You can’t spell ‘Utah Jazz’ without the ‘J’ that characterizes their power.
Critics are quick to point out that the Utah Jazz live and die by the three. Thing is, though, these ever-sniping Jazzmen were never on life support during the regular season.
No, in compiling the outright best record in the NBA at 52-20, the squad remained either alone or tied atop the Western Conference standings from early February through Sunday’s 121-99 win at the Sacramento Kings (31-41). As a result, Utah earned the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the NBA Playoffs, which tips on Saturday following this week’s Play-In Tournament.
Furthermore, the Jazz managed this unmatched success despite All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley missing 40 games combined.
How? Well, there’s no question that All-Star center Rudy Gobert, who played in all but one outing, was invaluable every step of the way as a lethal defender, rebounder, and screen-setter. But aside from the big fella’s epic prowess, Utah pretty much made its living all year via living by the three…
The most remarkable Utah Jazz regular-season stat
Not only did the Utah Jazz set the all-time NBA record with their average of 16.7 makes from downtown per contest, but according to StatMuse, they also became the only team in history to knock down 10 or more 3-pointers every single game.
Every. Single. Game.
Moreover, only once was that count exactly 10. Plus, consider that of the 19 times any NBA team has ever drilled at least 25 trifectas in a game, four came at the hands of the 2020-21 Jazzmen.
Sure, these 3-point feats are hardly a shock given the roster’s sheer quantity of reliable outside weapons. After all, seven players each wound up with more than 100 made threes.
Pacing the group as a green-light specialist off the bench, leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jordan Clarkson tallied 208 splashes beyond the arc.
Now, after ensuring the top-seed-clinching victory in the regular-season finale with a game-high 33 points and a 6-for-12 clip from 3-point land, Clarkson’s 95 consecutive outings hitting at least one three sit in a tie with Klay Thompson for the fourth-longest streak in history.
Except for Clarkson, who shot 34.7 percent from deep for the season, no frequent Utah sharpshooter finished below 38.5 percent. Meanwhile, the team finished No. 4 in the league with its 38.9 percent.
All these numbers suggest the Jazz will confidently continue their widespread 3-point attack in the postseason. Of course, judging from their regular-season consistency, chances are they’ll find paydirt from outside at least 10 times in every battle.
And that steadiness might just prove to be the primary key in keeping the Utah Jazz alive and well long enough to experience the NBA Finals in July.