Utah Jazz among the best in NBA for clinching clutch games

The Jazz have gone from near-worst to first in one of the league’s most important categories: winning close games.

Last year, the Jazz finished with a relatively ugly 15-18 record in clutch games — defined as ones where the margin is five points or fewer with five minutes or less to go. And at this point in the year, they had an even worse 7-11 record in such games, which ranked 25th in the NBA. The only teams with fewer clutch wins were the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and you’d expect that they’d be at the bottom: they’re bad teams overall.

The 2019-20 season has been a completely different story so far. The Jazz now have the league’s most wins in those clutch games, a 17-6 record which is tied in the win column with the surprising Oklahoma City Thunder (17-11). Now, Milwaukee (12-3), Miami (11-3) and the Lakers (13-4) have better winning percentages than Utah, but still, their turn for the better is a big one.

With a turnaround that big, credit goes in multiple directions. What are the potential explanations?

First, nearly everyone surveyed pointed out Rudy Gobert’s defensive contributions near the end of close games. While his defense at the end of the Jazz’s two-point win against the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram was ruled a foul in the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report on Wednesday, the Jazz still thought it was impressive that Gobert had sprinted down the court to be in position to defend the long-armed Ingram, and that solid position was enough to fool the trailing referee.

Then, the Jazz hurried off the court with two fingers in the air, signaling “Two-time”: the number of Gobert’s consecutive Defensive Player of the Year trophies. Gobert’s defensive plays have won the Jazz a number of close games, including against the Bulls earlier in the road trip, and have made an impact in games against the Hawks, Warriors, Grizzlies, Kings, and Blazers.

“It’s an anthem now,” Emmanuel Mudiay explained. “You just gotta hold up the two every time he does something big in crunch time.”

The Jazz’s defense, of course, doesn’t just rely on Gobert. While there have been some missteps on the glass — see early losses to the Clippers and Kings — coach Quin Snyder also credited Royce O’Neale’s defensive rebounding in key situations, as he’s used his athleticism to fight for loose balls. Last year, the Jazz were among the league’s worst defensive rebounding teams in the clutch, this year, they’re above average.

Their 90 defensive rating in clutch situations points to that side of the floor. That’s third in the league, behind only the Bucks and Lakers.

But the Jazz have also been much more potent offensively late, too. There, most would point given to two players, Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic, and how they’ve been able to work together late in games.

The Jazz’s favorite late-game play to run has been a high screen from Bogdanovic while Mitchell has the ball. Sometimes, Bogdanovic sets a real screen, and sometimes, he doesn’t, just getting in Mitchell’s vicinity before sprinting off to get open behind the arc a few feet away. This creates confusion in the defense — should they switch? Should they stay attached?

It’s also quick: if the first go at the screen doesn’t work, Bogdanovic can come over and give it a second try. Regardless, it’s been effective. Mitchell frequently gets a step on his opponents, which has set him up to get space in the midrange, where he’s developed his jumper. Meanwhile, Bogdanovic either finds no one on him — that’s the threat of Mitchell — or finds that a switch did happen, and he can punish a smaller defender.

Of course, the Jazz’s additional shooting threat this year has also opened up lanes for Mitchell. Bogdanovic is a big part of that, but Mike Conley’s shooting ability and Royce O’Neale’s improvement from three have made helping to stop Mitchell extra dangerous.

Snyder also feels that, perhaps because of that extra spacing, his team has been able to work together in late game half-court situations. Last year featured a lot of Mitchell hero ball, and frankly, he was visibly exhausted at times when asked to go to the well time and time again. Bogdanovic and Conley’s ability to take a possession from Mitchell has made his life a lot easier.

“We have more weapons on the floor,” Snyder said. “And our players are very willing to play together at the end of the game.”

To be sure: luck is part of this equation, too. The Jazz got a little lucky Gobert’s foul against the Pelicans wasn’t whistled, for example, and as brilliant as Bogdanovic’s 3-point game winner against Milwaukee was, they were fortunate to get the ball back in regulation at all, relying on a Khris Middleton travel. They’d prefer more blowout wins, ones they’ve started to see more of recently.

But even when they haven’t played their best, even when it’s been close, late, they’ve been getting the almighty W.