They say, "Don't hate the player, hate the game." Well, that hasn't stopped many from justifiably calling out the Utah Jazz for blatantly throwing their game away against the Orlando Magic last night. After controlling the game all the way through - leading by as many as 17 late in the third - the Jazz coughed it up in the end, by design no less, all while making it clear how good they will be next year.
Encouraging as it is to see their vision, many rolled their eyes at the fact that Will Hardy benched most of the starters going into the fourth, and even then, the Magic still had to maneuver their way to beat the Jazz, just barely squeaking it out when the buzzer sounded.
In terms of Utah's intentions this season, nothing they did should technically surprise anyone. Everyone knows that they're tanking, but the Jazz have recently reinvented the wheel:
While intending to lose, they play their guys for only the first three quarters, give or take, then play more of their second string in the final quarter to ensure they lose. They first did this against the Atlanta Hawks before taking on the Magic.
So even though the goal is the same, what's different? Well, by doing this rather than holding guys out of games for fake injuries, the Jazz are avoiding league fines going forward. Not that it would have done anything, but they are basically making sure the NBA doesn't step in to punish them for benching their guys when there is nothing wrong with them.
The upside to this strategy
The losing will still be hard to watch, but by executing this strategy, the Jazz are also prepping themselves well for what's to come. By developing some chemistry and continuity with Jaren Jackson Jr. and some of his teammates expected to be on the team next year, that should set Utah up pretty well for next season when their ambitions go from tanking to making the postseason.
It's better to start this now rather than several months later so that there is some familiarity. They will have to integrate other players down the line, like Walker Kessler, and presumably, the player they get in the lottery in 2026, but it could be easier for them to make it work when playing with teammates who know how to play together.
At the trade deadline, Utah made it clear that their losing days will be done soon enough. The fact that the tanking expiration date is on the horizon may even make fans restless from now until April. The tanking itself will still be painful, but at least fans will get to see a glimpse of what this team will be not too long from now.