Jazz Defense Starts, And Finishes Strong In Season Opening Win

Salt Lake City, Utah – The Utah Jazz found their defensive groove in their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Jazz held the  Thunder to just six points through the first six minutes of the game, and 12 points at the end of the first quarter. The Thunder connected on 5-21 first quarter shot attempts and missed both of the three-point attempts. 

The Jazz didn’t allow the Thunder to attempt a corner three-point attempt for the first 16:41 minutes of the game.

Any concerns about the Jazz preseason defense seem to be answered so far. They gave up just 12 first quarter points and held OKC to 5/21 shooting (23.8%) #TakeNote #UtahJazz #NBATipOff

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 24, 2019

Mike Conley offered his thoughts on where the Jazz improved from the preseason. 

“I think just handing the pick and roll. I thought we did a good job adjusting and switching,” Conley said. 

Rudy Gobert wasn’t surprised to see the Jazz defense improve from the preseason.

“It’s not easy when you have the same habits for 12 years.” Gobert said of Conley. “Every game he’s been better defensively.”

Mid-Game Woes:

The second quarter haunted the Jazz defensively in the preseason and was an issue again in game one. 

The Thunder started the quarter on an 8-0 run thanks to two deep three-point attempts from Chris Paul and continued to find success against the Jazz defense. The visitors connected on 11-23 shots in the quarter.

The Jazz gave up 34 points to the Thunder in the second quarter, after allowing 31 points on average in the preseason. 

Despite the high scoring quarter, the Jazz forced the Thunder into traditionally difficult looks. Oklahoma City attempted 12 three-point attempts, but only one corner three. The other 11 three-point attempts came above the break. 

The Thunder connected on a blistering 45 percent of their non-corner three’s in the quarter. Last season, NBA teams connected on an average of just 35 percent of the three-point shots from the angle, and 39 percent on straight away threes. 

The majority of the Thunder’s damage came from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The former Kentucky guard had a career-high 25 points midway through the third quarter, but wouldn’t score again until a free-throw with 2.8 seconds left in the game. 

Feels like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the guy to watch in OKC this year. Continues to take steps offensively. Loved his patience here in P&R. Came off, saw Gobert, backed off and attacked as soon as the defense recovered. pic.twitter.com/BmUCIYl8AW

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) October 24, 2019

The Jazz struggled to stick with Gilgeous-Alexander off the ball and appeared flat-footed when defending him in isolation. The second-year guard was one of the key assets sent to the Thunder in the blockbuster trade for Paul George.

Strong Finish:

The Jazz found their defensive groove once again in the fourth and sealed the win allowing just 21 fourth quarter points. The Thunder made just 7-19 shots from the floor, and 6-13 free-throw attempts to finish the game. 

“I thought in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter we made it hard for them,” Quin Snyder said.

During the preseason the Jazz surrendered a league worst 119.2 points per game and 49.9 percent field goal percentage.

The Jazz held the Thunder to just 95 points, and 38 percent shooting from the floor. 

Gobert held Thunder center Steven Adams to just 1-8 shooting. Adams converted just 1-6 free-throws.

The Jazz travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers Friday night.