Last Wednesday night, following a blowout loss to the Celtics, Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert attempted to diagnose the team’s issues and consider how to fix them, with Gobert stressing the need to “sacrifice for each other,” while Mitchell called out the Utah’s execution and energy level. As Sarah Todd of The Deseret News relayed at the time, Gobert expressed confidence that enduring some adversity would make the team better.
One week later, it seems as though the Jazz have yet to apply those lessons and turn their adversity into something positive. Defeats at the hands of the Hornets, Mavericks, and Clippers have extended their losing streak to five games, and Tuesday’s outcome in Los Angeles was especially dispiriting. In a repeat of Game 6 of last year’s Western Conference Semifinals, Utah blew a 25-point lead en route to an improbable loss.
Asked by Todd about the similarities between last year’s game and last night’s, Mitchell expressed exasperation: “I don’t know, Sarah. I don’t know. It’s the same s–t. I mean, it feels the same way. It’s the same thing. This is literally the same thing.”
Gobert offered more specific critiques of the Jazz, suggesting to reporters that the team’s ball movement, defense, and lack of physicality are among the problems he has noticed.
“Nobody hits nobody,” Gobert said, per Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “We don’t get our hands dirty. We never get our hands dirty. We’re a very good basketball team, but I get f— up every night, and guys are literally beating me up every night, as they should. It’s basketball, it’s a physical game. But we have to get to the point where we do that to the other team too. But teams don’t really expect that from us.
“We’re a really good basketball team, I think we have great basketball players on both ends. We just, need to figure out a way to get that mindset, to do things for each other more and do it for 48 minutes, and do it even more. And when it gets hard, we need to do it even more.”
Utah will have a good opportunity to right the ship on Thursday when the reeling Lakers – likely missing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis – come to town.
Here’s more on the Jazz:
- The good vibes that used to float around the Jazz are gone, Todd writes in an opinion piece for The Deseret News, noting that the team’s body language has been “just awful.”
- Jazz guard Trent Forrest, who left Tuesday’s game with concussion-like symptoms, has indeed been diagnosed with a concussion, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic. The Jazz were determining late Tuesday night whether Forrest would be able to fly home with the team or if he’d require an overnight hospital stay. There was a bit of added concern because it’s Forrest’s second concussion, Jones explains.
- Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune explores the odds of Rudy Gobert winning his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
- Juan Hernangomez has been traded four times in the last year and hasn’t played much this season, but he has gotten the opportunity to start for the Jazz recently with Bojan Bogdanovic sidelined and has responded well, including on Tuesday when he scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. “It’s just the business,” Hernangomez said following the loss in Charlotte last Friday, according to Walden. “As a player, you’ve got to be ready, keep working on your game. I’ve been through a lot of changes — emotionally, changing all the teams, changing all my teammates, coaches, but you’re still the same player. You’ve got to keep working on your game because if you can stay ready, the NBA’s about opportunity. And when the opportunity comes, just enjoy it and do your best.”
At this point, either go for the 4th seed or 6th seed. Dallas seems to have our number at home. Golden State is banged up, too. That means the 6th seed becomes a better option then the 5th seed.
After that, it becomes a matter of focus and confidence. Bring in Tony Robbins and he can help the team fix that. Other championship teams have and won! He’s for real!
Which of these NBA greats should be in the Naismith Basketball HOF by 2040? Rudy Gobert, Tim Hardaway, Andre Iguodala, Joe Johnson, Marc Gasol, Khris Middleton, Amar’e Stoudemire, Rip Hamilton, Kevin Love, John Wall, Tom Chambers, Kyle Lowry? Rank a top10 from this group if you’re bold..
I respect his game but forget Rudy Gobert, man. Thought he was the big man staring down Zubac after that block (which was nice…), but still trying to parse how DPOYs give up 20 pt leads? I thought it wasn’t the stats but his “presence” that defined him. Hmm…
The Jazz haven’t been able to keep up with opposing offenses lately.
Bogey can fill it up in a hurry and he’s been out during this losing streak.
Whiteside holds the fort and quite often that second unit gets the Jazz the lead. He’s been out as well.
Without them we’ve been an average team or worse. Add that their backups are very young or very new to the team.
They can’t seem to generate great chemistry to finish games. Too many mental mistakes or miscommunication from lack of time together. Too bad it didn’t happen at the beginning of the year.
I think the Utah’s recent struggles point out the fact that Joe Ingles was very much a huge part of the system in many facets on both ends of the floor, on the bench and in the locker room. The injury to Bogdanoviç isn’t helping either.
Ingles wasn’t playing like he did the last year. I doubt he would’ve helped that much with all the injuries and inconsistent lineups they’ve had.
I would agree, however, that Bogey being out has really hurt the Jazz the most. He hates to miss games and hates to lose. That kind of passion is really lacking without him.
Ingles may have filled that void. Hard to say. He was so up and down this year. I think he was burned out from doing the Olympics. Not enough time in-between that and the NBA season.
So hard to watch and support this team. The mental weakness. The only way to go about this year’s playoffs it is to rip-off the band-aid and face the Mavericks. Try to do well and not to embarrass yourselves – in case of an (unlikely) win the team can gain some confidence and momentum into the next round.
Time for the Jazz to blow things up.
I know it’s a bad comparison but
Rudy’s averages 15-15-1 in 32 mins, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and shooting 71% FG% and 69% FT%
Andre Drummond for his career averages 14-14-1 with 1.5 blocks in 30 minutes albeit on worse shooting percentages
However Gobert get 36mil and Drummond gets 1.5 mil….
Now I know Drummond is a much worse defender but that said Drummond also put up better numbers when at the Pistons and Cavs than Gobert has ever. Drummond has also accepted his role of being more of a bench player/part time starter and he’s also shown a willingness to learn how to shoot the three.
I think the Jazz need to move off Gobert and atleast show more signs of building around Donovan Mitchell and going younger to make him happy.
Some ideas:
1. Rudy Gobert for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman and a first round pick
2. Rudy Gobert and Bogi for Clint Capela, John Collins and Jalen Johnson.
3.
Jazz: Gordan Hayward, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumblee and a first (hornets)
Hornets: Rudy Gobert, Kemba Walker and Alec Burks
Knicks: Mike Conley
4. Rudy Gobert and Royce ONeale for Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams, Coby White and a 2nd
First deal seems rather likely and would net a decent return
Second deal probably a tough one but John Collins to Utah and linking up with Spida and the hawks getting an upgrade should atleast be an option.
3, I think makes a good amount of sense. Hayward returns home, Rozier is an upgrade and a first. Gobert interior defence for the Hornets, Kemba returning home and Knicks get a leader at point guard for next to nothing
And last deal probably the least likely. Gobert along with Zo Caruso etc would make an elite defence. Jazz get Vuce who puts up numbers, Williams would be a terrific fit and White could be a piece for the future
The team has gone without a true 4 since moving Favors, and Gobert sounds like he is tiring of it… No Ingles for support, no Bojan now, flamboyant D.Howard and a must-win next.