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
Locked On Jazz
EMPTYING THE NOGGIN - Best half of year starts tonight
· The Jazz haven’t look better all year than the first half of this game. They were playing with force. They were playing with great tempo offensively. Instead of moving into sets they were running into the set and their actions. The result was they had an advantage on almost every possession. Once they had the advantage they moved the ball and got open three after open three. The offense was running how it is supposed to. It never got stagnant. There weren’t ball fakes and pass fakes. Their weren’t moments of dribble dribble and look around. Everything was moving and popping.
· The defense was with the offense. After some early mistakes they were shifting and bumping their guy out and executing the plan as they desired. The Spurs were without Victor Wembayama, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Shohan so they were limited in what they could run and the Jazz were able to zero in on what they were seeing and particularly in the first quarter were very good.
· The second quarter was an offensive show with the Jazz winning the quarter 35-34.
· The bummer about the 4th quarter collapse from the Jazz is the goal is to have the dark moments last shorter periods of time and in the third quarter they did a great job of doing that. The Jazz lead by 16 at the half and the Spurs almost immediately got it down to 9. Then the game stayed between 9 to 12 for a long time and it felt like the Jazz had done exactly what they have been working on to shorten the dark moments.
· The NBA is incredible. The scouting reports on the Jazz rookies took about 24 hours to get across. The game Kyle Filipowski played last time we were in San Antonio when he was driving, spinning and making plays from the elbow with his passing is gone via scouting reports. He hasn’t had a spin since and every move they are making him make is uncomfortable.
· Filipowski sprained his ankle and that left the Jazz very shorthanded at center without Walker Kessler and Kyle.
· Isaiah Collier is doing lots of really good things, but scoring is a big issue right now. His outside shot is not ready for action so he uses his lightening speed to drive to the basket but the length of the NBA is suffocating his shooting window and he has more shots blocked then made.
· The Jazz closed the game with Collier, Keyonte George, Bryce Sensabaugh, John Collins and Lauri Markkanen
· Chris Paul dominated the game late. He was in complete control.
· The Jazz missed all their three point shots in the 3rd quarter and went 2 of 12 in the 4th quarter from three for 2 of 17 in the second half
· The Rookies were a combined 2 for 16
· Keyonte George was 6 of 18. He really needs to find out how to have less games below 40% shooting. His shot chart has gotten much better he just needs to knock some down. In 9 of 14 games, this Keyonte has shot 36% or worse. He only got one shot at the rim tonight. 25% of his shots are layups or dunks this year up from 19% last year which is trending in the right direction. It is too hard to just live by a jump shot. Tonight he had 4 shots in the paint and just 1 at the rim. He went 2 for 4 in the paint.
· Jazz did a better job taking care of the ball and a better job of keepong their opponent out of transition.
They’ve had close wins, technical wins, nail-biters and blow-outs; they’ve (reportedly) turned down superstars and and currently sit third in the west with a record of 11-5 — In a Western Conference finally coming alive, can the Houston Rockets keep this up?
The Rockets are on pace to tie or surpass the franchise’s win record of 64, set by a team led by James Harden in 2017-2018. It was Harden’s — and all the failed years of being in the running for title contention — ghost that still hung over the franchise as recently as last season, no matter that Harden himself has been part of three different rosters since he sulked his way out of Houston. Everything from the Rockets brand of basketball to the team’s waylaid trajectory back into competition had been set and then upended by him.
It was something of an exorcism then, that Houston handily beat Harden’s current team, the Clippers, in back-to-back games this week.
What feels especially lasting about the winning pace the Rockets have set is that there’s plenty room for the team to improve. Houston’s sitting at 25th overall in field goal percentage, 27th in three-point percentage, and is still claiming the ninth overall offensive ranking in the league. Their starters have all been shooting well below their career bests, and yet, nothing about the Rockets’ wins have looked harried.
For a team that has an average of just four years NBA experience between them, there’s a wealth of patience. When the Rockets have been pressed this season, or teams like the Pacers and Bulls have tried to rush them with pace, they fall back on snapping passes and sinking into ball movement. There are still sequences of ISO ball and flubbed defensive rotations, but Houston has leaned into their transitions as opportunities to reset. No doubt in part to having the always unflappable Fred VanVleet driving this thing, plus the veteran offensive ballasts of Jeff Green and Dillon Brooks.
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.
Legacy Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? Find out. (The Athletic)
Biz Amid their early-season tank, the Sixers expected to scour the trade market for power forwards. (Real GM)
Replay Despite Lauri Markkanen’s impressive performance, the Utah Jazz couldn’t withstand the San Antonio Spurs’ second-half surge. Markkanen led the team with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough. (SLCDunk)
Analysis As the Jazz navigate the 2024 season, understanding the intricacies of tanking for draft positioning becomes crucial. This tanking guide provides strategic insights into maximizing draft lottery outcomes. (SLCDunk)
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Franz Wagner A First Round Fantasy Basketball Player?
Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images|Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic edged out the LA Lakers with a 119-118 victory. The game was a showcase of talent and strategy, with the Magic overcoming a deficit to secure the win. Franz Wagner was the standout performer, continuing his impressive form with a stellar 37 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. His all-around game, including four steals and four threes, solidified his status as a top fantasy asset. Wagner’s recent performances have elevated him to first-round value in fantasy leagues, making him a potential sell-high candidate, though his current form might make holding onto him equally appealing.
Dalton Knecht’s Role and Performance
Dalton Knecht played a significant role for the Lakers, logging the most minutes on the team. While his 17 points, four rebounds, and one assist were solid, they highlighted the limitations in his fantasy profile. Knecht’s reliance on scoring and shooting efficiency means that while he’s a valuable asset, his contributions in other categories remain limited. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely, especially as the Lakers adjust their rotations.
Anthony Black’s Consistency Concerns
Anthony Black’s performance was less consistent, with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on 25% shooting. While his recent games have shown flashes of potential, this outing underscores the volatility in his production. Fantasy managers who picked up Black for his upside should consider holding him through the Magic’s favourable schedule but remain cautious about his long-term consistency.
Lakers dominate. Keyonte George shows resilience with a standout third-quarter performance
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, offers a candid analysis of the Utah Jazz’s recent challenges and triumphs. The episode explores the stark reality of being outmatched by NBA giants like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, highlighting the physical and strategic gaps the Jazz face. Locke provides a detailed breakdown of the team’s offensive struggles and improvements, emphasizing the importance of early game performance and the adjustments made by coach Will Hardy.
Utah Jazz little improvements. How JJ Reddick has transformed the Lakers and Le Bron James
Discover how the Utah Jazz are making strides in transition defense and what it means for their season. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down the team’s recent improvements, focusing on their defensive strategies and the impact of coaching on player performance. With insights into Lauri Markkanen’s shooting challenges and the Jazz’s evolving shot distribution, this episode offers a detailed look at the team’s current dynamics
Will Hardy “You don’t just get to play”
Expectations are high for the Utah Jazz as players navigate the season’s demands. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, discusses the importance of setting standards within the team, focusing on how players like Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson are stepping up. The episode also examines the contributions of young talents such as Keyonte George and Walker Kessler, highlighting their roles in shaping the team’s strategy. Will Hardy’s coaching decisions, including lineup changes and strategic adjustments, are scrutinized as the Jazz aim for growth and effort.
