Utah Jazz: 2 studs and 1 dud from win vs Bucks

Utah Jazz stud: Mike Conley

Mike Conley is one member of the Utah Jazz who has not been mired in a shooting slump to begin the 2021-22 NBA season. He’s shooting 43.3% from three-point range. Instead, questions surrounding Conley revolve almost exclusively around his availability.

Those questions may stand, but he was certainly available for the Jazz in Sunday night’s contest.

Conley finished this one with 20 highly efficient points, shooting 6/11 from the field and 4/7 from three-point range. Interestingly, the cerebral point guard also finished this game with 2 assists. However, Conley has never been a player who could rightfully be accused of stat-padding.

His play against the Bucks was consistent with his brand. He was patient and very selective in deciding when to attack and when to defer. Donovan Mitchell is the engine of this Utah Jazz offense, and Conley knows it. Against the Bucks, he interchangeably functioned as a floor-spacer and an on-ball attacker depending on the situation.

Such fluidity is a valuable commodity in the modern NBA. No longer is it exclusively the point guard’s role to facilitate the offense, leaving the shooting guard to work off-ball. Donovan Mitchell, as we’re sure Mike Conley would agree, deserves plenty of reps on the ball.

It’s also worth noting that Conley was -3 in this contest. In fact, he was the only member of the Utah Jazz to post a negative plus/minus. Chalk that up as a noisey statistic. Lineups featuring him alongside Jordan Clarkson ran into some trouble last night, however, that blame has to be placed squarely with the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

Continue reading to find out why.