With the trade deadline just a few days away, it seemed like every prominent NBA analyst has had something to say about the Jazz and their contingent of players. Whether it be trading this person, gaining that pick, or something along those lines, many expected Utah to be among the most talked about and busiest teams ahead of the deadline on Thursday.
While that may still be true, the Jazz will enter Monday's showdown with Dallas as the least talked about team between the two following what took place on Sunday afternoon.
The Mavericks made the first significant move of the deadline, shocking the NBA when they acquired Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple draft picks.
Although the Mavericks are expected to be shorthanded on Monday night, Utah understands that trades are simply a part of the business — and that they have more important things to deal with.
Currently one of nine teams separated by just one game in the loss column, the Jazz are in the thick of things regarding the playoff picture — making the showdown against the Mavericks much more important.
But if Utah wants to get the victory, they know the adjustments they must make following Friday night's debacle against Atlanta.
"I thought we did come out flat," said Mike Conley. "Even in the third quarter, we started off a little bit flat, and we wanted to come up with energy. For whatever reason, we didn't have that. … There's nights like that."
A lot of the reason the Jazz stayed flat against the Hawks throughout the game was due to their inability to knock down shots. The offense was executed brilliantly, but shots Utah usually knocks down just wouldn't go through the hoop.
"We struggled to make shots for the entire night, and it made it hard to gather any sort of momentum for the majority of the game," head coach Will Hardy said. "We generated a lot of good looks, especially from the three point line. … But shots we normally expect to make didn't go in tonight."
However, Hardy understands that there will be nights when the team will struggle to knock down shots — that's just life in the league. But those missed shots can't affect Utah's ability to focus on defense, and that's the major change Hardy wants to see moving forward.
"Tonight was a good example that we can't let a lack of shotmaking let us down on the defensive end," Hardy said." Because of that, we didn't execute on the defensive end as we'd like to. I want to say that we won't make any excuses for losing the game because we didn't make shots, it's just another good learning moment for us. … Our energy and focus level can't be based on missed shots."
STATS
Utah (27-27, 18-10 home / No. 10 Western Conference)
Offense
*117.6 Points Per Game (No. 4 in NBA)
*116.7 Offensive Rating (No. 3 in NBA)
Defense
*116.5 Points Per Game (No. 21 in NBA)
*115.3 Defensive Rating (No. 25 in NBA)
Individual
*Lauri Markkanen: 24.9 points | 8.7 rebounds | 1.7 assists | 42.9% 3P-shooting
*Jordan Clarkson: 20.9 points | 4.2 assists | 3.9 rebounds | 35.0% 3P-shooting
*Collin Sexton: 14.2 points | 2.7 assists | 2.2 rebounds | 41.7% 3P-shooting
*Kelly Olynyk: 11.5 points | 5.0 rebounds | 3.3 assists | 40.4% 3P-shooting
Dallas (28-26, 9-17 away / No. 6 Western Conference)
Offense
*112.3 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)
*115.0 Offensive Rating (No. 9 in NBA)
Defense
*112.0 Points Per Game (No. 8 in NBA)
*114.9 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)
Individual
*Christian Wood: 18.4 points | 8.4 rebounds | 38.5% 3P-shooting
*Tim Hardaway Jr.: 13.7 points | 3.5 rebounds | 34.9% 3P-shooting
KEY MATCHUP
*Lauri Markkanen vs. Christian Wood
— With rumor mill in full swing following the trade deadline approaching, one player who doesn’t have much to worry about is Markkanen. He’s a first-time All-Star and has emerged as a cornerstone for Utah’s burgeoning future. Meanwhile, Wood is playing for the first time since Jan. 18 after dealing with a left thumb fracture.
INJURY REPORT
Utah
QUESTIONABLE | Jarred Vanderbilt (low back spasm)
OUT | Johnny Juzang (G League - Two Way)
OUT | Micah Potter (G League - Two-Way)
Dallas
AVAILABLE | Christian Wood (left thumb fracture)
QUESTIONABLE | Frank Ntilikina (non-COVID illness)
OUT | Davis Bertans (left calf strain)
OUT | Spencer Dinwiddie (not with team)
OUT | Luka Doncic (right heel contusion)
OUT | Dorian Finney-Smith (not with team)
OUT | Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Location: Vivint Arena |Salt Lake City, UT
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: The Zone Sports Network