The Utah Jazz need these three players to step up against the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz are going to meet on Monday night in what will be a battle of the underperforming teams. Both teams are 2-5 on the season, and both teams had loftier expectations to start this season. The Bulls were being optimistic, but the Jazz, we thought, were being realistic. Yet, despite the Jazz, on paper, looking like the better bet to make the playoffs this year, both teams are in the same spot.
For the Bulls, it’s just a situation of making a lot of big moves that didn’t work and some draft picks that went bad, and now the team is handcuffed into this situation. The Jazz, however, seemingly improved their roster but are playing so much worse with supposed “better” players. The problem in Salt Lake City centers around selfish play and awful chemistry.
A more rectifiable situation to be in, but one the Jazz may not do anything to fix. So if the Jazz aren’t willing to make any moves, then the team has to hope that the coaches and players can fix the issues that exist. And these are the three players with the most to fix.
Jordan Clarkson
When it comes to guys who need to improve the most, it’s Jordan Clarkson. We recently stated that he should be benched, alongside Talen Horton-Tucker, due to how bad they’ve been. Yet, we’re giving Clarkson the benefit of the doubt simply because he’s had a track record of better player; Horton-Tucker, not so much. The Jazz needs Clarkson’s scoring and if he can have a big night, with great efficiency, it’ll help us feel good about his role going forward.
Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn hasn’t been getting the minutes he really deserves, but he’s also not been shooting the ball well. While he’s a defensive-minded player normally, he does still need to be competent from the floor. He’s necessary to the team, but he has to be more effective with the ball in his hands to see more realistic playing time.
John Collins
As far as struggling players go, John Collins isn’t the guy you first think of, and for good reason; he’s been playing fine. Which is part of the problem, fine isn’t what the Utah Jazz signed up for. It was one thing to expect 15 points and nine rebounds when the team was supposed to be an offensive juggernaut but now the team is struggling to score points, and Collins needs to step up and help the team achieve that goal. More specifically, he’s got to get better on defense, as he’s been one of the worst starters the team has right now on that side of the court. And that’s saying something.