Game Thread Jan 22, 2026 07:00PM MT: San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz

[Step-Back Lauri]

Im gonna riot if Jazz will trade Nurkic out for some ****ing 2nd round picks.

Great moments from Ace and Cody. Nice. Nurkic really helps all these young guys imo.

 

[HermanG]

As always, Hardy's in-game decisions will be based on winning, accountability and rewarding hard work, not propping up this player or that. I don't see why Lauri would need to be playing 39mpg or something in a tanking season, but I think it's safe to say that he'll always play 30+. He averaged 30 even as a rookie, and he's in his prime now.

IMO that leaves plenty of minutes and opportunities for Ace, particlularly as we don't even know what type of substitution pattern they're gonna go with when Lauri returns. I don't think Bailey is in danger of being buried on the bench anymore, but it's even more unlikely that Lauri's role would be cut in favor of a shaky rookie.



I only talk about "development" to stress that I don't believe it's a thing you can control by force-feeding someone touches, shots, minutes and actions. Good players develop the best when they're in an environment where good, win-oriented NBA basketball is the goal.

My boy Edgecombe is a great example. He's like the 5th offensive option for the Sixers and outside of simple pick and pops, they run almost no plays for him, but the team plays winning basketball. He's learning, getting better and has an important overall role in their playstyle. It would be insane to force shots to VJ when they have several better offensive players on the roster.

So forcing touches to Lauri is ok, but forcing them to Ace isnt? I mean we run plays for both. Lauri's touches are results of actions he runs, many of which are by design.

Ace just put up 25 points on 11/16 shooting. Thats not "shaky rookie" stuff, thats legit super high efficiency stuff. His ceiling is very high, but only way he ever reaches the ceiling is if we pass him the ball more when he shows that he deserves to have it more. He just did.

There is a problem here, even if you fail to ackowledge that. I'm sure Hardy will come up with some sort of solution that doesnt cut too much on Lauri touches but still manages to play to Ace's strengths. I'm just not sure what that solution is.

 

[JerryC]

Im gonna riot if Jazz will trade Nurkic out for some ****ing 2nd round picks.

Great moments from Ace and Cody. Nice. Nurkic really helps all these young guys imo.

He is literally in the middle leading the way and teaching our youngsters how to play high IQ winning BB. At both ends. What a luxury vet to have.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

There is a problem here, even if you fail to ackowledge that.

Ace has one high(ish)-scoring game and suddenly it's a problem there's a Top 25, All-Star level player in front of him on the depth chart? Let's just pump the brakes a bit here.

If this tank was just beginning, within that framework it would absolutely make all the sense in the world to trade Lauri away ASAP and let a talented but unproven kid like Ace assume his responsibilities. (That's what Ainge should have done in the first place.) Lots of losing, lots of "development" would follow. [shudder]

However, the tank is apparently on its last legs, and we're getting ready to compete for real next season. As Lauri's still here and it seems he's not going anywhere either, he's obviously still gonna be a top two option for this team, with all the touches, shots and called plays that come with it.

It makes sense to try to find space for Ace as well as his scoring can be a valuable asset, but as I said, there's nothing wrong with letting him play off the bench to learn the ropes. He's not at the level yet where he can consistently do his thing against NBA starters anyway. Checked his advanced stats lately? Yeah... this is still a project.

I'm sure Hardy will come up with some sort of solution that doesnt cut too much on Lauri touches but still manages to play to Ace's strengths. I'm just not sure what that solution is.

I guess we can all agree on that. I just think that two volume scoring oriented players in the starting lineup is plenty, and right now it's Lauri and Key.

 

[Peter_Mentor]

There is a problem here, even if you fail to ackowledge that. I'm sure Hardy will come up with some sort of solution that doesnt cut too much on Lauri touches but still manages to play to Ace's strengths. I'm just not sure what that solution is.

There will certainly be an adjustment period where both players eat into each other’s numbers, and the most impatient people will conclude that Lauri and Ace don’t work together.

Before Kessler went down, there was some budding chemistry between Lauri, Flip, and Walker. I believe that toward the end of the season we’ll start to see the same with Lauri, Ace, and Nurk. It’s just going to take some time. I’m confident Hardy will find solutions where Ace and Lauri don’t have to take turns while the other one waits in the corner.

 

[HermanG]

There will certainly be an adjustment period where both players eat into each other’s numbers, and the most impatient people will conclude that Lauri and Ace don’t work together.

Before Kessler went down, there was some budding chemistry between Lauri, Flip, and Walker. I believe that toward the end of the season we’ll start to see the same with Lauri, Ace, and Nurk. It’s just going to take some time. I’m confident Hardy will find solutions where Ace and Lauri don’t have to take turns while the other one waits in the corner.

This team is a point centers dream. Key can play 2 man game with DHO/PNR/PNP actions with you and then you got 2 tall above the rim players who are great explosive cutters and both of whom also have a quick trigger.

 

[Flc]

Are we really sure Kessler shouldn't be Nurk's backup?

It cannot be ignored that the half court offense of this team looks ten times better with Nurkic out there. Giving the ball to Walker doesn't make sense at all unless it's an open layup or dunk. And sometimes he can't even make those.

You’re making this way too easy at this point. Raise the challenge level by being less of an insufferable idiot who is wrong 95% of the time.

 

[Flc]

Uhh. Yeah. Im rreeaallllyyyyyy sure. Have you watched the other end of the court ? Lol

Like omg guys don’t you know Kessler is whatevs and I’m like ewww and Nurkic is like omgosh BAE.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

So forcing touches to Lauri is ok, but forcing them to Ace isnt? I mean we run plays for both. Lauri's touches are results of actions he runs, many of which are by design.

Ace just put up 25 points on 11/16 shooting. Thats not "shaky rookie" stuff, thats legit super high efficiency stuff. His ceiling is very high, but only way he ever reaches the ceiling is if we pass him the ball more when he shows that he deserves to have it more. He just did.

There is a problem here, even if you fail to ackowledge that. I'm sure Hardy will come up with some sort of solution that doesnt cut too much on Lauri touches but still manages to play to Ace's strengths. I'm just not sure what that solution is.

Ace's handle will improve and that will allow him and Lauri to eat in different ways. Thus, when it comes to who uses a given possession, it'll be about what the defense is most concerned with trying to take away, and the offense's appropriate counter to that. For example, if Lauri's off-ball gravity is really distorting one side of the court, then a skip pass to Bailey for a 2-to-3 dribble "self-created" possession could be pretty deadly. He'll be able to put a ton of pressure on the rim in these scenarios.

Same goes for AJ when we get him ;P

 

[NAOS_pt2]

This team is a point centers dream. Key can play 2 man game with DHO/PNR/PNP actions with you and then you got 2 tall above the rim players who are great explosive cutters and both of whom also have a quick trigger.

So true.

 

[fishonjazz]

Rotanktions.

Even better lol