The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings: Keys to finishing perfect in preseason

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 17: Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz shake hands before the game on March 17, 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 17: Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz shake hands before the game on March 17, 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 7, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 7, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Cut down the turnovers

Thus far, the Jazz have been guilty of a number of miscues. But perhaps none has been more egregious than their excessive turnovers. They’re averaging 18.3 turnovers per game, good for 21st among the 39 teams (including international squads) participating in NBA preseason. It’s expected that there will be some rust and sloppiness in preseason, but as a reference, that kind of excessive turnover rate would have been last in the league last season by a wide margin.

Therefore, in order to have success against an inexperienced Sacramento team, the Jazz will need to cut down on the giveaways. A team like the Kings that lacks much of Utah’s talent and depth isn’t going to have much chance at all of winning if the Jazz play a clean game, but if Utah continues to turn it over at that rate and give their foe easy chances, they could be in danger, even against a lackluster Sacramento squad.

Despite Grayson Allen’s solid play for a first-year player, the rookie has been the most guilty member of the Jazz in this regard as he’s coughed up the ball 3.3 times per contest. However, veteran Ricky Rubio hasn’t been much better as he’s averaging 2.5 turnovers per game while Royce O’Neale has put up 2.0.

One of the primary strengths of the Jazz heading into this season was their continuity from a year ago. However, based on the miscommunications and miscues that have led to so many turnovers, that trait hasn’t exactly shone through. Hopefully such will change in the final preseason game and we’ll see a cleaner and more in-sync Jazz team to close out the prelude to the regular season.

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