Ex-Jazz Coach Illustrates Two Areas Holding Back Will Hardy's Team
The Utah Jazz continue to lose more games than what the oddsmakers had projected before the season began. Vegas had the Jazz pegged as a 36-win team this season, but where it’s trending, Utah is on pace for just 26.
At this stage, can we say Utah is underachieving? What can the Jazz do to turn the ship around?
These topics came up on ESPN 700's The Bill Riley Show when ex-Jazz assistant coach Gordie Chiesa was asked whether the Jazz have been playing hard enough this season.
“No, they’re not,” Chiesa told Riley. “Loose ball recoveries, the mismatch rebounding battles. Generally speaking, more physicality. Your will to get the job done.”
The Jazz have looked like a different team this year, especially when playing on the road. Utah possesses a 1-9 record away from the Delta Center, and the games haven’t been competitive. In 10 road games, the Jazz are losing by an average of 15.8 points per contest.
The lack of effort isn't the only issue, according to Chiesa, but also Utah's inability to take care of the basketball.
“They’ve got to protect the ball,” Chiesa said. “The Jazz commit the most turnovers in the NBA at 17.5 per game. Besides the passing turnovers, it could be illegal screens, offensive fouls—you have no chance on the road if you lead the NBA in turnovers.”
Indeed, the Jazz have a lot to clean up if the 2023-24 season is going to be turned around. Another issue that the Jazz have working against them is it’s a roster stocked with players without a clear direction of what lies ahead.
Most of Utah's rostered players are likely not in its long-term plans. Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk, and Talen Horton-Tucker may be finishing the season suiting up in a different uniform.
Finding the motivation to play for a team that isn’t vested in you is a difficult task, to say the least. Where it stands today, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George are most likely to be sticking around for multiple years. Beyond that trio, all bets are off.
Lastly, there’s the injury bug Utah has had to deal with early this season. Markkanen, Kessler, and Clarkson have all missed significant time, and getting Utah's core back to health will go a long way as we approach the season's second quarter.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and X.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream!
