Grading the Opening Weeks of the 2016-17 Utah Jazz Season
By Ryan Aston
The Offseason Acquisitions
Most of the hype surrounding the Utah Jazz this season has been inspired by the acquisition of George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw over the summer. It’s not hard to see why — point guard play, big man depth and veteran playmaking were probably Utah’s biggest areas of need after missing the playoffs last season.
In Hill, Johnson and Diaw, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey managed to check all three boxes while keeping the core intact.
Having said that, injuries have kept the trio from realizing their full potential in the Jazz system.
Hill has been fantastic. He already managed to capture Western Conference Player of the Week honors and is averaging 21 points and four assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor and 47 percent from three-point range. The Jazz have been a different team when he’s been on the floor.
Unfortunately, he’s lost eight games to a thumb injury. Diaw has also scuffled through injuries, playing in just eight of Utah’s 17 contests. The Frenchman is just now starting to find his feet after a rough start to the season. On the year he’s averaging only 3.3 PPG on 29 percent shooting, but is definitely trending upward.
Meanwhile, Johnson has been solid, if unspectacular. Following a 29-point outburst against the Blazers on opening night, Iso Joe has settled in to average 8.9 points in just under 25 minutes per game. He’s also been solid from the field (44 percent), from three-point range (40 percent), as well as at the free throw line (89 percent)
Newbie Grade: B
Next: The Starting Five