Warriors vs Jazz: 5 Keys To The Series

Apr 24, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on from the court in the first half of game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on from the court in the first half of game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 24, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on from the court in the first half of game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on from the court in the first half of game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Keys to the second-round playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz

The Golden State Warriors ran right through the Portland Trail Blazers in their opening round matchup of the NBA Playoffs. That was expected. What wasn’t was the performance of the Utah Jazz, who outlasted the LA Clippers in a 7-game series.

The Clippers were supposed to dispatch the upstart Jazz. Sure, the Jazz are good but they’re also young and inexperienced. Even with Blake Griffin no longer in the equation (who again was lost for the season after suffering an injury), the Clippers were still the favorites.

In the second round of the playoffs, we were supposed to get two teams, in the Warriors and Clippers, who genuinely don’t like each other both on and off the court.

Problem is, no one gave that script to the Jazz.

As impressive as it was for the Jazz to win their first playoff series in seven years, facing the Warriors is an entirely different animal.

With the series tipping off soon, let’s take a look at a few keys to the matchup between the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors.