Ace Bailey quietly turned a corner Jazz can't afford to overlook

Among what we've learned about the Utah Jazz is that hotshot rookie Ace Bailey may take a little longer to develop than we all anticipated. That may not be the best news after the Cody Williams debacle last season. However, even if Bailey hasn't exploded onto the scene, he is proving himself to be an all-around player that the Jazz definitely need.

Many thought Bailey would be an electric scorer, capable of scoring 20 points on any given night. His preseason performance seemed to indicate just that. However, the most he's scored in a game, five games into his career, is eight, and his shooting percentages have been abysmally low, shooting 25% from the field and 16.7% from three-point range.

However, even if the scoring hasn't been there, Bailey has shown that he can play with in a team's scheme. He hasn't exactly been John Stockton, but Bailey has shown that he can make the right play when the opportunity presents itself.

In the Jazz's most embarrassing loss of the season against the Phoenix Suns, Bailey also snared eight rebounds, showing that he has a nose for the boards. Even if he's not scoring, he is also showing the mindset of a winning player.

Take the following play against the Suns. Bailey missed a floater pretty badly, but instead of putting his head down to mope, he hustled while defending Phoenix's fast break, thwarting the Suns' scoring attempt, which led to Lauri Markkanen hitting a three.

It may not what be what the fans prefer, but it's what they should appreciate about Bailey. Despite not dominating, he's doing what he can. In due time, his dominance will come, even if it may take longer than many had hoped.

And it's not like the Jazz are struggling to score

The Jazz's offense has actually been humming pretty well, with much of it thanks to a certain Finnish All-Star looking like himself again and Keyonte George taking an all-around leap as a scorer and playmaker (even if his efficiency woes are still there).

Because of their efforts, the Jazz have the NBA's 10th-highest offensive rating, averaging 115.6 points per 100 possessions. That's pretty good for a team that is 2-3, came in with low expectations, and most importantly, has room for improvement.

Bailey hasn't bene putting up the best scoring numbers, but neither has Kyle Filipowski nor Brice Sensabaugh, and it's fair to assume that all three of them will get better as the season progresses. Because the Jazz have contructed a team that begs patience, that's exactly how they and the Jazz should see things right now.

Bailey is showing how good he can be as a player overall. The scoring may take a minute to get there, but even before he gets into a groove, he's at least showing Utah he's got the habits of a winning player down.