NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture:

Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers

Let’s be honest, no one is watching this series. It’s not that there isn’t electric talent between the two, that’s not it at all.

Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert have been putting the league on notice all season (the jury is out as to whether Hayward stays however). The Clip still possess their power core of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

There are just too many good series on to watch them all, and is ask me — this is the one people will forget about.

The Clippers have been having an off-year, with inconsistency stemming from combinations of injuries and dunks over DJ’s. The whispers are growing louder and the consensus is that LA’s window has shut with the advent of better super teams (see: Golden State Warriors).

Of the two teams, it’s Utah that has raised more eyebrows. A perennial underachiever, the Jazz have thrust themselves into fourth place in the West, which is no small feat considering the litany of teams ahead of them. They have beaten great teams all season-long, including San Antonio, Houston, Washington, and Houston (again).

Defense will be the name of the game in this series.

Utah plays a tough brand of basketball and rarely find themselves out of games because of their focus on the defensive side of the ball.

However, I don’t think they have the depth or offensive firepower (outside of the two studs that I mentioned earlier) to compete with this Clippers team. LA may have not lived up to expectations, but has been a playoff contender year in and year out since the power trio was formed.

I don’t think they match up very well either. While Gobert has solidified himself as a premier rim protector in this league, I think it will be difficult for him to lock down Jordan and/or Griffin.

Griffin and Jordan laughing at the fact that Gobert thinks he’s a top-three big man.

Because when they are at their best, that is what defines the Clippers. They play a “pick your poison” brand of basketball. They like to slow the game down, let the opposing defense settle in, and find this mismatches that exist on the court.

I think that the Clippers utilize their experience in the playoffs (even though they always choke anyways) to finish off the Jazz in a hotly contested seven-game series.

Their veteran leadership, experienced coach and depth will prove too much for a feisty Utah team looking to cap-off what was a surprising and encouraging season with a good playoff run.

The Jazz wondering why people think they’re the underdog as the higher seed.

For the Jazz to take this series and swing the tide in game seven, they are going to need the best basketball that Hayward and Gobert have to off, and then some.

Aaron’s Prediction: Clippers in 7