The Utah Jazz are now 11-18 on the season after a win over the Detroit Pistons. It was a solid effort for a team that continues to search for their identity. Simone Fontecchio has seemingly become a starter for the squad, and John Collins returned to the starting lineup in place of an injured Lauri Markkanen. The team also didn't have Talen Horton-Tucker or Jordan Clarkson, which allowed the pairing of Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton to shine; combining for 32 points, 18 assists, six steals, and only four turnovers.
Dunn continues to prove his worth to a team that refuses to play him the minutes he's worth, and it's a dang shame. That being said, things can always be worse; case in point, the Detroit Pistons.
While the Jazz are just 11-18 on the season, they're 4-2 in their last six games and seem to have finally figured out some small details that have been plaguing them all season. The Pistons, on the other hand, are 0-6 in their last six. And that's being polite.
Because whether it's their last six, 12, or 25, the number of wins the Pistons would have in that stretch are zip, nil, zero, nada. The Pistons are just 2-26 on the season and have lost 25 straight. They're a team that keeps trying to find castoffs to save their franchise while building a team around an aging Bojan Bogdvanovic and point guard in Cade Cunningham who hasn't morphed into the generational star many thought he'd be.
Sure, some of that is on the talent around him, but his scoring efficiency isn't great. Plus, guys like Tracey McGrady and Vince Carter carried worse teams to the playoffs, so it's not like it's impossible. It is a knock on Cunningham, and while he'd be able to do better on another team, it's clear that he's not the guy the Pistons were hoping he'd be.
So while the Jazz's season is a mess, we should all be thankful it's not worse. Because we could always have to put up with the Pistons.