Four games into a new season, the Jazz’s slightly rebuilt offense has been defined by two unattractive facts: The ball is sticking and points seldom come easy.
While starters Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Devin Harris still form the core of Utah’s attack, everything from an abbreviated training camp and minimal regular-season practice to a starting rotation that settled in only Saturday during a road loss to San Antonio has contributed to the Jazz’s struggles.
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Hornets vs. Jazz
At EnergySolutions ArenaTipoff » 7 p.m. Monday TV » ROOT Sports
Radio » 1320 AM, 1600 AM, 98.7 FM
Records » Hornets 2-1, Jazz 1-3
Last meeting » Jazz, 90-78 (April 11)
About the Hornets » New Orleans started a two-game road trip Sunday evening with a contest at Sacramento. … The Hornets entered the game ranked first out of 30 teams in average rebounds (50.7) and points allowed (85). However, New Orleans was 28th in scoring (86.7). … Seven Hornets were averaging at least 8.7 points before facing the Kings.
About the Jazz » Utah is 0-3 on the road. The Jazz’s lone win came at home Friday against Philadelphia. … Seven of Utah’s 13 players are shooting less than 40 percent from the field. … The Jazz are expected to start Devin Harris, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.
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Cold outside
Stat/Average Jazz rank (out of 30 teams)
3s made 4 27
Points-per-shot 1.1 27
3-pt percentage 26.2 26
FG percentage 40.1 26
3s attempted 15.3 24
Scoring 90.5 23
Assists 18.3 23
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Even colder
Utah starting shooting guard Raja Bell has often been left out of the Jazz’s offensive sets. He ranks 11th on the team in average points (2.8) and field-goal attempts (4.3). The 12-year veteran is shooting just 29.4 percent from the floor and 14.3 percent behind the 3-point line.
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Several players said deeper issues form the foundation of Utah’s offensive woes, though, and the main culprits are a lack of motion and comfort when the Jazz (1-3) possess the ball.
"We’ve got to create some easier shots for ourselves," said starting small forward Gordon Hayward, after a 104-89 defeat to the Spurs. "That may be just cutting harder or getting stops defensively so we can run — something to get a little bit of a rhythm going."
Some of Utah’s 2010-11 beat still exists. Jefferson was the Jazz’s average leading scorer last season, and he’s the focal point again this year. The eight-year veteran center with a soft touch tops the team in points (14.7), minutes (30), field goals attempted (16.3) and made (6.7). Meanwhile, Millsap and Harris rank in the top four of the Jazz’s 13 players in scoring and field-goal attempts.
But with Utah’s tempo often lagging and the first unit bogged down in methodical midcourt sets, the ball has regularly dragged across the floor as other players watch and wait instead of taking action.
The Jazz have recorded 21 or fewer points during eight of 16 quarters this season, including three of four in a loss to San Antonio that saw Utah trail by 27 in the fourth period. The Jazz entered Sunday ranked 27th out of 30 teams in average points per shot (1.07), 26th in field-goal percentage (40.1), and 23rd in scoring (90.5) and assists (18.3).
"We’ve still got a lot to work on. … Things are just not working out for us," Millsap said.
The lack of offensive action, combined with a defense that’s mentally collapsed when shots fail to fall, has put Utah in a hole. The Jazz have trailed by double digits in all four of their games, given up game-changing runs during their three losses, and top only winless Washington in point differential (-13.5).
"Effort is big with us. … At the same time, we have to create easier shots," reserve point guard Earl Watson said. "Our defense has to create shots in transition: layups, open jumpers, rhythm shots. When we don’t get transition points and you’re playing on the road and you’re playing behind, that’s a lot of pressure for each shooter."
Increased pressure and a lack of touches are forcing Utah wing players Raja Bell, C.J. Miles and Hayward to shoot out of rhythm. The trio has often been excluded from offensive sets, while Bell — Utah’s starting shooting guard — has been little more than a placeholder. The 12-year veteran ranks 11th on the Jazz in average points (2.8), field-goal percentage (29.4) and field-goal attempts (4.3). Meanwhile, Utah ranks 27th in the league in average 3-pointers made (4), 26th in 3-point percentage (26.2) and 24th in attempts (15.3).
"When you’re constantly kind of walking the ball up the floor after getting scored on and whatever, you end up just standing a little bit," Hayward said. "It’s frustrating — it’s very frustrating. But hopefully we’ll be able to look at the [game] film and fix some of those things."
Twitter: @tribjazz
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