Even though the Utah Jazz have been losing a lot lately, it has created opportunities for players like Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh to thrive. Sensabaugh, in particular, has started to look like he might be due to explode next season. Every Jazz fan should know how timely it would be if he does.
Sensabaugh has finally found the scoring consistency Utah has desperately wanted to see from him. Since March 5, he has averaged 23.7 points while shooting 50.4% from the field and 44.3% from three. The third-year Jazzman has always had his spurts, but it really feels like he's found his groove, and he won't lose it again.
If this continues into next season - his consistency may remain though his scoring average will likely falter - ESPN's Brian Windhorst endorsed Sensabaugh as a legitimate candidate for Most Improved Player.
"I don't know whether Brice Sensabaugh is going to win Most Improved next year, but Brice Sensabaugh is having a wrecking ball through the league for the last month."
Windhorst added that Sensabaugh's performance against the Thunder was pretty telling (since he didn't have to be shackled) with what he was able to do despite how limited the team was in their blowout loss.
The last time the Jazz had a Most Improved Player on the team, it was Lauri Markkanen, who also made his first All-Star team. In fact, that's the only time they've had a recipient for that award.
If Sensabaugh takes a leap, Utah's ceiling gets even higher
The Jazz already have so much firepower. Everyone knows what Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., and even Ace Bailey are capable of on any given night. Basketball isn't played in a vacuum, but adding an ascended Sensabaugh into that equation, and suddenly, Utah would have one of the most unstoppable offenses in the NBA.
Again, he probably won't put up 20 points a night, but it's that kind of threat on the floor that could make Utah intimidating from start to finish. Sensabaugh also likely won't start next season, which could actually start two separate campaigns for him: Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year.
Obviously, it would take so much falling into place for him to win either award, let alone both. However, Sensabaugh is putting up numbers, and Windhorst pointed out that it might not be empty calories. Everyone has known for some time how good the Jazz want to be next season.
Sensabaugh taking a leap would be yet another in a long line of determining factors of just how good they can be.