The Jazz hang tough against the West-leading Thunder, but fall in the final minutes of the game

Three thoughts on the Utah Jazz’s 123-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder from Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen.

1. Even with Jazz more healthy, turnover abound

Playing the best team in the Western Conference, the Jazz felt confident they could give Lauri Markkanen and John Collins some runs out there and still come away with the loss. To their credit, they were right.

But this game was far closer than you would have expected given the opposition, and even the final scoreline: The game was tied with 5:26 left in the fourth, and only a Thunder finish made the OKC victory look comfortable. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 54 points (a career high and a huge total), the Jazz were in this game.

So what did it actually cost them? Again this season it was turnover. The Jazz coughed up the ball 27 times tonight against the Thunder – the league’s best turnover-forcing team. Their opponents are averaging 18 turnovers against, but 27 is still a full 50% higher than the high number.

And I think you have to be disappointed with how they came: eight came from Collin Sexton trying to force himself into a big night, six each came from John Collins and Isaiah Collier. 20 turnovers between three players? It is not collected for.

When I watched the turnovers, it looked like players were making reasonable reads, but were concerned or intercepted by the Thunder’s length. Take this play for example – I think this pocket pass from Sexton to Collier gets through a lot of teams, but Cason Wallace is a very good defender and gets the deflection.

Or here, Sexton makes the right read to find Keyonte George in the corner… but the pass just shoots him.

Sexton and Collins are nothing if not aggressive offensively, and that can be really helpful for the Jazz when the defense isn’t set. But against the best defense in the league? The turnover was too high.

2. John Collins, back in action, back on the trading block

Even though he had those six turnovers, Collins also had Utah’s best offensive night: 9-13 from the field for 22 points plus 12 rebounds.

I can tell you from watching him up close: Collins has been happy to play. Originally out with a hip contusion, Collins returned for one game and then missed eight straight for “hip injury management.” Which, well, hmm… that’s not how concussion absences usually work. However, I have been impressed with how hard he goes during the shootaround, training and warm-up before the game. The last time we spoke, sweat was dripping down his face.

Aside from the absence, which is not his fault, Collins has actually had an absolutely terrific season. He averages 18 points per game. game and is shooting 44% from three. Importantly, he delivers the ball at a much higher clip than he did last year or ever in his career. The Jazz have put the ball in his hands more as a mismatch creator, and by and large it has worked.

However, he is still highly available for trade. Forbes’ Evan Sidery reported last week that the Jazz had explored trade talks with Sacramento for Collins.

To be sure, Sidery isn’t a big name in trade reporting, often throwing out rumors that don’t end in a deal. But he was early on in the Nick Richards trade from Phoenix, and the deal Sidery lays out makes some sense: Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles’ salaries match, Huerter is struggling with the Kings right now, they could probably use a PF more than another SG and Collins could space the floor around Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan.

Michael Scotto, of HoopsHype, also reported that the Warriors would be interested in Collins. That deal is harder to pull off from a salary POV — it would probably have to be at least a 3-for-1 deal, forcing the Jazz to give up two players — but if the Warriors would be willing to give up young assets or the draft capital, it is hard to imagine them saying no. From my point of view, the Los Angeles Lakers would also make sense.

Either way, I’ve enjoyed covering Collins and I think he’s a player who can help a team in the right minor role, especially if it’s not as a defensive stalwart. It doesn’t make much sense for the Jazz to keep him through this rebuild, and we’ll see if they’re able to get fair value at the trade deadline, just two weeks away.

3. Justin Zanik interview

I’ve enjoyed that the Jazz’s broadcasts feature guests more often this season – it’s a nice change from the usual 2.5 hours of dodgy basketball. Tonight’s interviewee was Jazz general manager Justin Zanik, who came to explain the trade the Jazz made along with a few other topics.

Here is Zanik in action:

“The way it makes sense for us is now we have another shot at a pick that has a lot of variety. The three picks we traded have no chance of going No. 1, and this one does. It balances out what we want, but we’ve always talked about bite of the apple or more swings in the draft, but it’s also about the quality of the swings, and this, in my opinion, is the most valuable asset on the market right now.”

Zanik on the development of rookies:

“You’ve seen flashes. You’ve seen Isaiah have a 20-point, 11-assist game, a 20-year-old rookie at point guard, which is one of the hardest positions to play in the NBA. You’ve seen Kyle Filipowski be able to fill in and play some fours and fives. A really smart guy with the ball that works harder than people think. Guys that go after him and he’s stuck.

You have Cody, who is the youngest in terms of basketball with these three, and the one with a lot of physical maturing to do. He’s been able to go back and forth in the G League, have the ball in his hands, and then also be in a role here where he doesn’t get as many opportunities with the ball in his hands. He’s really learned to be in a great spot defensively. As he grows in strength, like Taylor Hendricks did last year, there are some real struggles early because they’re getting used to playing a different position and the physicality and speed and toughness of the game and how fast your shot has to be. how fast your decisions have to be.”

But perhaps the most interesting insight Zanik gave was when he was asked about Oklahoma City on the broadcast. He noted that four of the five players on the floor were drafted by OKC, then hoped to follow their lead.

“The culture here to develop them, that’s something we also do. We are a few years behind. But I hope this becomes a rivalry again in terms of talent that we used to experience when we were in the playoffs and faced them all the time.”

We’ll see if the Jazz are as successful as the Thunder have been. Zanik is right, Jazz was also once no. 1 in the West. But at this moment, the Jazz look so far away in so many ways from the Thunder. We’ll see if Zanik’s prediction comes true.

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