Utah, but even then I don't think it goes more than 5.
It's Utah, and I think they take a game off, maybe even two if they do a really good job. They're a deep team, if they get multiple players playing well + have a healthy Gobert (who would prevent all their easy layups - he alters shots like nobody else in the NBA) + have Hill, Hayward, and Iso Joe (last one won't have as good of a series though) + have the ability to slow the pace down, they can take a few games off the Dubs.
December 9, 2016: Warriors 106 @ Jazz 99
December 21, 2016: Jazz 74 @ Warriors 104
April 10, 2017: Jazz 105 @ Warriors 99
The Jazz had Gobert + Diaw + Mack + JJ + Exum for PG + Ingles for the first match. Exum played 37 minutes smh.
The Jazz had Gobert (31 min) + Exum (26 min) + Hayward (27 min) + Lyles + Ingles + JJ + Mack for the 2nd matchup. Only JJ and Ingles had good games.
The Jazz had everyone but Hayward for the last game, and still gave Exum 36 minutes. Warriors were 66-15 at that point, and Klay didn't play this game, but it was their only loss to end the season.
Hill + Hayward + Gobert never played against the Warriors.
I think the Jazz have the right formula for playing the Warriors, the question is where their scoring comes from. If one of Hayward goes off for a ton, Hayward + Hill scores, or an assortment of Hood + Hill + JJ get point after point, they can take a game or two. It won't be a sweep at all, imo. The Clippers match up well against this Jazz team, and the Jazz have also had injury issues.
Gobert can also go out to the perimeter decently, and has the BBIQ to know what he's doing out there. He's way better near the rim, because of how much he scares other teams, but the point is that someone with a 8'0'' wingspan is going to make JaVale and Draymond and KD struggle some.
That being said, I like this whole Clippers and CP3's last stand thing too, so I'll just watch as a neutral observer.
After all the shit the Clippers talked after the Warrriors championship about only winning because they didn't have to play them I would love to see the Warriors steamroll them in round two. Plus, the Dubs really dislike the Clips so I know they would be focused and bring their A game for that series.
http://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/clippers_vs_warriors_game_log_season.htm
Warriors went 3-1, 2 victories being incredibly close, that season. I'm willing to admit by now that without that ridiculous Portland being guaranteed 4th seed due to divisions and thus Clippers - Spurs first round, that the Clippers would have beaten the Rockets that year. What got to them was exhaustion, and everyone was gassed by the end of game 6.
I mean, you're looking at this set of matchups:
Warriors - Pelicans
Grizzlies - Spurs
Clippers - Blazers
Rockets - Mavs
Spurs - Grizzlies might beat each other up too much that first round, yeah, but I think Clippers make WCF that year. No johns, but still, I don't think it's fair to talk about steamrolling them now with KD and after Blake became so much worse. Blake and CP3, before Blake became gassed, were in the top 5 players in that playoffs
