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
· It is impressive for this young team to go .500 on the road trip. Road wins are hard and even harder when you are playing as young a team as the Jazz are. The Jazz started two rookies and closed with one tonight.
· In the locker room in Milwaukee, Lauri Markkanen said we have to shorten our dark moments, and the Jazz did that well against the San Antonio Spurs. The third quarter was poor again, as it has been all season, but it wasn’t catastrophic as it had been so many times.
· Jazz had only been in two games all season that were within 10 points after 3 quarters (Spurs were the same) so this was really valuable opportunity to play down the stretch of a close game.
· Jazz forced 20 turnovers and took 35 free throws.
· Kyle Filipowski not only closed the game for the Jazz, but they ran the offense through him on the right elbow. The Jazz will run an initial action and if it doesn’t develop that is the common spot to get to for the 2nd round of action, but last night they were starting it with Kyle at the elbow. Kyle is a well above-average passer and with his height, he can see the floor. The impressive thing was his willingness to take the ball to the basket and attack even when it was Wemby
· Isaiah Collier (7 pts, 6 rebs, 4 ast, 0 turnovers) started and Kyle (8 pts, 5 rebs, 6 ast) closed. These guys have all played in so many big moments before the NBA that these moments don’t seem to phase them. They are impacted by the talent they are playing against and how different the game is, but they impressively don’t seem to be bothered by the moments.
· Collin Sexton is unreal. He had three enormous plays late in the game, he caught the rookie Stephon Castle flat-footed on a hesitation drive and got a layup, he tipped in an offensive rebound amid traffic and hit a dagger three from the right wing over Chris Paul. Those were three of the biggest shots all night.
· The Spurs ran surprisingly little offense late game for a team with Chris Paul. He seemed to have no impact late in the game.
· Filpowski and Collier combined for 10 assists and 1 turnover.
· The Jazz handoff game that was so prominent in Denver and Chicago yielded almost nothing v. the Spurs. It is remarkable how much Will Hardy adjusts night to night
· There was a super cool two-play sequence where Lauri was in the left corner got a pin down and popped out for a three. Next play he was in the right corner and got the pin down and the defender jumped to his top side and he went backdoor and got hit on the layup. That is perfect execution.
· John Collins 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals deserve a mention
· Jazz offense when Wemby was on the floor was 86.4 (pts per 100 possessions) and when he was off the floor was a 143.8. His impact is truly incredible. When Victor was the closest defender the Jazz shot 1 for 10.
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
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.
Replay The Jazz narrowly beat the Spurs 112-109, with standout performances from Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton. The game was a close contest, showcasing the talents of both teams. (SLCDunk) [Nov 9, 2024]
Personnel Keyonte George is struggling with a shooting slump, and Coach Will Hardy is working on strategies to help him regain his form. (Deseret News) [Nov 10, 2024]
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
POSTCAST - Hot three point shooting overwhelmed by Giannis and turnovers
The Utah Jazz’s offensive execution shines with red-hot three-point shooting, yet turnovers against the Milwaukee Bucks lead to a 123-100 defeat. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, and Ron Boone dissect the game, noting the Jazz’s impressive first-half performance with 28 three-point attempts, a franchise milestone. Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson provided sparks off the bench, but Lauri Markkanen’s struggles were evident, possibly due to lingering back issues. The Bucks’ pressure defense and the Jazz’s ball movement were pivotal, yet the turnovers, especially from veterans John Collins and Jordan Clarkson, proved costly.
Cody Williams emerging for Utah Jazz. Offensive changes. Milwaukee Bucks preview
Will Hardy’s offensive changes are giving Cody Williams a chance to shine, transforming his role from a corner shooter to an active playmaker. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down Williams’ recent performance against Chicago, highlighting his strengths in movement and athleticism. With insights into the Jazz’s strategic adjustments, Locke explores how these changes are impacting the team’s dynamics and Williams’ development. Can Williams overcome his shooting struggles and become a key player for the Jazz?
Utah Jazz Squad - Utah Jazz Travelling Party talks hoops, stories, backpacks and laughs
Join David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, as he hosts a lively discussion with a star-studded lineup, including Craig Bolerjack, Ron Boone, Joe Krueger, Lauren Green, and Jeremy Brunner. The episode kicks off with a humorous debate over Chicago’s best deep-dish pizza, setting the stage for a dynamic conversation. The group shares insights on the Utah Jazz’s recent performance, highlighting standout players like John Collins and Walker Kessler. With a mix of basketball analysis and behind-the-scenes stories, the episode offers a unique glimpse into the world of NBA broadcasting.
