The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz-Milwaukee Bucks: Keys to sweeping the season series

By John Keeffer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball while being guarded by Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz and teammate Raul Neto #25 during their game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 25, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball while being guarded by Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz and teammate Raul Neto #25 during their game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 25, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 4: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz looks to pass against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 4: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz looks to pass against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Get back to moving the ball

During Utah’s recent six-game win streak, their ball movement was spectacular. The ball was rarely sticking on any one person, but players were driving and kicking, and then the ball was being swung around the perimeter for wide open shots.

In the last two games that ball movement has started to fade, and the Utah offense has looked sluggish at times.

During the win streak, Utah was averaging 28 assists a game. That was second in the NBA over that stretch, behind only the Warriors. They were facing two top 10 defenses in the Thunder and the Rockets, but in the two most recent losses that number has dropped 17.5 assists. There were some missed open shots that would’ve been assists, but all in all, the ball was just not moving in the same way.

The Jazz also had an O-Rating of 123 during those two weeks, which was best in the NBA. The last two games that offensive rating dropped to 99.9, which is bottom ten. This is just a two-game sample size, but in order for the Jazz to defeat the Bucks, they’ll need to get back to their passing ways.

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