10:00 PM EST, ESPN – Line: Jazz -4.5, Over/Under: 226
A pair of teams that were expected to contend out West only to find themselves traveling in very different directions clash tonight in the City of Angels, as the struggling Los Angeles Lakers host the resurgent Utah Jazz from Crypto.com Center in Los Angeles, California. A year after finishing with the best record in the National Basketball Association, the Jazz (36-21, 4th in Western Conference) have certainly gone through their ups and downs in 2021-2022 and are a long way away from reaching that same peak in the standings as a result. Utah raced out to a stellar 26-9 record through the first two months of the campaign, only for their fortunes to change completely once the calendar transitioned into the new year; (Head Coach) Quin Synder’s charges inexplicably spiraled to a dismal 4-12 record in the month of January, thanks in large parts to a combination of injuries and illness to key personnel, of which included three of their top-four players in the rotation. First, (three-time Defensive Player of the Year) Rudy Gobert (15.9 PTS, 71.1% FG, 69.0% FT, 14.9 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.8 STL, 2.2 BLK, 25.6 PER) missed five straight games after landing on the COVID/Reserve List, before losing nine straight outings with a calf strain, joined later by (two-time All-Star Guard) Donovan Mitchell (25.5 PTS, 45.4% FG, 34.8% 3FG, 87.4% FT, 4.2 REB, 5.2 AST, 1.6 STL, 22.4 PER), who in turn missed eight consecutive games due to concussion symptoms and his own bout with the virus. And then there was the unfortunate loss of (versatile Forward) Joe Ingles (7.2 PTS, 40.4% FG, 34.7% 3FG, 77.3% FT, 2.9 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 10.2 PER), who tore his ACL in a 126-106 loss at the Timberwolves on January 30th. Needless to say, that’s a lot to digest for a team that relies upon all three of those players and their respective talents, with Gobert serving as the foundation for everything they do defensively, while Mitchell is by far and away the most dynamic offensive weapon at their disposal, with Ingles serving as a jack of all trades. However, things are looking up for the Jazz, who have yet to lose in the month of February, winning six consecutive contests in lieu of tonight’s finale before the All-Star Break. So, what has changed for Utah, you ask? Well, it’s certainly helped that they’ve started to return to health, as Mitchell has been back in action for each of their last five games, averaging 24.3 points on 46.4% shooting from the field, including 39.5% from three, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals over this stretch. Simply put, this is just a different team when the two-time All-Star is on the hardwood; in the eight games that he missed, Snyder’s troops could manage just 105.4 points on 45.4% shooting overall, 34.3% from beyond the arc, and 20.6 assists in comparison to 12.0 turnovers, though since his return have seen a sizeable spike on the offensive end where they’ve posted a healthy 119.6 points on 48.8% shooting from the floor and 35.3% on triples, all the while exhibiting more fluid ball-movement with 26.8 assists opposed to 12.6 turnovers. They also welcomed back the presence of Gobert in Monday night’s 135-101 rout of the Rockets, with the towering Frenchman back to defend the rim; without him protecting the paint, opponents were shooting 46.2% from the field and posting 42.9 rebounds, only for that to immediately flip against Houston, who could muster just 42.2% shooting and were outrebounded by a considerable margin (53-33). This is an important stretch for these two pillars of the franchise, for it has been widely reported in the past that their relationship isn’t necessarily the warmest, what with Gobert wanting to be a greater part of the offense, while Mitchell has been resistant due to his teammate’s prominent role during the initial spread of the COVID-19 virus nearly two years ago. While Snyder, (Lead Executive) Justin Zanik, and (Alternate Governor) Danny Ainge have all downplayed the tension between the two stars, those rumors will likely persist until they manage achieve more success in the playoffs, which at this point is concerning. In the opinion of most, Utah peaked last season, with all the signs of an inevitable divorce between their two stars looming in the future. With that said, Zanik and Ainge got down to business at last Thursday’s Trade Deadline, flipping the sidelined Ingles (and his expiring contract) for a pair of rotation players, (athletic Swingman) Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12.3 PTTS, 37.4% FG, 31.0% 3FG, 72.2% FT, 3.2 REB, 2.7 AST, 0.8 STL, 10.7 PER) and Juancho Hernangomez (1.2 PTS, 69.2% FT, 1.6 REB, 6.0 PER) in a deal with the Pelicans. Though neither has managed to log more than five minutes in the two games in which they’ve featured since said trade, each is expected to bring something valuable to the equation, with Hernangomez young affordable frontcourt depth behind Gobert, while Alexander-Walker has proven to be a solid wing defender despite having yet to develop as a perimeter shooter (career 33.0% 3FG). Snyder’s scheme has long been one of the most conducive when it comes to spreading the floor and moving the ball, so there is a possibility that the 23-year-old could still grow.
When we last saw the Jazz, they won their sixth consecutive contest and their fourth during this stretch by double-digits, dumping the young Rockets in that aforementioned 135-101 thumping. This one was NEVER close, folks, as the hosts jumped out to a 36-24 lead int eh first quarter before going on to outscore Houston 42-29 in the second period, in which they shot a blistering 15-of-25 from the field (60.0%), including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc (55.6%), and handing out nine assists in comparison to just one turnover. (Reigning Sixth Man of the Year) Jordan Clarkson (15.5 PTS, 40.3% FG, 32.2% 3FG, 83.2% FT, 3.4 REB, 2.4 AST, 0.7 STL, 14.4 PER) exploded in this stanza, pouring in eleven of his sixteen points on 3-of-5 shooting (60.0%), nailing each of his two attempts from downtown. This is another area in which Mitchell’s return has benefitted the rotation; while he’s certainly capable of catching fire at any given moment, Clarkson’s skill set is far better suited coming off the bench in controlled doses instead of playing major minutes against an opponent’s starters. And speaking of Mitchell, finished with a team-high thirty points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting (60.0%), including 5-of-9 from three (55.6%), and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe (87.5%), along with six rebounds and seven assists, though was just one of seven different Jazz to reach double-figures in scoring. Gobert added fourteen points on 7-of-8 shooting (87.5%) and seven rebounds in his first action in over two weeks, while the bench mob led by Clarkson outscored that of the visitors 60-40. In the end, the home side held advantages across the board, particularly in three-point shooting (+15), points in the paint (+14), points via turnovers (+9), and most notably assists (+11), where Utah dished out THIRTY-FOUR dimes on forty-nine field goals. This was a fairly surprising turn of events for a group that ranks just twenty-seventh overall in assists (22.4) thus far, despite pacing the league in scoring at 114.0 points per game (1st Overall); Monday’s performance marked the sixth time this season in which they’ve dished out thirty or more helpers, though you can likely expect more now that they’ve nearly returned to full strength. With one game left before the All-Star Break, Snyder’s outfit has an opportunity to reestablish their positioning out West; while they trail the Suns by a virtual mile (11 games) for first, they need to avoid being overtaken by the likes of the Mavericks and Nuggets, who respectively lurk by two-and-half and four games behind them. Tonight’s encounter with the Lakers marks their second of the campaign, with their previous trip to Crypto.com Center ending in a narrow 101-95 defeat. Though they led after 78-72 after three quarters, the Jazz simply ran out of gas in the fourth period in which they were ousted 29-17, shooting a miserable 6-of-23 from the field (26.1%), including 2-of-15 from distance (13.3%). In twelve meetings with the Lakers, Mitchell has averaged 21.3 points on just 42.2% shooting, including 34.2% from three, with 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (26-31, 9th in Western Conference) are heading in a VERY different direction and if we’re being completely honest, their trajectory has been nothing short of erratic all season. While it has been less than eighteen months since claiming their NBA record seventeenth Larry O’Brien trophy, Los Angeles has eroded before our eyes, with a multitude of reasons for said degeneration. For a team that features the likes of (future Hall of Famers) LeBron James (29.0 PTS, 52.0% FG, 35.2% 3FG, 74.6% FT, 7.9 REB, 6.5 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.0 BLK, 26.6 PER), Anthony Davis (23.3 PTS, 53.4% FG, 16.9% 3FG, 70.7% FT, 9.9 REB, 2.9 AST, 1.2 STL, 2.3 BLK, 24.0 PER), and Russell Westbrook (18.3 PTS, 43.6 % FG, 30.1% 3FG, 67.0% FT, 7.8 REB, 7.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 15.2 PER) among their ranks, it sounds outlandish that they would continue to be meandering at this juncture of the campaign, but that is nonetheless the reality in Southern California. So, what in the name of Earvin Johnson has happened to the Lake Show, you ask? First and foremost, this simply isn’t the youngest collection of talent in the NBA, with an average age of 30.7 years, while James (37) and Westbrook (33) are squarely on the back end of their illustrious careers. And speaking of Westbrook, his acquisition has clearly upset the metaphorical apple cart. For the third time in his five years as General Manager, Rob Pelinka completely rebuilt the supporting cast around James and Davis, parting ways with much of his depth to acquire the erstwhile, yet prolific Point Guard. The logic here was solid: a year after James and Davis missed twenty-seven and thirty-six games respectively due to injury, with the latter’s absence sealing their postseason fate last Summer, an insurance policy was deemed necessary. As it turned out, Pelinka was correct in his assumption as both stars have missed time this season, with James and Davis missing a combined thirty-eight games already with various maladies. As a result, this Big Three hasn’t really had an opportunity to build the requisite chemistry to contend for a championship, featuring in just NINETEEN games together, and they’re about to compete in their fifty-eighth game of the season tonight. Even with that said, when they’ve been on the hardwood together it’s rarely been harmonious; (Head Coach) Frank Vogel has appeared to have exhausted all of his options in cultivating a potent combination of starters, eventually opting to bench Westbrook in the fourth quarter of games before sitting him altogether in two of their last three games. Used to having the basketball in his hands throughout the game, deferring to the likes of James and Davis has been a jarring transition for the league all-time triple-doubles leader. Simply put, he’s never been a third option in his career, and there are times when he appears aimless alongside the other two. However, from a statistical standpoint the biggest problem for this team has been their regression on the defensive end, which has been both swift and steep. A year ago, this was the highest-rated defensive team in the Association, only for this season to check in at a middling fifteenth overall; they’re no longer dominating the glass (75.9% DREB%) and they’re not defending the rim at a high level, either, yielding 53.2% shooting within the arc (18th Overall). Furthermore, they’ve lost an NBA-worst ELEVEN games in which they had amassed a double-digit lead, which is yet another sign that they simply can’t get stops when they need them. Age has definitely been a factor, though it’s been more of the fact that many of these players in the rotation simply AREN’T defensive players. Pelinka parted ways with many of them to acquire Westbrook, with their replacement largely being veteran shooters chasing a ring. And it’s with that said, that everyone in Southern California was shouting from the proverbial mountaintop for Los Angeles to make a trade (or two) at the Trade Deadline, only for the franchise to lay a goose egg last Thursday. The logistics of moving Westbrook were always going to be extremely difficult given his age, declining performance, and mammoth contract, but their lack of young assets and Draft Picks made it close to impossible to receive anything remotely promising in return. Essentially, the past few years of wheeling and dealing has caught up with the Lakers, and no matter how they choose to spin it to the media, this is their bed and they have no other choice to lay in it. Now that this is indeed the group, they have moving forward post All-Star Break, it will be interesting to see if the respite will galvanize them to a degree. Pelinka openly stated to the media that neither James or Davis requested the Westbrook be moved in lieu of the Deadline, though there have been reports for weeks that the team’s locker room had admitted that this experiment wasn’t working as constituted and needed sizeable change, with both All-NBA stars giving their blessing on any trade to turn their fortunes around. In our opinion, Pelinka came across as someone who refused to admit that he @#$%ed dealing for Westbrook in the first place and has wasted what could very well be the last strong season of James’ remarkable career.
When we last saw the Lakers, they lost their third consecutive game and their first following ugly losses to the Bucks (131-116) and Trail Blazers (107-105), most recently falling short in the clutch at the resurrected Warriors in a 117-115 affair at Chase Center. After looking disinterested and apathetic against the reigning NBA Champions and following that up with a listless showing against a side that was without nearly half of the rotation, Los Angeles was indeed more motivated to battle their northern neighbors, but nevertheless met defeat all the same. Nip and tuck throughout the night, the two sides were tied at 112-112 with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, though the visitors would take the lead at the free-throw stripe, setting up a wild finish. After missing a three-pointer, the Dubs came up with a clutch offensive rebound, kicking it back out to the perimeter where Klay Thompson buried a timely three-pointer to retake the lead. Following a missed trey from James, Davis came up with the board and was promptly sent to the free-throw line where he sank the first and missed the second, only for Westbrook, James, and Daivs to come up with successive offensive rebounds and missed short looks at the rim. Steph Curry sank a two shortly thereafter, to take aa 117-114 lead with forty-seven seconds to go, and after exchanging possessions James would draw a foul while attempting a three, giving he and his team an opportunity to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, the 18-time All-Star missed the first attempt, forcing him to intentionally miss the last, and though he recovered his own rebound, his final shot proved wide of the mark in what was nothing short of a microcosm of their season to that point. In the end, it was one of the Lakers’ better offensive performances of the campaign, shooting 46.6% from the field, including 11-of-27 from downtown (40.7%), and dishing out twenty-five assists in comparison to committing just eight turnovers, but where they lost this once was at the charity stripe, missing eleven of their thirty-three free-throw attempts, which in such a close game proved to be the difference. However, it wasn’t all disappointment for James, who in totaling twenty-six points surpassed (Hall of Famer) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, which very well may be the prestigious record that he owns. He also added fifteen rebounds and eight assists to help make up for a relatively poor shooting night, netting just 9-of-27 attempts (33.3%), 3-of-10 from beyond the arc (30.0%), and 5-of-9 from the stripe (55.6%). Davis added sixteen points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Westbrook returned from injury to post nineteen points, seven rebounds, and five assists. With one game left before the All-Star Break, Vogel’s troops are indeed looking for anything to turn things around, for at the moment they are sitting in the ninth seed out West, which is good for one of the latter two play-in spots. This isn’t ideal by any means for Los Angeles, who are a remarkable six games out of the play-in safety zone, which means it will take a considerable run to get out of this predicament. However, as we said earlier, this is their bed, and for better or worse they’re stuck in it.