Jazz Fall To Warriors Continuing Struggles Against League’s Best

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fought a tough battle against the Golden State Warriors but ultimately came up short in a 123-116 loss.

The Warriors, who were playing with a rest advantage after the Jazz played last night closed the game on a 22-13 run over the final six minutes to pull away for their league-leading 28th victory.

The Jazz had four players finish with 20 points but ultimately didn’t have enough to outlast the Warriors who got 28 points from Steph Curry in the Golden State win.

The @warriors snap the @utahjazz six-game win streak with a 123-116 victory. #takenote https://t.co/kSxpGzMWrk

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022

Jazz Struggling Against NBA’s Best

The Jazz haven’t had many opportunities to face off against the NBA’s best teams, but so far this season, when they have had the chance, they haven’t gotten wins.

Against the top four teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Jazz are just 1-5 this season with losses to the Warriors, Bulls, Grizzlies, and Heat.

The @utahjazz are 1-5 against teams with top four records in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 2, 2022

The Jazz lone victory against a team that would open the playoffs with homecourt advantage game against the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks early in the year.

Even before the game Jazz coach Quin Snyder recognized that once his team reaches the postseason, how it performed in the regular season won’t mean much.

“No one on this call is going to put a whole lot on the regular season once we get to the playoffs,” Snyder said of the media’s perspective, but wouldn’t go as far as saying the game wasn’t important.

“Every time you get a chance to compete, whether you win or lose, they are opportunities that you have — competition is a mirror.”

Mike Conley on the @utahjazz tough upcoming schedule.

"They are always great opportunities when we get to play against the best in the league. Especially when we consider ourselves to be in that conversation. We want to compete against those guys."

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022

Not even at the midway point of the season, the Jazz will have plenty of opportunities to face off against the best teams in the NBA. Over the final 46 games of the regular season, the Jazz will have 13 games against the top four seeds in both conferences.

“I mean, it’s basketball, we hopefully will survive, but it’s one game at a time,” Rudy Gobert said of the Jazz upcoming schedule.

“No matter who we play every night is an opportunity to get better and to win. As long as we keep taking care of ourselves and stay healthy, I think we will be in great shape.”

Draymond Green An MVP Candidate?

Draymond Green didn’t play against the Jazz in the Warriors win but drew significant praise from Jazz coach Quin Snyder.

If you pay attention to social media you may see some Jazz fans are already making arguments for Gobert to repeat as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, recognizing the early case Green has made for himself in the race.

After all, the Warriors are the top defensive team in the NBA, lack a traditional rim-protecting big man, and haven’t had Klay Thompson yet this season, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

“I want to win. I want to be Defensive Player of the Year again, and I want to be an All-Star again. That is motivating me because a lot of people had counted me out.”

— @Money23Green 🗣💯💯 pic.twitter.com/PAj1ZH2Slq

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) November 22, 2021

According to Snyder, Jazz fans may not have to worry about Green as a DPOY candidate, as he may be more worthy of an MVP nod.

“I don’t think I have to qualify this by saying no disrespect to Steph or to Rudy, but Draymond Green is as unique a player and as having as good a year — think if you want to put someone in the MVP conversation.”

Green is averaging 8.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, but has helped lead the Warriors to the top record in the NBA.

“Maybe the numbers don’t match up to some of the numbers that some other guys put up,” Snyder said, “but as far as the way that he impacts the game, whether it’s his passing his defense, which, obviously know how we feel about Rudy, his versatility and the things that he does, — Draymond is like that, he just does it in his way.”

 

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Snyder is correct that due to Green’s lack of scoring, he might not get the credit he is due for an MVP award, but his impact on the Warriors is as high as any player on any team in the NBA right now.

As a result, if he does end up with the DPOY award, Jazz fans should recognize it’s both deserved, and no slight to Gobert.

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