The J-Notes
Fansided

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

By John Keeffer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 9: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz speaks to the media after the game against the Boston Celtics on November 9, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home 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 - NOVEMBER 9: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz speaks to the media after the game against the Boston Celtics on November 9, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home 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) /
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 24: Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket defended by PJ Tucker #17 of the Houston Rockets and Michael Carter-Williams #1 in the first half at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 24: Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket defended by PJ Tucker #17 of the Houston Rockets and Michael Carter-Williams #1 in the first half at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Faster Pace = Winning

One of the common complaints I am seeing among Jazz fans, is the lack of intensity the team seems to be playing with during their losses. The pace of play discrepancy would definitely back that complaint up.

During their wins this season, the Jazz have a pace of play of 101.56, which would rank about 13th in the league. In their losses, that number drops down to 98.8, which would rank fourth to last.

During the preseason, the Jazz looked like they were going to be one of the faster teams in the league. Slowly but surely, they seem to have lost that, and are morphing into an entirely half-court team. In a league that is playing faster and smarter, it would be nice to see the Jazz pushing the pace to where they are consistently at or above a pace of 100.

They would also do well to slow the pace down for the other team.  Transition defense was once a staple of this team. They didn’t bother for offensive rebounds, but instead would get back on defense and would force teams to score on them in the half-court. This season? Things like the below video are happening much too often.

That was after a miss, but you can see that the team defense was simply getting back too slowly and not playing with the intensity needed. With an inconsistent offense, and a defense that is not currently living up to their standards, playing at a faster pace could open things up for the Jazz offensively. On the flip side, they need to play to their strengths defensively by getting back quickly and forcing teams to beat them in the half-court.

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