Three thoughts on the Utah Jazz’s 136-123 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans from Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen.
1. A big week for the tank
These last two losses have been absolutely gigantic for the Jazz’s tanking efforts. On Wednesday and Friday, the Jazz pulled out losses against teams that were previously above them in the tank race. As a result — and thanks to other wins around them — they’re now third in that race.
(Tankathon.com)
That’s a big deal, as the top three teams all have the same odds for the No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, and the No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper. Both look like top-tier prospects. Flagg has been college basketball’s best player who just turned 18 three weeks ago, Harper is a brilliant point guard with all of the skills you could want. The Jazz would be immensely improved with either, in my opinion.
Will it last? I think it could — the Jazz are going through some pretty extreme lengths to lose these games. 23-year-old Walker Kessler resting is egregious; John Collins is healthy but is out to “manage” a bruise he had already returned from. Lauri Markkanen isn’t even yet in New Orleans, though looks likely to join the team later on this trip. (Whether he’ll play? I’d bet against it.)
Monday’s game, also away against New Orleans, remains key. After that, the Jazz have a relatively tough schedule through the All-Star break against teams that are largely trying to win (save Washington).
Look, yes, this is gross. But I 100% prefer the Jazz doing this now than doing it in just the final six weeks of the season as they did in the last two seasons, earning them the No. 9 and No. 10 picks. This level of tanking is much more likely to lead to a top player and the renaissance of the Jazz than their previous strategy.
2. Oscar Tshiebwe, getting minutes and trying to become more
Oscar Tshiebwe is probably the most beloved player in the Jazz’s locker room. The man lives his life with such a positivity and such a beaming smile that it is literally impossible to not like him.
Now, with the Jazz sitting guys, he’s been getting NBA minutes from his two-way contract — and that adjustment to the NBA has been difficult. He’s averaging a whopping 20 rebounds per game in the G-League (yes, 20, you read that right), but is finding it a bit more difficult to do that in the NBA.
“I’m figuring out how hard you have to work to get a rebound in the NBA. I think you have to work double time than in the G-League,” Tshiebwe said. “When I was in the game early, I was working the way I work in the G-League to get rebounds, and I was getting none. They kept taking them away from me. But when I sat on the bench, I was thinking, ‘Maybe I need to turn up my motor more.’ ... It is a big jump. The more I get those little chances, the more I’m getting used to that, working harder.”
In the end, Tshiebwe got six rebounds in his 12 minutes on the court — a good percentage, but he can still do better.
But the truth is that Tshiebwe, in order to become a full-time NBA player, won’t be able to rely on rebounding alone in order to stick. What else must he bring to the game to become a more consistent role player? I asked Will Hardy.
“I think Oscar has got to continue to do a little better job defensively with his body position. There have been some times lately where he gets a little bit too high on the floor, and players playing downhill are getting angles on him, and also he’s picking up some cheap fouls,” Hardy said — while acknowledging Tshiebwe simply hasn’t had many reps to improve in the league so far.
Tshiebwe’s relatively short, at just 6-8, but he does have a 7-4 wingspan, which should be really useful defensively. In the NBA, though, he has to put himself in a place to get those deflections in order for that wingspan to work out, and that likely means playing deeper in pick and roll.
He’s already 25, near an NBA player’s prime, so he’ll have to make more improvement than normal at that age to really stick. But if there’s anyone worth rooting for, it’s Tshiebwe.
3. Scuffles and competition are fun
Yes, the Jazz as a franchise aren’t trying to be competitive right now. But the individual players on the floor are — and that’s made some of these games surprisingly watchable despite the larger goal in mind.
Take tonight’s fourth quarter, which was highlighted by a really fun one-on-one battle between sneaky veteran Jose Alvarado (nicknamed Grand Theft Alvarado thanks to his penchant for steals) and rookie Isaiah Collier. The two players got tangled up at midcourt, and it ended in some pushing and shoving.
In the end, Alvarado got a technical, and Collier received nothing. I think that’s the right call from Marc Davis and crew.
But it was interesting talking to both Hardy and Collier about the play afterwards: they thought Collier’s competitiveness in that moment is something the NBA needs more of.
“I think that those moments are good. Neither of them were fighting, that was two really competitive guards who had been going at it, and they got tangled up, and they bumped each other, and they said what they said, and they kept going,” Hardy said. “But the cool part was seeing at the end of the game, Jose and Isaiah dap each other up, and there is mutual respect there. I think it’s one of the things we’ve kind of lost in the league, is that it’s either too buddy-buddy or we’re like fighting. Basketball is a trash talking sport, there’s heightened emotion and competition.”
Collier agreed, and even said he didn’t think Alvarado should have received a technical.
“I don’t think no tech should have been thrown, to be honest,” Collier said. “I think it’s just a competitive thing. I think that’s what the fans want to see too, people going out there competing, showing they care, that’s all that is.”
I agree with both — whatever competitive spirit the NBA can muster should be encouraged, not discouraged. Let these guys play.
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