Game Thread Jan 15, 2026 06:30PM MT: Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks

[KqWIN]

When Cody and Ace are playing on defense nearby they just swallow the space with their length and quickness. It's just a glimpse of how potent the Jazz' defense could become in the future with Walker, Lauri, Cody and Ace on the court at the same time.

Ace’s defensive activity early in the game was the biggest bright spot today. I don’t think he really knows how to play defense now, but the attributes and desire is there for sure. Gonna be a big summer for him.

 

[KqWIN]

Maybe it's just because we don't have a 5 at all, but Cissi looked like a monster

He looked like a physical beast. Might be someone to look at in the summer, DAL is not gonna be able to convert him this year.

 

[Peter_Mentor]

And as far as development goes, I’m not going to say force feeding minutes is the holy grail of development, but it’s also doesn’t seem to be preventing it.

I don't think there's a single development path that works for every player. And since we don't have alternative realities to compare it to, this is more of a matter of opinion and hunch.

So here is my hunch: rather than force feeding minutes, the quality reps matter more. For example, Cody's development has been slowed down by physical weakness and a complete lack of self-confidence. Building strength has helped his confidence, but I also think it’s mattered that he’s had success in a very limited role, with his responsibilities growing gradually around those small wins.

In another reality, we could have played him 30 minutes a night since from the start of the season. Maybe he would be better than he is now, or maybe we would all agree that he is still the worst player in the league, as we knew at the beginning of the season. We will never know.

Another example isn’t about minutes, but about role. In another thread, you mentioned that Key is thriving with or without Nurkic. For Key’s long-term development, my hunch is that it’s beneficial for him to focus on decision-making while playing with an elite screen-setter (Nurk or Kessler), and then gradually build from there.

And as a counter point, maybe Taylor would be better if we played him 30 minutes a night. At least he can't be any worse.

 

[Tanktastic]

Get rid of the players that cannot play defence

NBA teams must have 8 players active. Forfeiting the rest of the season a prime tanking option of course.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

Need Lauri and Nurk back to next game. Gave up too much defensively and lost the boards. Oh we, on to the next one.

 

[fishonjazz]

I don't think there's a single development path that works for every player. And since we don't have alternative realities to compare it to, this is more of a matter of opinion and hunch.

So here is my hunch: rather than force feeding minutes, the quality reps matter more. For example, Cody's development has been slowed down by physical weakness and a complete lack of self-confidence. Building strength has helped his confidence, but I also think it’s mattered that he’s had success in a very limited role, with his responsibilities growing gradually around those small wins.

In another reality, we could have played him 30 minutes a night since from the start of the season. Maybe he would be better than he is now, or maybe we would all agree that he is still the worst player in the league, as we knew at the beginning of the season. We will never know.

Another example isn’t about minutes, but about role. In another thread, you mentioned that Key is thriving with or without Nurkic. For Key’s long-term development, my hunch is that it’s beneficial for him to focus on decision-making while playing with an elite screen-setter (Nurk or Kessler), and then gradually build from there.

And as a counter point, maybe Taylor would be better if we played him 30 minutes a night. At least he can't be any worse.

Yep. No one knows.
What we do know is that losing increases odds at a top pick so might as well do that.

Sent from my OPD2203 using Tapatalk

 

[sip]

We both want to win, just different ideas on how you end up winning the most. But earlier you had firmly maintained that you don’t care about the future and that a bigger picture doesn’t exist.

I would love it if winning more at this moment would lead to more wins, but have yet to hear a convincing argument. Looking at the top of the standings all that seems to matter to me is getting good players and it doesn’t matter how you got them. I’m open to improving any which way as long as it’s the most effective given our position. My distaste for tanking won’t keep me from thinking clearly about the best options. It would be like wanting Key to stop getting FT’s because I hate foul baiting. I wish it was gone from the game and it’s not “ethical”. Yet I still want Key to take advantage because that’s what the game is.

And as far as development goes, I’m not going to say force feeding minutes is the holy grail of development, but it’s also doesn’t seem to be preventing it.

You are talking to someone that believes this draft sucks and we are better off losing our pick. You can't win when debating that level of insanity.

 

[sip]

Ace’s defensive activity early in the game was the biggest bright spot today. I don’t think he really knows how to play defense now, but the attributes and desire is there for sure. Gonna be a big summer for him.

His development is going to be so much fun to watch. The rest of the season is all about building confidence to Ace, Cody and Taylor. Cody is finally starting to show a little bit and I think we will see Taylor start to figure some things out in the near future as well. I still don't think his legs are fully under him and the more he plays the easier it will be to slim down a little.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

The rest of the season is all about building confidence to Ace, Cody and Taylor.

Losing games where the other team scores 144 points is a great way to do that.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

You are talking to someone that believes this draft sucks and we are better off losing our pick. You can't win when debating that level of insanity.

Nobody's saying this draft sucks. You just need an insane amount of luck to get your hands on a true difference maker EVEN when you tank. I happen to think it's not worth it and it's totally unethical. In that sense, yeah, I don't care about losing the pick.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I told everyone back when tank anxiety started that the Jazz have the worst defense in the NBA and that will ensure they keep the pick

 

[KqWIN]

I don't think there's a single development path that works for every player. And since we don't have alternative realities to compare it to, this is more of a matter of opinion and hunch.

So here is my hunch: rather than force feeding minutes, the quality reps matter more. For example, Cody's development has been slowed down by physical weakness and a complete lack of self-confidence. Building strength has helped his confidence, but I also think it’s mattered that he’s had success in a very limited role, with his responsibilities growing gradually around those small wins.

In another reality, we could have played him 30 minutes a night since from the start of the season. Maybe he would be better than he is now, or maybe we would all agree that he is still the worst player in the league, as we knew at the beginning of the season. We will never know.

Another example isn’t about minutes, but about role. In another thread, you mentioned that Key is thriving with or without Nurkic. For Key’s long-term development, my hunch is that it’s beneficial for him to focus on decision-making while playing with an elite screen-setter (Nurk or Kessler), and then gradually build from there.

And as a counter point, maybe Taylor would be better if we played him 30 minutes a night. At least he can't be any worse.

I don’t think you’re wrong, but my actual take on this is that it’s unlikely to have a major effect one way or another. For the most part I think players are good or they are not.

And as I’ve said before in other threads, we’re talking about a small difference in the environment to begin with. When we talk about tanking measures, it’s only going to be the difference of a few wins max. So whatever you believe is best for development, it’s not like the difference in environment is going to major. For example, the developmental environment of a 28 win team cannot be that different than a 24 win team. Playing with Lauri 5 less games is not going to make or break development. It’s not like the difference between developing on a 50 win team and a 20 win team.