Jazz Putting Game One Loss Behind Them

HOUSTON, Texas – The Utah Jazz have officially put their 32-point Game 1 loss behind them and are now looking ahead to Game 2 and hoping to steal that game and return to Salt Lake City with the series tied at one game apiece.

KSL Sports’ Jeremiah Jensen said that the team isn’t in panic mode after the 122-109 loss in Game 1 on Sunday and are focused on correcting their mistakes and making adjustments for Game 2 on Wednesday.

“We can’t cry about Game 1 forever,” Jazz center Rudy Gobert said after practice. “You have to make adjustments. It’s the Playoffs and a long series,” he added.

The Rockets had seven players reach double figures in Game 1, led by James Harden with 29 points.

“The Jazz had a really hard time generating any offense in Game 1,” Jensen said. “You have to give the Rockets’ defense credit,” he added.

One of the adjustments that many have said that Utah needs to make is how they defend Harden. In Game 1, the Jazz shaded him and basically allowed him to freely drive to the basket and force Gobert to defend the paint.

“You can’t just let him go by,” said Deseret News Utah Jazz beat writer Eric Woodyard. “You have to stick with him [Harden]. Don’t just give him the whole lane because he can pick you apart,” he added.

Rockets Defense Against Jazz

Jensen mentioned that the story of Game 1 was the Rockets defense against the Jazz. The offensive woes for the Jazz starts with Donovan Mitchell and Woodyard thinks he will play much better in Game 2.

I think he will be a lot more calm and let the game come to him,” Woodyard said. “But his teammates need to knock down more shots.”

Jensen also mentioned that Donovan Mitchell needs to be more aggressive offensively and involving his teammates with kick-out passes for three-point shots while he is driving in the lane.

Both Jensen and Woodyard believe that Mitchell will have a big game on Wednesday.

Tip-off for Game 2 is at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.