By the Numbers: Game 5 Loss Was Historically Bad
While facing the media after his team’s 102-77 Game 5 beatdown at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder tried to put a positive spin on the game.
“It’s not like we didn’t compete,” Snyder said. “We played to win.”
While Snyder’s attempt to brighten the team’s effort is admirable, a deeper dive into the stats per stathead.com (subscription required) tells a much gloomier story. The levels of futility found by the Jazz on Monday night are unmatched in both the 2021-22 NBA season and the team’s franchise history.
2021-22 Team Records Set on Monday Night
- Three – Fewest number of three-pointers made by the team (regular season and playoffs). Previous low was seven — achieved twice — vs. Denver (02-02-2022) and Game 1 vs. Dallas.
- 10% - Lowest three-point percentage by the Jazz (regular season and playoffs). Previous low of 19% at Orlando (11-07-2021);
- 77 - Fewest points scored by team. Previous low was 90 at New Orleans (03-04-2022).
2021-22 NBA Playoff Marks Set by Monday Night’s Performance
- 83.5 - Lowest Offensive Rating for a game.
- 40.1% - Second Lowest Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) for a game. Only Chicago’s Game 1 eFG% of 35.9% vs. Milwaukee ranks lower.
- 12 - Fewest Assists by a team in a game.
Game 5’s Ranking in Jazz Playoff History
It was, by all accounts, one for the ages. When the final buzzer sounded, the game ranked as:
- The Lowest three-point percentage (again, 10%) in franchise history for a playoff game (minimum eight attempts).
- Fewest points scored (77) in a playoff game since 2008
- Fewest three-pointers made (three) in a playoff game since 2003 (went 2 for 3 in Game 3 of first-round series vs. Sacramento).
- Fourth Lowest Offensive Rating in a playoff game; And finally:
- Tied for the seventh-largest playoff loss (25 points) out of the now 291 games played in the franchise’s 31 playoff seasons.
The Takeaway
Perhaps the best number for Jazz fans to hone in on is the number 1. Despite all the horrible stats attached to Game 5, it only counts as a single loss.
If the shots fall for the Jazz in the friendly confines of Vivint Smart Home Arena on Thursday night, Monday’s nightmare will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory.
Follow Brad on Twitter @zonniebuckets.
