1. Mike Conley
Acquiring a point guard the caliber of Mike Conley was supposed to change everything for the Utah Jazz.
Here was an experienced two-way floor general who had seen and showed out in many big playoff games throughout his career. Donovan Mitchell could return to a more traditional shooting guard role and Utah’s mediocre offense could finally catch up to its elite play at the other end.
When Conley isn’t missing seven games due to a hamstring injury — that currently has him on the injury list — he’s posting his worst numbers since the early days of Grit and Grind.
Mike Conley and the Jazz have been one of the NBA's biggest disappointments so far this season https://t.co/jfMBzTxSeq pic.twitter.com/zlmNjnmZuf
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) December 15, 2019
His percentage on 2-pointers is a career-low, as are his field goal and true shooting percentages. The Jazz’s offense remains among the bottom-third in the league, an issue only made worse thanks to a defense that’s slipped eight spots from last year to 10th overall in rating.
Qualifying for the playoffs no longer quenches Utah’s competitive thirst. It’s why the front office was so active over the summer in acquiring both Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic.
Bogdanovic has responded with career-high marks across the board, but until Conley begins to replicate the level of play that made him such an attractive trade option in the first place, whatever faint title hopes the Jazz have will only grow loftier.