Utah out-rebounded Houston 52-35.
Pat Riley’s mantra was “No rebounds, no rings.” Jerry Sloan’s scrappy rebounding led to his label as “The Original Bull.” Scoring is good for highlights and mixtapes – Donovan Mitchell delivered plenty in a team-leading 31-point performance; rebounding is good for success.
Back to the franchise’s favorite coach: “Rebounding is where you get a chance to compete for possession of the basketball.”
The Utah Jazz won the possession battle and dominated on the glass 52-35 in a 107-91 staving victory against the Houston Rockets. Game 5 shifts to Texas at 6pm with the Jazz showing no signs to looking toward Cancun.
Jazz head coach Quin Snyder inserted Jae Crowder into the starting lineup in Game 3 and 4. He provided energy after a lackluster opening in Houston. Snyder opted for Derrick Favors late in fourth quarter over Rudy Gobert, and profited in a stretch that provided the crucial distance for the win. Favors collected 11 rebounds – 6 on the offensive glass – along with 12 points.
Rudy Gobert: The deepest teams are the best teams in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/Qr7hCRkytC
— JP Chunga (@JP_Chunga) April 23, 2019
Rockets star James Harden highlighted Utah’s rebounding as crucial to the win.
James Harden points to the Jazz’s 52-35 rebounding advantage as the difference in Game 4 pic.twitter.com/T2mlzVCkHO
— JP Chunga (@JP_Chunga) April 23, 2019
The interior advantage carried over to points in the paint – a highlight of Moreyball – to the tune of 52-22. Where the Jazz wavered in Game 3, Derrick Favors delivered the knockout blow. Demoralizing offensive boards and soul-crushing runs to the rim.
hear that? that’s the sound of brooms being put away. pic.twitter.com/UU3j4QXRxA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 23, 2019
Ultimately, the Jazz embodied another Sloanism on Monday night: “Size doesn’t make any difference; heart is what makes a difference.”
ALL HEART pic.twitter.com/AaXScO022Y
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 23, 2019
1, 2, 3 – Back to Houston.
