Jazz Need More Consistency At Point Guard

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Coming off of a tough double overtime loss to Oklahoma City and a big win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Utah Jazz are searching for consistency, primarily at the point guard position.

It all starts with starter Ricky Rubio, who had 14 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 8 turnovers on 4-for-9 shooting from the field in the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The seven-year veteran answered the next night with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 0 turnovers in their 16-point win over the Mavericks.

On the Jazz Notes Podcast, hosted by Cleon Wall and Jeremiah Jensen, the point was made by Jensen that the Jazz are in need of consistency at point guard.

More Consistency

“Ricky Rubio has become a lightning rod,” Jensen said.

He rumored in multiple trades to the Memphis Grizzlies leading up to the trade deadline as he is in the final year of his contract. That had a negative effect on Rubio.

Since the trade deadline has passed, Rubio is averaging 3 turnovers per game and 5.8 assists.

Overall on the season, he has recorded 6.1 assists and 2.9 turnovers per game.

In the last five games, Rubio had zero turnovers in two of the games, both wins. This season, he has 3 games with zero turnovers, all have been wins.

He has had 11 games this year with one turnover or less, the Jazz are 7-4.

Listen to the full episode of the Jazz Notes Podcast

Playoff Ricky

Last season, Rubio played in the first five games of the first round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was injured seven minutes into game six and missed the rest of the postseason.

During those five games, Rubio had two games with 20 points or more, both were wins. He also had 5 assists or more in every game with the exception of game six. Rubio recorded a triple-double in game three with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

He was a critical piece to getting the Jazz past the Thunder in the first round, despite not having home-court advantage.