Despite the Utah Jazz entering their game against the Milwaukee Bucks with the same record as them at 1-6, it's no surprise that they lost in the fashion that they did.
Sure, they made it interesting in the first half, but the Bucks stormed back, and what looked like your typical barn burner turned into a classic blowout. The Bucks desperately needed a game like this after the start they've had, unlike the Jazz, who probably saw this as just another game.
However, there was something that definitely caught the eye of viewers from the Jazz side - they opted to bench their younger players - Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, and Isaiah Collier - in favor the veterans who play the same position as them - Johnny Juzang, Drew Eubanks, and Patty Mills, respectively.
While it's not like those are complete scrubs, it seems odd that in a season where the Jazz are trending towards embracing their youth movement - that's their ideal scenario, no? - why didn't they try to play their younger players?
Filipowski has looked promising as a glue guy, Sensabaugh has shown his potential, and many were looking forward to Collier's NBA debut, but all of them didn't come in until the game was all but decided.
Why the Jazz may have done this
There are two reasons why the Jazz went the route they did as the Bucks routed them, and it's possible neither of them are the reason.
One, they are setting the bar for their younger players to clear. Eubanks and Mills may not raise their ceiling much, but Utah knows what they're going to do for them. By having them play, it shows them that they have to play not just on their level, but better than them to see the floor.
In Juzang's case, he looked like a home run for the Jazz during the preseason, and Utah may see him as part of their future, but it is odd that following Taylor Hendricks' injury, they went with him over Sensabaugh. At the very least, they can't play both of them?
Two, they're trying to increase the trade value of their veterans. That's not pertaining to just Eubanks and Clarkson. It's very possible that the Jazz are trying to showcase that their veterans can play winning basketball when paired up with other veterans.
Pairing them with younger players who don't fit with their timeline may hurt their trade value. So, for the time being, we may see the veterans get extended playing time until February at the latest.
Those are two interesting theories, but we may be hearing zebras when we're hearing hooves here because the simplest explanation is the likeliest one—they simply thought the veterans were a better matchup against Milwaukee. They may have been wrong, but what was the hurt in that?
It's a long season, so there's plenty of time for the Jazz to figure what's best for the team. However, the Jazz opting not to play youth when they are rebuilding is a downright baffling choice.