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Oakland, Calif. • Not many observers are confident in Utah's ability to stretch the Warriors in its second- round playoff series against Golden State. Most are predicting a sweep, or the Warriors making quick work of the Jazz in five games.

The Jazz have heard all of this. They know the key to staying in the series is playing well. But mentally, the Jazz have confidence in themselves, no matter how Tuesday night's Game 1 turns out at Oracle Arena.

"We have to have confidence in ourselves to have a chance," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. "We're going to have to believe in ourselves. Not many thought we were going to win the first series [against the Los Angeles Clippers]. Not many think we have a chance in this one. So we're going to come out, play hard and try to win the series. That's our mindset."

For Hayward and the Jazz, self-confidence is what allowed them to win 51 games in the regular season, win a Game 7 in Staples Center in the first round and advance. Professional athletes are proud individuals in general, and usually take any slight as fuel to their personal fire.

And there has been plenty of fuel for the Jazz, even in the shortened 48 hours leading to Game 1. ESPN.com published a story quoting several Golden State players saying they were rooting for the Clippers to win the series so they could enjoy the Los Angeles nightlife. Basketball shows Monday and Tuesday asked whether the Jazz had what it took to win a game.

The Jazz know they have to approach the series with confidence in the face of playing the best team in the NBA. Without that, they know they are done.

"We're confident, and I think we have confidence in the situations," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "You don't go through an entire year of ups and downs, wins and losses and not have some confidence."

Early adjustments

Snyder made a change to his starting lineup in Game 1, inserting Joe Johnson and bringing Boris Diaw off the bench.

Tuesday represented Johnson's first start of the postseason. The move was made to give the Jazz more spacing and creativity against Golden State's aggressive switching defense. Johnson played 13 minutes in Tuesday's first half, scoring five points and grabbing five rebounds. Diaw played 11 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. Derrick Favors, who had been listed as questionable, was cleared to play and contributed two points and four rebounds in Tuesday's first half.

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribjazz