Jazzhoops

  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.