Rockets vs. Jazz Round 1 Playoff Overview: Key Matchups and Predictions

The Rockets kickoff the playoffs against the Utah Jazz tonight at home. The Rockets, the 4th seed in the NBA playoffs, will play the 5th seed Utah Jazz. Last season, the Rockets and the Jazz met in the second round of the playoffs with the Rockets winning the series 4-1. This time around, both the Rockets and the Jazz sport healthy and very dangerous lineups. This matchup will definitely be a feisty one with MVP candidate James Harden facing one of the best defensive lineups in the NBA.

Key Matchups

Rudy Gobert vs. Clint Capela

This matchup is a key one with two defensive stalwarts facing off against each other. Both European big men were outstanding this season, helping both their teams to make the playoffs. Clint Capela was initially a project Swiss big man who was selected in the late first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. However, through his development and acquisition of skills, Capela has transformed into one of the best big men in the NBA. This season, he posted career highs in both points per game (16.6) and rebounds per game (12.7). He was a major catalyst for the high powered Rockets offense, until he injured his right thumb. After signing a gargantuan 5 year, $90 million contract over the summer, Clint Capela performed very well this season.

On the other hand, Rudy Gobert came into this league with revenge. Despite also being selected in the late first round, Rudy Gobert quickly became a major defensive force in the league in his first couple of seasons since. Ever since entering this league, Rudy Gobert has been a great rim protector winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors in both 2017 and 2018.

This matchup will be a heated one with Clint Capela acting mainly as main catalyst and "finisher" of pick and rolls. On the other hand, Rudy Gobert will have the tough responsibility of dealing with James Harden (who tends to drive a lot) and the Rockets' forwards and centers (Clint Capela, Kenneth Faried,Nené, and PJ Tucker). However, I believe that Rudy Gobert will be the victor in this battle of centers as he is very experienced and the leader for this young Jazz team. Tasked with a greater responsibility, Rudy Gobert can use his unique skill set and his massive physical size to his advantage and stymie the Rockets' frontcourt.

James Harden vs. Donovan Mitchell

This matchup will be a feisty one. The reigning MVP and my pick for this year's MVP faces off against a rising star for a young Jazz team. James Harden has had an incredible and historic season. Truly being the catalyst of this season's offense as well as being the leader of this team, James Harden carried this team when both Chris Paul and Clint Capela were injured, having one of the best single player stretches in NBA history. However, James Harden is infamous for often "choking" and not performing well during the playoffs. It is critical that Harden shows up and continues his unique and elite offensive ability against Jazz.

Donovan Mitchell is a second year player from Louisville who surprised many last season leading the Jazz. This season, Mitchell proved that last year's performance was not a fluke by leading the Jazz to another playoff berth. Mitchell is a great young player with a very bright future in front him. He was able to lead the Jazz with 23.8 points. This matchup will be a major one as two offensive leaders face off against each other in a great matchup

Prediction

The Rockets are the simply far better that the Jazz in this series. Although the Rockets are the 4th seed and the Jazz are the 5th seed (meaning that the matchup should in fact be balanced), the Rockets simply have too much offensive firepower to overpower the stringent defense of the Jazz, who were ranked with the second best defense in the NBA. The backcourt of Chris Paul and James Harden, two surefire Hall of Famers, are more experienced and more talented than both Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell. In addition, the Rockets also have a very talented bench that can supplement the Rockets starters. However, the Jazz do not have great depth and will be worse in comparison to the bench for the Rockets.

Prediction: Rockets in 5