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Jazz win streak up to 5
By Johnathan Kendrick
This season was supposed to be the year
when
it would be difficult to win at the Staples Center. The Staples Center
is the joint home of the L.A. Clippers and the three time defending
champion L.A. Lakers. There
was
no question going into the season that the Lakers would continue
their dominance, but joining the Lakers in the playoffs in almost all
preseason publications were long time Lakers shadow –
the
L.A. Clippers. Both teams have started the season in disappointment, and
that is
putting it
nicely. So far this year, the two teams
are a combined 6-9 at the Staples Center. The Clippers, in fact, have a
better record on the road
than
at home.
Even if the game didn’t seem as daunting as it may have a few weeks ago,
the Jazz are looking to create as much space
as possible
between themselves and
teams like the Clippers, who are predicted to take
their spot in the playoffs.
Coming in to the game, the Jazz had outscored their opponents for 13
straight quarters. The Clippers did outscore the Jazz in the first
quarter of the ballgame, but the Jazz came back strong to start a new
streak and outscore the Clips in each of the remaining three quarters to
get the victory.
Once again against the Clippers, the Jazz used a nine-man rotation. This
limited rotation has worked well for the Jazz. The team seems to be more
in tune with one another, and is not looking at different guys every
other time down the court.
Matt Harpring had the game of his career against the Clippers. Leading
the Jazz with 30 points,
the bonus for Harpring and the Jazz is that it came in a winning
situation, it came when it was needed, and he did it by shooting over
63% from the floor.
Don’t look now, but the Jazz has climbed out of the cellar and now stand
tied with Houston for fifth place in the West. |
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