The schedule reads this way: Boston. Cleveland. Houston. Oklahoma City.
To Thabo Sefolosha’s eyes, this week’s Utah Jazz schedule morphs into a murderer’s row of the league’s best scorers: Kyrie Irving. LeBron James. James Harden. Russell Westbrook.
Now in his 11th season, Sefolosha has seen all of these stars a handful of times — and he’s been thrown on them often. Paul George said earlier this year that the one-time all-NBA defender relishes the big assignments and dives into them. And on a Jazz team trying to stay afloat this month in the Western Conference, Sefolosha’s mental notes could make a big difference in a killer five-game road slate.
“I’m lucky enough that I know those guys’ games well enough now to kind of know what they want to get to,” he said. “But it’s tougher for Donovan and the younger guys who are not used to playing against them. You have to adjust on the fly.”
Not that Sefolosha always succeeds: A big bust last Saturday got a lot of national airtime, as Giannis Antetokounmpo blew by him on the perimeter for a dunk over a late-arriving Rudy Gobert.
But even at 33, Sefolosha remains a versatile defender for the Jazz: Of all the Jazz players averaging 20 minutes or more, he has the highest plus-minus rating (plus-2.9 average) and the Jazz have their worst defensive rating when he comes off the court (105.1, vs 98.2 when he’s on court). While he’s traditionally been a wing, the 6-foot-7 Sefolosha has also played at power forward with some success.
With as much experience as he’s had, he’s accumulated quite a few notes on the scorers the Jazz have coming up.
“It’s a big plus,” he said. “That’s why I try to be vocal, and I know it helps. Coach also does a great job talking and keeping those guys focused because he has a ton of experience obviously. It helps, every bit of information helps at this point.”
Here’s a few notes directly from Sefolosha on the upcoming opponents the Jazz will face (and he may have to guard):
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls (14.7 ppg) • The newest addition to this group, the Jazz had a good day against the Finnish rookie in the last meeting, holding him to only three points.
Sefolosha’s take: “He’s long. Good shooter, plays with energy. [In the last game] we executed and played physical.”
Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics (23.7 ppg) • While the Jazz won’t have a crack at injured Gordon Hayward, Irving is on a tear for one of the grittiest teams in the NBA since being traded in the offseason. In 11 career games against the Jazz, he’s averaged just over 21 ppg.
Sefolosha’s take: “Everybody know he’s very crafty, playing at a very high level this year. Tough to guard. Combination of [quickness and body control] — if you only have one of those things, you’re an average player in this league. He has all and he’s able to put it all together.”
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (14.6 ppg) • A high-end draft pick last year, Brown has helped the Celtics put some things together with Hayward out. In two career games against the Jazz, he’s only scored 12 points, but he’s likely to be a much bigger threat.
Sefolosha’s take: “Playing with a lot of confidence compared to last year. He’s not afraid to shoot the ball and to really try to impact the game. He’s going to shoot his fair share of shots. For being this young, I think physically he’s above a lot of guys in the league with athleticism and pure force.”
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (28.3 ppg) • One of the two biggest MVP candidates the Jazz face on this road trip, the King’s game speaks for itself. Among team splits, his second-highest scoring average (29.4 ppg) comes when he plays the Jazz.
Sefolosha’s take: “It’s scary because he keeps getting better. He understands the game so well from the early stage of his career, and now he’s same thing, he puts it all together. He utilizes his teammates, shoots the ball better than he has in the past, and he’s still able to drive and be more physical than most. … [In the playoffs] just the game kinda slows down, so it’s more about him in the halfcourt picking the defense apart. He’s great at doing that.”
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James celebrates after scoring in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 101-95. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Dwyane Wade, Cleveland Cavaliers (11.5 ppg) • While he’s on the downward arc of his career, Wade has been a tough foe for the Jazz, historically: He averages 26.7 ppg against Utah, more than any other NBA team.
Sefolosha’s take: “He’s still got a lot. He’s got experience to start. He’s just a good all-around player. He might not be as athletic as he used to be, but he can still get by people and impact the game in so many different ways — defensively get steals, get blocks. He’s good.”
James Harden, Houston Rockets (32.0 ppg) • The Jazz won’t be happy to see him again: The Rockets have already piled up two big wins on Utah, and Harden — the MVP front-runner — scored 56 in the first in Houston.
Sefolosha’s take: “Once he starts driving, it’s hard to stay in front of him because he can just shove you a little bit with his arms and shoulders, and it’s tough to guard. I think the system is just about him and what he’s able to do. That year where he had to play point guard last year, he was able to really show the extent of his game. ... I was with him his first two seasons [in Oklahoma City]. He’s always been a willing passer, good player all-around. He’s able to show it now and just score at a high clip because he understands how the defense plays him.”
Chris Paul, Houston Rockets (14.8 ppg) • The pairing between Harden and Paul seems to be working because they do such different things. The Jazz are very familiar with Paul after playing him in the playoffs last year, and he averages 17.9 ppg and 8.7 apg in his career against Utah.
Sefolosha’s take: He’s got great vision. He tries to slow the game down at times, the way it works for him. Like LeBron, but on a different scale, just being able to pick the defense apart, put it down in pick-and-roll and make the defense make a decision. Based on that, he passes it or shoots it.
Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, left, passes the ball around Brooklyn Nets center Timofey Mozgov during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Carmelo Anthony (18.0 ppg), Russell Westbrook (23.0 ppg), Paul George (20.6 ppg), Oklahoma City Thunder • How can you choose? All three are multiple-time All Stars, and Westbrook is the reigning MVP. The Jazz have split the series so far with OKC, and Westbrook had a triple-double in the last game on the road.
Sefolosha’s take: “[Carmelo Anthony is] good for them. He plays that pick-and-pop now, which is tough to guard. With Russell, they can attack the middle well. Paul George can shoot behind the picks. They have so many different options with those guys, you kind of have to pick your poison and hope that one of them is in a bad day.”
Jazz at Bulls<br>At the United Center, Chicago<br>Tipoff • Wednesday, 6 p.m.<br>TV • AT&T Sports Network<br>Radio • 1280 AM/97.5 FM<br>Records • Jazz 13-14; Bulls 6-20<br>Last meeting • Jazz 107, Bulls 86 (Nov. 22)<br>About the Bulls • Since losing 10 straight games (including a loss to the Jazz), Chicago has won its last three against the Knicks, the Hornets and the Celtics. … Rookie forward and leading scorer Lauri Markkanen is questionable for Wednesday’s game with back spasms. … In three games back, all wins, Nikola Mirotic is averaging a team-leading 16.3 ppg for the Bulls.<br>About the Jazz • Rodney Hood has been upgraded to available for Wednesday’s game against the Bulls, which would be his first appearance in seven games. … Other injury updates: Jonas Jerebko is probable (flu), Joe Johnson is questionable (wrist) and Raul Neto is doubtful (concussion). … Donovan Mitchell is second in scoring (17.3 ppg) to Ben Simmons among all rookies while shooting 37.4 percent from beyond the arc.
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