Taylor Buckley (@Taylor_Buckley9)
Series MVP:
I think it’s safe to say that we all know what Blake and CP3 are going to do. They usually flip a switch come playoff time and go into beast mode, but they aren’t my picks for series MVP. That honor goes to J.J. Redick. In order for the Clippers to make this series as short as possible, J.J. has to do his thing. He should be able to get quality looks when the defense sucks in to guard Blake and DeAndre.
X-Factor:
Naturally, Austin would be my pick but being that he is out, Jamal will have to continue stepping it up. Normally, come playoff time Jamal is either has some sort of nagging injury or he has been ice cold shooting the ball. Not this year. Jamal has played in all 82 games this year so he is as healthy as he has ever been and he has been lights out shooting the ball. I fully expect him to go off.
Series Prediction:
Clippers in 4 or 5. The LA Clippers just have more talent than the Jazz. Utah will struggle to score at the pace that the Clippers will. I think LA has the potential to sweep Utah, but the Jazz could win one when they are the home team.
Match-up:
Most of my fellow writers went with either Prince Luc or DJ, and while those will be the a couple of the most impactful matchups, those won’t be the ones I will be watching. I want to see CP3 make George Hill call him Daddy. CP is clearly the better point guard and it will show. I plan on enjoying the masterful games that CP will easily play against Hill.