With everything that's gone right for the Utah Jazz (to a degree), among the things that have gone wrong is Brice Sensabaugh's production in Year 3. Many believed Sensabaugh was going to take a step forward in his third NBA season, but he hasn't. Making it worse is that when he's played well, the Jazz have benefited from it, but that's only come on occasion.
Sensabaugh raised the bar following his breakout last season and only continued to raise expectations on himself following impressive Summer League and preseason outings. Sadly, it hasn't translated much in Year 3. Sensabaugh's been wildly inefficient and inconsistent, to say the least.
While it's not like the Jazz wouldn't have much of a problem if they lose more games this season - OKC owns their pick if falls to No. 9 or lower - Sensabaugh's struggles stand out like a sore thumb for more reasons than the struggles themselves.
When Sensabaugh has been a floor spacer, the Jazz have either won games or have proven themselves to be more competitive. He has hit three or more three-pointers in five games this season, which, again, is pretty underwhelming for him. However, the Jazz have gone 3-2 in those games, demonstrating just how valuable he is when he's on his game.
We're only about a month into the season, so there's still time for him to get his act together. The problem is that Sensabaugh's opportunities may become more limited once the Jazz get healthier.
When Georges Niang comes back, what does that mean for Sensabaugh?
Niang hasn't played a minute since the Jazz brought him back during the offseason. When he comes back, it likely means Svi Mykhailiuk's role gets drastically slashed. However, on further inspection, Mykhailiuk may not start once Niang returns and is 100% healthy, but he has been better and more consistent than Sensabaugh, which means he may take Sensabaugh's role, putting his role with Utah more up in the air.
If Sensabaugh had been better than Mykhailiuk to start this season, this wouldn't even be a question. However, it's been pretty clear who's been the better one of the two, as Mykhailiuk's been more consistent and efficient than Sensabaugh, without question. The Jazz may give Sensabaugh the nod simply because he's younger, but Mykhailiuk fits their plans better because he's played better.
The Jazz likely don't want to do this to Sensabaugh, as he has shown the kind of player he can be when he's got it going. However, Utah has shown that if it's clear one young player isn't working for the team, the team will reduce his role or bench him completely. Sensabaugh deserves more chances, but he may not get as many once the team is fully healthy.