Utah Jazz: Jordan Clarkson in shock after hearing of coach’s praise

The Utah Jazz’s latest win left even Jordan Clarkson talking about defense.

Jordan Clarkson seemed to mimic either Jim Mora or Allen Iverson while talking to the media following Sunday’s 118-114 road victory over the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns (49-12). Except it was neither the playoffs nor practice that served as a trigger for the Utah Jazz guard.

No, it was talk of his defense.

Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune informed Clarkson of Jazz head coach Quin Snyder’s praise for his D minutes earlier. And Utah’s veteran volume shooter — rarely known for thievery on the other end of the floor as a career less-than-a-steal-per-game wing defender — initially responded with shock before giving a straightforward explanation for his heightened efforts:

“DEFENSE? What is that? I’m playing. I’m playing…What are we doing? Second half of the season. Lock it down. Do what we got to do. Start playing in playoff mode [this last stretch]…Sacrifice. Do what we go to do to get wins and get ready for this playoff run.”

Finally, Clarkson, per his usual upbeat self, exited stage left with an extra sprinkle of humor, shouting out a quote straight out of the Mora and Iverson playbook:

“DEFENSE? YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT DEFENSE?”

Not only did Clarkson often play a critical role in Utah getting timely stops against Devin Booker & Co., but his defensive instincts also played a noteworthy part in holding Phoenix’s reserves to a combined 11 points.

A more willing Utah Jazz passer as well

His game-high plus-minus of +20 is further evidence of Jordan Clarkson’s all-around excellence against the Suns, especially in the second half. So too, of course, is the rest of his stat line from the statement W: 22 points, 10-for-17 shooting from the field, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and only one turnover in 26 minutes of action.

The third-year Jazzman made special note of improvements he’s witnessing in his own game when it comes to decision-making, pointing to his assist on Danuel House Jr.’s 3-point splash that gave Utah a nine-point lead with less than five minutes to play:

“A big step for me was when I had Jae Crowder in the iso; I kicked it to House in the corner, and he knocks down the three. Those are plays I got to keep continuing to make, especially when I have that opportunity to kind of iso and get past my man. I know I can do a good job of getting into the paint and getting past my man and making another person commit.”

Clarkson continued:

“But I don’t think I have been willing to make that pass earlier in the year or whatever it is. It’s just growth, study, the time you put in, the coaching staff just bringing it to my attention. It’s just the growth of us…It’s part of the process of what we want to do to win.”

Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz (38-22), still No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, have a couple of days off before a road contest against the cellar-dwelling Houston Rockets (15-45) at 6 p.m. MT Wednesday.

Stay tuned to The J-Notes for more Utah Jazz news and views.