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The two NBA conference leaders go head to head as the Philadelphia 76ers travel to the Vivint Arena to take on a highly impressive Utah Jazz side. The Philadelphia 76ers have seen a recent loss of momentum after succumbing to two back-to-back defeats, and will be looking for a quick change in fortunes.
Joel Embiid has been prolific so far and is producing MVP-worthy numbers, with the likes of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris supporting him throughout. The Philadelphia 76ers were unlucky with injuries towards the start of the season but have been dominant since, and will be looking to avoid a third loss on the go.
The Utah Jazz on the other hand, have been highly efficient on both ends of the court, with multiple offensive threats who have done well throughout. Jordan Clarkson is the frontrunner for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, while Donovan Mitchell has been unstoppable on offense. In this article, we look at the hypothetical best combined 5 featuring all fit players from both the teams.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Utah Jazz Prediction: Combined starting 5
The Utah Jazz have missed the services of Mike Conley in recent games but have rallied nevertheless. They have won each of their last 7 NBA games and are now up against genuine title contenders in the form of Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers have a largely injury-free roster as well. However, they come into this match without Shake Milton, who has until now produced 14 points and 3 assists off the bench per game.
Point Guard – Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
Ben Simmons has been up to his usual tricks in recent weeks, and has missed multiple games towards the beginning of the 2020-21 NBA season. His return of 7.9 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 14.1 points is in addition to the defensive contributions that he has become invaluable for.
Ben Simmons is currently producing 0.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He will be crucial to any title challenge that the Philadelphia 76ers end up mounting this season. He starts at the Point Guard position in this combined 5.
Shooting Guard – Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
Donovan Mitchell is the biggest reason for the surprise that Utah Jazz have managed to put up in the 2020-21 NBA season. They have won 22 out of their 27 games in the NBA so far, and Donovan Mitchell’s offensive displays have been crucial to that.
He is currently averaging 22.4 points and 5.2 assists, and has been defensively useful as well. Donovan Mitchell has produced .8 steals per game and will be required to put up a monster performance against a strong Philadelphia 76ers lineup.
Forward – Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers)
Tobias Harris has emerged as a crucial scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers and his presence has been absolutely crucial for them in multiple games this season. Harris has been defensively astute as well, averaging 7.3 points, .8 steals, and .8 blocks per game.
Tobias Harris is shooting above the 40% mark from the deep and over the 50% mark overall, and is averaging exactly 20 points for the Philadelphia 76ers. After Joel Embiid, he is their most consistent scorer this season.
Forward – Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers might have seen Joel Embiid start at the Center position on most occasions in the 2020-21 NBA season, but he makes it to the Forward position in our combined 5. Joel Embiid is a strong MVP contender this season and is producing some mind boggling numbers.
His return of 29.6 points and 10.8 rebounds means that he is one of the most dominant players in the NBA currently, and absolutely crucial for the Philadelphia 76ers. Much of what happens in the matchup will depend upon whether the Utah Jazz can contain Joel Embiid.
Center – Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Rudy Gobert is the defensive inspiration that has allowed Utah Jazz to become the all-round team that they have become. Rudy Gobert is still one of the best defenders in the NBA, and has been crucial for his offensive impact as well.
Rudy Gobert is producing 13.8 rebounds per game, along with 2.8 blocks and .4 steals per game. This is in addition to the 14 points and 1.3 assists that he produces in every game.
The Utah Jazz seem set to go on a serious playoff run and appear to have the capacity to shock many teams as the season progresses.
Guess the Lakers players!
