Exploring Utah’s Most Used Early Lineups

The Starters

• Understandably, I know plenty in Jazz Nation who aren’t in love with THT as their point guard. However, THT has his strengths as a point guard: attack the paint, facilitate, grab boards, get out in transition, stay in front of your man, etc. When you complement him with other playmakers, good things happen.
• You’re also pairing THT with another crafty defender. Both Dunn and THT have fine Defensive Ratings, but great compared to the rest of the team. Both will create some havoc up top, then let the big boys clean it up. When there is a miss or a turnover, you can also turn to either of them to push the pace (overall, Jazz rank 13th in pace across the NBA). There has been plentiful calls for Dunn to get more minutes, or to play lead point. One way to solve the “who should get minutes” question: play both. The nearly 20 minutes of lineup data so far say it is effective. 
• Similarly, when you pair THT (or Kessler) with shooters, good things happen. With flame-thrower JC out of flame to start the season, the Jazz have sorely needed additional offense behind all-star Markkanen. Inserting George has been a great solution. Per-36 numbers have him at 13 points, 5.5 assists on 59% shooting from the field and 33% from deep. Those are basically the same as what JC is currently averaging but with much higher efficiency. With George, he is a threat to shoot whenever he has the ball. He can dribble, he can drive, he can pull up, he can spot up. So, he helps your offense breathe, something that has been needed in these few short weeks with JC struggling to ignite. 
• With Agbaji, you have to remember he played the last 20 games last season as a starter, doing a lot of things well. As a starter, he averaged 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists down the stretch. He perfectly fits the mold of an effective two-way player on the rise that brings the versatility and athleticism that is a complementary piece to other high-caliber players (like Markkanen). It is still my belief (hope) that Agbaji keeps getting his minutes increased and crosses over 20 a game so he can provide lineups with the utilities he offers.
• Another thing we need to remember from last year was how great Kessler and Markkanen were for each other. Because of Kessler down low, it unlocked Markkanen to play out of his height. Typically, a guy his size would need to stay in the paint, clean up the rim, post up, and bang bodies for boards. Kessler can take that job, and willingly does, so now Markkanen can act like a shooting guard and run off screens for threes. You also get to see Kessler set those screens or clear the lane for when Markkanen is going full steam toward the hoop for a strong finish or an and-one. Even if Kessler’s individual stats are suffering, he is still working as the best frontcourt partner to Markkanen, who is continuing to play at an all-star level. 

A lot of basketball is left to play (duh, Steve) and these lineup combinations will continue to rise and fall as roles and rotations really get nailed down. From seven games, though, we at least have some notes to casually observe, and see if lineup data really told us anything.

PS – As I said, I’m biased towards George and Agbaji. I just really like them. While the data was talking about George or Agbaji inserted into those positive four-man pairings, the third-best lineup combination for the Jazz includes the duo together. Probably because of plays like this.