Spreading their Wings: How Utah’s Perimeter D Has Flourished

By now, any observant Jazz fan knows the numbers. Utah’s defensive ascension has been rapid and incredible, and they remain the league’s best per-possession unit since the All-Star break and, indeed, since the start of...

The Triple Team: Three Thoughts on Jazz @ Celtics 3/4/15

1. Two matchups with Boston this year have exposed some flaws in Utah’s team construct. This game will be most discussed for the events in the final minute, but the other 47, combined with a January home loss to these same...

The Utah Jazz Through the Lens of Synergy Data

During the All-Star break, NBA.com unveiled yet another set of intriguing and informative stats, this time in the form of Synergy Sports figures that had been largely unavailable to the public since the site’s fan version shut...

The Triple Team: Three Thoughts on Bucks @ Jazz 2/28/15

1. Trey Burke was Utah’s best player tonight, and had perhaps his best two-way game as a pro. Utah’s second-year point guard has been playing well for a period now, but tonight really seemed to up the ante. His...

On Differing Approaches to Analytics, and Player Grades for Lakers @ Jazz 2/25/15

Analytics and all its accompanying elements has been one of the hottest topics among NBA die-hards for much of the year, and especially in the last few weeks. Comments by guys like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal on...

Evaluating Utah’s On-Court Product Post-Kanter

Much of the hubbub surrounding Enes Kanter and Steve Novak’s trade out of town in the final hours of Thursday’s crazy deadline has had an eye on the future, and justifiably so. Kendrick Perkins won’t so much as set foot in...

Gordon Hayward’s Subtle Excellence, and Player Grades for Spurs @ Jazz 2/23/15

The truly great players in this league know that being successful means more than sinking shots or putting points up in a box score. And as Gordon Hayward takes aim at this sort of lofty perch, he’s already well aware of...

Taking Utah’s Temperature at the All-Star Break

An extended All-Star break is perfect not only for the players, who get more time to rest their ailing bodies, but for those of us covering them as well. Writers and bloggers alike need a reset button too, and what better time to...

Scaling the Stifle Tower: How Teams Have Adjusted to Rudy Gobert

The emphatic rise of Rudy Gobert has come in waves. His rookie season contained flashes of the spectacular within a raw game that most assumed would take several years to refine. His summer seemed to accelerate the process...

Derrick Favors’ Inspired Performance, and Player Grades for Jazz-Kings 2/7/2015

As he continues a strong season marked by increased defensive understanding and a versatile, complete offensive game that has taken some by surprise, Derrick Favors knows it’s a long grind. Energy and motivation ebbs and...