#81: UTA @ GSW 4/13/10

Utah Jazz

Record: 52-28 (7th) • Point Differential: +5.5 (3rd) • Pace: 93.7 (9th)

Off. Efficiency: 111.0 (6th) • eFG: 52.6 (4th) • TO: 16.0 (t-23rd) • OReb: 26.8 (14th) • FT/FG: 25.3 (4th)

Def. Efficiency: 105.2 (10th) • eFG: 49.2 (t-12th) • TO: 16.1 (6th) • OReb: 24.7 (5th) • FT/FG: 26.9 (30th)

PreThoughts

The Warriors need a loss to keep pace with the Wizards and Kings in the Suckitude Sweepstakes. Happily, the season's final game in Oracle brings a Utah team that, having won 33 of its last 44 games and with improved playoff seeding to play for, should be more than willing to provide that loss. (If this sounds familiar, well, it should.)

There are few teams that present tougher matchup problems for the Li'l Dubs than these Jazz, but if the Warriors are hell-bent on competing tonight, the Four Factors data above suggests how they might go about doing it. The Jazz are above-average in every component of the game except for two: they turn it over a lot, and they send their opponents to the line more often than any other team. If Curry and Monta are aggressive in the passing lines and Maggette drives early and often, the Warriors could make this a game. Here's hoping they don't.

Warrior To Watch: Stephen Curry, natch. He's averaged 14 points on 12.5 shots and 6.5 assists against 7(!) turnovers in his first two games against the Jazz, and will be looking to excel against them for the first time.

Jazzman To Watch: Deron Williams, a down-ballot MVP candidate who figures to make that a tall order.

PostThoughts -- Jazz 103, Warriors 94

A well-timed brickfest for Los Dubs. It was pretty horrible to watch, but the result -- effort everyone can feel good about, and a loss -- was more than worthwhile.

Two amusing factoids:

1) Paul Millsap grabbed 24 rebounds, which tied the sixth-best mark by an NBA player this season. If you remove Millsap from the equation, the Jazz still outrebounded the Warriors 37-35.

2) Devean George's 21 points made him the tenth Warrior to lead the team in scoring in a given game. How long had it been since he'd led his team in scoring? Let's just say that the last time he did it, his point guard was Gary Payton.

This season has been quite the freakshow. The main tent closes in an hour...