NBA Playoffs: 3 potential x-factors in the Western Conference

Potential x-factor in the NBA Playoffs: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz

On the surface, it may seem strange that a player such as Joe Ingles would play such an important role for the Utah Jazz heading into the postseason. After all, Ingles is not the second or even third-leading scorer on the team. In fact, he’s the sixth-leading score on the Jazz’s roster.

That said, when Inges is on top of his game and playing at an efficient rate on the offensive end, the Jazz is simply a different type of machine on that end of the floor. During this season, Ingles is averaging 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game on career-high shooting marks – 49 percent from the field overall and 45 percent from 3-point range.

If Ingles can continue to play at this high efficient rate heading into the postseason, he will give Utah a secret weapon that they simply didn’t have in the playoffs last year. The Jazz is preparing to make a deep run in the postseason and is going to need players such as Ingles to step up in a big way.