Ranking the Utah Jazz’s FIBA 5 after the first two rounds of the tournament
By Chad Porto
Team Finland’s Lauri Markkanen – Power Forward
Per Game Average – 26.7 minutes, 24.8 points (50% overall, 67.3% from TWO, 25% from THREE, 89.5 FT) 8 rebounds, -4 BPM, 24 EFF
Lauri Markkanen had arguably the best all-around scoring performance for anyone on the Utah Jazz, and maybe in the entire FIBA as a whole. No one, through the first five games, had as many points scored and at a rate of success that Markkanen had. To shoot nearly 70% from inside the line is a huge feat and one that shouldn’t be dismissed so easily.
Yes, Finish only won two games, and the Finnisher didn’t shoot great from three, but everything about Markkanen’s run in the FIBA World Cup should give fans of the Utah Jazz some serious optimism. He was on arguably the worst roster of any of the 32 teams in the tournament, and he somehow still carried them to two wins in the Classification Group Play round.
Had he not been on the team, it’s likely the Finnish wouldn’t win a game, let alone make the tournament. Markkanen showed that he’s an elite scorer and he should be in line to repeat his success from the prior year with the Utah Jazz this year.
Another All-Star nod shouldn’t be the goal, it should be the expectation.