Last season the Utah Jazz dominated the regular season with a 52-20 record before succumbing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs. They were off to a scorching start 26-9 start in 2021-22, but a rash of injuries and COVID-19 diagnoses have dropped them to fourth in the Western Conference.
Much of Utah's success over the years has been predicated depth and continuity, but the challenge now is how Quin Snyder's team will overcome the adversity it's currently experiencing. Over this arduous stretch, Donovan Mitchell has missed three games and Rudy Gobert failed to suit up for five matches. The Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies have overtaken them in the standings; now is the time for the Jazz to prove they can right the ship to compete for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Here are three improvements Utah must make after losing six of its last eight games.
More ball and player movement
There was a certain point this season when Utah had the best offensive rating in basketball. The Jazz's long-range marksmanship, ball movement and floor spacing were impeccable, causing defenses headaches in scramble situations. Their lineups would usually consist of four excellent shooters alongside Gobert or Hassan Whiteside.
Backup point guard is indeed a weakness for Utah, who would benefit from upgrading to a more experienced floor general than Trent Forrest behind Mike Conley. Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson do tons of ball handling in the Jazz's current lineups, but they could still improve as playmakers with the averaging 21.5 assists in its last eight games. That's an uncharacteristically low number for a Quin Snyder team, and should be a main priority for Utah in the next few games.
Stouter defense with and without Gobert
The Jazz ranked second-to-last in defensive rating during the five games Gobert missed earlier this month, per NBA.com/stats. Whiteside has also missed a couple games of late, leaving the Jazz without a rim-protector. Their perimeter defense is still inferior compared to other teams with title aspirations, but their interior defense has been missing as well.
A championship-contending team like Utah must elevate its defense when jumpers are not falling. The Jazz lack the personnel to stop some of the league's brightest star playmakers, but overall effort and maintaining a nose for the ball are two facets that do not require any skills.
Plan B when outside shots do not fall
When manufacturing efficient offense was the root of the problem, Utah bolstered its outside shooting and shot-creation by adding Conley, Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic. Their shooting has reached its apex. When jumpers are falling, the Jazz can easily eclipse 120 points and knock down 20 three-pointers.
Jump-shooting has never been more important in the NBA, but even a team like Utah needs a counter when it randomly goes cold from deep. The Golden State Warriors, remember, responded to losing in the 2016 NBA Finals by signing Kevin Durant, adding some much-needed diversity to an offense that was overly reliant on outside shooting. Utah ranks sixth in three-point attempts and 19th in three-point percentage during its ongoing struggles, a losing numbers game.
Stagnancy and dependency on offense are debilitating mindsets from which Utah must stray. Opponents are starting to game plan and scout their strengths already, so the Jazz must come up with alternative means of scoring over the last three months of the regular season.
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