Utah Jazz’s Depth: A Blessing and a Curse
Role players are a vital part of being a successful franchise in the NBA. Every year role players have a monumental impact in big games during the regular season, playoffs and the NBA Finals. Without Steve Kerr, the Bulls might not have won the championship, after his clutch game-winner in game six of 1997 NBA Finals. Robert Horry’s clutch antics for the Lakers and Spurs helped them on their way to multiple titles. There are countless examples of how role players and depth are needed for NBA success. In a league dominated by superstars, these role players take the backseat to stardom, bright lights, and media crowds. Their impact, however, proves to be something of great value year after year.
The Utah Jazz role players are a peculiar bunch. Some of them look like they belong in the next pickup game at the local gym. Some race up the court at blazing top speeds. Others take their time, and are even notoriously nicknamed for the slow speeds at which they play. They vary in shape and size, play style and skills. They come from several corners of the world, including French and Australia. Despite their differences, the Jazz have found incredible value in some of their role players, as well as some great disappointment in others. Amid numerous injuries to key players, these role players have been forced to step into increased workloads and responsibilities.
The depth of the Utah Jazz has been both a blessing and a curse for them this season. The same role players that have stepped into larger roles due to health problems, have also been some of the players that have cost the Jazz in late and crucial moments in big games. The weaknesses of the Jazz role players and secondary units have been exposed in many different ways this season, most recently on the recent road trip where the Jazz went 1–3. Looking at both the positive and negative impacts, here are some of the Jazz role players that have made an impact this season.
Joe Ingles
Ingles has been one of the more prominent role players on the Jazz this season, with his workload and role modifying due to the injuries of Rodney Hood. The 29 year-old Australian has been a fan-favorite in Utah this season, thanks to his crafty passes, trash talk, and lefty rainbow threes. Ingles is the only player that has played in every game this season, and has produced great results for the Jazz in the absence of Rodney Hood.
Ingles is the Jazz’ most efficient three-point shooter at 44.3 percent, which is third highest in the NBA. He is one of the best spot-up shooters on the Jazz and provides incredible production from three-point territory.
Ingles’ wing and left-corner three have been almost automatic this season. Ingles has also been efficient in the pick-and-roll with his unique passing ability. His 108.9 offensive rating is second-highest on the Jazz, which proves his offensive efficient at it’s finest. The Jazz also have their highest offensive rating when Ingles is on the floor, at 108.9.
Despite improving defensively this season, the Jazz do have one of their worst defensive ratings when Ingles is on the floor. His lack of lateral movement and quickness makes him a liability on a defense that thrives off of isolation lock-downs and movement.
Ingles has taken what the Basketball Gods have given him as far as athleticism goes, and has worked on parts of his game that he can control. As an improved defender, Ingles leads the Jazz with just over one per game.
Ingles has a unique relationship with Jazz All-Star Gordon Hayward, both on and off the court. Both of the Jazz men are young fathers and share that aspect of their personal lives. Ingles and Hayward have a unique connection on the court as well, which has been numerous times this season through the form of alley-oops.
These alley-oops have got to be a specific play in Utah’s playbook, as most of them appear to be very similar. I like to imagine the name of this play is maybe White Lightning or The Australian-American Connection or something lame like that. Regardless of its name, the play has been a good one for the Jazz this year and still catches teams off-guard.
Ingles has arguably been the best Jazz role player this season, and has given them incredible production. His impact was on full-display in a game against the Clippers last Monday, when Ingles scored 18 points on 6–9 shooting and helped the Jazz win an important conference bout. The Jazz realize the unique impact Ingles has on their team, and should resign him to an extended contract this summer.
Rodney Hood
The Jazz need a healthy Rodney Hood. After missing a handful of games this season due to knee issues, the Jazz have had to go without their 4th leading scorer during a crucial stretch of the season. Hood’s game is nothing incredibly flashy, which suits perfectly for Snyder’s offense. His 13 points per game are modest, but Hood seems to give the Jazz those points when they need them most during offensive struggles and droughts. Hood is an important cog in the Jazz’ offense, with his usage percentage at nearly 23%, fourth-most on the roster. His versatility as a scorer is a useful tool for a team that utilizes slow pace to maximize offensive possessions and defensive efficiency.
A healthy Rodney Hood is much needed in order for the Jazz to make a deep playoff run. Defense tightens down in the playoffs and the Jazz need another shooter to spread the floor and create other offensive options for head coach Quin Snyder.
Joe Johnson
The Jazz have turned Joe Johnson into one of the best free-agent signings of 2016. Johnson came to Utah on a two-year, $22 Million deal and has proven to be worth every penny. Johnson has given valuable minutes at several positions, and Quin Snyder has used him in a handful of lineup variations with different players. Johnson’s slower style of game plays perfectly into the Jazz’ offense, which is the slowest-paced in the league.
Perhaps Johnson’s most valuable trait has been his ability to hit big shots for the Jazz this season. In clutch minutes (game within five minutes, under one minute remaining), Johnson is a perfect 4–4 from the field, including 3–3 from deep. It seems like every week “Iso Joe” is hitting a big shot late in games for the Jazz.
Johnson has provided great depth off the bench for the Jazz, as well as filling in as starter when injuries have occurred. The Jazz have their fourth-highest offensive rating when Joe Johnson is on the court this season, with his slow-paced isolation providing great benefits.
He also gave the Jazz this shot earlier this season:
The achilles heal to Johnson’s contributions this season has been, frankly, his age and durability. There have been moments with Johnson on the floor where the defense is exposed, turnovers occur, or bad shots are taken. Some of that is not entirely Johnson’s fault, but come with his endurance as an aging NBA player.
Dante Exum
Dante Exum is one of the more fascinating role players to analyze this season. Some might say he resides in Quin Snyder’s doghouse as a young developing player. He is averaging less minutes than he did in his rookie season, and is coming off a five minute performance in a bad loss to Indiana.
Exum has shown flashes of brilliance as an explosive offensive threat, and seems to get to the rim with ease at times.
Exum also shows some worrisome characteristics, which may explain Snyder’s reluctance and letting the reigns loose. The 21-year-old is currently shooting 28 percent from deep this season, which is enough of a liability to lose minutes. There is a path of which Exum can cross to excel without a three-point shot, but will need to improve as a defender and distributor if that is the case.
Exum can be a difference maker for the Jazz, but will need to prove to Snyder and the rest of the Jazz management that he can handle an enhanced role on the team. If the Jazz fail to extend George Hill this off-season, Exum may be forced to grow through the responsibilities as a role player and develop into one of the team’s stars, as many thought he would when he was drafted with a lottery pick in 2014.
The Rest of the Bench Mob
The rest of the Jazz bench has been mostly a curse this season. Averaging 31 points per game (9th fewest in NBA) the Jazz have suffered at the hands of the bench several times this season. Their lack of consistency and dependability has proven to be a concern for fans, especially after the Jazz remained stagnant at the trade deadline. Had the Jazz remained healthy all year long, the deep bench may have been a different story remaining in their original roles.
Role players can make or break a season. They have proven to be valuable to the Utah Jazz this season and have contributed to their success as a soon-to-be playoff team. Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert will carry this team into the playoffs, but a huge portion of the Jazz post-season success will depend on how well their role players and bench perform. One way or another, we will get a true idea of their impact as the playoffs unfold.
All statistics are utilized from NBA.com unless otherwise explicitly stated.
