Game Thread May 12, 2021 07:30PM MT: Jazz vs Blazers

[MTS]

My problems with tonight...

1. Nurkic man handled players and had 2 calls through 3 quarters. It rattled us. We need to handle punk basketball better.

2. When we are missing shots its contagious. Their defense frustrated us but then we just got in our heads on open looks. That really limits us.

3. There are almost no other options besides keep shooting. The alternative of going in to gobert has worked. But we need guys that come off the bench and make a couple of shots because that too is contagious.

4. If we win tonight then we need 1 meesly win from 2 games against bottom dwellers to secure #1. Given the tough path for the #2 seed, we really should have gone for it more. Now no margin for errors to control our own destiny.

5. When missing shots, we start to miss layups, free throws, and every 3. We get in our own heads too much.

Good points, but it's really not even the missed shots that gets me.

It's more the fact that we stop making smart decisions on offense entirely when the game starts taking a southern direction. Like, Ingles goes out of character and jacks up a tightly contested 3, and then next play passes up a completely wide open 3. Bojan goes several possessions without even touching the ball, and when he finally gets it he hoists a silly contested mid-range shot. Gobert tries to create his own offense in the post on three separate occasions early in the 4th. The ball movement is completely dead.

To me it didn't feel like we just missed open looks all game. I think we went a long stretch in the 2nd quarter where we missed open looks, and then we just... stopped working for them and got out of the offense, instead of sticking to it. Quin Snyder mentioned it in post-game interviews - that the important thing when shots aren't falling is to continue to move the ball.

It's a scary habit. Come playoffs, the team has got to stay more composed when things aren't going their way.

 

[cowhide]

Trying to stay positive but Jazz are not playing well for a team that wants to win a championship. The second half of the season was suppose to be the easiest schedule and yet they seem to lose games they are suppose to win. My fear is they lose the first seed and get a bad match up and lose in the first or second round. Why isn't Conley playing? I thought he just had tenderness in the hamstring. If this hamstring problem is going to be an on going issue I would rather not re-sign him next year despite his production. I am just so frustrated with how the team has performed lately. Ugh...

 

[Ron Mexico]

There is no conclusion or really correlation to this game with our playoff basketball. It's a game we were only half interested in, didn't have our full roster for, tried different looks, and know wasn't important.

Plenty of things could go wrong in the playoffs. But stressing that this game is some sign of things seems silly to me. But I've been wrong before plenty.

 

[latin jazz]

Wait, they played hard again in the 4th? But you just said Houston only scored a lot because of garbage time?

Since you're getting really hung up on the Rockets example, let's wipe it, because I could bring up a ton of other examples of bad offensive teams breaking 100 against the Blazers. Like, literally all of them, except one other time the whole season.



I'd agree if we were fully healthy going into the playoffs, but we're going to be bringing a rusted Conley and Mitchell back up to speed. Going from no NBA basketball in a month to suddenly an intense playoff series against the Lakers probably isn't going to be an advantage for the Jazz.

Portland scored 50 against them in the 1Q, chilled for two quarters so the Rockets cut the lead to single digits, Lillard came in the 4Q and built the lead back to 17pts. Garbage time followed with the Rockets scrubs scoring 10pts in less than 2min. Not sure how the Rockets were torching them when the Blazers had won the game in the 1Q. Also, you are the one hung up on the Rockets or logic that the Portland defense is so bad we must score a million points against them (I think it was a bad example/logic). For me it's obvious this team is not as good offensively as it was with DM and Conley. We are struggling but the reason for it is not mental fortitude, it's health and bad offensive players getting minutes. We didn't even have clutch minutes with DM and Conley to claim that we fold under pressure (we just were too good). I'll evaluate the team when healthy.

I'm also a bit concerned about them getting ready but having them back is way better than Forrest getting major minutes. And Ingles also needs to play less.

 

[Agent#00]

Disrupt Joe our whole offensive scheme dies that includes Rudy's offense.

We are left with Bogey and Clarkson, both have issues ,one with dribbling another with passing, both not known as playmaker.

Others can't shoot

 

[TheGoldStandard]

Disrupt Joe our whole offensive scheme dies that includes Rudy's offense.

We are left with Bogey and Clarkson, both have issues ,one with dribbling another with passing, both not known as playmaker.

Others can't shoot

Well, when two of your best ball handlers and shooters are out, this will happen. Especially when they can hedge off Forrest. If he can't learn to shoot, he will be done in the NBA.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

Our playmaking was definitely destroyed. They keyed in on Joe, Jordan, and boggieD. We then stopped moving the ball.

Conley and Mitchell make this game an easy one. But Forrest needs to play better or we need to initiate the attack with Niang or even Brantley to mix things up.

 

[SoUjazzfan]

Clarkson s playing too many more minutes also. He's a ball stopper and is trying to do too much right now. He needs one of Mitchell or Conley in the game with him to help the flow..

 

[Ineptimusprime]

I am not basing this comment on this one game, but ever since the ref whinefest after losing the Philly game around the ASB, I was convinced this team lacked the mental toughness to win a championship.
But this game was a good example of this team ******** its pants in the face of adversity.

I think we’ll have a fun playoff run, and I’ll be here for it. But there’s very little chance we’re winning at all in my mind.

 

[fishonjazz]

12-40 from 3 for 30% is the reason we lost. Off night. It happens. We’re 8-6 without Mitchell and 6-3 without Mitchell/Conley. To be above .500 without them would be impressive let alone a 66% win percentage.

We’re going to go into the playoffs with the 1 seed and a fully rested Mitchell/Conley. For the people scared of the Lakers... If we can’t beat them in the 1st round with a hobbled AD/LeBron we aren’t good enough to win the championship. The best time to play them would be in the 1st round. I don’t think they fall to 8 but the point still stands.

Good post.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[kabenac]

This was just an embarrassing game. We deserved to lose it based on how most players performed.

Portland played well - good for them. Yet I would rather watch this team crawl into the playoffs with a bye than risk Donovan or Mike reaggravating anything. They'll have plenty more time to heal and the bye is a major blessing for us.

 

[homeytennis]

My problems with tonight...

1. Nurkic man handled players and had 2 calls through 3 quarters. It rattled us. We need to handle punk basketball better.

2. When we are missing shots its contagious. Their defense frustrated us but then we just got in our heads on open looks. That really limits us.

3. There are almost no other options besides keep shooting. The alternative of going in to gobert has worked. But we need guys that come off the bench and make a couple of shots because that too is contagious.

4. If we win tonight then we need 1 meesly win from 2 games against bottom dwellers to secure #1. Given the tough path for the #2 seed, we really should have gone for it more. Now no margin for errors to control our own destiny.

5. When missing shots, we start to miss layups, free throws, and every 3. We get in our own heads too much.

I am sad to admit that Oni and Forrest are not playoff rotation ready. There is a reason bot lasted as long as they did in their respective drafts.