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Utah Jazz: It’s time for Naz Mitrou-Long to get an opportunity

By Josh Padmore

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 29: Naz Mitrou-Long #30 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball in a NBA game against the New York Knicks at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 29, 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 - DECEMBER 29: Naz Mitrou-Long #30 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball in a NBA game against the New York Knicks at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 29, 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) /
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The Utah Jazz are extremely short-handed in the backcourt due to injuries. Two-way player Naz Mitrou-Long is deserving of an opportunity.

Currently, third-string point guard Raul Neto is Utah’s only healthy point guard on the main roster. That says all you need to know about the health of the Utah Jazz’s backcourt. Ricky Rubio injured his hamstring against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Dante Exum is out for multiple weeks due to an ankle injury, and you also have a guy capable of playing point guard in Grayson Allen dealing with an ankle sprain.

While the Jazz will surely play guys like Joe Ingles and Donovan Mitchell in a backup point guard role, as well as their normal starting spots, I think two-way player Naz Mitrou-Long deserves a shot. The second year pro out of Iowa State plays the guard position and is a heck of a shooter.

I understand you’re playing to win, and playing a guy with only three games of NBA experience isn’t exactly the winning formula, but I’m not suggesting he should play big minutes. A handful of minutes would be nice for him. If he proves himself in those limited minutes, maybe they’ll increase.

One similar example I would like to provide comes from Indiana. The Indiana Pacers’ star Victor Oladipo missed 11 games due to injury earlier this season. Rookie Aaron Holiday was called upon in the game Oladipo was injured in, and he delivered. He was a regular part of the rotation after that. All it takes is one opportunity. Through 36 minutes of Holiday’s first two games playing real NBA minutes, he scored a total of 31 points and made 5-of-8 three-pointers.

Yes, Holiday was a first-round draft pick and highly touted, while Mitrou-Long was undrafted in 2017, but you get my point. When opportunity strikes, anyone can take advantage. Jeremy Lin is a walking example of that as well.

Next. Utah Jazz: Bucks loss smarts, but Rubio’s injury is the real killer. dark

Time will tell if Quin Snyder decides to give Mitrou-Long a long look, pun intended. Last season with the Salt Lake City Stars, Naz averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game on a monstrous nine three-point attempts. I’m telling you, the kid can shoot. This season with the Stars, he’s averaged 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

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