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
EXCLUSIVE - Emptying the Noggin - Predictably so many turnovers
· Felt like you could see this one coming from a million miles away. The defense that forces the most turnovers with their relentless pressure against a young team that has a propensity for turnovers.
· The Jazz turnovers were really something. 19 in the first half. They had 7 in the first quarter but most of them came late in the quarter. 5 came in the final 5:32 of the quarter afte the Jazz went to the bench. After that the deluge of turnovers never stopped. They had 12 in the 2nd quarter.
· 18 of the Jazz turnovers were live ball turnovers and the Thunder had a field day running off those turnovers.
· Jazz turned it over on 31% of their possessions the most of any team in any game all year
· Why so many turnovers? The Thunder defense is great. They pressure and get into you. The Jazz didn’t own their space. You have to be very physical and you have to own your space. There will be no easy passes and no easy routes so you have to own them yourself. This team hasn’t faced anything like that this season.
· The starters were really good at the beginning of the game and at the beginning of the 3rd quarter
· The Jazz shot the ball great when they got a shot off. They also got good shots. They took 11 corner threes and they made 17 of 20 at the rim.
· The Jazz took 35% of their shots at the rim and 45% of their shots as threes. This should be the goal every night. That is a great ratio. The problem was the 30% of the possession where no shot got off because of turnovers.
· The Jazz defense fell apart in the third quarter. The Thunder had an offensive rating of 181 and made 12 of their first 13 shots.
· Shai and Jalen Williams did all the damage in the 3rd quarter with each of them dropping 15 points.
· The Jazz had Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler guard Shai for a lot of the game and the length seemed to bother him in the halfcourt. In the first half he didn’t shot a free throw and he was just 5 of 13.
· For a little while the Jazz figured out they were able to drive into the lane and bring the help defender up to stop the ball and then that left Walker behind the defense for a dunk. Then that disappeared.
· Keyonte took all 6 of his first quarter shots as three point shots. He takes a tremendous high percentage of his first quarter shots as threes. Coming into the game it was 33 of his 45 shots in the first 6 minutes of the 1st quarter are for three. If he could get some easier shots it may help him get started. He has been much more patient offensively and in turn has been more efficient recently.
Dec 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) attempts to secure the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning was a clip of Rockets coach, Ime Udoka, stalking toward referee John Goble and subsequently getting himself ejected. Udoka was incensed over the refs not calling a foul on behalf of Alperen Senguin, who drove to the basket through multiple instances of contact (and shoving) from Kings big, Domantas Sabonis.
The next thing I saw was a report that Rockets forward Tari Eason had run up into the stands after the game’s final whistle to confront a fan who heckled him as he was exiting through the tunnel.
As my brain stirred with the smell of coffee and I read about martial law unfolding and quickly thwarted by protestors and the political opposition in South Korea, I toggled my basketball opinion from This seems serious to It’s really not, regarding all the emotions spilling out on-court last night. This is what, by design, the In-Season Tournament was made for.
This part of the NBA season typically saw a taper of audience attention. The piqued interest of the season getting underway wanes, partially due to the predominantly American audience choosing NFL football over mid-week basketball. The NBA’s Christmas Day slate of games sees a viewership spike but otherwise the “stakes” don’t feel compelling to the casual fan until All-Star, and then again as the playoffs approach. Team owners and the Board of Governors panicked and thus: The NBA Cup was introduced.
Domineering corporate interest aside, the happy side effect of the In-Season Tournament has been higher stakes across the board, and not just from prize incentivization for players (though Josh Hart admitting he just wants a watch is also pretty funny). Young teams, teams on the competitive verge, and teams that may have been considered write-offs to start the season have for the most part used their NBA Cup nights as test runways for playing on a bigger stage and at a higher level. It didn’t necessarily work out for all of them (I had high hopes for the Spurs), but a glance at the Cup’s quarter finals bracket reveals a varied and interesting field of teams.
It’s both preposterous and cool that Warriors vs. Rockets is now a potential Western Conference playoff preview, and that the same goes in the East with Bucks vs. Magic. The Hawks and Knicks will be reunited in their rivalry, and the budding friction between the Mavs and Thunder, through the pestering of Luka Doncic by players who’ve all taken a page from his offensive book, is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Friction, in good competition, is inevitable. It’s also partially the point. Certainly, coaches shouldn’t make a habit of hounding refs around the court but friction and competition, and friction in competition, don’t need to be negatives.
Two great examples of the symbiotic relationship between the two came in last night’s slate of knockout games. First, with the always expressive Draymond Green unable to hide his disdain from the sidelines as Nikola Jokic grabbed his face after coming down from collision under the rim with 14 seconds left in the game. Green was less actually distraught than sporting a classic “I’m not mad, just disappointed” look.
The second came in the chippy, high-intensity Rockets-Thunder match-up, with Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting tangled up with each other when they both clamped down on the same loose ball. Neither let it go and they both went careening into the Rockets bench, with their teammates swirling behind. It eventually broke up in laughter because neither of them could keep a straight face, having as close a relationship as they do as teammates for Canada Basketball. When the refs swooped in en masse, Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander assured them they were cool, everything was fine, and the game continued.
These are games that have gone from weeknight skips, better to relive watching through their highlights the next day, to must-see matches. The stakes range from funny to secondarily furious, tense to over-the-top; are stakes that still only exist in the insular world of NBA basketball, but there are stakes. It’s early December, and we have stakes.
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 Tari Eason and Amen Thompson’s defensive abilities are unmatched. (Defector)
News LeBron James is in one of the worst outside shooting slumps of his career. Is playing in all 82 games still doable? (ESPN)
Milestone The 4x NBA All-Star and 16 NBA season vet, Paul Millsap, announces retirement. (ESPN)
Replay In a tough game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Utah Jazz couldn’t keep up, experiencing a significant loss due to turnovers. Check out the detailed recap for all the key moments. (SLC Dunk)
Legacy After an illustrious 16-season career, Utah Jazz star Paul Millsap has announced his retirement. Millsap’s impact on the court and the community will be remembered. (SLC Dunk)
Ticket Booth
Presented by
Jazz @ Trail Blazers
Friday, Dec. 06 | 7:00 PM | Moda Center (Portland, OR) | Get Tickets
Jazz @ Kings
Sunday, Dec. 08 | 6:00 PM | Golden 1 Center (Sacremento, CA) | Get Tickets
TBD @ Jazz (NBA Cup: Contigent game)
Saturday, Dec. 30 | 12:00 AM | Delta Center (Salt Lake City, UT) | Get Tickets
Replay: Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Fantasy Basketball: Key Takeaways from Tuesday’s Games
Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) falls to the ground after rolling his ankle against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury: What It Means for Fantasy Managers
Kevin Durant’s recent ankle injury is a significant concern for fantasy basketball managers. Durant, who has been a cornerstone for many fantasy teams, left the game after just 16 minutes, scoring 13 points with four rebounds. This re-aggravation of a previous injury could mean time on the sidelines, impacting his availability in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers should consider potential replacements or temporary fill-ins, such as Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neal, who might see increased roles in Durant’s absence. However, neither is a must-add in standard leagues, but they could provide short-term value in deeper formats.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Player Performances
In the clash between the 76ers and Hornets, Paul George’s resurgence was a highlight. Despite playing 37 minutes, George’s performance—29 points, eight rebounds, and six three-pointers—showed signs of his former All-NBA self. However, with a back-to-back game on the horizon, his availability remains uncertain, making it crucial for fantasy managers to monitor his status closely.
Tyrese Maxey’s shooting struggles continued, but his ability to contribute in other areas, such as free throws and defense, keeps him relevant in fantasy lineups. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a solid outing with 14 points and four three-pointers, making him a viable short-term option.
Charlotte Hornets’ Frontcourt Dynamics
The return of Mark Williams was a notable development, albeit with limited minutes. This situation presents a sell-high opportunity for Nick Richards, who posted an impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds. While there’s a chance Richards could outperform Williams, the Hornets’ long-term plans likely favour Williams, making Richards a potential trade candidate for savvy fantasy managers.
The Utah Jazz secure a decisive 105-94 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, showcasing an effective defensive strategy and capitalizing on the Nets’ offensive struggles. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, and Ron Boone dissect the game’s key moments, including the Jazz’s double-teaming tactics against Cam Johnson and the team’s ability to win despite Lauri Markkanen’s off-night from three-point range.
Keyonte George’s Dunk Saves Utah Jazz in Thrilling Win
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, examines the Sacramento Kings’ recent struggles and ponders if the Utah Jazz should make a move for De’Aaron Fox. He analyzes the complexities of rebuilding in the NBA, using the Cleveland Cavaliers’ journey to becoming the league’s top team as a case study. Locke explores the challenges of timing, player contracts, and market appeal in executing successful trades.
POSTCAST - Utah Jazz’s explosive first quarter dominates Detroit Pistons in thrilling NBA showdown
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and NBA Insider, and Ron Boone break down the Jazz’s 126-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The game’s narrative unfolds like a book with multiple authors, starting with a blistering 48-point first quarter for Utah. The Jazz’s hot shooting and transition play set the tone, but Detroit’s physical defense in the second quarter disrupted their rhythm.
