Cavs Vs Jazz: Three Things To Watch
The Cleveland Cavaliers face off with the Utah Jazz tonight at 9PM. For the Cavs this game was expected to be an easy one on the second night of a back to back. Instead they are sitting at 1 – 2 and struggling to find some semblance of continuity. The Jazz sit at 1 – 3, which is far more expected.
Yet the Cavs could still be upset tonight by the Jazz, so here are three things we are looking for in the game:
Interior Play
The Jazz have two big guys that can bang down low in Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors. While neither have turned into world beaters they are both solid. Favors is the second leading scorer on the team, behind Gordon Hayward, while Kanter is averaging a solid 10.3 PPG. Their interior presence will require Kevin Love, Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson to play solid defense as well as have solid rotations from the guards and wings.
For the Cavs the size and strength of the Jazz interior can’t stop them from running their offense. Love and Varejao have shown that they can be key trigger men for the offense, starting in the block. Both have some skill to score the ball but just as easily find cutters and weakside shooters from the post. The Cavs have gone away from going into the post early in possessions and it has been to their detriment. Kanter and Favors won’t make it easy but the Cavs have to try.
Backcourt Defense
The Jazz run out a backcourt of Trey Burke and Alec Burks, with rookie speedster Dante Exum backing up both players. Burke and Burks can both shoot, as well as drive to the bucket while Exum seems like he is in fast forward anytime he has the ball. Exum’s size also allows him to post up smaller players. How the Cavs stop dribble penetration, could be difficult with Matthew Dellavedova out, could decide the game.
Kyrie Irving hasn’t show the foot quickness nor strength to be anything but a below average defender while Dion Waiters has the strength and speed but has lacked the discipline to really lock down on the defensive end. Breakdowns up top could open up the layup line, either the guards driving in or passing off as big men rotate towards them, that could really impact the Cavs chances of winning the game.
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Energy
The Cavs are playing on the back end of a back to back. They showed very little energy last night and can’t let that happen again. The style of offense that David Blatt wants to run requires both ball and player movement, especially movement off the ball. Low energy output stagnates that process and leads to one on one plays that have not been going Cleveland’s way.
Low energy on defense is also a problem. The Cavs have had their big men showing hard on most picks which causes the rest of the team to rotate to cover for the out of position big man. When energy is high this constant motion defense can work and be smothering. When it is low players are wide open, either near the hoop or out at the 3 point line; both very efficient places to take shots. Will the solid, hustling Cavs show up or the team that seems to care less? Energy level could decide this game.
What are you watching for tonight?