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
The best player in the world was the best player in the world
· It is really pretty cool when the best player in the world shows up and acts exactly like the best player in the world should act. Nikola Jokic was a mistero last night. He had the 11th 30-20-10 game since Feb of 1976 and he has 5 of the 11. The 5 year run that Nikola Jokic is in the midst of is as good as any player in the history of the NBA.
· In the 4th quarter with Jokic on the bench the Jazz got the game down to 2 points and then Jokic checked in and hit a three and made a gorgeous outlet pass and the Nuggets lead by 7 within 2 possesions and the game never got closer.
· The Jazz had hoped to take away Jokic’s passing. The baskets he creates on back cuts and slices to players for easy layups in the half court are the ones they deemed the most damaging. It makes sense Denver is short offensive players and if you can prevent those types of baskets and force those players to make plays you are better off even if Jokic puts up big numbers. This has been the game plan from most teams this year and in turn Jokic has had to score more and he has been up to the task. Which is another feather in his cap of greatness. In the halfcourt, I think the Jazz did this fairly well. This might be where people underestimate Jokic because there is so much more to the game.
· I rewatched his 11 assists and it was a collection of everything. When the Jazz doubled he picked them apart. A gorgeous wrap around pass to the corner to Murray for 3, hitting Westbrook as the cutter on two occasions, finding a wide open Watson at the rim when Brice Sensabaugh left to double.
· The area where people don’t talk about Jokic enough is what he does for the Nuggets pace. You think of this big non athletic big as a slow plodding player but the truth is he plays with incredible pace. He passes ahead as well as anyone in the NBA and he initiates the fast break as well as any player in the NBA. Denver killed the Jazz in transition last night. According to cleaning the glass (this is an estimation based on box scores not actual) the Nuggets were in transition 30% of the time last night and scored 1.3 pts per transition.
· Jokic hands are so magnificent. We talked about this on POSTCAST last night. He taps the ball so quickly and is able to track the ball and get his own misses is amazing. He also gets it off his hands so quickly.
· The 1.3 pts per transition is actually pretty good transition defense by the Jazz considering how often they were in transition, the problem was the 30%. However, the problem is because of Jokic. Denver is much faster crossing half court and getting into first actions when Jokic is on the floor and that was really obvious last night. This is the part of Jokic’s game that I think is the most underrated and least talked about.
· Denver got 60 shots inside 5 feet and 30 shots in the restricted area. They did take 105 shots so it is below 30% of shots at the rim, but still a huge number.
· Jazz transition defense was a problem last night. However, this is because the Jazz committed 13 live ball turnovers and Jokic is incredible at leading the break. The Jazz turnovers last night were really poor. Most of them were just passes that got deflected or intercepted. Most of them were easy plays for the Nuggets. 9 of the 13 were bad passes that got taken by the Nuggets. None of these were passes that were leading to baskets. They all were attention to detail plays or focus. This was really poor and it this level a bit inexcusable.
· Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier looked like the G-League minutes helped.
· Johnny Juzang got his first start of the season and had 14 points and 4 rebounds.
· The Jazz did a good job of taking advantage of Denver being 29th in the NBA in transition defense and got out and ran and took advantage of that weaknesses in the first half. By the end of the night the Jazz were only in transition 14% of the time.
· I feel like the Jazz have made lots of strides recently. Last night, didn’t fall into that bucket for me. Nikola Jokic was completely dominating and turned the game, but the Jazz were not as sharp as they have been.
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
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.
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
TRADE REACTION - Did Utah Jazz get best asset available at the trade deadline
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, explores the potential impact of the Utah Jazz’s recent trade acquisition: an unprotected 2031 Phoenix Suns first-round pick. He analyzes the value of this asset, comparing it to other potential trades at the deadline and discussing the Jazz’s strategy in accumulating future draft capital. Locke breaks down the complexities of Phoenix’s draft situation and the challenges they may face in rebuilding their roster under current NBA rules.
TRADE REACTION: Utah Jazz trade 3 first rounders for 1 first rounder. Does this make sense?
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down the Utah Jazz’s recent trade with the Phoenix Suns. The Jazz traded their lesser first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 for an unprotected 2031 Phoenix pick. Locke analyzes the trade’s value using his pick valuation system, revealing potential risks and rewards for both teams.
#askloj - NBA trade market insights: How it impacts the Utah Jazz
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, explores the dynamic trade landscape surrounding the Utah Jazz. He analyzes potential moves involving key players like John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson, while highlighting the development of young talents such as Keyonte George. Locke offers a unique perspective on the trade market, suggesting that numerous quality players are available, but none significantly outshine the others.
