Pre-Season Game #4: Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers

Post #1 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:54 am

Ace is listed as GTD, but we'll maybe get a chance to have a first look at Yang.

babyjax13 · Post #2 » by **babyjax13** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:05 am

Kessler doing a good job moving the ball and creating opportunities for other players from the high post.

babyjax13 · Post #3 » by **babyjax13** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:24 am

Bamba sucks, hope we dont have to see him playing much basketball.

SkyHook · Post #4 » by **SkyHook** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:29 am

babyjax13 wrote:Kessler doing a good job moving the ball and creating opportunities for other players from the high post.

You got your passing big man! :wink:

babyjax13 · Post #5 » by **babyjax13** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:44 am

SkyHook wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:Kessler doing a good job moving the ball and creating opportunities for other players from the high post.

You got your passing big man!

I did haha

Post #6 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:38 am

babyjax13 wrote:Bamba sucks, hope we dont have to see him playing much basketball.

Weird, I thought he played quite well.

Post #7 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:43 am

George and Kessler where the best Jazz players this game, both played very well.

It was nice to see the Jazz using a lot of passing from their bigs, and Markkanen scored a lot of his points from easy baskets and from movement. He had a really tough time getting easy baskets last season.

I thought Harkless and Bamba were good and made a difference on both ends. There's probably no room for Bamba on the Jazz but I'd keep Harkless if possible.

The entire Jazz broadcasting crew were absolutely terrible in this game. All of them got stuff wrong constantly, it was really bad. I guess broadcasters need pre-season too.

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:31 pm

Inigo Montoya wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:Bamba sucks, hope we dont have to see him playing much basketball.

Weird, I thought he played quite well.

He had some bad plays as soon as he came in. I posted that, then he played much better lol

SkyHook · Post #9 » by **SkyHook** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 4:32 pm

Solid recap from the GB. I still lean towards a healthy Collier in the starting lineup, with George first off the bench. Other than a glimpse here or there, Clayton hasn't impressed me.

MMyhre wrote:Strong finishing from Keyonte George who skies over Jrue, and Holiday showing the signs of aging couldn't really contest George on a drive for a block like he used to. George looks nice here, he can really heat up from three and if he finishes like this at the rim he will make a leap this year alongside his improved decision making and playmaking. 20 pts on 7-11 fg, 3-6 3pt, 3-3 ft, 2 ast/2 to, 2 steals and 1 nasty block with a +11 in 26 minutes. He has earned the starting spot.

Walter Clayton Jr is really bad at moving his feet, positioning and rotating to shooters. Even in just highlights he is always involved in opposing three point shooters getting clean looks and scoring. He does do some good stuff, 5 ast/2 to, 3-5 from 2pt and 2-2 ft, but his 3pt shot has been terrible in preseason and he went 0-4 from downtown yesterday. Will be interesting to see how much he gets to play when Collier returns.

Walker Kessler is a much more complete player than I thought, nice passing all game and even hit Clingan with the spin move off the dribble for a free layup. In one sequence he hits a three, then he blocks Jerami Grant on the three point line then immediately runs down court and gets passed to for a fastbreak dunk. 7'0.25 barefoot by the way, and the Jazz might be more legit this year than I thought.
He almost had a triple double in 26 minutes, 14 pts, 6-9 fg, 1-1 3pt, 1-2 ft, 10 reb (5 oreb), 8 ast/1 to, 2 stl, 2 blk and a +11. I did not see him potentially becoming Jokic light with better defense.. that's some scary potential.

They are using Markkanens size and athleticism much more, and he is feasting in the paint this game.

Taylor Hendricks is tough to stop when he gets the ball cutting to the rim.

Brice Sensabaugh looks in better shape than last year, leaner and faster. He cut to the rim, easily beating his man and dunked it through contact. I don't think he does that last year, combine this with his insane 3pt shooting off the dribble and he is going to score a lot of points this season.

The Jazz struggle to defend the three point line, but somehow they beat a lot of the Blazers starting lineup with their end of bench guys. Portland rely a lot on Avdija and Camara it seems, a bit worrisome that Camara has been out with knee stuff for their playoff ambitions and Avdija left the game with upper back stiffness.

Jerami Grant filled it up, but he has been a more stats than winning impact for a long time, and I don't trust him going 5-12 from three with such high overall impact like this game all year. He had 0 blocks before this game, and was 2-16 from three, 7-19 from 2pt as well.

Shaedon Sharpe 2-9 from three, 3 assists and 4 turnovers, -3. Doesn't seem to be able to put it together.

Clingan and Yang Hansen a combined -13 in 44 mins, probably the worst defensive center rotation in terms of defending the pick & roll and similar mobility demanding actions in the league. Too slow.

SkyHook · Post #10 » by **SkyHook** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 4:41 pm

Following the game, Kessler attributed a bit of that step forward to one of the Jazz's new offseason additions to the roster: Jusuf Nurkic, a savvy veteran passer at his position, and someone he's been able to watch in practice and get a sense of how to make plays as the five-man.

"I think watching [Jusuf Nurkic helped], and even before watching Nurk this offseason, I was told that we're going to play a lot more flash game," Kessler said. "Just continuing to make those plays. In my head space– I wouldn't say 'not care', but just, 'don't be afraid to throw those passes."

Lo and behold, Kessler's taking notes from Nurkic behind the scenes, and the Jazz's schematic shift played well to their favor, leading to a near-triple-double for their big man, and even a career-high in assists, albeit in a preseason showing.

"Tonight, it worked out, and it was fun," Kessler continued. "I enjoyed making plays... I don't think I've had ten [assists] before. So, I think eight might be the new number."

https://www.si.com/nba/jazz/news/utah-jazz-reveal-walker-kessler-status-final-preseason-trail-blazers

Jazz Dog · Post #11 » by **Jazz Dog** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:19 pm

I believe tonight showed why Kessler is not going anywhere. I think he is a building block that the Jazz want/need to have going forward.

Filipowski showed more tonight's as well. His first game wasn't good. I am feeling comfortable with 3-5 base unit. I am including Ace in that group, we still need a major upgrade at the 1-2 grouping. Someone please remind me, in your mind what would Peterson or AJ or Boozer being playing if we got one of them next year? I believe they are all in the 3-5 grouping as well. Does Ace move into the two role?

SkyHook · Post #12 » by **SkyHook** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:11 pm

babyjax13 wrote:Bamba sucks, hope we dont have to see him playing much basketball.

Watch on YouTube

babyjax13 · Post #13 » by **babyjax13** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 12:11 am

I think Portland will be the worst team in the West this year.

Post #14 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 9:23 am

babyjax13 wrote:I think Portland will be the worst team in the West this year.

I doubt it. As long as they'll try to win, they won't be. The Jazz should be worse.

Daddy 801 · Post #15 » by **Daddy 801** » Mon Oct 20, 2025 5:49 am

Inigo Montoya wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:I think Portland will be the worst team in the West this year.

I doubt it. As long as they'll try to win, they won't be. The Jazz should be worse.

I will be praying for this all season. We can make all the jump we want after this season. We can go full in and even add vets and play them to win next season. Whatever. But this is season is still a must tank season.

Preaching to the choir.