NBA Power Rankings Week 5: How good are the Utah Jazz?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

6 of 31

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

69. . 5-10. Previous: 25th. New Orleans Pelicans. 26. team

Last Week: Beat Sacramento Kings 128-123, Lost to Utah Jazz 118-102, Lost to Utah Jazz 129-118, Lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 130-120

This Week: 1/25 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 1/27 vs. Washington Wizards, 1/29 vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 1/30 vs. Houston Rockets

Falling victim to the Utah Jazz is something many teams in the league will do this season but that does not change the fact that something is wrong with the New Orleans Pelicans. It does not matter how good Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram look, especially when they only look good on one side of the ball.

The fit issues with the Pelicans are not going away and those issues are only exacerbated by the fact that Williamson, Ingram and Lonzo Ball all seem to have regressed on the defensive side of the ball. Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe are the kind of salve that cannot cover those issues up and are dragging down the offensive efficiency on the other end.

Ultimately, this falls on the younger players. The veterans’ limitations are known. Ball was a good shooter and defender last season but is not now. Ingram and Williamson were capable last season but now only look focused on offense.

The team needs to quickly get on the same page in terms of what their timeline is to succeed. The mix of competing for a playoff spot and developing the young talent (which is the majority of the team) is doing no one any good.