Utah Jazz Crush Lakers, 23 Days Until The Regular Season

Is there a better way to start the preseason than with a crushing win? The Utah Jazz tipped off their campaign by choking the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter and trotting to a 90-71 win.

There were some excellent performances for the Jazz, most notably from Derrick Favors and Raul Neto. Expect Coach Q to play reserves and other players that are auditioning for roster spots more often in the next game versus the Lakers.

On One Hand:

Was the game a sign of things to come for Neto?

With Favors toiling without help in the paint and Nick Young and Lou Williams hitting shots to keep Lakers in the lead, Neto’s pestering on-ball defense changed it all in the second half. He applied full-court pressure, hit the floor for loose balls and created numerous deflections.

His passing was showman like. No-look passes, cross-court vision, out of trap visibility–he showed the whole package last night. He did not hit his shots, but his shooting mechanics are far better than those of Ricky Rubio, a player to whom he has been compared. He is also deceptively quick and has size.

Does Trey Burke need to worry? Probably not right now, after just one game. With that said, Trey and Favors share a great connection in pick-n-roll, but,that’s about it. Burke will lose the spot if he does not increase his shooting efficiency, because his defense isn’t there yet.

It is important to note that this is preseason and Neto played against bench players. It was also his first NBA game–hence the adrenaline was naturally high. We should reserve judgment at least until we get some sample size.

The Other Hand:

Either Roy Hibbert has lost strength or Rudy Gobert has gained significantly. Last year, Hibbert came to Utah and dominated Gobert with sheer power. However, in last night’s game, he struggled to post up on the Stifle Tower.

Gobert was able to hold his ground and challenge shots (except for one possession where Hibbert used the elbow to knock Rudy off-balance). This is huge for Jazz, as it allows Gobert to handle some of the bulkier centers in the NBA.

On the whole, the Jazz frontline is enormous. Pleiss is an easy find under the basket and a good rebounder. Jeff Withey, if he sticks with the team, is a solid third center. Trey Lyles did not have much to show on the scoreboard, but was active on the floor–I liked his game yesterday and how he played within the flow of the contest.

For the Lakers, D’Angelo Russell is a keeper. He can shoot, but passes even better. He is going to be a tough guard in the coming years. I would trade Clarkson when the demand is high and get a shot-making SG.

Wow:

This pass should not have happened. How in the world did he see Tibor (granted, he is seven-foot-three)–

Other Things:

Father time might be catching up with Kobe Bryant, but the Lakers are not putting him in a great spot to succeed. He should not be guarding small forwards at this age. Gordon Hayward blew by Kobe a couple of times and took him to post on other possessions. Kobe is better off staying at the two, where he can at least post up on his defender on offense. I understand the rationale behind Kobe at the three, but this will be as effective as having JJ Hickson as a center.

Mahalo for reading. Can’t wait for the season to start.

Next: Utah Jazz Season Countdown Begins (24 Days To Go)

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