THE Utah Jazz ended the preseason by getting trampled by the Portland Path Jackets at Delta Middle, 124-86. Jerami Grant led all scorers with 18 factors, whereas Donovan Clingan scored 14. Bryce Sensabaugh led the Jazz with 13 factors in a shedding trigger.
It wasn’t fairly from begin to end for Utah. Portland led by 27 factors at halftime and by no means seemed again. After a optimistic preseason, the Jazz seemed like a group able to pack their baggage from the beginning.
Regardless of this one-sided affair, the Jazz completed the preseason with a 4-2 document, and their consideration will now flip to the house opener in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies on October 23. So now let’s check out the largest winners and losers of the 2024 preseason.
George will go well with up for the Jazz’s season opener Wednesday evening, which is a win. The knee-jerk response when Utah’s 2023 lottery choose injured his knee in opposition to the Dallas Nonconformists it wasn’t good. George needed to be helped off the court docket, leaving Jazz followers questioning if this was the final time they’d see their place to begin guard for the 2024-25 season.
Nonetheless, the setback was a lot ado about nothing, and George ended up lacking only one recreation. Utah should be proud of the expansion it has seen to date. George completed the preseason taking part in extra effectively than his rookie yr. George shot 21 of 43 from the sphere and the sport slowed down for Utah’s younger star
Apart from Lauri Markkanen, George is the participant most certainly to be part of Utah’s future. Whether or not or not Utah plans to tank the season, we are able to count on to see George get full-time beginning minutes for the complete season.
The 2 NBA companions signed this summer season with the rebuilding Jazz within the hope of having the ability to rejuvenate their careers. That does not look like the case, as each gamers spent a lot of the preseason on the finish of the bench.
The Jazz entrance workplace did not mince phrases in regards to the emphasis positioned on the youth motion throughout media day. Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams will block Mykhaliuk for restricted minutes on the court docket, whereas Eubanks is the third middle on the depth chart behind Walker Kessler and John Collins.
Each gamers signed multi-year contracts, however solely the primary yr is assured. That is a recipe for being moved on the commerce deadline when franchises search wage cap reduction for the 2025-26 season.
Utah’s prime choose within the 2024 draft seems to be the one rookie cemented within the rotation to start out the season. There have been ups and downs, however at simply 19 years outdated, Williams seems to be like a discount at No. 10 total.
Williams’ finest recreation got here in opposition to the San Antonio Spursscoring 17 factors whereas stopping three long-range pictures. Moreover, Williams was on the court docket to shut out the sport in Utah’s 122-113 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Williams could have loads of alternatives this yr because the Jazz proceed to look to insert extra measurement and size into their rotation. Regulate Williams who might presumably take over the beginning capturing guard job this yr. Utah’s second-best participant, Collin Sexton, is the present starter, however his future in Salt Lake Metropolis might be as the primary man off the bench.
Kessler’s second season with the Jazz did not stay as much as excessive expectations after incomes All-Rookie honors in 2023. Nonetheless, within the small pattern measurement of the preseason, Kessler’s improvement seems to be shifting in the fitting path.
Regardless of a troublesome outing in opposition to Portland, Kessler needs to be proud of how the brand new season is shaping up. Kessler is again in beginning video games after coming off the bench final yr in favor of John Collins. The rumor mill was filled with rumors about Kessler this offseason, and we’ll see if he finishes the yr in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Does the Utah suppose tank view Kessler as a part of the longer term, or is it auditioning him for a commerce? Regardless, Kessler ought to get extra alternatives to showcase his abilities than he did on the finish of final season.
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