That is right folks: NBA basketball is fully back and better than ever. Sure, the weather may be getting cold, but that only gives us fans an excuse to stay in and watch some hoops on a nightly basis.
The Utah Jazz have undergone somewhat of a tumultuous start to the season, but sit at a record of 2-6. The first few weeks or so of the NBA season really don’t provide us with any sort of sample to administer forgone conclusions about teams and players, but I believe that some mixed emotions around Utah are warranted given what has been presented on the court. There have been things I’ve enjoyed, disliked, scratched my head over, rewatched multiple times and gone back-and-forth in my opinion, but nothing that leads me to overthink anything for the long-term. So instead of proclaiming some farfetched opinions on the Jazz’s outlook for the season, let’s talk about some of the things, positive, negative, and neutral, that have stood out to me over this initial stretch of the season.
Lauri: Certified Markksman
If there were any Markkanen doubters left in the NBA community, they sure have been silenced. The Jazz forward has been on an absolute tear to start the season in terms of shooting efficiency and production. He’s posted an impressive 43.6% 3P% on a 62.3% TS% on nearly 10 attempts per game through the first 8 matchups this season. The combination of volume and scoring output from deep exhibits some of the growth in how the Jazz plan to utilize Markkanen this season. His uptick in attempts from last season’s 7.7 to 9.8 3PA per game truly emphasizes that the forward will be the engine powering this Jazz offense.
He’s also expanded the manner in which he creates his scoring attempts. Last season Will Hardy’s offense deployed a variety of actions for Lauri out of the corners where he could easily flow into some movement shots or quickly put it on the deck and get to the rim. Through the early portions of this season we have seen that certainly continue, but additionally we have seen actions where Markkanen can get into some dribble action and create space for himself. The fact he can still dominate as an elite movement shooter while also being an off-the dribble threat as a seven footer is elite level talent and proving that last season was no fluke for Markkanen.
Keyonte George
Another bright spot for the Jazz has come in smaller doses, but rookie Keyonte George has really shined in his minutes. He really made a name for himself over the Jazz’s Summer League tournaments where he averaged 21.2 points on 48% FG% and 38% 3P%. However George has proven that he is not just a microwave scorer that some believed he would be coming out of Baylor. Will Hardy has given George significant time as the lead guard initiating the offense, and while everything has not been perfect, the flashes of point guard potential are there for George.
Specifically Keyonte George has been the lead ball handler in PnRs more than any other Jazz player (with 18 total based off Second Spectrum tracking data), and while all the numbers aren’t overly impressive, his reads have been impressive enough to show there is a path for him starting in the near future. His craft as a ball handler, excellent shot making capability, and legitimate playmaking potential offer something that is somewhat lacking within the Jazz’s guards. While he is only a rookie, he could be the guard that could organize the Jazz’s offense in a way the current veterans have not been able to carry out. Definitely interested in how he progresses moving forward.
The Good and Bad of Will Hardy’s Offense
Will Hardy made a name for himself last season as a rookie head coach by leading a top ranked Jazz offense for much of the season. His focus mainly revolves around playing an up-tempo style that demands constant movement and off-ball actions to create natural space on the floor. This led to the Jazz being a high-volume 3-point shooting team and found their most success when they were efficient from deep range.
The encouraging aspects from this year is that the Jazz are now getting to the rim at a much higher rate, showing that the offense is expanding. The Jazz are taking 3.5% more shots at the rim compared to last year and are 7th in the NBA in drives per game with 51.6 per game. Being able to increase the drives per game allows the defense to collapse and create more opportunities for open 3-point looks. As a result, the Jazz currently stand at 2nd in the NBA in catch-and-shoot points per game with 37.0.
However, it’s clear to see that the Jazz’s offense is rather underwhelming given the talent, coaching, and creativity. I believe Will Hardy’s system is fully implemented throughout the lineup and players are bought into the concepts, it’s just a matter of poor execution and the defensive adjustments made by their opponents. As a team, the Jazz are shooting 36.3% from the 3-point line and only 33.3% on non-corner 3-point attempts. It’s a bit too early to trust the numbers given the sample size, but it’s discouraging for a team that relies on playing with space. As a result, the game plan has been much more simple for opposing defenses as they can play in heavy help coverage to defend those drives to the rim, as they are willing to be late on a closeout with some of the poor shooting thus far.
This is perhaps the most influential factor in Jordan Clarkson’s early season struggles. As a player who relies on self-creation to score, the court has shrunk significantly for him as defenses are clogging the middle of the court as he tries to get downhill. This has led to an uncharacteristic statistical output and a surge in turnovers for Clarkson thus far, which has been detrimental for a Jazz offense that utilizes him as one of the focal points.
While the start of the season for Utah has been disappointing, context is extremely important. The reality is the Jazz are a young team who need to grow, and have faced some of the best teams in the NBA to start their season. It’s unreasonable to overreact to anything thus far, and I don’t see any major changes ensuing over the next few games at least personnel wize. Sample size is incredibly important for contextualizing the state of NBA teams, so while it is undeniable the Jazz have been struggling there are still 75 more games for this team to figure out its identity and outlook for the season. As a younger team with a talented, but somewhat confusing, roster, the ups-and-downs were to be expected and these experiences are ultimately what foster development for players. On a positive note, the foundation appears to be there for the Jazz, and hopefully the pitfalls of their early stretch can be resolved as they progress through the season.
West Coast Hoops 