As 2017 comes to a close, the Utah Jazz are looking to 2018 for new hope and fresh starts. Fans know we need it.
The New Year brings forth opportunities to refocus and set goals. For the Jazz, many things need to be reworked in order to salvage the season and compete for a playoff spot. Here are four resolutions for the Jazz in 2018 to start singing a new tune.
ICYMI: We are all giddy over Donovan Mitchell, and rightfully so given his comparison to Jazz rookies of recent years. That, and more Mitchell love, found here.
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Get Healthy
To stay healthy
— Are The Jazz Healthy Yet? (@JazzHealthyYet) December 27, 2017
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIt’s the easiest solution because it’s also been the biggest problem.
Utah has played half its games without Rudy Gobert, their best player. Rodney Hood, who was supposed to be the scoring leader, has missed nine games with various ailments. Raul Neto, a serviceable sparkplug and backup point guard, hasn’t played in weeks due to a nasty concussion. Joe Ingles is the only player on the team who has played in, and started, all 36 games so far. Is it too late to ask Santa for a new gift because if the Jazz can get healthy, that would be nice.
2. Get a functioning starting lineup
Find a lineup that works.
— UtahStizzle (@UtahStizzle) December 28, 2017
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Change the starting lineup – Rubio comes off the bench.
— Matt Richards (@mattrichards27) December 27, 2017
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 4: Ricky Rubio #3, Joe Ingles #2, and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talks during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
When healthy, the Jazz need to figure out how to maximize their starting lineup. The good news for the Jazz this year is their depth as multiple players are able to play multiple positions and veterans have been able to contribute no matter the role. Thabo Sefolosha has had his moments, Jonas Jerebko has been a quality stretch-four, and Alec Burks came to life from the dead.
The problem, however, is well rehearsed. Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, and Rudy Gobert cannot all play together. Out of the 20 different three-man lineup combinations available, this trio ranks dead last with a -14 points in the 237 minutes shared together.
| Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Lineup | MP | PTS ▼ |
| 11 | J. Ingles | D. Mitchell | R. Rubio | 404:03 | -5.6 |
| 12 | R. Gobert | D. Mitchell | R. Rubio | 193:33 | -7.3 |
| 13 | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | R. Rubio | 329:31 | -7.4 |
| 14 | D. Favors | D. Mitchell | R. Rubio | 324:47 | -7.4 |
| 15 | D. Favors | R. Hood | J. Ingles | 313:31 | -7.5 |
| 16 | D. Favors | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | 254:41 | -7.7 |
| 17 | D. Favors | R. Hood | R. Rubio | 229:46 | -11.2 |
| 18 | D. Favors | J. Ingles | R. Rubio | 484:34 | -11.5 |
| 20 | D. Favors | R. Gobert | R. Rubio | 237:12 | -14.1 |
Since the core hasn’t been healthy, it’s hard to peg a starting five that would be the most effective for a majority of minutes together. In a small sample size, 13 minutes, Mitchell and Burks in the backcourt with Johnson, Sefolosha, and Udoh lead the charge for the Jazz, outscoring opponents by 54 points. But c’mon, that’s not out starting lineup of the future.
More realistically, however, is the combination of Gobert and Sefolosha down low, with Ingles and Mitchell flanking Rubio. This lineup includes four original starters and takes out Derrick Favors in favor of another shooter and versatile wing type defender. Together, this five-man lineup is +40.
Another logical suggestion is letting Favors and Gobert coexist, reinsert Hood into the starting lineup which gives the team more offense and another scorer, and move point guard duties to Mitchell which forces Rubio to the bench. Many fans are petitioning for Mitchell to become the Damian Lillard point guard of the Jazz. Since it’s bound to happen eventually, they say, why not let him run the show now? Rubio just isn’t working, they argue, so let’s see what he can do with the second units. If the Jazz were to switch Point Guard duties, this five-man lineup has proven successful as it outscores opponents by nearly 25 points a game.
| Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Lineup | MP | PTS ▼ |
| 1 | A. Burks | J. Johnson | D. Mitchell | T. Sefolosha | E. Udoh | 13:33 | +54.2 |
| 2 | A. Burks | R. Hood | R. Neto | T. Sefolosha | E. Udoh | 36:15 | +45.7 |
| 3 | A. Burks | R. Hood | R. Rubio | T. Sefolosha | E. Udoh | 30:25 | +43.0 |
| 4 | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | D. Mitchell | R. Rubio | T. Sefolosha | 21:26 | +40.4 |
| 5 | A. Burks | D. Favors | J. Ingles | J. Jerebko | D. Mitchell | 32:10 | +35.2 |
| 6 | A. Burks | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | J. Jerebko | D. Mitchell | 16:39 | +26.4 |
| 7 | D. Favors | R. Gobert | R. Hood | J. Ingles | D. Mitchell | 22:36 | +24.7 |
| 8 | D. Favors | R. Hood | J. Ingles | J. Jerebko | R. Rubio | 22:35 | +16.1 |
| 9 | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | J. Jerebko | D. Mitchell | R. Rubio | 28:11 | +12.5 |
| 10 | D. Favors | R. Gobert | J. Ingles | R. Rubio | T. Sefolosha | 14:00 | +3.1 |
3. Get Joe Ingles to do a bit more offensively
Have Jingles shoot the ball 12-15 times a game. And give Royce more minutes. I wanna see what he can really do with consistent minutes.
— Andrus Rock (@andrus_rock) December 28, 2017
Apr 23, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrates after scoring a three point shot during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz won the game 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsLast year, Jinglin’ Joe averaged seven points on 44% three-point shooting. This year, Joe is up to ten points on 40% from deep. Great, the production is up, you might think but the difference is that Joe is playing six more minutes a night and putting up three more shots than last year, eight a game this year. His PER is higher than last year (12.9 to 12.4) but his Win Shares is down, almost in half, 2.3 from 5.
After signing a four-year, 52 million dollar contract, Jazz fans knew what they would get from Ingles. He was practically automatic from the corner three, played solid defense, and showed toughness and trash talk like few others on the team would. Then, Gordon Hayward left which meant Ingles needed to do a bit more. As the team starved through empty possessions, a burden was placed on Joe’s shoulders to do and create more, something he isn’t used to.
We know what he brings to the table, and he even upped his assist average and is trying to facilitate and score, but the Jazz still need a few more buckets from the Aussie to give the team some life.
4. Enjoy All-Spida Weekend
Knicks could’ve had Donovan Mitchell with the unicorn Porzingis (8th pick). Jazz are lucky.
Donovan could’ve gone to Charlotte (11). DM is lucky.
— Steve Godfrey (@JazzJunkie12) December 27, 2017
To end, let’s do so on a positive note. The best thing to happen to the Jazz in 2017 was landing Donovan Mitchell, who will continue to breathe life into the season and provide highs on a regular basis as he continues to bloom and blossom.
February, Mitchell as a Jazz player will be even more fun.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsOne thing is for sure: Donovan Mitchell will be representing the Jazz at All-Star weekend 2018. Mitchell will be a shoe-in for the Rookie-Sophomore game and I like his odds of taking over as the star of the show, perhaps even landing MVP honors of the exhibition.
What would be even better, however, is if Spida Mitchell can get an invite to the Dunk Contest to put his hops on display for the national stage to see what he can do. His ups are just fun and the light we need during an up-and-down season.
Steve Godfrey Writes 