Hoops Habit
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3 Reasons Why The Utah Jazz Won Their 1st Round Series

By Adam Coffman

April 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the first half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the first half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 30, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton (2) defends Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as he drives to the basket in the second period of game seven of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton (2) defends Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as he drives to the basket in the second period of game seven of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Hayward Steps Up

Even a team with as much depth and versatility as the Jazz needs a leader, and Gordon Hayward’s performance in this series cemented his status as such.

In the six games he played fully in (he played just nine minutes due to food poisoning in Game 4), Hayward averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and a 46 percent clip from behind the three-point line.

The Clippers stuck one of the league’s best perimeter defenders on him in Mbah a Moute, but Hayward was able to succeed anyway, as Andy Larsen of KSL.com describes:

"Hayward figured (Mbah a Moute) out by the end of the series. He found ways to get the ball in space through multiple screens off the ball, which let him move forward to attack the basket. Snyder worked to get him in situations where he could get going early."

This type of performance justifies the big-time payday that could be due for Hayward this offseason. The Jazz can offer him the most money of any team out there, and the taste of playoff success should make the prospect of returning to Utah that much more attractive.

The 2016-17 season won’t be the summit of the Jazz’s rise, but winning one playoff series is icing on the cake for a team that was not expected to be in this position back before the season.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers Regular Season Awards

The Jazz will begin their conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, May 2.

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