Third game tonight between the Mormons and the Nuggets and… how to put it? Let’s just say there wasn’t a game, and lo and behold one of the most intriguing series of this first round may well turn into a total surprise. Because Utah ate Denver, the fault of a Rudy Gobert who cooks us Serbian under the hoop and a Mike Conley who plays it Fred Van Vleet, Mike Malone is going to lose his hair.
This is it, the moment that all Jazz fans have been waiting for has arrived. Mike Conley has dropped his Raymond Felton costume to be himself again, and it’s not too soon. Money Mike can finally proudly wear his nickname, thanks to a… perfect match. Three quarters of total treat because yes, it will only take three quarters for Mike Conley to investigate 27 points and 4 assists at 9/13 shooting including 7/8 from the refreshment bar, incredible. Mike Conley in Fred Van Vleet mode, we found the cheat code to play like Steph Curry since it is enough to make children in the middle of the Playoffs to play like a future Hall Of Famer. In short, he is one of the main architects of the victory of Jazz tonight, with Kareem Abdul-Gobert of course. Double DPOY masterclass on a Serbian wardrobe far too lazy to move even a toe in defense. La Gobe sent a 24-14 11/15 shooting after scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds… at halftime. A performance he also owes to the collective game of Jazz who moved the ball very well in attack and released the lock in defense. 14 points conceded in the first act, 42 in the first half and 87 in total, the LOCK. In short, a magnificent collective performance of Jazz and a very, very easy victory against an absolutely disgusting Denver team, let’s not be afraid of words.
Because yes, we are not going to go four ways, if the Jazz won so easily it is also because Denver made a no-match. In this Game 3, we feel from the start that the Nuggets are not there. Little desire in attack and a defense that makes you want to drown in your herbal tea. As mentioned, Gobert makes the song to Jokic and Michael Porter Jr turns out to be an advantageous matchup for… the whole Jazz team, what a godsend. Overtaken on each possession, the Chickens will even cash a 25-point delay in the second quarter, because why not. And even if they will push a little to come back to -14, the effort will be in vain and too succinct. Denver drops its arms in the third quarter and Utah quietly flies to a free win, Mike Malone has not found the solutions to motivate his troops. So okay, Will Barton and Gary Harris are missing from the roster and are among the defensive pillars of the team, but does that excuse laziness and lack of envy in a playoff match? For the second night in a row? Absolutely not. That’s 124 to 87 in the end, atomic wank, everyone in bed and it will be better tomorrow. Only positive point for Denver? Bol Bol’s 11 points in 9 minutes in garbage time, the kid has talent and it’s nice to see, super.
We are therefore witnessing two big surprises in this series. The first is that Jazz is not dead, has very interesting collective resources and is starting to find its identity, a real pleasure. The second is that Denver is more crumbly than you thought mentally and defends at the level expected in the Playoffs. So that’s 2-1 for the Mormons and a psychological advantage that stuns the Nuggets, beware, the upset begins to knock on the door.
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