Utah Jazz never took control of Game 5 defensively
The Utah Jazz came out firing in the first-half, sinking 17 of their 28 shot attempts from three-point range, but they only led by 5 points at halftime. The Jazz were +27 on three-point shooting compared to the Clippers at halftime, yet their lead was very slim.
It is crazy to think about, but even though the Jazz were making three-pointers left and right in the first-half, the Clippers were getting to the basket and keeping themselves in the game. The biggest advantage that Los Angeles held in the first-half over the Jazz was the fact that they were keeping them on the perimeter.
Aside from shooting 17-28 from deep in the first-half, Utah made just 6 baskets inside the three-point line all of the first-half. At some point, they were going to cool down from deep, and they did in the second-half, where they did not make another three-pointer until 4:05 left in the entire game!
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Los Angeles did exactly what they wanted to do defensively, but the Jazz did not. Utah really struggled to defend the Clippers in this one, which is why they ultimately were unable to win Game 5. Not only did Los Angeles get to their spots with ease, but they did a terrific job of taking Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert out of his comfort zone.
All season long, Gobert has made a living sitting in the paint and blocking the shots of opponents that look to drive past him to the rim, but he did not record a single block in Game 5! This was in large part because the Clippers looked to get him involved in pick-and-roll sets, that way he would be forced to guard someone out on the perimeter.
Whether it was Paul George or Reggie Jackson or someone else, the Clippers made Gobert pay and they really did expose his perimeter defense, as he looked lost out there and did not really help the Jazz defensively at all.
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Without their anchor in Gobert helping them out defensively, the Jazz were exposed inside, which is why the Clippers were able to attack them with ease and play a lot of isolation-ball with primary defenders like Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale and Joe Ingles.
The Utah Jazz finished the regular season ranked 4th in defensive rating and only allowed on average 107.2 points per game to their opponents, but the main reason why their defense was so good was because they forced teams to drive at Gobert. The Clippers have done an excellent job at drawing Gobert out of the paint in this series and as a result, the Jazz have no interior presence.
If Utah does not tighten things up defensively in Game 6, then they will surprisingly be sent home empty handed. Given how well the Clippers can shoot from deep, the Jazz will almost have to “pick their poison,” but having Gobert out on the perimeter is not working right now for them.
