Utah Jazz: Lessons learned from this season’s wins and losses

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 19: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 19, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Shooting consistency is important

Is this one too obvious? Too on the nose?

This is going to be the case for most teams, but one of the biggest concerns for the Jazz has been their lack of offensive consistency. For the most part, they are getting the shots they want…they simply aren’t making them.

Even if it requires a roster change, the Utah Jazz have to consider doing whatever it takes to add some shooting. Via @jaredwoodcox https://t.co/2AMczXVTzw
— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) November 17, 2018

Despite the Jazz often taking the right shots, sometimes you don’t have the horses. Not to toot my own horn, but during free agency I was preaching that the Jazz needed to target shooting, shooting, and more shooting. They didn’t do it. While I understood the decision to stand pat, it is beginning to backfire on the team.

In the article linked above, Jared Woodcox explained this issue well:

"Part of this trend has to do simply with misfortune. The Jazz won’t continue to shoot under 20 percent from three, I can almost guarantee it. They’re simply in a bit of a slump. But another part of it is that they simply don’t have the shooting necessary or the spacing on offense to be a force from the 3-point line or really anywhere on the floor."

With the defense struggling, the Jazz need to find a way to resolve their shooting woes, because it has shown to be one of the biggest variances to winning and losing right now.

In their wins, the Jazz are shooting an impressive 48.5 percent from the field, including 35 percent from the three-point line, and an effective field goal percentage of 55.4 percent.

On the flip side, they are shooting just 43 percent overall, 30.9 percent from three, and their effective field goal percentage drops to 49.1 percent during losses this season.

One of the most shocking percentages though, is that the Jazz are shooting 76 percent from the free throw line in their wins, compared to a putrid 66.5 percent in their losses. At nearly 28 attempts per game, that is a lot of free points left on the table. For the month of November, they are only shooting 67 percent at the line.

Whether through a trade or practice, the Jazz need to improve their shooting consistency.