Utah Jazz: New Year’s Resolutions for Each Player

Derrick Favors:  Become a Respected Three-Point Shooter

It’s true that distance shooting will never be the biggest part of Derrick Favors‘ game for the Utah Jazz.

But at 30.6 percent, Derrick is shooting the three more effectively than at any other point in his nine-year career. While not an elite mark by any stretch (pun intended), it’s a promising upward trend for a player who has worked hard to add to his tool belt.

Jazz fans don’t need to be reminded how advantageous it is for Rudy Gobert to play with a power forward who can stretch the defense out to the perimeter. If Favors can increase his already-improved three-point shooting percentage, not only will his personal productivity take a step; the whole roster will benefit as well.

Joe Ingles:  Have No Conscience

It may not be your typical New Year’s resolution, but Jingles is no typical NBA player.

As the founding member of Utah’s “Splash Uncles,” Joe Ingles is now a career 41-percent three-point shooter, and his offensive speed and fluidity have improved each year with the Utah Jazz. He’s dropped long-range bombs on every team imaginable, scored off the dribble in creative ways, and even outmatched Paul George in a playoff series.

Now it’s time for Uncle Joe to take the gloves off and play without hesitation, conscience, or apology.

Many Jazz fans have been left scratching their heads when Ingles passes up an open three (or hesitates before shooting), or even forgoes an easy shot at the rim in the interest of setting up his teammates. No one doubts Joe’s team-first mentality and selflessness (these are good things, after all), but fans are itching for Jinglin’ Joe to fire away as much as possible.

With the exception of Kyle Korver, no Utah Jazz player can fill it up from distance as efficiently as Ingles. The math agrees with the eye test: he should hoist the ball every single time he gets a sliver of daylight in 2019.

Royce O’Neale:  Playmake, Playmake, Playmake

As part of the new-look Jazz bench mob, Royce O’Neale‘s role isn’t all that clearly defined.

Not exactly the ball handler, not really the shooter, not precisely the distributor, Royce needs to carve out his own role if he doesn’t want to be buried on the Jazz’ depth chart as the season rolls on.

To be fair, O’Neal’s production hasn’t really fallen off from last year’s pleasantly surprising rookie campaign. But if Royce really wants to reach his full potential on this roster, he needs to lean heavily on his most underappreciated skill: playmaking.

Thought of primarily a B-list 3-and-D wing, O’Neale is sneakily very competent when driving to the rim and looking to create for others. His passing vision is so crisp, in fact, that he often makes highly difficult passing reads look simple and natural.

Although his finishing at the rim isn’t elite, Royce can command more gravity on offense if he is looking to drive into the paint than if he is merely spaced to the corner. And when that gravity pulls in opposing players, few players on the Utah Jazz roster are as capable of delivering a smart, on-target pass to the open shooter as O’Neale.