David Locke here, the host of the daily Locked On Jazz podcast, with your daily Locked On Jazz newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Jazz and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Locked On Jazz
EMPTYING THE NOGGIN
Nov 4, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Talen Horton-Tucker (22) defends Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) during the first quarter at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
| Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
· Jazz win
· So many things to like tonight, but most of all the group needed some positive vibes and the win tonight which was nearly wire to wire was certainly that.
· Shots went in for the first time all year, but the offense also looked and felt different. They worked really hard at shoot around about increasing pace and playing each possession with more tempo. They started the night with a lot of off ball screens and curls into the lane and then pivoted with John Collins to a middle of the floor pick and roll and just crushed the Bulls defense.
· The Jazz had to adjust from playing 5 out as they had all training camp to playing 4 out with the 5 in the dunker spot (baseline to the side of the key under the glass). This was a considerable adjustment. But without Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks they have to play this way. The other night you saw three passes to the corner where John Collins had come off the corner, but in 4 out he was supposed to hold. Tonight they seemed more aware of the changes and how to play. That was the focus of shoot around.
· John Collins was really super tonight. He understood his role as a scorer and he made shots. I love the 5 assists. The 28 points and 15 rebounds were pretty great as well
· This was a good match-up. The Bulls have no rim defense. They are not good at defending the pick and roll and most of all they don’t force turnovers. They only force 10% of opponents possessions into turnovers which is last in the NBA. The Jazz quelled their turnover problem tonight partially because of how they played quick and largely because of who they played. The Jazz only turned it over 11% of possessions.
· The Jazz transition defense has been a mess and the Bulls were getting in transition the 4th most of any team in the NBA (last year were last). The Jazz kept them out of transition for the most part this game. They had some lapses and boy did that fire up Will Hardy, but for the most part it was much better without all the live ball turnovers.
· The Bulls haven’t lead all season after the 1st quarter or at halftime and the Jazz grabbed the lead and never relented. The Bulls had come back to win twice this year when trailing by 20.
· The Bulls only shot 59% at the rim. Walker Kessler had a fabulous game protecting the paint. Kessler had 12 points and 16 rebounds to go with his 3 blocks.
· The 379 passes by the Jazz were the 2nd most by any team in any game all season. Lead to a Jazz season high 35 assists.
· The Jazz ran 58 handoffs. Usually bring someone out of the corner into the middle of the floor and killed the Bulls on those to the tune of 1.4 pts per. They also ran 61 pick and rolls tonight
· Cody Wiliams had a nice defensive game on Coby White and also showed more range to his offensive game.
· Bottom line – shots went in. The Jazz who have been shooting well below their shot quality shot 10% above their shot quality tonight and that changed everything.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Injury Lauri Markkanen is cleared to play against the Bulls, providing a boost to the Jazz’s lineup. Read more. (Utah Jazz on SI)
Analysis Keyonte George’s performance has been a significant factor in the Jazz’s early struggles, according to experts. (Sports Illustrated)
Replay Jazz secured their first win by upsetting the Bulls. Here are three key takeaways from the game. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview Utah Jazz’s starting lineup against the Bulls has been revealed, indicating strategic changes for the matchup. (Utah Jazz on SI)
Injury Zach LaVine’s injury status is crucial ahead of the Jazz vs. Bulls game, influencing game strategies. (Utah Jazz on SI)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Utah Jazz fans, rejoice! The Jazz clinched their first win of the season against the Chicago Bulls, 135-126, in a thrilling game that saw them lead almost the entire way. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, and Ron Boone break down the game, highlighting the strategic shift to a faster pace and the effective use of pick and roll, despite injuries to key players like Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks. John Collins shone with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, stepping up in the absence of other top scorers. Walker Kessler’s defensive prowess was on full display, protecting the rim and securing 16 rebounds.
Walker Kessler has been wonderful. Utah Jazz half court defense is much improved
Walker Kessler shines as a defensive powerhouse for the Utah Jazz, setting the tone for the 2024-25 season. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down Kessler’s impact, highlighting the Jazz’s impressive ability to limit opponents’ shots at the rim. Despite offensive struggles, the Jazz’s defense significantly improved, ranking 13th in half-court defense. Can the Jazz maintain this defensive momentum while addressing their transition woes?
POSTCAST - Nikola Jokic dominates Utah Jazz
3 time MVP Nikola Jokic controlled the whole night as the Jazz rallied but Jokic put his foot down in the third quarter. David Locke and Ron Boone break down the game and give out relability plusses for the game. reliability
