Game Thread Oct 08, 2025 06:00PM MT: Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets (Preseason)

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I just can't handle watching that type of defensive performance. I know it's just preseason, but I'm disgusted. There were so many positive things to get excited about, but it's all clouded over in my head by our defense.

I'm going to get some sleep so I can think more clearly in the morning and make more positive comments here.

Ehhhh, there where a lot of positives. The scoring was mostly off offensive rebound and turnovers.

The D will get a lot better when Kessler is in.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

A lot of nuclear-bad turnovers. And bad rebounding.

But!

(1) Gotta love the debut from Ace
(2) Brice can flat-out ****ing score
(3) Hendricks being that comfortable on the perimeter is huge
(4) 9 assists and 0 turnovers from Key is amazing

WCJ doesn't look like he's pushing Collier out of his role very soon. As I've said from the time WCJ was selected, I think you need to envision that they have two different paths onto the floor. If WCJ ends up with more and more minutes, and some of that expansion is at the expense of Collier's minutes, then the whole rotation will have accommodated that; they're impacts are just so different.

 

[efukillar]

In any case, once the roster is finalized, complex tactics will be developed anew. For now, it's important to develop the talents of young players using simple tactics. Naturally, Utah will lose to teams that have long mastered complex tactics. But isn't that exactly what Utah needs right now?

 

[NAOS_pt2]

In any case, once the roster is finalized, complex tactics will be developed anew. For now, it's important to develop the talents of young players using simple tactics. Naturally, Utah will lose to teams that have long mastered complex tactics. But isn't that exactly what Utah needs right now?

nice bong rip, bro

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Ehhhh, there where a lot of positives. The scoring was mostly off offensive rebound and turnovers.

The D will get a lot better when Kessler is in.

I'm feeling better this morning. I don't enjoy watching basketball where there are 5+ possessions in a row without a defensive stop. I think I was most disappointed in Hendricks who I keep hoping can be an answer to our defensive problems, but it's really unfair to expect too much of him right away this year. For some reason I thought Nurkic was better defensively as well, so that was disappointing. I actually thought Keyonte was much better defensively, so there's that.

Overall, yes, this was an incredibly positive game. Most notably Ace bailey looking like he has a chance to be a special player, which is really by far the most important part of our rebuild. The fact that Ace can go and get 25 and still look like he has so much more that he can unlock was awesome. I already mentioned Keyonte, but I thought he was really good. He didn't force stuff, he didn't act like he needed to be the show, he was a real point guard today. I know most people have given up on him as our PG of the future, but if he can play like he did today, then I think he can. His main problem in the past was taking too long to get our sets going, but he was great at pace and decision making tonight. I loved the skip pass to Brice, just absolutely beautiful offensive basketball. Speaking of Brice, man that guy looks awesome. I think he embodies HH's mantra of "fat = potential" better than anyone. He looks so much more athletic now that he's dropped weight.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

I'm feeling better this morning. I don't enjoy watching basketball where there are 5+ possessions in a row without a defensive stop. I think I was most disappointed in Hendricks who I keep hoping can be an answer to our defensive problems, but it's really unfair to expect too much of him right away this year. For some reason I thought Nurkic was better defensively as well, so that was disappointing. I actually thought Keyonte was much better defensively, so there's that.

Overall, yes, this was an incredibly positive game. Most notably Ace bailey looking like he has a chance to be a special player, which is really by far the most important part of our rebuild. The fact that Ace can go and get 25 and still look like he has so much more that he can unlock was awesome. I already mentioned Keyonte, but I thought he was really good. He didn't force stuff, he didn't act like he needed to be the show, he was a real point guard today. I know most people have given up on him as our PG of the future, but if he can play like he did today, then I think he can. His main problem in the past was taking too long to get our sets going, but he was great at pace and decision making tonight. I loved the skip pass to Brice, just absolutely beautiful offensive basketball. Speaking of Brice, man that guy looks awesome. I think he embodies HH's mantra of "fat = potential" better than anyone. He looks so much more athletic now that he's dropped weight.

I'm still betting on Keyonte as a secondary creator. He and Brice are guys that I want catching the ball with some kind of advantage already created—and then they should quickly put their scoring skills to work or know it's better to move the ball instead. That doesnt mean that they shouldn't both be growing/developing as playmakers, but, yeah, neither of them are my lead-guard/lead-advantage-creator. I feel confident saying that the offense would have been better (and with fewer nuclear-bad turnovers) if Collier was out there for 25ish minutes.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

I'm still betting on Keyonte as a secondary creator. He and Brice are guys that I want catching the ball with some kind of advantage already created—and then they should quickly put their scoring skills to work or know it's better to move the ball instead. That doesnt mean that they shouldn't both be growing/developing as playmakers, but, yeah, neither of them are my lead-guard/lead-advantage-creator. I feel confident saying that the offense would have been better (and with fewer nuclear-bad turnovers) if Collier was out there for 25ish minutes.

That's a good bet, and most likely what his role should/will be, but I'm not closing the door on him yet. He showed a lot of growth in maturity last night (and by all accounts this whole summer).

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

Watching over the highlights and Ace's off-ball movement looked really nice last night. Could actually see him filling Markkanen's role when Markkanen is on the bench considering how good Ace is at finishing at the rim.

 

[fishonjazz]

The players that Im most excited about for the Jazz future all balled out so that was awesome.
Keyonte with 9 assists and ZERO turnovers! Efficient! (7-11). Best plus/minus on the team!
Tay Henny making it rain from three!
Ace Bailey being the best player on either team was obviously the best part of the game. Filled up the box score. Scored in every way possible.

Those are the 3 who I have been thinking will be the biggest contributors on the jazz in 4 years and who I am rooting for the most. Brice was a nice cherry on top (he didn't make my list of most promising futures on the team but maybe should)

I have been down on Cody (who isn't lol) and WCJ (didn't like that pick when it happened and really didn't like that they paid to move up to make it) and I dont have any real hope for Collier cause I dont think he will ever be able to shoot. Flip goes in the same group with Brice of getting my interest but not quite being included with Key, Taylor, and Ace.

I put Kessler and Lauri in a completely different category than all these others because they are both Bonafide.

 

[fishonjazz]

I'd still rather see Key play off the ball.

I want him to be the point guard of the future. I prefer the PG (all positions really) to have size advantages. Main reason I didn't like the WCJ pick.
9 assists and zero turnovers in 27 minutes was nice!

 

[fishonjazz]

Already annoyed we kept Svi

Made me want to puke watching him.

 

[fishonjazz]

Kessler/Nurkic/Love is actually a pretty decent rotation at the 5. Huge improvement over last year.

A bit of flip as well.

 

[fishonjazz]

Ace is going to take his lumps but he doesn't play like somebody who just turned 19.

Also as was mentioned above, it seems clear (and as a collier apologist, this is hard for me) the right starting lineup is key, ace, hendricks, lauri and kessler. it has a ton of length and shooting, and you have the luxury of bringing sensabaugh off the bench for scoring punch.

That is the lineup I have wanted since draft night. All my favorites.

 

[fishonjazz]

Lol at that keyonte shot.

Brice, hendricks, ace, and love have all looked great.

I still dont see it from keyonte. Svi is the new tank commander.... but a fun game to watch.

Feels good to see some basketball

Keyonte was fantastic.

 

[fishonjazz]

LOL keyonte wants to chuck so bad and it looks awful

7-11 from the field.
9 assists
zero turnovers
best plus/minus on the team.

Im sure there will be many games this season to be critical of keyonte. last night was not one of them.

 

[fishonjazz]

i'd be surprised

Ya, his contract is a bit too expensive.

 

[fishonjazz]

I just can't handle watching that type of defensive performance. I know it's just preseason, but I'm disgusted. There were so many positive things to get excited about, but it's all clouded over in my head by our defense.

I'm going to get some sleep so I can think more clearly in the morning and make more positive comments here.

Good news is that Houston defense sucked as well against our offense. Im guessing that players dont play as hard defensively in the pre season as they will in the regular season.

 

[fishonjazz]

I still don’t understand the Sexton hate around here. Guy was great for the Jazz, high energy, hard worker and was efficient as hell when he was out there. Thought he was fine in the role they had for him.

Ya, charlotte fans are in for a treat. They are gonna love him. Will be a fan favorite.

 

[fishonjazz]

One thing to remember from last nights game..... The jazz stuck with the rockets for most of the night. The rockets were playing all their best players and were the #2 seed last year and are legit contenders and they were at home. The jazz were without their best players (namely Kessler and Lauri).

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

I truly hate the feeling of actively watching and rooting for a tanking team but since we have a legitimate ROY contender this year, guess I’ll have to breakdown and lay down the Benjamin for the League Pass.