Jazz Take Down Spurs in SLC, 128-109: 3 Key Takeaways
The Utah Jazz had no trouble defeating the San Antonio Spurs 128-109 last night at the Delta Center as the student, coach Will Hardy, out-dueled the teacher, Coach Greg Popovich. The Jazz wasted no time seizing control of the contest and posted a 32-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. The win ended the Jazz's five-game losing streak as they retained the 11th seed of 15 teams in the Western Conference and trailed the Warriors by three and a half games for postseason action.
Let's dive into the contest's ever-popular winner and loser section.
Jordan Clarkson | Winner
Clarkson provided flashes of why he is a former Sixth Man of the Year winner by scoring 22 points and dishing out 10 assists in 33 minutes of action. He posted a game-high +21 rating, shot 47% from the field, made 4 shots beyond the arc on eight attempts, and connected on both free-throw shots.
Most impressive was the recording of only one turnover! Clarkson has experienced recent struggles on the court, but this performance may correct his mental game for the remainder of the season.
Collin Sexton | Winner
Like his backcourt mate, Sexton dropped a double-double by scoring 16 points and dishing out 10 assists. He slotted 27 minutes of action, was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, had four steals, and was +19 per the game rating.
Sexton has been consistent all season and applies all sorts of pressure on the opposition's defense. The Jazz currently have slim playoff hopes, but when you have a player of Sexton's caliber on your roster, you always have a chance to move vertically in the team standings.
The San Antonio Spurs | Losers
The Spurs did what they do best: LOSE! Their current record is 11-47, which is a winning rate of 19%, and they rank 15th of 15 teams in the Western Conference. They are currently on a 4-game losing streak with a 1-9 record over the past 10 games. 11 Spurs saw game action against the Jazz, with 10 players recording negative game ratings.
All starters were in the negatives, led by forward Jeremy Sochan's -21 rating in 29 minutes of action. This brand of basketball is a clear indicator of why teams should never encourage losing. For several years, the Spurs have resembled an organization that seems ok with load management and tanking and has not fully recovered since losing All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
The nightly losing recipe is not a good look for the NBA brand and has no relevance in life. NBA coaches and players are compensated at a high rate, and no team should produce winning at a 19% rate regardless of roster construction. It was a good win for the Jazz, but the Spurs need a reboot.
The Jazz will next face another familiar foe when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.
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