EMPTYING THE NOGGIN
· Jazz were playing really well at halftime with numerous areas of improvement, but Lauri Makkanen who had been laboring in the late 2nd quarter wasn’t able to play the 2nd half due to back spams and the Jazz couldn’t stay with the Kings without their star.
· Jazz offense was able to only muster 14 points in the third quarter without Lauri and trailed 90-66 after 3 quarters.
· Before the game got out of hand their were a bunch of areas of improvement from the Jazz. The Jazz who were 30th in the NBA in transition defense last year allowing nearly 3 more points than any other team in the NBA were strong in transition holding the Kings to 2 first half transition points. The Kings came into the game averaging 19 transition points the 2nd most in the NBA.
· The Jazz also only allowed 2 free throws in the first half. This showed a level of discipline defensively. Jazz assistant coach Mike Williams said at halftime he wanted to see more physticality in the 2nd half so this can go both ways, but if you can keep people off the line your defense has a chance.
· The Jazz offense has been really struggling. 30th in the NBA overall and shooting. They have been struggling on jumps shots for 2 and getting too far in to basket and getting shots blocked. Will Hardy said in the pre-game show that they needed to make decisions earlier and that would get them better looks. We saw Cody Williams do exactly that for a three to Lauri Markkanen in the first half. Overall, the Jazz got much better looks in the 2nd quarter than they have at any point all season.
· Jordan Clarkson and Cody Williams started for the Jazz.
· Cody hit some three tonight for the first of his career. This is an important confidence builder. He was at 15% overall and 0% from three before those fell.
· Brice Sensabaugh played a very aggressive offensive game and hit three threes. I am convinced he is an NBA level shooter. He lost confidence last year and got uncertain. He is going to get more time with Taylor out and this is a good chance for him to prove he is an NBA rotation player.
· Kyle Filipowski got his first rotation minutes. He played 21 minutes. Finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and nailed 2 three pointers. His shot looks really different from the flat shot that was in Vegas for summer league. He has worked hard to make his shot more repeatable. He has some real skills and he also is going to have to make a bunch of adjustments. He defended DeRozan and got switched at times tonight and he was fine. He was not a dumster fire and that was the concern out of Duke, but he has shown a real ability to move his feet.
· John Collins shots to minutes played is awesome.
· Without Lauri, Jazz simply don’t have enough offensive fire power to score with a solid NBA team
