‘Playoff Poised’ (Stephen Dunn -NBAE/Getty Images)

JAZZ WIN GAME #1 — JAZZ 93 ROCKETS 82

Fantastic effort by the Jazz. The Defense was great.
When they were on the ropes they answered
They won the battle of #2 offense v. #2 defense.
Boozer was great on the boards.
The 1st half work on the boards was huge. The bench in the first half was huge.

2:40 4th Quarter — Jazz 89 Rockets 75
Jazz are just 3-16 in franchise history in a Game 1 on the road — here is to #4
AK has 20. Boozer 20 and 16. D-Will 18 and 10.

5:51 4th Quarter Jazz 81 Rockets 67
Jazz are closing with Deron, Kyle, Harpring, AK and Boozer.
AK had a great block on Scola,
This game is very physical

8:17 4th Quarter — Jazz 75 Rockets 64
D-Will just hit a tough three as the shot clock was winding down
AK has been very active.
Boozer has been a beast on the boards he has 14 and they have all been tough.

3rd Quarter Stats
Jazz Offensive Efficiency 105
Jazz Defensive Efficiency 93 — AMAZING

End of 3rd Quarter — Jazz 68 Rockets 60
Rockets are 2-22 when trailing after 3 Quarters.
Kyle Korver has arrived. He hit two big three’s
Deron was brilliant after the Rockets took the lead. He took over the game.
Harpring had to play the 4 and did a really nice job.
McGrady has 20 points on 18 shots.
Deron got free throws at the :04 mark and it ended a stretch of 21 straight free throws.
The “vicious non Mormons” are chanting Utah Sucks again.

3:39 3rd Quarter — Jazz 61 Rockets 57
Jazz have serious foul trouble issues — Boozer and Milsap both have 4
Scola is killing the Jazz right now. He is missing free throws.
D-Will took over for three possessions, setting up Boozer who scored on three straight but he had to leave with foul trouble.
Jazz haven’t shot a free throw since the 1:03 mark of the 1st Quarter. The Rockets have taken 19 straight free throws

8:06 3rd Quarter — Rockets 53 Jazz 51
Rockets have come out with a bundle of energy and McGrady is aggressive
Deron had back to back turnovers and Mutombo blocked a Boozer shot.
Crowd is going nuts, Rockets have the mo. Who can make a play or two to change the game?
That is what winning on the road in a playoff game is all about.
Rockets are sending 5 to the defensive glass and battling on the offensive glass.

Halftime Stats
Jazz Offensive Efficiency is 116 (season average is 115)
Jazz Defensive Efficiency is 95 (season average is 108)”
Jazz have got 52% of potential offensive rebounds

Halftime — Jazz 47 Rockets 41
Thank goodness Halftime came the Rockets were in their run. The Jazz were collapsing. McGrady had just gotten hot and the Jazz had gotten stale.
Good half. The Jazz need to play from ahead.
Mutombo really changed the game.
Jazz were just 3 for 12 on “non paint twos”

2:19 2nd Quarter — Jazz 42 Rockets 34
Mutombo is effecting the game with his size both D-Will and Boozer missed drives to the basket because of his defense.
Okur just got his first field goal — D-Will tried to get him going but he missed on the drive.
The Rockets will not allow three point looks.
Jazz are 2 of 11 on “non paint twos”

5:28 2nd Quarter - Jazz 40 Rockets 27
Jazz offense is getting the best of Rockets defense. Jazz have scored on 9 of 10 trips down the floor.
Jazz were +5 with Ronnie Price on the floor
The Rockets were -8 with Aaron Brooks on the floor, that is where the Alston injury is huge
Jazz continue to dominate the offensive glass. Rockets had to bring Mutombo back in the game to rebound.
Jazz have 11 offensive rebounds on a potential 16. That is unreal.
Rockets are shooting 38%

1st Quarter Stats
Jazz Offensive Efficiency = 112 (115 is season average)
Jazz Defensive Efficiency = 90 (108 is season average)
Jazz got 64% of the potential offensive rebounds.
Jazz turned it over 29% of their possessions.

End of 1st Quarter — Jazz 23 Rockets 18
Jazz are dominating the offensive glass. This is where Houston misses Yao
Jazz were +5 with Deron on the floor.
I spotlighted the minutes Brooks is on the floor for Houston. He was even in 1:30
Jazz want to play ahead Rockets are 51-4 if they lead after 3 Quarters
Brewer held McGrady to 2 of 4 and 4 points in 4 shots.

2:50 1st Quarter — Jazz 15 Rockets 13
Ronnie Brewer is doing a great job on McGrady - He is 1 for 3 only basket on a secondary break.
Who knew it would be the Battier v. AK show. Battier has 6 points and AK has the last 9 Jazz points.
Jazz have run a lot of side pick and roll with D-Will and Memo to no avail.
Rockets want Jazz to shot “non paint twos” Jazz are just 1 for 8 on non paint twos.

5:47 1st Quarter — Jazz 11 Rockets 11
The vicious non-Mormon fans in Houston are chanting “Utah Sucks”
Deron is not moving very well. He did drive to the basket for a lay-up
4 Jazz turnovers in 11 trips down the floor.

Important Numbers

When the Jazz have the ball it is the NBA’s #2 offense against the Rockets #2 defense in the NBA. The Jazz average 115 points per 100 possessions, the Rockets only allow 103 points per 100 possessions.

The Rockets want to play a slower paced game than the Jazz. On average the Rockets play 89 trips up the floor a game and the Jazz play 92.

The Rockets offense averages scoring 108.2 points per 100 possessions, 17th in the NBA, and the Jazz defense allows 108.3 points per 100 possessions, 12th in the NBA.

This would lead on to believe this game will be decided based on what happens on the Jazz offensive end.

Keys to the Game

1. Keep McGrady off the free throw line. If he is jump shooter the Rockets can’t win 4 out of 7 games against the Jazz.

2. Don’t get to far on the wrong side of the 3 point differential. The Rockets want to make the three and keep the Jazz off the three point line. At the end of the night the Rockets can’t have made too many more three’s than the Jazz.

3. Dominate at the point guard. Deron Williams is the Jazz advantage and it is bigger with Rafer Alston out. Digging a little deeper keep track of what happens in the minutes when the Rockets go to their third string point guard Aaron Brooks.

STORYLINES

1. Can McGrady get wins in the playoffs?

2. At what level will Deron Williams be able to play. He says he is 127.43%

3. Playing on the road.