Jazz Snap 3-Game Skid vs. Wizards, 123-108: 2 Winners, 2 Losers
The Utah Jazz defeated the Washington Wizards 123-108 on Thursday in the nation's capital. The final game score should come as no surprise, as the Wizards are now 7-37, one of the worst-assembled teams in the NBA, and currently sports a six-game losing streak.
The Jazz were in control of this contest from the tip and kicked into a higher gear in the final quarter on its way to breaking the Wizard's will. Now, let's discuss the biggest winners and losers of the game.
John Collins: Winner
Collins logged a double-double by scoring 22 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and manhandling the entire Wizards frontline. Jazz Nation welcomed this performance, as Collin' season has been filled with peaks, valleys, and inconsistencies.
'The Baptist' delivered a game-high +22 rating and seemed to be a magnet on the basketball all game long. Coach Will Hardy identified early on that Collins was in his groove and awarded him with a team-high in 33 minutes.
The center position has been a challenge for the Jazz this season, but if Collins can provide any level of consistency, it might be the determining factor on how far the Jazz advance in the playoffs.
Walker Kessler: Loser
Kessler is noticeably out of rhythm at this time, and his lack of offensive skill seems to cast doubt on his confidence. He played a meager 15 minutes, scored only four points, committed five fouls, and posted a -7 game rating.
Kessler still has the ability to protect the rim but needs to hone in on developing his offensive game. As the season progresses and into the offseason, perhaps he can at least work on his free-throw shooting and five-foot jump shots.
There is an old saying, "If you feel good, you play good, and if you play well, you get paid well. " Kessler is currently on a rookie contract and does not feel good. If he wants to be rewarded on his next contract, he must improve in multiple areas to get paid well.
Kelly Olynyk: Winner
Olynyk looked solid, scoring 19 points and shooting an eye-popping 73% from the field. He played at his pace, and the Wizards could not speed him up, as he registered a +13 rating.
Any time your game rating is positive, it generally means you are prepared to play and are likely executing the game plan. The rating has an even greater impact when entering double digits, and Olynyk had no issues imposing his will during competition.
Depending on what happens during the trade deadline, he may receive increased backup minutes at the Center position.
Wizards: Loser
The Wizards had no player score higher than 0 in-game ratings and continued accumulating losses. This is one reason the NBA should give every team equal chances in the draft.
Tanking and purposely losing games should never be recommended in sports because we are seeing the nasty results from the fruits of the Wizard's labor. I do not know how they will turn this debacle around, but good luck.
The Jazz will next face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday at 5:00 p.m. MDT
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