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
Self Inflicted Wounds cost Jazz in loss to San Antonio Spurs
Emptying the noggin
· There were some bright spots tonight and we will get to them but the 22 turnovers by the team and inability to grab a defensive rebound in the 4th quarter overwhelmed all of the other items to the night.
· The offense in the 4th quarter completely dissolved. The Jazz had 4 straight possession where they possession ended with a bail out three. Keyonte made one but each possession just went no where and then someone had to throw up a prayer.
· The issue with the turnovers is you can see them happen before they happen. Someone drives into relatively obvious traffic and you can see that the ball is going to get stripped and end up with transition the other way.
· San Antonio really added to the pressure in the 2nd half and the Jazz had a really hard time completing passes on the perimeter and this lead to some of the turnovers. This is often on the receiver who need to be back cutting or setting their man up to get open and make themselves available to the passer.
· The Spurs had 8 offensvie rebounds in the 4th quarter. A lot of these were around the free throw line and long rebounds. Usually players are supposed to crash to the free throw line to be able to help on rebounding.
· Lauri Markkannen was guarding Victor Wembanyama and as Victor drove he brought his left knee across into the inside of Lauri’s left knee and Lauri went down in pain and was helped off the floor putting limited weight on his left leg.
· Keyonte George’s first quarter was as good as he can be. He played with great confidence. He buried his shots. He had super vision. He was a domiant player on the floor. He had a career high 15 points in the first quarter.
· John Collins had a first quarter career high with 7 rebounds in the first quarter
· The offenses ruled the day for both teams. It was 66-66 at halftime and both teams offensive rating was a 121. The Jazz was a 132 at the end of the first quarter.
· Brice Sensabaugh had a monster 2nd quarter. He has worked really hard on his shot and his shot release and it is paying off. He is a Bonafide NBA shooter.
· Victor Wembanyama is something we have never seen. I am tried to figure out his future. I know this sounds nuts but he might average 40 points a game. There is no limit to how many shots he can get off in a game. He is taking 15 threes a game right now and there is nothing that is preventing that number from being 20. If he turns into a 40% three point shooter that is 8 makes from 3 a game. That is 24 points. Then takes another 10 to 15 shots a game in post, on jumpers, on drives, on fast breaks and he makes half of those and he is at 34 to 40. What happens on nights when he gets hot. He is so skilled there isn’t a limit of what he can do. Tonight he caught at the elbow dribbled once with his right hand then took the ball behind his back to a left hand dribble and then tried to finish on the reverse side. On another play he reached over the top of 6’9 John Collins like he was irrelevant tapped the rebound to himself turned around and took the ball coast to coast and made a last second pass to Castle for a rebound. Truly, we have never seen anything like this and I am trying to expand my mind to understand what this might become.
· The NBA Cup aspect meant the Spurs tried to add on every point possible late including a Stephon Castle three in the final seconds.
Nov 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots the basketball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, Scary Terry has hops. At 30-years-old and with a decade of play under his belt, Terry Rozier can cut like a knife, shake loose defenders, deflect, drive, and kick the ball out to the wing on a layup with the court vision still 20/20. He shoots, too. Tidy jumpers, deep and swooning corner threes, tricky little one-handed layups, fastbreak two-handed deliveries, Rozier runs through them like a personal rolodex.
Perhaps it’s a good reminder, for you as much as me, that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it. For one, despite what we’re led to believe by watching NBA basketball and listening to people talk about it, 30 isn’t old. Besides age, there’s a more important personal factor: whether an athlete keeps up. NBA basketball gets pushed in new directions every season as competitive teams break the mold and not yet competitive teams try to keep up.
Optimization is an unfortunate word in our modern and decidedly capitalist lexicon, but it’s what good athletes do. If there’s a skill to develop, they figure out what it is. Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mid-range this season is a perfect and very successful example. The bigger thing these smaller improvements add up to are teams with a depth of different weapons to pull out against the seemingly unbeatable juggernauts at the top. Occasionally, front offices identify what their unique skillset or style of play can be — think the decidedly big Cleveland Cavaliers, or the micro, play-every-position, Thunder — and build toward it.
For an athlete like Rozier, who many were quick to call a Kyle Lowry 2.0 when he arrived in Miami, the improvisation he’s shown with the Heat was born out of necessity but also an aptitude for reading the room. The Heat are a workaholic organization with a next-man-up mentality they don’t just talk about as an inspirational soundbite, but is twined through the fibre of all that they do.
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
Analysis The point guard position is in good hands. Shaun Powell takes stock of the position and what the future looks like. (NBA)
Opinion The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game format all it wants, but there’s only one fix. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Feel Good What happens with the money collected from fines? How the league turns bad moments into good deeds. (SB Nation)
Replay Victor Wembanyama’s scoring outburst proved too much for the Utah Jazz as they fell to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite Lauri Markkanen’s efforts, the Jazz couldn’t keep up with Wembanyama’s impressive performance. Game recap highlights the key moments. (SLC Dunk)
Injury Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen suffered a knee injury during the game against the San Antonio Spurs. This injury update discusses the incident and its potential impact on the team’s performance. (Deseret News)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest
Nov 26, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) on the floor after a collision with San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Injury Concerns and Player Updates
Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues are another significant concern. With a history of multiple meniscus surgeries, Embiid’s situation remains precarious. His recent absences highlight the risks associated with drafting him early in fantasy leagues. The high failure rate of such surgeries suggests that Embiid’s availability might be limited, making him a risky trade target.
Donovan Clingan’s grade 2 MCL sprain is also noteworthy. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reevaluate him in two weeks, but this type of injury typically requires a longer recovery period. With Clingan sidelined, players like Ayton and Rob Williams are expected to see increased playing time, making Williams a valuable addition to fantasy rosters.
Lauri Markkanen’s Injury Impact
Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury adds another layer of complexity to fantasy basketball strategies. Markkanen, who has been dealing with back and knee issues, was helped off the court after a knee knock. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a severe ACL or MCL tear, it could sideline him for at least a week, if not longer. This development opens up opportunities for players like John Collins to step up and fill the void, potentially increasing their fantasy value.
Walker Kessler bouncing back and bouncing back on top
Walker Kessler is making waves in the NBA, emerging as the top defensive big, and David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down his impact on the Utah Jazz’s pick-and-roll defense. Discover how Kessler’s return has transformed the Jazz from a struggling defense to one of the league’s best. With insights into Kessler’s defensive prowess and comparisons to Victor Wembanyama, this episode offers a deep dive into the numbers that highlight Kessler’s influence on the court.
POSTCAST -Walker Kessler’s defense transforms Utah Jazz’s game against the Knicks
Can the Utah Jazz maintain their defensive prowess against top NBA offenses? David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, and Ron Boone break down the Jazz’s impressive 121-106 victory over the New York Knicks. The return of Walker Kessler proved pivotal, as his presence transformed the Jazz’s defense, holding the Knicks to a mere 22 of 70 shooting when he was on the floor. The episode explores how the Jazz capitalized on missed shots to increase their pace and create scoring opportunities, with Lauri Markkanen shining by scoring 34 points on just 15 attempts.
AskLOJ Edition - Jazz Rookies Struggle to Keep Up.. Keyonte George’s Shot Selection Improvement
Are the Jazz rookies Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams struggling more than expected? David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, tackles this pressing question in the latest Ask LOJ edition of Locked On Jazz. With insights into the rapid adaptability of the NBA and the challenges faced by rookies, Locke provides a detailed analysis of their performance. He also explores the broader struggles of the rookie class, highlighting shooting percentages and the impact of physical strength on the court.
