With Mitchell out, Clarkson, Gobert and Ingles all post-season records in Dallas’s 116-104 dismantling.
Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis, left, defends against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, 27, in the first half during an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
And the Jazz proved that when they play collectively, they are a force to be reckoned with.
“I really think this is probably the first time since I’ve been here that I’ve seen so much focus from everyone in this dressing room,” said Gobert, adding twenty rebounds, three blocks and three steals. “I really feel like we’re playing for something bigger and we have a mission.”
Ahead of the game, Quin Snyder noted that with Mitchell – the team’s top-scoring option – in the NBA’s concussion protocol, the Jazz should just keep doing what they’ve been, with everyone playing a part.
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, meanwhile, noted that given the way the Jazz played during their winning streak, they were well positioned to overcome the All-Star’s absence: “This is a team that is truly connected. … the type of team that can make a player like Mitchell lose to a game and survive. “
Utah did more than just survive – they dominated thoroughly, the final score only getting close to a sloppy fourth quarter in which they only scored 16 points.
Ingles, who not only lost his reluctant shooter skin by aggressively launching 11 shots from outside the arc (making him seven), but who also got eight assists, including a few back alleys in the third quarter, said what struck him over the course of these past 10 games is Utah’s combination of hunger and humility.
Clarkson, who was considered a ruthless chucker for much of his career before being traded to Utah, agreed with his teammate.
Although he made the attack vigorous in the first half when Mitchell was absent and scored 22 of his 31 points before half time, he noted that he didn’t feel like he needed to be offensive, that he had to go outside the norm in order to avoid the void to fill.
The plan was to stick to the plan.
“I played the same minutes that I’m used to playing, in similar positions to what I’m used to. Roles didn’t change – we just had to keep playing in our system and keep doing what we’re doing.” Clarkson said. is just a different atmosphere, everyone knows their role and everyone is happy for each other It’s almost like we get happier when we get our teammates a shot than when we score the ball, to be honest It’s just a crazy feeling, we have a crazy vibe that we appreciate that the ball doesn’t stick. “
That collective effort was clearly against the Mavs at numerous stages of the game.
Sometimes it was Ingles and Gobert or Mike Conley and Gobert who forgot Kristaps Porzingis and the Dallas defense. Sometimes it was Clarkson, Niang, Morgan, Conley and Oni who mistook the Mavs for a well-done zone defense on one property, then engaged them with impeccable switches and hand-to-hand rotations the next.
The end result was that even on a night when the Jazz went a well-if-not-epic 16 for 41 out of 3-point range, they had more than enough firepower at both ends of the track to roll past Dallas – just by good that everyone does what is asked of them.
“They really do the same things that they have done over the season – they just do them more because they were more in the game,” noted Snyder. “Everyone played against each other collectively. It was those guys tonight and it stood out because Donovan and Fav weren’t in attendance, but those guys have been doing the same thing in a lot of games lately. The balance we have is one of the strengths of our team. … It is nothing they do consciously. They just play the game, play together. “
Impressively, knowing they had the league’s best record as a result of their win and the Lakers’ loss in Philadelphia didn’t impress them.
They don’t worry about what anyone else says or thinks about them. They don’t worry at all about where they rank in someone’s power rankings. All that matters is to keep improving, keep focusing on oneself, knowing that there is always another opponent coming.
“We try to find mismatches, we play the right way, we are selfless, we defend. … So yes, it was fun, but we’re not satisfied, ”said Ingles. “We won’t get overhyped on one win or 10 in a row or whatever it is. We’ll go in tomorrow and get ready for the next. “
JAZZ 116, MAVERICKS 104
Key moment • With Rudy Gobert on the bench, the Jazz defense performs a series of brilliant switches that keep the attack in Dallas at bay.
Large number: 4 • The Jazz takes the best record in the league thanks to the fewest defeats, only four.
Next one • The Jazz and Mavericks will be back on Friday in the final of Utah’s six-game home stand.