The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings: Keys to re-initiating a win streak

By Jared Woodcox

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 17: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings shoots against the Utah Jazz on January 17, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 17: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings shoots against the Utah Jazz on January 17, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 2: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 2, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 2: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 2, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Fix the lingering woes

As I mentioned, turnovers and lackluster three-point shooting have become a real issue for the Jazz of late. In the four games since returning to action after the break, the Jazz are averaging an astounding 18.3 turnovers per contest and shooting just 27 percent from three.

Neither one of those figures are anywhere close to resembling winning basketball, especially when you contrast them to what they put up during their 11-game win streak. In those 11 games, the Jazz turned the ball over just 13.6 times per game and shot an incredible 43.4 percent from deep.

If that three-point percentage was maintained throughout the entire season, it would be the best in the league, whereas that turnover rate would be seventh best. Utah played some great foes during that stretch and was still able to perform well, so the fact of the matter is that they need to simply get their mojo back and return to the groove they had just prior to the break.

And what better team to do that against than the lowly Sacramento Kings? Ideally, despite this game being the second in as many nights and on the road, the Jazz will be able to use this matchup as a major confidence builder that will allow them to get back to some of their basic strengths and build a new trend moving forward.

If the Jazz are to get into the playoffs, they’ll need to string together a nice run of wins. However, if they don’t get their turnovers and three-point shooting back to where they need to be, they may fall short tonight, not to mention in tougher games to come.

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