The J-Notes
Fansided

The Utah Jazz are undefeated with Ricky Rubio out of the lineup

By Josh Padmore

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 01: Ricky Rubio (3) of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 1, 2019 at the 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 01: Ricky Rubio (3) of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 1, 2019 at the 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Debates may rage about the efficacy of Ricky Rubio on the Utah Jazz roster, but their perfect record with him sidelined is undoubtedly concerning.

Ricky Rubio has frustrated many Utah Jazz fans with his up-and-down play this season. To those fans’ pleasure, the Jazz haven’t lost a game in which Rubio doesn’t play all season long.

To those fans’ demise, the Utah Jazz are only one game above .500 with Ricky Rubio in the lineup, holding a record of 27-26. If it weren’t for those eight games Rubio has missed, the Jazz could be on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.

Now, fans shouldn’t wish injury upon Rubio or anything like that. That would be inhumane. I don’t blame them if they hope this is Rubio’s last season as a Jazzman, though. No matter how you look at it, the Jazz record with and without #3 is eye-opening.

The interesting thing is, Raul Neto has missed six of those eight games in which Rubio was out. Neto started in one of those two games that he was available in. Essentially, I could have written a headline about the Jazz’s record when Donovan Mitchell starts at point guard. They’re 7-0 when Mitchell is at point.

Now, let’s break down the opponents the Jazz have played with Rubio on the sidelines. They beat the Denver Nuggets Thursday night, which was extremely impressive considering the Nuggets have the best home record in the NBA. Beyond that, they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers in the other seven games.

Denver is the only established playoff team among the group. Every other team are squads that the Jazz are unquestionably better than. It would definitely be more impressive if the Jazz were undefeated without Rubio against better teams, but it is what is. It all evens out.

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Considering Rubio is dealing with hamstring tightness, he very well could miss more games. The hamstring can really nag, and Rubio has already missed multiple games this season due to his hamstring. If the the Jazz can get a win Saturday night, against the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks, they’ll have some bragging rights regarding their Rubio-less team.

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