Game 33: Utah Jazz (17-15) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11)

Crunch 99 · Post #2 » by **Crunch 99** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:09 pm

There are obviously going to be interesting subplots to tonight's game: Markannen, Clarkson and Mitchell all playing against their old teams, while Clarkson is directly matched up against the starting shooting guard that kept Clarkson a bench player for 2.5 seasons. Too bad Sexton isn't getting the chance to play against his old team as well.

The Cavs, with their league-best, 14-2 home record and the fourth best overall record in the league, are heavily favored, but here are my keys (bound to be wrong) to the Jazz pulling off an unlikely upset:

1. Rookie Walker Kessler stays out of foul trouble.

2. Markkanen goes off for an efficient 25 or better.

3. Clarkson has one of his high energy, hot games, really making Mitchell work on the defensive end.

4. Backup center Rudy Gay miraculously connects on 50% of his shots.

5. NAW keeps bringing it.

↑↑↑ That's a lot of keys. Lol. Go Jazz!

Post #3 » by **FJS** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:13 pm

What happens to Olynyk?

It could be ugly... Mitchell will want to torch us.

Crunch 99 · Post #4 » by **Crunch 99** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:26 pm

FJS wrote:What happens to Olynyk?

It could be ugly... Mitchell will want to torch us.

Olynyk hurt his ankle last game. He went back to the locker room during the game to get treatment. He played some thereafter, but his ankle isn't good today.

Maybe we will see Doke get some meaningful minutes tonight too.

FranchisePlayer · Post #5 » by **FranchisePlayer** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 7:41 pm

FJS wrote:What happens to Olynyk?

It could be ugly... Mitchell will want to torch us.

I believe this will happen. The Cavs are a very well coached team, a balanced group too. More than one of our starters needs to outperform himself, Markkanen excluded.

FranchisePlayer · Post #6 » by **FranchisePlayer** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 7:45 pm

Crunch 99 wrote:There are obviously going to be interesting subplots to tonight's game: Markannen, Clarkson and Mitchell all playing against their old teams, while Clarkson is directly matched up against the starting shooting guard that kept Clarkson a bench player for 2.5 seasons. Too bad Sexton isn't getting the chance to play against his old team as well.

The Cavs, with their league-best, 14-2 home record and the fourth best overall record in the league, are heavily favored, but here are my keys (bound to be wrong) to the Jazz pulling off an unlikely upset:

1. Rookie Walker Kessler stays out of foul trouble.

2. Markkanen goes off for an efficient 25 or better.

3. Clarkson has one of his high energy, hot games, really making Mitchell work on the defensive end.

4. Backup center Rudy Gay miraculously connects on 50% of his shots.

5. NAW keeps bringing it.

↑↑↑ That's a lot of keys. Lol. Go Jazz!

Of those I could see 2, 3 and maybe 5 happening. 1 I very much doubt and 4... well,Big Truck takes only 5 shots anyway so no harm done in either way.

#gojazz #thefinnisheronfire #highbasketballIQconley

Crunch 99 · Post #7 » by **Crunch 99** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 1:21 am

Jazz are only down by 18 points at the half! :-?

Garland + Mitchell have 30 points on 15 fga while our starting backcourt has just 9 points on 13 fga --- Conley with zero points. Beasley is not hitting any shots either.

Cleveland has 32 points in paint to Jazz' 16 points in the paint.

Markkanen has been money though. He is the game leading scorer at the half with 22 points on 8 fga.

Jiipee84 · Post #8 » by **Jiipee84** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 3:13 am

That game was absolutely infurious to watch last 24 minutes.
I seriously thought to close my Finnish stream because i couldn't stay sanity
at some moments watching that Clarkson hero-ball circus any further but somehow
i didn't close my stream maybe i'm masocist who goddamn knows.

It is absolutely true Jazz should recognice better when Lauri is hot.
But what you can do when your other guards are some freaking jockers etc clowns
who do not have any Basketball IQ or they have tunnel vision.

Ainge's decision to not acquire legit backup PG will probably cost wins
and maybe Lauri's allstar selection as well because right now it look that Jazz are
sabotasing Lauri's allstar dreams or then they don't want him become an allstar yet
because the goal is to start TANKING some point of the season.

Crunch 99 · Post #9 » by **Crunch 99** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 2:52 pm

The Jazz only had 2 points on fast breaks compared to Cleveland's 29 fast break points. If speedy Sexton had been available, I think we would have had more fast break points. It's unlikely Sexton and Olynyk availability would have changed the outcome of the game, but I am bummed that Sexton didn't get a chance to play.

So we just got routed on the road by the number one and two defensive teams in the league, Cleveland and Milwaukee. I hoped we might win one, especially Milwaukee without Giannis, but the two routs aren't all that surprising.

Post #10 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 4:03 pm

Another blowout. We are still hovering around .500 and really need to pick a direction. Finishing around .500 will be the worst outcome imho.

Markkanen was good in the first half but disappeared once again in the second half. I'm sure the Cavs made some adjustments but he has to be more assertive and demand the ball. It is ridiculous that that he finished with only 12FGA. The guy is so efficient, he should get a lot more shots.

A game like this shows how much we miss Olynyk because we lacked another playmaker. It also showed we missed a guy like Sexton who could help create shots and put some points on the board. As much as I don't like Clarkson's hero ball moments, no one else was trying anything so I can't blame him too much.

Kessler was ok but nothing special, which I suppose is still a good thing, considering he's a rookie playing against starters.

I'm somehow getting the feeling that we'll end up with either Siakam or Anunoby in a surprising trade. Don't know why.

FranchisePlayer · Post #11 » by **FranchisePlayer** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:02 pm

Inigo Montoya wrote:Another blowout. We are still hovering around .500 and really need to pick a direction. Finishing around .500 will be the worst outcome imho.

Markkanen was good in the first half but disappeared once again in the second half. I'm sure the Cavs made some adjustments but he has to be more assertive and demand the ball. It is ridiculous that that he finished with only 12FGA. The guy is so efficient, he should get a lot more shots.

Yes. I can't tell how they need to make it happen but instead of Clarkson chucking 23 FGA it should be Markkanen doing that.

I wouldn't blame Lauri too much for that, Inigo. Who else did the Cavs really have to keep an eye on? Everyone else outside of Markkanen was trash shooting wise, no need to bother about them.

FGA FGM
Jazz 36 93
Cavs 43 70

Those stats pretty much tell the whole story. Hopefully against the Pistons we see something different.