Takeaways
1. The Nets couldn’t stop George Hill
George Hill did it all against the Nets. He made shots from everywhere on the floor and did a great job of setting up his teammates as well. Hill seemingly could do no wrong, scoring 34 points on a blistering 10-of-12 from the field. He was the leader for the Jazz, both on the court and in the box score. He hounded the Nets on defense as well. With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, Jeremy Lin had already picked up four fouls, mostly from guarding Hill. George Hill is one of the most underrated players in the league. So, Hill to the Nets this summer?
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2. 60 games down… 22 to go
The Nets moved to an even 10-50 on the season after the loss against Utah. With 22 games left in the season, the Nets are trying to fight history. While the next 22 games may be insignificant in the grand scheme, it will be a time to evaluate. Both K.J. McDaniels and Andrew Nicholson played in the fourth after the lead had swelled. Nicholson scored four, and McDaniels dove on the floor twice. The two newest Nets will try to show that they belong when they get minutes as the season winds down.
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3. The Long Arms of Utah
Alright, that didn’t sound as great as when I imagined it. Throughout the game, the Nets had trouble finishing and dribbling inside. While the Jazz only had five blocks in the game, Nets players were met with long arms and wide bodies every time at the rim. Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and Boris Diaw gave the Nets a hard time every time they probed into the paint. Utah’s guards would generate pokes and slaps to the ball that deterred the Nets. Even on defense, the Nets struggled with the jumbo frontline of the Jazz. The Jazz are a dangerous team to watch as the playoffs approach.