor after an awkward landing, and searches for the ball. Paul can’t see it so he body slams on top of Hayward, WWE style, as the refs blow a whistle. Jump ball, Paul thinks, instead they give him a flagrant. He can’t believe it. “I’ve never received a flagrant before!” “This is rigged” “I’m the Player’s Association President!” “You’ll hear from my State Farm agent!” he yells to no one.  Technical foul. Outraged, he takes his mouth guard and flails it, Steph Curry style, landing in Gail Miller’s soft drink. Ejection and the crowd starts chanting “left, right, left, right” as he makes his way to the locker room, his last time in a Clipper uniform.

C) JJ Redick. Picture this: before game six, Redick accuses Joe Ingles of stealing his tattoo sleeve (come on, those can’t be real). “He’s always up in my grill during the game,” he starts. “After game five, he was on our plane too, took our bus, everything. He was following me around, closer to me than my shadow. This morning, I shoved him out of the way, I mean, he hadn’t even brushed his teeth yet.” Redick continues,  “But instead of fleeing, he strips my sleeve right off my arm. I didn’t think anyone knew about that but my Grandma. And then he just like taunts me with it. Flings it all around. In my face.” Reddick is livid, “He-No-Slow”, he adds “He got it super fast.” During the game, he doesn’t fare any better. He shoots 2-12 and Ingles picks his pocket three times. After the last steal, Redick takes off his shoe, throws it at Slow-mo-Joe and yells “I hate Australia.”

D) Picture this: all of the above.

Can The Jazz Continue to Exploit the Mismatch?

The Clippers have no counter when the Jazz play George Hill, Hood (or Ingles really), Gordon Hayward, and Joe Johnson. The Clipper’s best defender is Luc Mbah a Moute, who has usually been pitted on Hayward. Chris Paul is a great defender too, but he’s small so he’ll man up against Hill. After that, you’re looking at Austin Rivers/Jamal Crawford/JJ Redick to take on Ingles.  When Crawford or Redick are on the court, the Jazz run pick and rolls to get either of them onto a Iso-Joe or G-Time. It’s a significant mismatch the Jazz like to exploit.

With this nice, small-ball Jazz lineup, the real question becomes: who will guard Joe Johnson? If Mbah a Moute veers onto him, who then guards Hayward? Rivers is a good defender, and he was matched up against Hayward a few times in Game Five, but he is a shooting guard therefore Hayward or Johnson should (theoretically) back their way into any spot on the floor. He’s also on limited minutes, so if he plays 18 (like last game) or even up to 24, you still have a Joe problem for another 10-12. You can’t put Marreese Speights on Johnson or Hayward as they’ll isolate him, cross him, take his lunch money, and get buckets. The Clips shook the dust off of Wesley Johnson in game five and let him take a turn, and he actually held his own too. Who do I want the Clippers to revert to? Paul Piece. Let him guard Joe all night.

Who Will Be the X-Factor?

A) Joe Ingles finally gets some offense going to complement his defense and scores 15 (ish) much needed points. Joe is doing all the little things right this series with his effective pressing defense on Paul, his deflections and steals, and his attitude and leadership. Honestly, I’m more worried about his free agency then Hayward (Hayward is staying, but do we have the $$ to retain Ingles?) I love that he starts and Hood comes off the bench. If he can just be a threat from deep…

Peak swag. pic.twitter.com/xyn4DeAosr

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) April 22, 2017

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B) Remember at the start of the series, Shelvin Mack was the solid #2 point guard. Then Mack did Mack things and Snyder wised up. He’s now even played all four point guards in the same game. I could see Raul Neto coming in and hitting timely buckets to get the Jazz over the hump, just like in game three. This time, however, he should stay in a few more minutes, run circles around Raymond Felton and the second unit, and help spark a comeback. He would deservedly win the Subway Sub-of-the-Game,  not to be mistaken for a “sandwich” from a “place.”

C) The home crowd. See more below

D) Joe Freaking Johnson. No need to say any more.

Can We Take a Sick Day Due to Playoff Fever?

Admit it, you are reading this at work. And admit it, you do not want to be there.

Playoff fever is a real thing. Like me, you probably have had some heartburn and indigestion watching these games. Like me, you haven’t slept very well since you are agonizing over yet yearning for more playoff basketball. Like me, you have felt nervous with butterflies, shakes, and sweats, since game five ended in excitement and anticipation for today. Can’t we just take a day off and watch Utah Jazz playoff highlights to get hyped for tonight? Can’t we?

Or,

And Ultimately, Can the Jazz Close It Out?

Quin Snyder and Joe Johnson have both expressed that this team is kind of learning on the fly. Snyder said, “Every game, it’s a position we haven’t been in.” Johnson explained, “We are kind of growing up in the moment.” They’re right. The Jazz core hadn’t been in the playoffs, they hadn’t played in a decisive game five before, they hadn’t had to play a playoff game without their lead dog(s); they haven’t been in these situations before, they don’t quite know what to expect, but they play and respond. The Clippers, on the other hand, do have post-season experience, and have been down 3-2 before (two years ago against the San Antonio Spurs with the Clippers winning in game 7). It’s an important game. It’s a close-out game. And it’s a home game.

According to Hayward, “We have to treat this one as a must-win. We want to close it out in Salt Lake City. We definitely don’t want to come back (to LA) for Game 7.” Boris Diaw cautioned, “You cannot be overexcited or overly happy.” (Via Salt Lake Tribune)

The crowd will be over-excited, that much is certain. The place is going to be nuts. It’ll be euphoric, electric, energetic, and all sorts of other words that start with e. I’m pretty sure the roof will explode at some point or the crowd will riot. It’s going to be one of those atmospheres sports movies are made of. The Jazz have played extremely cool and composed this series. The home crowd will give them juice, but they need to play their game, their pace, and just take care of business. Sometimes, it’s really that simple. Will the moment be too much for the Jazz or can they get ‘er done?

Hood,”this has to be treated like our game 7. This is the last game we want to play in the series. We have to match their intensity.

— Tony Parks (@tonyparkszone) April 27, 2017

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSo to get a win, what must the Jazz do?

Let’s make a list, shall we? The Utah Jazz will win if:

• The Clipper shooting guard position is contained. Jamal Crawford caught fire in game four, getting 25 points on 9/13 shooting. It was JJ Redick’s turn in game five, getting 26 on 7/12 shooting and 9/10 free throw shooting. If one has a big game, that’s fine. If both, however, then the Jazz may be in trouble. Limit those two and the Jazz will be in good shape.
• Control the points in the paint. Rudy Gobert’s return coincided with Blake Griffin going out. Consequently, all the big man stats have turned toward’s the Jazz’s favor. Case in point: points in the paint.  In game four, the Jazz dominated the paint 58-36. Game five was less, but the Jazz still took it, 34-28. On top of that, they’ve been able to out-rebound the Clips 50-40 in game four and 50-44 in game five. Their main big, Deandre Jordan, is getting tired and word down. If the Jazz take care of the big boy stats, they’ll also take care of the game.
• Gordon Hayward stays on. Hayward is averaging 22 points per game on 48% shooting in the five games and 47% from deep. Remember, however, that he only played nine minutes due to food poisoning in game four so the stats are even better. Hayward gets easy shots; he picks his spots and makes good plays to give him manageable buckets. If he can shoot 40%, the Jazz will be in prime position to seal the deal.
• Joe Jesus scores 11 straight.

Comment below your keys to the game. Fill in the blanks: The Utah Jazz WIN THE SERIES if_____________?

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