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 - Feel good night for Potter and Tshiebwe
· Will Hardy post game was really interesting about the concept that winning is boring. That winning is doing the same thing correctly time and time again and that can be boring. The exciting thing is to break a play off and do something spectacular when the right thing is to just move the ball to the right person. Defensively it can be the simple rotation or the sacrifice of your body to help your teammate.
· I thought the Jazz did all they could tonight. Without Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson. Then add Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks being out along with Drew Eubanks gets hurt early in the game it was an uphill battle to start. Over the courst of the night the Jazz were simply outmanned. They battle, they executed but Denver was too much experience and talent for the guys the Jazz had available.
· The first quarter the Jazz set a season high 35 points in the first quarter. They hit 7 threes and played with awesome tempo and force. The Nuggets are the 2nd worst team in the NBA defending after a miss and the Jazz are the 2nd best offensive team after a miss and the Jazz took advantage of that early in the game and were awesome offensively. Then the Jazz shot 8 of 24 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
· Jazz defense didn’t have much impact on the Nuggets in the first quarter when the Niuggets had an offensive rating of 151 and then for the first half they were in the 140s.
· There was a real clear moment in this game where the Jazz were executing really well and things were rolling and then all of sudden they started playing 1 on 1 and stopped playing with the movement they had earlier. Will Hardy talked about this post game after the game against the Spurs. It was a clear moment when this happened tonight and the game got away from the Jazz a bit when it took place.
· Micah Potter is one of the most enjoyable people on this team and that I have covered in my career. I am a big fan. All you need to know about him is that last year when he was the G-League team and not on the Jazz active roster he sat in the crowd to root on the Jazz . You could be bitter that you haven’t been activated. You could decide to rest. You could be upet that you in the G-League and this guy goes and sits in the crowd and roots the team on. He is truly as genuine as they come. After the game tonight, his first NBA start, he and his wife had Gabby our team photographer take a picture of them on the court. Micah was really emotional with us last year on content day talking about his self belief that he will make it and get a chance and how incredible his wife has been to keep moving and keep supporting him on his single minded journey to make in the NBA. Tonight he got his first start and had 9 points, 16 rebounds and 3 assists. This was really cool to watch.
· Anyone who has spent time with Oscar Tshiebwe is going to root for him. His journey from the Congo to the US will bring the hair up on your arm. He brings joy every day. He got 9 rebounds tonight in 16 minutes. He is an elite rebounder. I do wonder if there might be a roll for a player like this with the importance of offensive rebounding.
· Nikola Jokic is incredible. He dominated the game in the first quarter with his 5th startight game with double digits in the first quarter. He had his third highest scoring 1st quarter of this career. He finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. He will win his 4th MVP in 5 years this year and only LeBron James and Bill Russell have ever done that. We are witnessing one of if not the most dominating 5 year run in the history of the league.
· Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for following Locked On Jazz (tell some friends). Appreciate the love and passion from Jazz Nation.
Giving thanks for a better-than-expected rookie class
Happy Thanksgiving! To give you something to talk about with your undoubtedly NBA-fluent families and friends, here are some rookie rankings to chew over.
1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
Over his last ten games, McCain has averaged 23 points per game (top 25 in the league in that span) on solid efficiency, including 39% from deep on crazy volume. Philly hasn’t had much to cheer about this season, but McCain’s surprising on-ball creation and superb off-ball movement have Philly fans seeing a future star (wait, maybe that’s just their court). I’m obsessed with this little moonwalk he uses to shake OG Anunoby juuuust enough to bury a shuriken in his eye:
McCain moonwalks into a three over OG Anunoby
McCain likely won’t score like this when the team’s fully healthy (and he’s cooled off the last two games), but the fact that he can is a great sign for the team’s present and future.
2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle has risen to second place thanks to an excellent recent stretch. Since becoming a starter, Castle’s averaged 15 points, three boards, and five assists while playing ferocious defense.
Castle is incredibly versatile. At nearly 6’6” pre-shoes and pre-hair, he has the size and speed to fill any number of roles. As I wrote about at length here, he’s quickly becoming the perfect amorphous fit next to Victor Wembanyama.
Although his three-point accuracy is still developing, Castle’s confidence in his shot is the skeleton key that unlocks the rest of his offensive game. And the more effective he is on offense, the more opportunity he’s given to create absolute havoc on defense.
I’m particularly intrigued by his ability to be a faux-big man in the screen and roll:
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Milestone 10,000. Thank you for being one of the first 10,000 readers across our Locked On newsletters. And, we’d be extra thankful if you forwarded this newsletter to a friend to help us reach more fans who cannot get enough of their favorite team.
Replay The shorthanded Utah Jazz couldn’t keep up with the Denver Nuggets. Despite their best efforts, Nikola Jokic led his team to a decisive victory. Check out the match breakdown and highlights from the game. Match recap. (SLC Dunk)
Feel Good Despite a recent loss, the Utah Jazz have much to be thankful for this season. Explore the positives and reasons for optimism as the team continues to grow. Reasons for gratitude. (Deseret News)
Must Read LaMelo’s proclivity for fouls, how many wins Philadelphia needs for the play-in, examining OKC’s defense, and more. (ESPN+)
Feel Good The Pistons’ willingness to spend, the Nets’ and Lakers’ new coach, and more things for each NBA team to be thankful for. (CBS Sports)
Analysis A roundtable of experts discusses the league’s biggest storylines after the first month of the season. (Fansided)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
In case you missed it...
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
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest | Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury could sideline him for at least a week, impacting fantasy basketball strategies. This opens opportunities for players like John Collins, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh to increase their roles and fantasy value.
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues | Monday’s NBA action saw significant fantasy basketball impacts, with Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs suffering hamstring injuries, potentially increasing roles for Cole Anthony and Anthony Black.
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.
