New-Look Jazz Trounced by Warriors, 129-107: Three Hard Takeaways
The Golden State Warriors 107-129 defeated the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Delta Center. These organizations appear to be headed in opposite directions as the Jazz have dropped two consecutive games, yet the Warriors have tasted victory in their last five contests.
Losing this game currently has the Jazz out of playoff contention, while the Warriors are right back into the post-season discussion by handling business in SLC. NBA teams are beginning to grasp the new feel of their locker rooms with the recent completion of the NBA trade deadline. And if we are being honest, the Jazz did not improve its roster or team concept with their mid-season decisions.
What did we learn from Monday night's loss? Here are my key takeaways following last night's battle between the Jazz and Warriors.
Warriors Are Legit Contenders
As long as Stephen Curry is in uniform, the Warriors will have a chance to hoist Championship trophies. He led his team to victory by scoring 25 points, dropping 10 assists, grabbing six rebounds, nudging three steals, and blocking one shot.
He splashed seven shots from beyond the arc on 16 attempts and recorded a whopping +30 game rating! Many in the basketball world continue to mention guard Klay Thompson alongside Curry as the "Splash Brothers. "
Folks, it's more than obvious that Curry and the Warriors do not need Thompson's services, as he is living on his past abilities. The Warriors show is Curry, and his team is gaining momentum, which is a welcomed experience this time of the year. This is not a team that opponents will want to face in the playoffs if they remain healthy.
Jazz Look Disoriented
Losing by 20-plus points in an NBA contest can conceivably arrive on a nightly basis if teams are not careful. But losing by 20+ on your home floor at this time of the season is concerning.
We have become accustomed to this group competing each and every moment, but we witnessed no grit against the Warriors. This performance lies squarely on the trade moves as well as enacting a different starting line-up against the Warriors.
Coach Will Hardy decided to start rookie Keyonte George instead of guard Kris Dunn. I am not sure why this change was implemented, particularly against an all-time great like Curry. The result was a dominating loss, and George posted a -32 game rating.
I am not saying this is solely the reason the Jazz were defeated, but not many players in their first season will enjoy success against Curry. Notable was the play of John Collins, who registered a -27 game rating and has struggled with consistent play all season long. Sure, Collins is talented, but his limitations across the basketball floor are glaring and have been a hindrance for the Jazz.
What Happens Now
The Jazz lost some key pieces during the trade deadline, headed by the versatility of Kelly Olynyk, the reliability of Ochai Agbaji, and the positive emergence of Simone Fontecchio. I think some teams make moves on a just-because basis when staying put is the best decision.
I thought the Jazz should have declined any moves and completed the season with the intact group. Teams sometimes disregard the human side of rosters, where some players develop commodore with their brothers. Instead of validating the business side of life, the human side should be considered, and I do not see an upgrade post-trade moves.
The Jazz will next battle the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at home, which will feature a battle with "The King" and "AD." The Jazz are sporting a 26-28 record.
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