Are there locker room issues?
Are there outside issues that are not public?
This is the team that finished first in the league last year. They don't look like that kind of team right now.
It's a long season and with the next five game winning streak (please let there be at least a five game winning streak on the horizon) most of us are going to forget a lot of the complaints.
But if the team we've seen over the last several weeks is the 2021/22 Utah Jazz... There's no point in saving energy for a playoff run. Just take the second round exit and plan a nice summer vacation.
There could be and my guess would be between Rudy and Don. Rudy is ignored on offense but is asked to defend 5 people on defense. No one ignores Rudy on offense more than Don yet no one relies on him more on defense.
However, I don’t think it’s locker room issues.
I think it’s lack of juice.
Last year we shot an insane percentage. Rules have changed, the league has adjusted to our offense, and our team has gotten a year older. With Clarkson, Don, and Jingles all in a slump/showing age, we’re just not as potent as last year. When we get into these close games, we crumble because our offense isn’t reliable enough and our defense (other than Rudy) sucks. Also, don’t we notice now how teams are looking to neutralize Rudy defensively? Teams weren’t doing that as much in previous years. Now? It’s almost a nightly thing.
Last thing, we look like a team that hasn’t gotten anything out of the draft for years. We honestly don’t look that dissimilar from contender teams like the lakers. We have our aging and less potent core, a few free agent vets trying to win the ring, and no young players from the draft with any talent. We lack juice. Sure would be nice to have Bane right now instead of Doka.