Positive Takeaways from Jazz Preseason

Lauri Markkanen looks poised to pick up where he left off in his first All-Star season. (Rick Bowmer via sltrib.com)

One common theme as we sports fans scroll through social media is how often the conversation is centered on negativity and skepticism. Every player is under performing, every rookie or off-season acquisition is looking like a mistake, and we might as well fast-forward to next offseason because this year is clearly going to be a bust after a few preseason games. Clearly, I am exaggerating, but the point stands. Fans are almost always inherently negative.

So let’s be positive! The Utah Jazz finished their five-game preseason slate, and there were plenty of positive signs to dwell on as the countdown to the season continues. The sample size is small, but there are still a few promising takeaways that should be viewed as a sign of future success this season.

Lauri Markkanen: still a star

He only played the first half of each game, and there was no reason for him to play a second more other than helping him to stay warmed up for the start of the season. In 20 minutes per game, he averaged 16.8 points and 8 rebounds. His per 36 minute averages (he averaged close to 35 minutes last season), were 28.8 points and 13.8 rebounds. Considering he only shot 30.8 percent from three-point range compared to his career 37 percent mark, it’s looking like there is a real chance his scoring could even top his career high of 25.6 points from last season.

Once again, the impressive part of Markkanen’s game is just how effortlessly and efficiently he was able to score. Shots at the basket, threes, and trips to the free throw line.

This offseason, Markkanen has been ranked as a top 50 NBA player by every major media outlet. The Ringer (31), ESPN (28), CBS Sports (41), Bleacher Report (32), The Athletic (Tier 3 – Top 40). Markkanen has a real chance to take another leap if he can perform at or above the level he did last year. Still at only 26 years old and more confident than ever, we could see another leap, which would vault him into the discussion as a top 20 player in the NBA.

John Collins is going to fit in

In each game, John Collins seemed to be more and more comfortable in this new environment. It is clear that he is still adjusting, but he went from attempting just 3 shots against the Clippers in Hawaii, to scoring 24 points on just 12 shot attempts in the final two contests. That was also done in limited playing time. 

One of the biggest questions regarding Collins was if he could get his shooting back on track. Prior to last season, he was a career 37.6 percent three-point shooter. Then he suffered a severe broken finger, and his shooting last season plummeted to just 29 percent. Most of what he was being asked to do during his closing tenure in Atlanta was shooting corner threes, and he only shot that same 29 percent. In Utah’s equal opportunity offense, he should see plenty of catch and shoot threes, but he needs to be able to make them at higher level, especially in the corner. So far this preseason, he has been right back at his career 37 percent. Not only has he been back on track, but he is on pace to attempt more than ever. The most he ever attempted was 3.6 per game in the 2019-20 season. So far this preseason, he is on pace to attempt 4 per game, with that number looking like it could continue to tick up as he continues to learn his role.

The biggest challenge for Jazz coach Will Hardy is going to be finding the best rotation for Collins to fit in to. While the Jazz did get him for essentially nothing, if he spends most of his time paired with Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, he may find himself parked in the corner, similar to his time in Atlanta. Now, if he can shoot 40 plus percent on catch and shoot from the corner while also attacking the basket against closeouts, then that could lead to a lot of easy scoring opportunities. Hardy will definitely experiment with different pick-and-roll combinations to find a guard who will develop chemistry with Collins and then they will routinely work together while Markkanen is off the court. On top of that, he will probably have a few plays built in to get him the ball in certain spots and to keep him involved and engaged.

Keyonte George showing passing chops

One of the biggest questions regarding Keyonte George heading into the draft was if he had the mindset and ability to play point guard. Specifically, the question of if he can run an offense as a facilitator and creator for others, rather than just for himself. We know he is going to be able to score, but in college he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. He finished with 95 turnovers to just 91 assists. So far at the NBA level, he has looked like a much better passer than during his time at Baylor. During the Summer League, he averaged 6.3 assists to only 2.3 turnovers, and so far in the preseason he has averaged 3.6 assists and 1.6 turnovers. 

Keyonte George tonight:

17 Points
4 Assists
2 Rebounds
50% FG
50% 3P
100% FT pic.twitter.com/kAndOStJq4

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 15, 2023

There are still areas of opportunity here. Many of his passes look telegraphed verses coming naturally, which may lead to defenses anticipating what’s coming. His best skill is his ability to score the ball, and it has felt like he is more reluctant to take control as a scorer because he is working to prove he can run the offense. All that said, the flashes he has shown in the Summer League and preseason have been very promising if you believe he is the future point guard of the Utah Jazz.

While he won’t be the opening night starter, Key has already shown enough to earn consistent rotational minutes. Those minutes will give him invaluable experience and could ultimately lead to him being the Jazz starting point guard before the season is over. Taken with the 16th pick in the draft, the Jazz might have gotten the steal of the draft.

Jazz don’t have a starting PG… but they have really good guards!

This was the biggest question mark coming into the season for the Utah Jazz. Who was going to be the starting point guard? Something that became obvious during the preseason though is that the question of who will be our starting point guard is not there due to a lack of talent. Utah lacks a standout, clear-cut starter, but every potential point guard on the roster seems to have legitimate strengths that will help the team to be successful. While each guard has some clear strengths, but some obvious flaws as well.

Clarkson seems to be the best of the guards. He is coming off a season scoring 20 points per game to go along with 4 assists. Whenever he is on the floor, it just feels like the offense is less bogged down because he has the ability to create for himself at any time but has also really seemed to grow as a facilitator. 

Talen Horton-Tucker might be the most divided player among all of Jazz fandom. That said, he was the second leading preseason scorer with 14.2 points, shot 36.4 percent from three, and led the team with 4.4 assists per game. As a reminder, he’s 22, and averaged 18 points, 6 assist and 5 rebounds as a starter just last season. Now, while his assist rate is the highest on the team, he clearly looks for his own shot first, and creates assists by being ball dominate verses being a ball mover.

Collin Sexton is explosive and just adds a different pace and energy than any of the other guards. He can get to the basket on-ball and off-ball at a high level, and even though he doesn’t take a ton of threes, he’s been roughly a 38 percent shooter on the attempts he does take. He struggles as a passer though, and showed signed that he may be better suited as a scoring sixth man.

Kris Dunn is clearly a fan favorite and many are clamoring for the Jazz to make him their starting point guard. For a player who doesn’t look to shoot very often, he runs the offense very well and seems to have a positive impact. There is just something about the way he plays that seems to settle the team. He is also a suffocating defender. Outside of Walker Kessler, Dunn is the best defensive player on the Jazz roster, and it’s probably closer than we realize. All that said, he doesn’t shoot. During the preseason, he attempted only five shots per game and shot 84 percent, because he only takes shots when there isn’t another option and he knows he can make them. Hard to win with a point guard who doesn’t seem to want to shoot the ball.

Then there’s George who we discussed above.

That’s five legitimate ball-handling guard options for the Jazz, and they are all positive impact players, despite their flaws. The Jazz would love to have a Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Donovan Mitchell level point guard, but the question mark revolving around the point guard position is not because they don’t have talent at the position. 

The regular season starts Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings!