Game 20 Takeaways

Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings

Jazz end losing skid with help from Rubio’s big first half.

The Utah Jazz started off yet another back-to-back Sunday night by playing the Sacramento Kings for the third time this season. Utah was absolutely desperate for a win after struggling in recent matchups, but things weren’t looking up for the team before the game, as it was announced Donovan Mitchell would be sitting our the game with a rib contusion, which came from the play below:

Look how much weight @WayneSeldenJr puts behind this elbow RIGHT to @spidadmitchell’s gut … 🤨🤨🤨 pic.twitter.com/Hy2AE6z6Zg

— The Jazz Fan Show (@JazzFanShow) November 13, 2018

Fortunately for the Jazz, Ricky Rubio more than made up for the scoring missed by Mitchell’s absence. Rubio had 16 of his team’s 30 first-quarter points, and ended the night with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists shooting almost 70% for the night.

On the back of Rubio’s big night, the Jazz get that much-needed victory 133 – 112.

Watch full game highlights below:

Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings – Nov. 25, 2018

Game 20 Takeaways

Ricky Rubio Steps Up in a Big Way

The achilles heel of this season’s Utah Jazz team has been the undeniably slow starts. In fact, the word “slow” doesn’t even really do these starts justice…

Molasses Starts. Let’s call them Molasses Starts.

Anyways, Donovan Mitchell was forced to sit out this game with a rib contusion which came from the most recent game against the Grizzlies in Memphis.

Fans were wondering where the already-sparse scoring would come from with Mitchell out. And more importantly…

WHEN would it come? Would it be another slow start for the Jazz?

The answer, in short, is no.

But why?

His name is Ricard Rubio, and he had himself a night.

Rubio scored 16 of the team’s 30 first-quarter points, and ended the night just short of 30 points and 70% shooting.

So, how slow did we start with Rubio playing like he did?

Warms my heart…

Calling for the Curveball

Utah has been going with the same starting five for awhile now (when everyone is healthy, of course). That being said, there are times when a change is needed here or there to combat the opponents strength more efficiently.

When the Jazz faced Sacramento, we saw one of these changes to the lineup take place. Normally, Royce O’Neale or someone else would be plugged into Donovan’s spot straight up, but in this game, there was another change included.

Derrick Favors came off the bench, with Snyder instead opting to start Jae Crowder at the 4 spot.

This got me thinking about how being an NBA coach compares to being a major league pitcher in baseball. You have a certain, go-to arsenal of pitches. But every now and then, you have to switch things up because the batters have started to key in on some of your pitches.

This is exactly what Quin did by changing one small aspect of the lineup against Sacramento. But the question remains, will these be long term changes or were they just for an at-bat or two?

Is There an Unspoken “Hot-Hand” Rule?

On top of the lineup changes we mentioned above, we also saw some other unexpected lineups sneak into the mix, including keeping Rubio on the court for a long period of time with Dante Exum, normally his straight-up back up.

This, however, could have just been because Ricky had the hot hand (see above) in the first half.

I’ve noticed a pattern where the Jazz will continue feeding the rock, sometimes almost TOO obviously, to the player who made the last shot.

Do you think this is something Quin has worked into the offense, or is there just a “get the ball to the hot-hand” unspoken rule between Jazz men?

Thoughts?

Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings – Nov. 25, 2018

Prop Results

Winner:

TIE

Kelby Jones (6) | Ryan Van Dorn (5)

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