Utah Jazz: New Year’s Resolutions for Each Player
Jae Crowder: Keep On Chuckin’
This may not be a popular resolution, as many Jazz fans have expressed incredulity over the volume and difficulty of three-point shots attempted by Jae Crowder thus far this season. What they might not realize is that Crowder is hitting over a third of those distance attempts on the season.
The math is simple: Shooting over 33 percent from three translates to over one point per shot attempt. In other words, it’s more efficient than the average two-point jumper from the average NBA player.
Additionally, Jae’s willingness to fearlessly shoot (in the same way we hope Ingles will be doing this year) has been a difference maker for the Utah Jazz in multiple games so far this year, oiling the Jazz’ offense and providing a scoring punch that has been badly needed at times.
Haters and doubting fans notwithstanding, keep chuckin’, Jae. The Jazz’ offense needs you to.
Raul Neto: Bring the Defensive Energy
Faced with fewer rotation minutes (directly tied to the rise of Dante Exum), Raul Neto must make his impact felt as much as possible in limited floor time.
Effective as an offensive force, Neto is shooting a career-best 64.3 percent from two point range while creating well for his teammates as well. Where he could stand to improve is on the defensive end of the court.
Not lacking for intelligence and heart, Raul doesn’t take defensive plays off, but his physical profile puts him at a decided disadvantage when matched up with many of the NBA’s guards, backups or otherwise. Basically, it’s hard for a player his size to bring enough offensively to counterbalance the defensive liability.
If Neto wants to raise his profile in the Jazz’ rotation, he’ll need to not only continue his efficient offensive production; he’ll need to find a way to play pesky enough defense to stand out (or at least not get run over) on that side of the court as well.
Dante Exum: Keep the Turnovers Low
Dante Exum’s upside is well-known by now: He is blindingly fast, defensively smothering, and unselfish. But time and time again, Quin Snyder has yanked him off the floor for recurring reasons: poor decision-making and (resultant) turnovers.
Exum showed out vs. the Knicks recently, shining in the absence of Utah Jazz starting point guard Ricky Rubio. Collecting 13 points, 13(!) assists and only one(!) turnover, Dante showed exactly what Coach Snyder has been begging him for: mature, collected, productive play.
Many Jazz fans are understandably delighted by Exum’s recent breakout performances, but if he is to stay on the floor in 2019, he’ll need to show Quin that he can take care of the ball and play with the same offensive aggression he showed vs. New York.