Utah Jazz first-quarter grades: Derrick Favors leads crowded PF spot

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz scores against the Sacramento Kings in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz scores against the Sacramento Kings in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
2 of 5
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 26: Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on after a foul was called on him against the Indiana Pacers in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 26, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 26: Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on after a foul was called on him against the Indiana Pacers in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 26, 2018 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

Thabo Sefolosha

As I mentioned, Thabo Sefolosha hasn’t exactly gotten off to a riveting start this season. Sure, he’s bouncing back from an injury that held him back for much of last season and he’s had even less chance to shake off rust due to the five-game suspension he served to start out the year, but the results so far are pretty underwhelming.

Sefolosha is shooting just 27.3 percent from the field and an abysmal 14.3 percent from deep. Yeah, the sample size is pretty small, but that’s still quite awful. Not only that but his numbers are down across the board, and he’s third worst on the team in terms of plus/minus at minus-3.5.

Sure, his opportunities have been limited, but Sefolosha hasn’t really done anything to bolster the Jazz so far this season on either end of the floor and hasn’t taken advantage of the short minutes he’s received. As such, I feel completely justified giving him a tough grade. I imagine he’ll get back on track to some degree this season, but up to this point, his outlook doesn’t look great.

First-quarter grade: D