1. End-game chaos
Let’s get in to the final minute or so of this game, because that’s where the game was decided here.
Jazz down three, Lauri Markkanen takes and misses a game-tying shot. Good look, especially given that Markkanen had scored 15 in the fourth quarter, breaking his early game slump. But then Jordan Clarkson makes an absolutely spectacular pass to John Collins for an easy dunk off the tip-in.
If that’s Luka Doncic or LeBron James or Nikola Jokic, it’s viewed by millions around the world. That’s just pretty incredible athleticism and vision to make that pass. Clarkson, not known as a passer, is such a creative one when he puts his mind to it; he had nine assists tonight.
On the other end, the Jazz got fortunate with Klay Thompson missing an open three. With 20 seconds left, Will Hardy has a choice: timeout, or no?
He chooses no, and I think it’s the right call. The Warriors have fully four attackable defenders out there: Steph Curry, old Klay Thompson, inexplicably-bad-defensively-now Andrew Wiggins, and rookie Brandin Podziemski. That changes if there’s a timeout. And the Jazz get the switch, have Keyonte George attack old Klay, George gets double teamed, and Markkanen is open for the corner three. It’s a great shot, which Markkanen again misses.
John Collins gets a very good rebound, though, at which point he gets quadruple-teamed. Now, should Hardy have called a timeout here? Hardy said it’s something he’ll be thinking of for the next five days, over the team’s All-Star break. Fans criticized him heavily for the decision too on Twitter.
Honestly? I don’t think calling timeout is the right move! He has both Collin Sexton and Keyonte George, both good 3-point shooters, open at the top of the arc. He also has Clarkson and Markkanen nearby for a dumpoff pass. To me? I will take this alignment 100% of the time over the alternative: ball out of bounds, Warriors have their best defenders in, with five seconds left.
Collins skies the pass into the fourth row, though. He’s pretty devastated about the mistake afterwards, and good teammate Sexton goes to cheer him up.
Curry makes two free throws, but the Jazz still have a chance to tie. Hardy draws up an excellent play, and Sexton gets a wide-wide-wide open three to tie it. He misses.
To me? I thought everything was set up pretty darn optimally for success, and everyone made pretty good choices. The Jazz got three terrific shots to tie or win the game in the game’s final 45 seconds from the team’s best 3-point shooters. Collins just missed the pass; Markkanen and Sexton just missed the shots. So it goes.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) makes a three point shot during game action against the Warriors in an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
2. Keyonte George’s best game yet
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