Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley is in a major funk
When the Utah Jazz acquired Mike Conley, they did so with the intention of acquiring an All-Star caliber point guard. For the most part, those intentions have gone fulfilled.
Conley has never been the type of All-Star who routinely looks to takeover. He doesn’t have the physical profile or skillset of a dominant player. Conley is subtle. He’s consistent and reliable. He provides his own impact, and he enhances the play of those around him.
This was Conley’s style even in his heyday. He averaged over 20 points per game in a season exactly once, in 2016-17 as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. Even then, he barely cracked the threshold at 20.5. He’s never been a human highlight reel: he comes to work and does his job.
Lately, he’s doing it somewhat poorly.
Utah Jazz point guard in slump
Over his last 10 games, Conley is averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 assists per game. It’s not a simple case of Conley deferring. He’s shooting 29.8% from the field and 27.1% from three-point range. The veteran floor general is in a funk.
Conley’s low maintenance brand of basketball is an offensive complement to both Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson. He provides elite floor spacing, and secondary ball-handling for when either primary initiator needs a break.
Unfortunately, 27.1% accuracy from long range hardly qualifies as “quality”.
Utah Jazz need Conley to turn it around
Conley also has a well-deserved reputation as a playoff performer. The Jazz will need him to break out of this slump in time to justify that reputation.
Otherwise, they can probably forget about any championship aspirations. As talented as Donovan Mitchell is, the Jazz will need more shot creation than he’s able to provide on his own. Jordan Clarkson has been, to put it lightly, unreliable this season.
If Conley begins to share that quality, the Jazz won’t have a prayer in the postseason.
Utah Jazz fans need not panic
Luckily, he probably will not. Mike Conley’s entire brand is consistency. Slumps happen, and professionals like Conley typically overcome them. We’re willing to bet he’ll be alright.
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We’re also willing to bet that most Utah Jazz diehards feel the same way.