NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break
36-18. Previous: 8th. Utah Jazz. 7. team. 118.
Utah Jazz:
Offense: (111.9) 8th
Defense: (107.6) 8th
Net: (plus +4.3) 7th
Results Week 17: (2-0) Won vs. Mavericks: 123-119, Heat: 116-101
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri vs Spurs | Sat vs Rockets
They’ve vacillated from a high of number one to a low of 11th defensively but the moves made to climb back up the defensive ladder came while Mike Conley was out injured.
At some point, the Jazz brain trust has to question if Conley will eventually work into Quin Snyder’s system or if this is another Richard Jefferson – San Antonio Spurs situation where a player just doesn’t fit into the team’s style and system.
It’s hard to believe Conley has regressed this much defensively so quickly. Perhaps it’s a matter of undervaluing how much Marc Gasol did for Memphis or Conley fitting that system so perfectly. Or maybe we’re undervaluing how the injury is affecting him on defense. That said, whether he is struggling to fit into the Jazz offense or not – the much more concerning part of the equation is how bad he looks on defense.
His regression is like the swiftly falling rocks witnessed by the roadrunner on the coyote in cartoons. Doubtful anything could’ve prepared us for this.
Conley’s regression is basically what pundits were stating fans should expect from Chris Paul this season — but that fourth quarter at the All-Star game put those thoughts to rest. Perhaps it’s time MC switches to an all plant based diet. He’s one of the good guys and witnessing how poorly he’s played this year just feels wrong.