Have The Utah Jazz Finally Turned The Corner?

Maturity doesn’t happen overnight.

But it does happen in a number of different ways. We don’t know when it officially happens, but when it occurs we can see it. At the beginning of the season the Utah Jazz were inexperienced, immature, and reckless. However with less than 30 games left in the NBA season, that same Jazz team that was wet behind the ears now looks the complete opposite.

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Originally before the season began I thought that the best case scenario for the Jazz would be to create competition for one of the lower seeds in the Western Conference playoffs.

Even though it was wishful thinking, the reality behind my thoughts was that their team would mesh and surprise a lot of people as the Phoenix Suns did last season. However I also thought that the worst-case scenario for the Jazz was that they would win at least 30 games and finish as the 10th-best team in the Western Conference.

Because of their hard work and their ability to learn coach Quin Snyder’s scheme, the numbers can be evidence enough. The Jazz are only one of six teams in the Western Conference with a winning streak.

In addition as of Monday night, the Utah Jazz are only seven games behind the Phoenix Suns for the 10th spot; sure it’s not the playoffs, but it’s right where I projected. More importantly, the gap between the Jazz and the Suns is going to drastically decrease because the Jazz are playing high-level basketball, and it’s because they’re finally playing the defense that many expected.

The defense is the reason why they’ve had the best stretch of the season winning four out of their last five games. Furthermore what’s more impressive is that the Jazz have defeated two straight playoffs teams during that span, the Portland Trail Blazers and the reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

The Trail Blazers were held to 76 points which was a season low, and the Spurs were held to 81 points, also a season low.

One of the biggest reasons for the turnaround defensively is because of the emergence of Rudy Gobert as a top-10 center. At this moment in time, it’s difficult to pick five centers in the league better than him. There aren’t many players who can change the game defensively as he can.

It was evident on Monday night watching Gobert against Tim Duncan that he was becoming a dominant force in the league.

In an interview with Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune, Spurs center Tim Duncan said this about Gobert:

“He affects the game a lot. He is a rim-protector and a shot-blocker and he cleans up a lot of people’s mistakes. He has been great for them and this was another good game. He’s improving.”

One other notable reason why the Jazz have done so well is because of the way that Trey Burke has been playing in his new role off the bench. Even though Burke might not like coming off the bench the reason why it’s been so beneficial to his game is because he’s better when he’s in a scoring mentality.

Burke is the type of player who needs to take shots, and who enjoys using the pick and roll to set others up. Playing in a lineup with the second team with other players who don’t have his skill set gives the Jazz the person they’ve desperately needed off the bench to come and give production.

Trey Burke shot chart vs. Spurs. February 23, 2015

In the month of February alone Burke has been playing well and is averaging 14 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. His shooting numbers might need to increase but, he’s been excellent in adjusting to the needs of the team.

Because of his selflessness, and humility to take a lesser role, Burke’s been able to increase his value to the team. When Burke played against the Spurs he had his 12th game of the season where he shot over 50 percent from the floor.

On the account of the different players on the roster that have versatility games it also is one of the biggest reasons why the Jazz have been winning so much lately. The way that this roster is now shaped the Jazz can play multiple styles of basketball which is only a trait that a few teams in the league (Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Cleveland) can do.

They can slow the game down like the Memphis Grizzlies. They can out run you like the Golden State Warriors. They can even play team oriented like the Atlanta Hawks. The only style of basketball that the Jazz can’t play is out shooting opponents, but their lack of perimeter shooting can get addressed next season.

Even others around the league have started to see the way that the Jazz have improved over the course of the season.

In an interview with Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said this:

“Quin and his staff have done a great job of getting their system across and instilling the aggressiveness and physicality that’s needed to win in the NBA. They played unselfishly. They believe in each other. I thought they were tremendous.”

This season the Jazz played the NBA’s toughest schedule, and to cap off the year they are going to play against 12 teams that are going to the playoffs. The beauty in that is the Jazz are going to play against more teams who are not going to the playoffs though.

With the terrible start the Jazz had during the beginning of the year and to now put themselves in a position to come close to having a .500 record is an incredible accomplishment. The Jazz might have a lot of work to do, since they do have a 21-34 record, but by the end of the season they’re going to get closer to an average record than previous years past.

If that’s not maturity then show me what is.

Next: Utah Jazz: Grant Jerrett, Tibor Pleiss, & Everything In Between

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