Analytics

Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and the Value of a Block

As analytics continue to sweep the NBA, a misconception is growing: that improved numbers provide a “right” way to see the game. Analytics don’t offer the correct way to see anything; instead, they offer new...

What Have We Learned Thus Far?

The Utah Jazz are finally home after a road trip that included losses to Cleveland, Miami and Orlando and a victory over Atlanta. A 1-3 record over the course of a road trip is hardly anything to write home about and 5-5 overall...

The Rundown: Jazz @ Hawks 11/15/15

Wipes-sweat-off-brow GIF, anyone? The Jazz finally found themselves on the right end of a nail-biter Sunday night, eking out a fantastically close 97-96 win in Atlanta that wasn’t sealed until Paul Millsap missed a shot...

News and Notes From Jazz @ Magic 11/13/15

It feels like ages or eons have passed since the Utah Jazz sported an impressive 4-2 record, good enough to tie for the second best record in the Western Conference. The team was heading off on a four-game road trip, and while...

Jimbo’s Mailbag – How to Sneak Down to the Lower Bowl

Welcome to the next edition of Jimbo’s Mailbag! At Salt City Hoops, we know that covering a team without any humor can be dreary. As such, we decided to add a little bit more levity to our site via Jimbo’s unique outlook on...

Miami Survives Favors… Barely

Like a lot of things in Florida, this was (almost) too close to call. No, not hanging chads, just some really good basketball, as Miami held off Utah, 92-91. Here are some quick themes, thoughts and figures from Utah’s...

Salt City Seven: Hayward, Horns, Happy Birthday and More

Welcome to Thursday: the warmup act for the weekend, a Jim Croce B-side, and the day for our new tradition of dropping seven nuggets of Jazz wisdom. This is the second installment of the Salt City Seven, a weekly recap of all...

Early Utah Jazz Impressions: The Bench

Most of the attention the Utah Jazz have received after a solid — and surprising for some media members — 4-3 start has centered around Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward. They are, after all, Utah’s...

News and Notes From Jazz @ Cavs 11/10/15

Sigh? Yes, the Jazz had a nine point lead halfway through the fourth quarter Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the NBA’s best teams. And, yes, they ended up losing by four points, after Rudy Gobert twisted...

Using SportVU Motion Data to Examine Jazz Roles

SportVU motion tracking data has brought a vast wealth of new information to basketball nerds everywhere. Even while only utilizing public data that’s barely the tip of the iceberg of what’s available to teams and high-paying...