Four-Point Play: The Utah Jazz Nightmare At Amway

It was truly Friday the 13th for the Utah Jazz, as the team suffered one of its worst losses of the young season, falling to the Orlando Magic 102-93. The game was as gruesome as a Jason Voorhees flick, with the Jazz offense never getting off the ground, and their usually stout defense getting shredded by Orlando’s shooters.

The loss drops Jazz to 4-5 with a very difficult bout with the Atlanta Hawks looming. The team has made a lot of mental mistakes on this trip (like not closing out on shooters, STILL going under the screen, being unable to run transition offense, and so on). The Jazz need to improve mentally to compete in the West.

1) After clamoring to see Jeff Withey for eight games, my wish finally came true. Trey Lyles should not be playing over Withey in any sane world. As a 20-year-old rookie, Lyles needs time to develop. The problem is that this Jazz team does not have time right now. Wins are expected.

Lyles is not going to help them with his pump fakes. Withey changed the game, albeit briefly. He was plus-11 in 24 minutes on the floor. Numbers aside, the way he played against Orlando makes one wonder why he logged all of one minute before this game. With Booker struggling, Withey should be the first big man off the bench. Withey provides defense, rebounding and good decisions on the court.

Between he, Favors and Gobert, the Jazz have the ability to roll with twin towers on the court at all times, making the paint inaccessible for opponents. The Jazz defense is about funneling players to the shot blockers. Lyles, Booker and Pleiss are not shot blockers. Favors, Gobert and Withey are. Will Jazz coach Quin Snyder learn from his mistakes?

2) While it wasn’t his worst performance this season, Gordon Hayward continues to play below his standard. In all but two games (against the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies), Hayward has struggled to catch net, specifically during crunch time. His shooting mechanics seem fluid, but he continues to misfire.

His struggles remain a mystery. He might be better served with additional practice time.

3) Derrick Favors played less than 20 minutes, which was kind of mind-boggling. After dominating in Miami, he ran into foul trouble early. However, he was not the reason for Utah’s nightmare start. Neither Hayward nor Alec Burks could make a shot, and Lyles and Raul Neto will not shoot to save themselves.

At any rate, the Jazz stand little chance in any game in which Favors plays less than 20 minutes.

4) Scott Skiles outcoached Snyder today by playing Aaron Gordon for extended minutes. To counter Gordon, Coach Q ran with Booker at the four, instead of Withey and Favors. The only problem is Aaron Gordon is not a stretch big, and there was no need for Booker.

Favors could have eased off Gordon and helped out in the paint. Moreover, Gordon left Booker wide open on offense and dominated the paint with help defense, blocking four shots. To me, this was a master move by Skiles.

Next: Flashback Friday Medicine for Depressed Jazz Fans

It’s early yet, but at the end of the season, the Jazz might look at this loss as the one that came back to bite their playoff chances. The look on the face of Jazz players was not pretty after yet another loss.

The Jazz finish off their road trip on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks. They need to pick up more than their socks to have a chance at avoiding an 0-4 trip. Kyle Korver is undoubtedly licking his chops, waiting for Burks and the Jazz defense to go under the screens.