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Game Thread Nov 30, 2022 07:00PM MT: Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers

Added to Calendar: 11-30-22

JC was an absolute flamethrower. As much as I hate to see him take some of those shots, tonight he had the hot hand. Only really idiotic shot was the 1st half buzzer beater where he had guys (at least NAW) open but decided to dribble past Clippers players up court and chuck up a hasty poor balance shot.
 
Still, the defense is my main concern. Usually its KO I'm most cringy about but the bigger concern for me lately has been our complete inability to lock down anyone. We just cannot target a guy and take him out, since we don't have anyone who can do it. Tonight I felt like Sexton did a good job on John Wall, which was an interesting matchup both ways which I feel like Sexton won despite scoring less points.

I feel like offensively we also need to find a better solution to put games away. This time the 4th quarter passing was much better and looked like the guys were having fun, but the 2nd quarter which was the real chance to put them to sleep early we whiffed. Instead of playing clock control half-court offense or our brand of ball movement offense we usually just saw the guards take turns in running the ball up court and immediately chucking or driving. Didn't rotate the ball that much and didn't use the clock despite having a big lead. Gave them 23 shots in that quarter that allowed them back in the game.

Dug up the stats and in that 2nd quarter where we got outscored 34 to 23 Markkanen (9:17 minutes), KO (8:29), Kessler (8:29) and Vando (3:31) combined for 4 shots taken (1 of which didn't count as a FGA but gave Lauri 3 FTs), while Clarkson (8:29), Sexton (4:36) and NAW (7:24) combined for 13 with 0 assists (didn't even get assists between themselves). So 13 shots in 20:29 combined by guards, and 4 shots in 29:46 combined by the bigs. Wonder why we scored only 23...

Also Markkanen was 63/57/100 with 5 FT and he only got 11 shots in 36 minutes. I need someone to do a freaking deep dive analysis as to how and why this keeps happening. Is it something that he does or is he just not vocal enough or something? I feel like he moves around a lot on offense, participates in a lot of screens but the ball just doesn't go his way. Its so infuriating that we cannot use this guy more in the nights when he plays well.
 
HermanG said:
Also Markkanen was 63/57/100 with 5 FT and he only got 11 shots in 36 minutes. I need someone to do a freaking deep dive analysis as to how and why this keeps happening. Is it something that he does or is he just not vocal enough or something? I feel like he moves around a lot on offense, participates in a lot of screens but the ball just doesn't go his way. Its so infuriating that we cannot use this guy more in the nights when he plays well.
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I'm sure you saw how the Clips defended him in the 2nd half. They had a guy superglued to him at all times. Absolutely no breathing room. Plus they had a strategy where they clearly tried to wear Lauri down by relentlessly bumping and grabbing him every time he tried to relocate or post up. Looked like a wrestling match out there. Hey, if the refs allow it, it makes sense.

Markkanen still found some mismatches near the basket, sealed his guy and asked for the ball, but at this point in his PG "development" Sexton simply can't throw that entry pass. You can see him hesitating and wasting time, until the moment is gone and the passing lane closes. Olynyk is pretty much the only one we have (besides Conley) who can execute those passes.
 
Tremendous Upside said:
I'm sure you saw how the Clips defended him in the 2nd half. They had a guy superglued to him at all times. Absolutely no breathing room. Plus they had a strategy where they clearly tried to wear Lauri down by relentlessly bumping and grabbing him every time he tried to relocate or post up. Looked like a wrestling match out there. Hey, if the refs allow it, it makes sense.

Markkanen still found some mismatches near the basket, sealed his guy and asked for the ball, but at this point in his PG "development" Sexton simply can't throw that entry pass. You can see him hesitating and wasting time, until the moment is gone and the passing lane closes. Olynyk is pretty much the only one we have (besides Conley) who can execute those passes.
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Yeah but I felt like they did that right from the start and he still got his shots in the 1st quarter. And I cannot remember them following him in transition all the time etc like you sometimes see superstars treated. Might be just that I wasn't paying enough attention.

Also, if he posts up, he will be available. He is a 7" guy so his own defender cannot take away the pass from high post... at least not from his off hand. Even if he posts low he is still partially open, like when we saw in the first quarter when Olynyk passed to his off hand for an easy bucket. He can pin his defenders and be physical. Our guards (not named Conley) need to trust him.
 
This was my first game I have been able to watch in awhile, and first since Mike got injured. The offense looks really different without him. Sexton is doing some good things out there though.

I enjoy the Lauri, KO, Kessler lineup quite a bit. I think Hardy will only use it when we are playing against a traditional center, but I hope to see it more.

It's good to see NAW continue to hit some shots. I don't have faith it will continue, but if it does he becomes a rotation player.

This seemed like a take care of business type of game. It was a schedule loss for LA and we played just well enough to make sure they didn't sneak away with it.
 
HeatCheck said:
I actually loved Diabate coming out of Michigan last year. French kid. Springy, quick twitch athlete. I think he has a real future in this league. Wouldn't mind him on the Jazz tbh.
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Don't get me wrong, I really liked his game. My point is he is not going to win you games in his first year.
 
Thank you for stinking, John Wall.

Nice win despite losing the turnover battle.

Props to NAW looking good as well.
 
default said:
I know I should be rooting for loses to help our draft position, but wins sure feel a lot better than losses and this was a fun game.
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wins are so much fun. and these players are so likable - i find myself wanting them to win for them as much as anything. unfortunately losses are the appropriate outcome.
 
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