The Utah Jazz handled their business against the Miami Heat. The Heat are going through some inner turmoil, so it's no surprise that they might be, as the kids say, "down bad." However, the Jazz not only beat them. They thrashed those boys down in South Beach.
After the Jazz throttled the Trail Blazers last month, many wondered if they had it in them to do it again this season. Lo and behold, they did. Of course, the usual suspects made their mark on the game: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Keyonte Walker Kessler, and John Collins. Another one made the most of the opportunity presented to him: Brice Sensabaugh.
Sensabaugh has already shown enough this season to indicate that he's on the rise. While the Jazz don't expect him to play well every night, he has been playing well enough to reward their growing faith in him.
Sensabaugh added 34 points on 12-for-18 shooting, which included seven threes. That wasn't the best statline among the Jazzmen, but he is starting to show some consistency. It was the best performance of his young career, and it serves as more evidence that the Jazz hit a bullseye when they drafted him.
In a season where the Jazz want to see which of their young players is stepping up, Sensabaugh is arguably proving the most out of all of them.
Sensabaugh's rise may add to Jazz's urgency to make a trade
Sensabaugh's noticeable improvement this season could very well push some of the Jazz to trade some of their available players sooner rather than later. His scoring abilities have been on display lately, and it's not like they are on inefficient percentages.
Because he's in Utah, his statline tonight will put the entire NBA on notice. However, it is good enough that the Jazz should see this through to see what he would look like if he were higher in the scoring pecking order. Of course, when the Jazz really go all in on the tank, more guys will get more rest, which should open the door for Sensabaugh to get more touches.
That will likely be after the trade deadline, but why not try to make that sooner rather than later? He's shown his comfortability and confidence as the Jazz have increased his role throughout the season. They say youth is wasted on the young. Sensabaugh's in his youth, and he's beginning to sprout. They shouldn't waste his promise while he's young.