Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale
7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game
Royce O’Neale is a consummate “beyond the stats” guy. The number that leaps out from those basic counting stats is 1.3. That’s a good mark in steals per game.
Still, valuing O’Neale requires a deeper dive. His 1.9 DBPM trails only Rudy Gobert on the Utah Jazz. He’s also hitting a career best 41.1% of his three-point tries. His True Shooting percentage (TS%) of 65.2% is essential to the Jazz’s overall efficiency.
About the only thing holding O’Neale’s grade back is his failure to make significant advancements in terms of playmaking or shot creating. He’s having a nearly perfect season.
Grade: A
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell
25.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals per game
Assigning Mitchell a grade is hard. He has the toughest job on the Utah Jazz: it feels like he should be beyond reproach.
In any event, he’s having a great season. A little more efficiency might earn him a perfect score. Alas, his 36.2% conversion rate from downtown is his worst mark since his sophomore season. He’s been a little streaky this year, so we’re docking him ever-so-slightly.
Grade: A
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley
13.8 points, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals per game
The Utah Jazz didn’t acquire Mike Conley to give them 40 point performances. You expect solid, reliable, game managing play from the NBA veteran.
Still, Conley’s been a bit quiet this season, even on his own standard. While his efficiency is superb (57.8 TS%) his volume could stand an uptick. He’s had a few too many games this season which have seen him disappear entirely.
Grade: B