NBA Playoffs: Six X-factors for the Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz

NBA Playoffs: Six X-factors for Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz fouls Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, NBA playoffs (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Royce O’Neale

Royce O’Neale is the perfect role player for what the Utah Jazz need when at full strength. He is a reliable contributor. He has only missed one game over the last two seasons. Starting 62 games this season O’Neale has earned the trust of his teammates many times over.

The numbers do not jump out at you but he picks his spots well. This season O’Neale is shooting 37.7 percent on 3.4 attempts per long range. That has dropped in the bubble as he is attempting 1.3 more per game. He is a smart defender that will help out and take the toughest non-center match up, making him a valuable wing to play alongside high usage players.

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For this team to stand a chance against the Nuggets his shooting will need to get closer to his regular season mark with the Jazz missing the sharpshooting Bogdanovic. He has had a hyper-efficient season as this team added more talent that they sometimes struggled to incorporate.

Should he be able to find a way to get to the basket more, whether it be through offensive rebounds or cutting, that would benefit the team even more. Only 29.6 percent of his shots this season came within 10 feet of the basket and he shot 56.5 percent from that range.