Utah Jazz: Report cards for every player in the rotation so far
Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler: D-
Recently, another publication strapped Butler with a severe F grade for his performance over the 2021-22 season so far.
We’d like to be more generous, but we can’t in good conscious shower the rookie with effusive praise. So far, Butler is 2/15 from the field over 7 games. Save for a well-rounded, albeit imperfect stat line vs the Houston Rockets, he hasn’t done much of anything.
Butler has flashed potential, and that’s all he’s really needed to do for the contending Jazz. As far as on-court production goes, however, he’s done very little to earn anything other than the bare minimum passing grade.
Utah Jazz forward Eric Paschall: C
What letter grade most encapsulates the thin line between “fine” and “meh”? That’s the letter grade Eric Paschall has earned over his brief tenure with the Utah Jazz so far. We went with C.
Surprisingly enough, his defense has been better than advertised. His Defensive Rating of 104 would represent a career high if the season finished today. On the other hand, the 9.0 points he’s averaging per 36 minutes would represent a career low.
That’s problematic when 104, while an improvement for the third-year forward, is still an ultimately mediocre Defensive Rating. Paschall is looking increasingly likely to get bumped out of the rotation in favor of Rudy Gay, but he’s been serviceable for the Jazzmen in the interim.
Utah Jazz center Hassan Whiteside: A
Without naming names, someone here at the J-Notes gave Whiteside’s signing a C+ letter grade heading into this season. Someone was wrong.
Whiteside has been fantastic for the Utah Jazz. His 16.1 points, 17.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per 36 minutes are impressive, but more importantly, he seems to have shed some of the questionable defensive habits he’s demonstrated in the past. His 92 Defensive Rating reflects a defender with career-best discipline and focus.
With Rudy Gobert on the floor, Quin Snyder is ensured an elite defensive center on the floor for his Jazz for at least 30 minutes a contest. Given Whiteside’s play throughout 2021-22 so far, that number is looking closer to 48.
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles: B
It’s somewhat difficult to assign Ingles a letter grade. He’s spent the 2021-22 season so far just doing what Joe Ingles does.
If you’re into athletically limited role players who find ways to make a large impact on the margins, Ingles deserves an A+. His 2.2 Box Plus Minus (BPM) is fourth on the team, behind only the star-studded trio of Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley.
That’s impressive. Still, we’re docking the feisty Aussie a little bit for getting ejected 5 minutes into the Jazz’s first contest with the Sacramento Kings. Ingles’ status as one of the league’s premiere irritants is a boon to the Jazz, but not when he’s getting ousted like Jazzy Jeff on Uncle Phil’s nerves 5 whole minutes into a game.
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson: F
There’s no kind way to say this: Jordan Clarkson has been absolutely awful for the Utah Jazz through their first seven games.
He’s shooting 33.6% from the field and 20% from deep. He’s got a -6.0 BPM. Of course he does: he’s shooting 33.6% from the field and 20% from deep.
This NBA season is still young, and Clarkson has ample time to turn the season around. As it currently stands, there’s no way to give the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year a passing grade.