Hood, Mitchell and Ingles must provide offense
Last week, the Jazz offense hit a low point. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, they shot 30.3 percent from the field, and a meager 23.1 percent from distance. They weren’t taking erratic shots or breaking away from the offense to force things. Instead, the shots just weren’t falling.
I was at that game; it was hard to watch. They kept things close with their typical solid defense, but lost to the Sixers, 104-97.
Jazz lose 104-97. Man, what a catastrophe. Some selected shooting nights for your perusal:
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) November 8, 2017
Donovan Mitchell 3-21 FG
Ricky Rubio 4-16 FG
Rodney Hood 4-13 FG
Joe Ingles 6-16 FG
Derrick Favors 2-7 FG
Raul Neto 1-5 FG
Alec Burks 0-3 FG
Looking to rebound against the Miami Heat, they started off strong in the first half, only to completely fall apart in the second, making only one field goal during the third quarter, and only four field goals in the entire second half.
Moreover, they didn’t make a single three, and shot an absolutely dreadful 12.1 percent from the field.
The Jazz rebounded against the Brooklyn Nets, and they will have to carry that momentum into Monday’s matchup against the Timberwolves.
The Jazz don’t have a ton of shooters, so they need those who are capable to make shots. I know that sounds obvious, but this is a make or miss league. That was the case against the Nets, as Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points, Rodney Hood with 19 and Joe Ingles with 17.
Rodney Hood ties the game at the end of Q1!
— NBA (@NBA) November 12, 2017
Entering Q2, the @utahjazz & @BrooklynNets are tied at 25!
📺: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/sXmktsVb1R
On average, Minnesota scores 10 more points per game than the Jazz. Much of that production comes from their star wings, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins. For the Jazz to have a chance to win this game, they are going to need our go-to wings to match the scoring output of Butler and Wiggins.
Since being moved to the bench, Hood has played with much more aggression on the offensive end. We billed Hood as the No. 1 offensive option, and maybe he still is, but some players just feel more comfortable coming off the bench. That will need to continue.
Mitchell is looking more and more comfortable playing against NBA defenses, and is building a case for Rookie of the Year honors.
If the wings can carry over the momentum from the Nets victory, the Jazz will have a strong opportunity to win this game.