The Jazz remain the only team without a victory after a terrible second half against the San Antonio Spurs on Halloween night.
Utah’s third-period performance, particularly, was terrifying. It required substation intestinal fortitude to watch… oh, the humanity!
Jazz fans were seen reaching for the paper bags in front of their seats in those web pocket things. But there were no web pocket things in front of their expensive seats so there were no sickness bags to be found. They were forced to watch that second half without relief. Only their half-finished three-dollar cup of ice-cream kept them there. Many averted their eyes after the tenth turnover of the third quarter. It was done anyway. Nothing worth seeing here… let’s move it along back to the parking lots.
Twenty-six turnovers in all. Seven of those by your starting point guard… my stars. Seventeen open court turnovers. SA scored 35 points off those turnovers.
The Spurs recorded 17 steals for the game.
Meantime, the Jazz were able to turnover the young Spurs only 11 times. That’s 15 more shots for the Spurs than the Jazz resulting from those turnovers. Turnovers have plagued the Jazz for years. They’ve had a negative differential for turnovers committed to turnovers forced for a decade. But we’ve never seen anything like what we’re seeing now.
Granted, they were missing their best player—Markkanen was out with back spasms. But that just meant their usual issues; terrible pace, bad offensive execution, inaccurate shooting, and turnovers were exaggerated as they attempted to run their offense without the big guy.
The Jazz are continuing to prove a concept, with or without Markkanen. They’re showing us that they can execute a legitimate tank after all. Right now, they look like the worst team in the league. They look like they might not make double digit wins for the season. Their draft acquisitions of the last three years (I’m included the rookies they acquired from trades) are not, other than maybe Flip, popping. They may be able to compete with the Pistons, the Blazers, and the Wizards, for the bottom spot—for the really good odds at the number 1 pick
And here’s to that!
However! Can we show some growth in the process. Can we at least try a few different things to make the losing a little more tolerable.
You can’t play in your set offense, so run a little more. We’re all sick of watching Keyonte George (and other point guards) take all eight to get across the half court line, so give him some help or pass the ball up the back court. And, for Pete’s sake… quit bumbling the ball to the other team.
If we can’t do that… then give us the little paper bags… we can’t stomach much more.