2022-23 regular season. The Tank begins...

Minnesota boasts a core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell, so the team that Gobert joined is hardly devoid of talent. [URL="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/does-trading-for-an-nba-star-work-its-complicated/"]But none of their returning players managed to break the plus-5.0 RAPTOR threshold last season, with Towns coming closest at plus-2.0.[/URL] And even next to that established foundation, Gobert may well be the T-Wolves’ most impactful player. Although it hasn’t shown up in the on/off-court metrics yet, he theoretically fits the current construction of the roster, despite his co-star being another center. But the teams who improved most in the playoffs following a star acquisition had players already on the roster with higher RAPTOR ratings than the newcomer. Indeed, the Timberwolves are 5-7 against a relatively weak schedule early in the season, and though they have time to improve, they don’t currently have the profile of a championship contender.
– via [URL="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/does-trading-for-an-nba-star-work-its-complicated/"]Louis Zatzman @ FiveThirtyEight[/URL]

Few around the league, though, expected to find the Croatian in this environment, as one of the rare veterans amid Detroit’s young roster construction. After the Utah Jazz dispatched Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert and then Donovan Mitchell across the map, rival front offices expected Bogdanovic’s inevitable departure to deliver another of Utah’s proven postseason performers to a team with contending aspirations. The [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/bojan-bogdanovic-providing-value-to-young-pistons-and-potentially-boosting-his-own-status-in-the-trade-market-144138939.html"]Lakers certainly called, sources told Yahoo Sports. Phoenix engaged the Jazz as well[/URL].
– via [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/bojan-bogdanovic-providing-value-to-young-pistons-and-potentially-boosting-his-own-status-in-the-trade-market-144138939.html"]Jake Fischer @ Yahoo! Sports[/URL]




[URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/bojan-bogdanovic-providing-value-to-young-pistons-and-potentially-boosting-his-own-status-in-the-trade-market-144138939.html"]“What it really does is it gives them contract control so it’s easier to trade him in July,” one assistant general manager told Yahoo Sports,[/URL] “when a team that needs him is far more likely to have cap space and wiggle room.”
– via [URL="https://sports.yahoo.com/bojan-bogdanovic-providing-value-to-young-pistons-and-potentially-boosting-his-own-status-in-the-trade-market-144138939.html"]Jake Fischer @ Yahoo! Sports[/URL]

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2022/11/13/23457396/joel-embiid-monster-night-powers-philadelphia-76ers-sixers-past-utah-jazz[/url]

[QUOTE]The biggest upside for this game was that Utah really should have won. Maybe it was tired legs because of this being the back end of a back-to-back on the road, but Utah shot just 56% from the free throw line. Probably also a sign of tired legs was the bad decision-making, and bad shot choice. Utah had 17 turnovers, which is not good, but they also drove constantly to the rim against Embiid, who had 7 blocks. At what point do you decide that’s not a good shot? The good news about those things is they are fixable issues. Yes, the referees missed some obvious fouls for the Jazz at the end of this one, and those calls would have changed things for Utah, but the Jazz did shoot 23 free throws. This one is a game you chalk up to tired legs, and you move on. The Jazz have now lost two in a row, and if they lose their next one, then you start to worry a little. For now, the Jazz still look like one of the top teams in the league.

[/QUOTE]

Philly back to back. Now we're worried about them losing? :roll:

Steve Popper: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Knicks players gathered for a players only dinner last night here in Utah – stressing accountability to each other[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/StevePopper"]Twitter StevePopper[/URL]

[QUOTE] Tony Jones: Rudy [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Gay is out tonight against the Knicks with a left hand sprain[/URL]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba"]Twitter Tjonesonthenba[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

saw that in the game.

The Cavs did not want to see Markkanen go, but when the teams started discussing concepts for a Mitchell deal, Utah insisted he be included. [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35026261/the-hoop-collective-victor-wembanyama-rise-spell-end-team-usa-dynasty"]“I can remember when he got traded, he was sad about it that night because Cleveland was his first taste of winning,” Connelly said. “I told him this may end up being the best thing that could ever happen in your career.[/URL] You go be the best player on the Jazz. But it took everything he’s gone through to make this the best scenario.”
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35026261/the-hoop-collective-victor-wembanyama-rise-spell-end-team-usa-dynasty"]Brian Windhorst @ ESPN[/URL]




“It’s really hard for young players sometimes to find their lane,” Hardy said. But Markkanen has definitely found his in Utah — and with it, his confidence. [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35026261/the-hoop-collective-victor-wembanyama-rise-spell-end-team-usa-dynasty"]“Confidence is everything,” Markkanen said. “My third year in Chicago, it was hard for me mentally.[/URL] … I was always trying to climb out of it.” He started seeing a sports psychologist, read “The Inner Game of Tennis” at the urging of his longtime trainer, Dan Connelly, and just kept at it. Eventually he had a breakthrough.
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35026261/the-hoop-collective-victor-wembanyama-rise-spell-end-team-usa-dynasty"]Brian Windhorst @ ESPN[/URL]

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley welcomed his second child with wife Montana Yao on Friday after the couple reconciled following his brief fling with Larsa Pippen. Beasley and Yao welcomed a daughter, Mia Love Beasley, on Friday, according to separate posts on Instagram. “11/11 and my wish came true 💫 Mia Love Beasley- 8lbs / 19inches,” Beasley wrote in his post, which included a photo of him holding his daughter on his chest.
– via Jenna Lemoncelli @ New York Post

[url]https://kslsports.com/495470/espn-markkanen-success-with-jazz-mirrors-fiba/[/url]

[QUOTE]Markkanen has always shown flashes of star potential, but a lack of consistency during stops in Chicago and Cleveland have prevented him from breaking through as one of the NBA’s premier players.

[/QUOTE]

you either are or aren't

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-111422-bench-danny/[/url]

[QUOTE]And yet… those five together have been Utah’s best high-volume lineup, outscoring opponents by 16.1 per 100 possessions so far (+18.9 if you exclude garbage time and heaves). The collection of misfit toys has become a strength for the Utah Jazz, extending leads in some games and keeping the club in striking distance other nights. The group has runs totaling 23-8 in Philadelphia on Sunday. A night earlier, Beasley’s shooting and Sexton’s rim pressure kept Utah within striking distance. Sure, both of those games ended in losses, but the Jazz bench did their part.

[/QUOTE]

no Clarkson

[QUOTE]Sexton puts a ton of pressure on defenses, and it often results in easy points. He drives 8.5 times per game and gets fouled on 14.8% of them. The only player with at least eight nightly drives who draws more fouls on paint forays is Giannis Antetokounmpo. In all, 43% of his shooting possessions (FGA + shooting fouls drawn) come at the rim, an elite figure for a 6’2″ guard.

[/QUOTE]

yet another thing he is better than Mitchell at

[QUOTE]Speaking of drivers, Horton-Tucker has a way of making smaller defenders just bounce off of him as he rumbles to the hoop. Sure, [URL="https://twitter.com/danclayt0n/status/1588732941622206464?s=20&t=bDHYsvCwyrSBTWtyPeFXYw"]he can get a little wild[/URL] at times, but the same spirit that leads to those daring attempts also cracks the defense open a few times a game. In that sense, he’s not unlike the wildly popular Clarkson, who also won over the fan base by straddling the line between audacious and “umm wut.”

[/QUOTE]

difference is he's young

[QUOTE]Gay is still waiting for his shot to come on — career low .445 true shooting… ugh — but there’s something to be said for knowing where to be. Somehow, the veteran has the best DRtg of the rotation guys (93.6) and he trailed only Kessler with a +16.0 net rating.

[/QUOTE]

is it enough to get someone to take on his contract for next year?

[QUOTE]There’s another lineup data quirk that, if it holds, might mean something. Small sample sizes be damned, but so far Utah’s best two lineups on a per-minute basis are when Sexton appears with the other four starters in lieu of Vanderbilt (+54.3 outside of garbage time, but only 48 possessions) and when Jordan Clarkson runs with the bench mob in Sexton’s spot (+70.1, 45 possessions). If anything remotely like that holds over a big chunk of the season, we might see more crossover from Sexton and Clarkson.

[/QUOTE]

been pretty obvious they are better with Sexton over Clarkson size be damned

[QUOTE]The goal, at least for now, is likely more about seeing what the Jazz have and fomenting [URL="https://saltcityhoops.com/what-matters-most-to-transitioning-jazz-part-2-development-identity/"]development[/URL], rather than losing or (gasp!) winning games. Folks with knowledge of how the front office is thinking say that the Jazz feel like this early success gives them more options, not fewer. They still have more unprotected picks than anybody and they have a bunch of capable players whose stock has likely risen with Utah’s head-turning start.

[/QUOTE]

the best picks are the Jazz losing a lot though

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2022/11/14/23459408/will-hardy-appears-to-be-the-biggest-steal-of-the-offseason-for-the-utah-jazz[/URL]

[QUOTE]Everyone in Jazzland was probably wondering the same thing after the departure of Udoka in Boston. Every report about Hardy was that he was a major part of what the Celtics did in Boston and, had he stayed in Boston, there’s no doubt he’d be head coach there.

[/QUOTE]

and he'd probably be trying to not to change much in Boston. Here he was able to do whatever he wanted.

[QUOTE]Mark it down as another early season W for the 10-win Jazz when so few were expected at this juncture. They appear to have replaced an eight-year fixture like Snyder with the right hire.

[/QUOTE]

any new hire was a win. COTM should have gone after the bubble. Might still have Gobert :cry:

[QUOTE]Now, with so many different paths the front office can take, one thing is clear, they need to find the right championship pieces for the roster. If they can do that, it’s clear that Hardy is the coach that can take them all the way.

[/QUOTE]

it's not clear. Sloan and COTM were great hires in the beginning. Once a coach gets comfortable he doesn't change. That's what has been great about Hardy. He's up for anything. See how he does when he has his stable unit playing for something big. Look forward to it!

[url]https://kslsports.com/495477/knicks-overcome-olynyk-jazz-in-utah/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Jazz Stars Struggle, New York Knicks Get First Win In Utah[/h][/QUOTE]

stars? :facepalm

[QUOTE]After opening the season on a tear, Jordan Clarkson’s efficiency has taken a steep drop.

[/QUOTE]

no one has ever watched Clarkson before? Mostly he sucks. He has a hot streak now and then

[QUOTE]Hardy faces an interesting dilemma with the last spot in his rotation. Fontecchio produces more statistically than Gay, but the Jazz were outscored by 19 in his limited minutes on the floor.

[/QUOTE]

and Gay they want to showcase for a trade ideally

[QUOTE]Fontecchio, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Ochaci Agbaji have long-term potential on the roster but haven’t proven they can help the team in the win column.

[/QUOTE]

Nickeil certainly has. He should be playing. The other two had their moments. Ochaci can play with the Stars until he's ready though. Yet to dominate down there like he needs to

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/16/23460169/utah-jazz-lose-to-new-york-knicks-second-chance-points-turnovers[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz went into the game against the Knicks ranked 27th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage. They’re just not getting to the rebounds that they’re working so hard to create and they’re 21st in the league allowing teams to score second-chance points, allowing 14.4 per game.

[/QUOTE]

these things tend to happen when you don't have the top rebounder in the league anymore

[QUOTE]He’s clearly a natural scorer and shooter but he’s also more athletic than maybe people would have assumed and he’s also got some good instincts and a great frame for defense. [/QUOTE]

he looks pretty good

Chris Fedor: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]#Cavs Donovan Mitchell (ankle) participated in shootaround today here in Milwaukee.[/URL] One of the last players to leave the floor like usual. Also, with a couple injuries, 2-ways Mamadi Diakite and Isaiah Mobley are both here in Milwaukee as opposed to being with the G League Charge
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor"]Twitter ChrisFedor[/URL]

Marc Stein: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Former Jazz swingman Miye Oni is signing with the @LondonLions in England,[/URL] league sources say, bringing a third former NBAer to the @EuroCup team alongside @Kosta Koufos and Sam @Sam Dekker. More NBA from me: marcstein.Substack.com
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine"]Twitter TheSteinLine[/URL]

[QUOTE] [URL="https://nypost.com/2022/11/17/knicks-not-planning-to-send-quentin-grimes-to-g-league/"]The Knicks appear to be against sending Quentin Grimes to the G-League to get in some reps[/URL]. Although the young guard didn’t play for the first time when healthy during Tuesday night’s win over the Jazz, as coach Tom Thibodeau trimmed his rotation to nine players, and hasn’t played much this season due to a nagging left foot injury, it doesn’t seem like Grimes will be going anywhere to get some games under his belt. “I think him being here with us is the best thing right now,” Thibodeau said of Grimes who did not pay in the Knicks’ 106-103 win over Nuggets on Wednesday night.

– via [URL="https://nypost.com/2022/11/17/knicks-not-planning-to-send-quentin-grimes-to-g-league/"]Zach Braziller @ New York Post[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

funny if he's the reason they didn't get Mitchell

[QUOTE] Gilgeous-Alexander also grades out as a considerably better defensive player than Booker and Mitchell, and he currently leads the Western Conference in steals per game. [URL="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/11/shai-gilgeous-alexander-nba-mvp-all-star-thunder-stats"]He has turned many of those possessions into scoring opportunities, and Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in transition scoring. In fact, if that continues by the end of the season, it would be the first time someone other than Giannis Antetokounmpo was able to wear that crown since 2017-18[/URL].

– via [URL="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/11/shai-gilgeous-alexander-nba-mvp-all-star-thunder-stats"]Bryan Kalbrosky @ For The Win[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

I said it months ago. He's the guy the Knicks should have been after

Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jazz announce Rudy Gay is out for at least two more weeks due to a finger sprain.[/URL] pic.twitter.com/1CPCx6dQ2o
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]

[QUOTE][QUOTE] “Hayward (currently out with a shoulder injury) is a gamble because it’s been five years since he was actually healthy,” one Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports. “But he’s only got one year after this one (at $31.5 million) and there are teams that probably need to take a gamble if they’re going to win a title—Dallas is one, and Miami. He’d be a good fit in Milwaukee or Phoenix, too, even New York. He has some versatility to his game. But again, can he stay on the floor? Is he worth the risk?
– via Sean Deveney @ Heavy.com[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

fits anywhere

[QUOTE][QUOTE] The [URL="https://heavy.com/sports/golden-state-warriors/james-wiseman-demoted-g-league/"]Warriors also could look to move Wiseman for general depth, which is a need for a team that ranks last in the NBA in bench net rating (minus-7.2). The likes of Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr., Utah’s Malik Beasley or Memphis’ Dillon Brooks would be ideal,[/URL] though the Warriors might have to give up too much (some combination of Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga and/or Moses Moody) to make salaries match for a deal to work. Knowing what a good fit Gary Payton II was before leaving for a payday in Portland this summer, the Warriors even could look to swap Wiseman to the Blazers to bring him back.

– via [URL="https://heavy.com/sports/golden-state-warriors/james-wiseman-demoted-g-league/"]Sean Deveney @ Heavy.com[/URL]


[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

has he even as good as Udoka?

When asked what the Heat were doing to answer their needs at power forward an Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney that the [URL="https://heavy.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-expected-to-target-96-million-point-guard-ahead-of-trade-deadline/"]Heat have more depth problems than in their front court. “They’ve been quiet on that lately. They looked at Jae Crowder, they hoped to get Utah to give up Jarred Vanderbilt—they want defense at that spot. They are not desperate, though.[/URL] They want to see what they have with guys like Caleb Martin, see how he handles that spot. They have other needs, too. Everybody assumes they’re worried about the power forward spot but they’re worried about the depth overall, too. It is something that they can address later in the year if they decide they don’t like what they have,” the executive told Heavy Sports.
– via [URL="https://heavy.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-expected-to-target-96-million-point-guard-ahead-of-trade-deadline/"]Thomas Darro @ Heavy.com[/URL]

The Athletic: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Royce O’Neale with the bucket for the win[/URL] Nets get a big W over Portland. @Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/Bkbv4pZalL

[HR][/HR] [INDENT] Royce O’Neale with the bucket for the win

Nets get a big W over Portland.
[URL="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]@BrooklynNets[/URL] [URL="https://t.co/Bkbv4pZalL"]pic.twitter.com/Bkbv4pZalL[/URL]

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) [URL="https://twitter.com/TheAthleticNBA/status/1593482246928859136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]November 18, 2022[/URL][/INDENT]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/TheAthleticNBA"]Twitter TheAthleticNBA[/URL]

Kevin Pelton: Per @Stathead, Royce [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]O’Neale joined Elvin Hayes, Mark Jackson, Larry Bird and Goran Dragic as the fifth player in their database to record a triple-double of precisely 11 points, rebounds and assists:[/URL] stathead.com/tiny/OWg9R
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/kpelton"]Twitter kpelton[/URL]




Alex Schiffer: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Royce O’Neale’s first triple-double comes in clutch fashion[/URL] as the tip-in clinched the Nets’ win over Portland. Kyrie is set to return on Sunday.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Alex__Schiffer"]Twitter Alex__Schiffer[/URL]

[URL="https://*********.com/team/portland-trail-blazers/"]rs[/URL]




Rudy Gobert: [URL="https://*********.com/social/tweets/"]I see youuuuu @Royce O’Neale[/URL]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/rudygobert27"]Twitter rudygobert27[/URL]

[QUOTE] [URL="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-the-jazz-keep-this-up-nba-scout-weighs-in-on-utahs-hot-start"]“They’re off to such a hot start, and they’ve got a lot of guys who are really confident,” the anonymous NBA scout told BasketballNews.com. “I’m a big Jordan Clarkson guy and he has really emerged.[/URL] He’s always been a scorer, but I think he knows that he has to be good night in and night out and he has to lead the charge for this team. Lauri Markkanen is killing it, and I’m really happy for him. This is what we thought Lauri Markkanen would be when the Bulls took him [No. 7 overall]. It took some time, but this is the guy we thought he might become.”

– via [URL="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-the-jazz-keep-this-up-nba-scout-weighs-in-on-utahs-hot-start"]Alex Kennedy @ basketballnews.com[/URL]





Anonymous NBA scout: [URL="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-the-jazz-keep-this-up-nba-scout-weighs-in-on-utahs-hot-start"]“I think Kelly Olynyk is a great veteran, and so is Mike Conley. They have a solid bench with Collin Sexton. I’m a Walker Kessler guy; I think he’s actually going to be a really good big.[/URL] And then they’ve got Talen Horton-Tucker… When they acquired Ochai Agbaji and Leandro Bolmaro, I thought those guys would get an opportunity to play, but they really haven’t gotten opportunities because there’s so much depth! They have a lot of veterans who have been very productive.”

– via [URL="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-the-jazz-keep-this-up-nba-scout-weighs-in-on-utahs-hot-start"]Alex Kennedy @ basketballnews.com[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

Clarkson will never be good every night. He's not a good shooter for starters

Rod Boone: Per league sources, [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Gordon Hayward, originally listed as doubtful for tonight’s game in Cleveland, is being upgraded to questionable[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/rodboone"]Twitter rodboone[/URL]

[QUOTE] The [URL="https://theathletic.com/3910489/2022/11/18/hawks-suns-john-collins-jae-crowder-trade-talk-shams-inside-pass/"]Knicks have shown a willingness to discuss Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley in trade talks,[/URL] league sources say, as a way to sort out the team’s glut at the guard position over the course of the season.

– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/3910489/2022/11/18/hawks-suns-john-collins-jae-crowder-trade-talk-shams-inside-pass/"]Shams Charania @ The Athletic[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

could have had Mitchell if you'd wanted to trade these guys a few months ago

[url]https://kslsports.com/495513/rudy-gay-injury-update/[/url]

[QUOTE]Gay has a $6.4 million player option to remain with the Jazz next season.

[/QUOTE]

ouch!

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/simone-fontecchio-has-the-juice/[/url]

[QUOTE]It took just two games for me to reach an unshakeable conclusion: Simone Fontecchio needs a permanent spot in the forward rotation for the Utah Jazz.

[/QUOTE]

with Gay out he will get his chances

[QUOTE]And so we all kind of thought Fontecchio would find more minutes immediately. Surely there was room in the rotation for instant super-spacing, quick decision-making and “give-a-shit” defense, right? Talen Horton-Tucker was still playing unremarkably, Kelly Olynyk didn’t really *need* to play 34 minutes a night, and there was little benefit to Rudy Gay’s presence on the floor.

[/QUOTE]

they've been good with Gay on the court. Talen has been playing well lately and is 21. Agree on Olynyk

[QUOTE]I’m bludgeoning you over the head with the theme here, but the energy and effort is constant with Fontecchio. This doesn’t matter much on its own, but it is always paired with immediate, correct decision making and scoring that creates the real edge on the court. Fontecchio finished a -19 against the Knicks, but that negative mark was almost entirely caused by his bench teammates missing shots or throwing the ball away, coupled with New York having a nice stretch of shot making.

[/QUOTE]

which is why plus/minus shouldn't be the main stat used as it seems to be anymore. Very noisy

[QUOTE]But, keeping the better-performing player on the bench also can mess up the vibes of a team, especially if that player is effectuating all the stuff the coach purportedly cares about. Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik may need to force the issue by removing that club from Hardy’s bag, if you will, by finding a departure path out of Salt Lake City for Gay.

[/QUOTE]

more on the owner when you're talking about cash

do they want to win is the question?

The Rally: “The Utah [URL="http://twitter.com/TheRally/status/1593742170724642817"]Jazz are another team, I’m told, that has made an inquiry and has shown interest in recent weeks and months.”[/URL] NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on trade talks surrounding Hawks big man John Collins.
[HR][/HR] [INDENT] "The Utah Jazz are another team, I'm told, that has made an inquiry and has shown interest in recent weeks and months."
NBA Insider [URL="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]@ShamsCharania[/URL] reports on trade talks surrounding Hawks big man John Collins. [URL="https://t.co/6L2PeTTXBX"]pic.twitter.com/6L2PeTTXBX[/URL]
— The Rally (@TheRally) [URL="https://twitter.com/TheRally/status/1593742170724642817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"]November 18, 2022[/URL][/INDENT]

– via [URL="http://twitter.com/TheRally/status/1593742170724642817"]Twitter[/URL]

Ben Anderson: Lauri [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Markkanen is the third player in @Utah Jazz history to score at least 38 points while shooting 80 percent from the field or better[/URL]. He joins Adrian Dantley and Karl Malone who last did it on January 8, 1998. #takenote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/bo7CpOVrYY
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]





Jarred Vanderbilt didn’t mince words and didn’t try to beat around the bush. “Lauri Markkanen is an All-Star,” he wrote on Twitter. “That’s it.” [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/19/23460366/lauri-markkanens-career-night-vs-suns-utah-jazz"]Currently, Markkanen is ranked 7th in points per game (22.2) among frontcourt players in the Western Conference and is second in that group in field goal percentage (54.4%).[/URL] The only player in the NBA with as many points per game and a higher effective field goal percentage than Markkanen (61.1%) is Stephen Curry (65.2%) The Jazz needed every bit of fight from Mike Conley on Friday night, they needed all of Malik Beasley’s 27 points off the bench, they needed every ounce of defense from Vanderbilt to eek out the 134-133 victory over Phoenix, and still, the team knew that Markkanen was the star of the show.
– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/19/23460366/lauri-markkanens-career-night-vs-suns-utah-jazz"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]

For a few games Rudy Gay had been favoring his left hand, shaking it out after plays and holding it in some sort of clear pain. He then missed Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks and later the Utah Jazz announced that he would miss at least two weeks. “Gay was examined Wednesday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing,” a statement from the team read. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/18/23467460/rudy-gay-sidelined-with-hand-sprain-simone-fontecchio-utah-jazz"]“The MRI revealed a third finger MCP joint sprain in his left hand. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/18/23467460/rudy-gay-sidelined-with-hand-sprain-simone-fontecchio-utah-jazz"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]

Sean Highkin: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Blazers say Nassir Little is questionable tomorrow vs. Utah with left calf soreness.[/URL] Nurkic and Winslow are off the injury report, Keon Johnson remains out.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/highkin"]Twitter highkin[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/495561/markkanen-beats-booker-suns/[/url]

[QUOTE]The veteran guard has now scored in double-digits in the Jazz’s last seven games and is averaging 18.6 points per game in his last five outings.

[/QUOTE]

how long until he replaces the bum? Feel like it's going in when he shoots. With Clarkson it's the opposite

[QUOTE]Jarred Vanderbilt continues to flirt with a triple-double. The forward had six points, eight assists, and 11 rebounds against the Suns.

[/QUOTE]not what I'd call flirting. 2 assists and two baskets is a lot

[url]https://kslsports.com/495548/utah-jazz-four-factors-week-four/[/url]

[QUOTE]Ochai Agabji has spent the last three games with the Salt Lake City Stars and is averaging 9.0 points and 4.3 rebounds, but is shooting only 30 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three.

[/QUOTE]

worrisome. He has to be one of the best players out there

[QUOTE]Leandro Bolmaro is averaging 10.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while connecting on a healthy 50 percent from the floor including 40 percent from the three-point line.

[/QUOTE]

hits the 3 he will be tough to keep off the floor

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50522274/jazz-respond-late-to-beat-blazers-and-take-over-top-record-in-west[/url]

and how many turnovers down the stretch for the bum. He was awful!

[url]https://kslsports.com/495625/jazz-own-top-record-in-west/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Jazz struggled with turnovers in his absence, coughing it up five times in the fourth quarter leading to easy Portland baskets. It nearly cost them the game.

[/QUOTE]

most of them by Clarkson!

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/20/23468897/mike-conley-awaiting-mri-results-on-left-knee-says-early-signs-are-positive[/url]

be hard without him and no pg

[URL]http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2htflaax[/URL]

get it done Danny!

Sarah Todd: A Blazers fan was escorted out of the arena tonight. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The fan, according to those who heard the exchanges, was directing racist comments toward Jordan Clarkson and then also flipped the players off for a long while. Sexton pointed the fan out to team security[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/NBASarah"]Twitter NBASarah[/URL]

Law Murray: A source close to Paul George tells @TheAthletic that [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]George does not believe that his knee soreness is serious and that he expects to play Monday night vs Jazz[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/LawMurrayTheNU"]Twitter LawMurrayTheNU[/URL]

[QUOTE] Approaching six months later, even though Collins is only in Year 2 of a five-year, $125 million contract extension, [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]sources say momentum is building on all sides to follow through on finding a new home for Collins this time[/URL].

– via [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com[/URL]





Any mention of the Hawks and trades, of course, is prone to thrust Collins’ name into the conversation. A report that the Suns have interest in Collins was forcefully shot down by Phoenix-based radio host and insider John Gambadoro, but league sources confirmed [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]Utah is among the teams to express interest in the Atlanta forward[/URL].

– via [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com[/URL]







John Gambadoro: Contrary to reports [URL="http://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/1593711633854963712?t=JF80kD0PXJYUfTSnEkJA4A&s=19"]the Phoenix Suns are NOT interested in Atlanta forward John Collins[/URL].
– via [URL="http://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/1593711633854963712?t=JF80kD0PXJYUfTSnEkJA4A&s=19"]Twitter[/URL]


[/QUOTE]
who do the Hawks want from the Jazz if anyone?





[QUOTE] There was a good bit of buzz that Phoenix was finally making progress on a Crowder deal — one that would likely land him with one of his most ardent suitors (Milwaukee). Yet no trade materialized and, [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]by week’s end, chatter had begun to resurface that Atlanta remains a potential Crowder destination and should not be discounted[/URL].

– via [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com[/URL]


[/QUOTE]
supposed to be a 3 team deal. Jazz in on this one?





[QUOTE] Yet another illustration of Utah’s apparent willingness to let its current team land wherever it lands in the standings without trying to offload more talent in the wake of the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades to prioritize draft position: One rival team official told me he thinks that [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]the Jazz are more likely to extend organizational favorite Jordan Clarkson’s contract before they consider trading him.[/URL] Clarkson, 30, is averaging career-highs in scoring (18.6 PPG) and assists (4.6 APG).

– via [URL="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-notes-on-a-sunday?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"]Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

why is it I'm the only one missing the great allure of ball pounding, prayers, bricks and turnovers? I could really like this team win or lose if not for that bum. :cry: