December Turnaround? Jazz Showing Signs of a Return to Form

Things are starting to click, and both Gobert and Rubio have theories as to why. (Brock Williams via utahjazz.com)

As the Jazz played out the last few minutes of a game where they were on the losing end of a 33-point blow out, boos rained down. The Jazz had looked less than inspired, losing ten of their last 15 and six of their last eight games, and it didn’t seem like it was going to change any time soon. They’d had a difficult schedule and were heading back on the road for a three-game eastern road trip, but there seemed to be an underlying problem to the Jazz’ struggles. Something that couldn’t just be explained away by poor scheduling and bad luck.

Just eight days later, and in their ninth game in Vivint SmartHome Arena, Utah made a statement. They welcomed the San Antonio Spurs — a team sporting two all-stars from 2017-18 — with a 34-point blowout. Utah took the lead in the fourth minute, stretched it to 12 points with a minute left in the first quarter, and held on to the 12-point differential the rest of the way. The same fans that voiced displeasure just eight days earlier now rose to their feet and gave the team a standing ovation as the clock hit zero.

That the Jazz sustained their lead was a stark contrast from the game before, when Utah built a 19-point advantage in Miami, but lost on a late free throw trip. But that heartbreak in South Beach was the outlier on this recent stretch. It was one of just two losses in Utah’s last six games after starting the season 8-11. In each of the four wins over that span, Utah has looked dominant, winning by eight or more.

What has triggered this change? Ricky Rubio thinks their ball movement and increased awareness in helping teammates find good shots has provided a bit of a solution in their offense. “We’re moving the ball… earlier in the season, everybody was trying to do a little too much on their own instead of [playing] as a team.” He’s right, too. In their 1-5 stretch prior to winning in Sacramento, Utah assisted on just 59 percent of made baskets. Since then, 64 percent of made buckets are off of a teammates’ pass.

When asked about the ball movement, Jae Crowder remarked “That’s what we try to play, that’s how we try to play, and that’s how we want to play.”

Rudy Gobert had another thought. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year said that the defense has been clicking, just as the offense has been. “Defensively, we’re starting to trust each other, and play our role.” While winning three of their last four, Utah has given up just 103 points per 100 possessions, which matches their league-leading season output from 2017-18. “And when we start doing that, we’re going to be the team we [have potential to] be”

Coach Quin Snyder remains far from content, though.

“If there is progress in any one quarter or any one game, that’s not something you need to feel satisfied about,” Snyder said after the blowout of the Spurs.

He understands that a lack of consistency may be what has held the Jazz back. They’ve had a number of good wins on the season, sweeping Boston, winning in Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans, and more recently winning two of their last three on the road, but they have yet to string these performances together. “It has to happen all the time, and the consistency is something that we have to continue to strive for.”