Utah Jazz Statistical Leaders In Orlando Bubble

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz have completed seven of their eight seeding games in the NBA’s Orlando bubble. The team will play their final game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, before preparing for the NBA playoffs to begin on Monday. While the seeding schedule is still underway, the Jazz are unlikely to pay their starters significant, if any minutes against Spurs. With that in mind, let’s look at the team’s statistical leaders in Orlando before the playoff matchups are set.

Jazz Scoring Leaders

Donovan Mitchell: 23.8 ppg

Mike Conley: 18 ppg

Jordan Clarkson 16.4 ppg

Unsurprisingly, Donovan Mitchell remains the Jazz scoring leader in Orlando at 23.8 points per game. Mitchell’s average is down .4 points per game from his regular season average, despite playing nearly three minutes more per game.

Donovan's 19th game this season with 30 points or more 🕷#TakeNote | @spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/aRQ9XFSiN7

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 4, 2020

Mike Conley has seen his scoring average climb significantly in the bubble. The veteran guard has seen his role increase in the absence of Bojan Bogdanovic, who is out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery in May. Conley is averaging 18 points per game, up from his 14.4 point season average. The Jazz guard has scored 20 or more points in each outing that he has played at least 30 minutes.

Jordan Clarkson has seen his scoring average rise in the bubble, despite his field goal percentage dipping from 46.5 percent during the season to 39.2 in Orlando. Clarkson is averaging 16.4 points in the bubble, up from 15.7 during the regular season.

Jazz Rebounding Leaders

Rudy Gobert: 11 RPG

Royce O’Neale: 8.2 RPG

Tony Bradley: 5.9 RPG

The Jazz rebounding leaders remain in the same order in Orlando as they did throughout the regular season, though the numbers have changed. Rudy Gobert is down 2.5 rebounds per game in the bubble, while playing three fewer minutes.

16 & 12 for Rudy#TakeNote | @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/qMJfB8dox0

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 4, 2020

Meanwhile, Royce O’Neale and Tony Bradley have seen their numbers grow. O’Neale’s 8.2 rebounds are a steep climb from his 5.5 rebounds per game average through the season, while Bradley has jumped from 4.5 to 5.9 rebounds.

Though he doesn’t make the top three, Mitchell held onto his fourth spot ranking among Jazz rebounding leaders. Mitchell’s rebounds per game has climbed from 4.4 to 4.8 in Orlando.

Jazz Assist Leaders

Joe Ingles: 5.6 APG

Donovan Mitchell: 5.4 APG

Mike Conley: 5.0 APG

The Jazz assist leaders have been slightly rearranged in the bubble. Joe Ingles maintained his position as team leader, though his average has climbed from 5.2 assists per game to 5.6.

Joe ➡️ Rudy pic.twitter.com/qKMvz5k9Mt

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 10, 2020

Mitchell has leaped Conley in Orlando, jumping from 4.3 assists to 5.4 in five appearances. Despite being passed, Conley has also seen his assist numbers climb over the last six appearances. The veteran guard is averaging five assists per game, up from 4.4 during the regular season.

Jazz Blocks Leaders

Rudy Gobert: 1.8 BPG

Tony Bradley: 1.0 BPG

Jarrell Brantley: 0.7 BPG

It should come as no surprise that the Jazz two centers lead the team in blocks per game in Orlando. Gobert is averaging 1.8 blocks per game, down from an even two. Meanwhile, Tony Bradley’s number has nearly doubled from 0.7 blocks to an even one.

Bradley improving as a rim protector can help the Jazz as the team has lacked low post defense without Gobert on the floor this season.

There you go rook @jstuntbrantley! pic.twitter.com/Nn1xeSQDHI

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 10, 2020

Similarly, rookie Jarrell Brantley appearing on the list is a positive for the Jazz. Brantley displays excellent footwork as a defender and may be able to help the Jazz against more nimble forwards.

Jazz Steals Leaders

Royce O’Neale 2.0 SPG

Joe Ingles: 1.0 SPG

Emmanuel Mudiay, Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Miye Oni: 0.8 SPG

The Jazz have seen a steep increase in steals per game from their players. While the increase is good, it may have more to do with turnovers per game being up across the league rather than a more aggressive defensive scheme from the Jazz.

O’Neale’s steals per game have more than doubled from 0.8 to two while in Orlando, while Ingles has inched forward from 0.9 to one.

ROYC3 pic.twitter.com/pfEmvq9n2s

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 8, 2020

Finding more opportunities for takeaways could be a much-needed boon for the Jazz offense. Without Bogdanovic, scoring in transition could make up for the lack of scoring.

Field Goal Percentage

Tony Bradley: 74.1 FG%

Rudy Gobert: 64.7 FG%

Juwan Morgan: 60 FG%

Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list is the climb from Bradley to the top of the Jazz field goal percentage. Gobert his a historically efficient scorer, so to see him displaced at the top of the list is a good sign for the Jazz back up center.

Not only did Bradley overtake Gobert, but he’s also scoring with record efficiency. Bradley’s 74.1 field goal percentage is .1 shy of the New York Knicks shooting percentage this season which will set an NBA record on Friday. Bradley has done it over just seven games, but its a strong number from a back up big man.

Tony Bradley: outside threat#TakeNote | @tobrad1 pic.twitter.com/sVQ2NFA3Gk

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 7, 2020

Meanwhile, Gobert has seen his field goal percentage dip from 69.3 to 64.7 in Orlando. The Jazz need to see that number increase for Gobert to maintain his offensive efficiency. On a positive note for the French big man, his free throw percentage has climbed from 63 percent from 72.2 percent in Orlando.

Three-Point Shooting Percentage

Joe Ingles: 42.5 3p%

Miye Oni: 38.5 3p%

Jordan Clarkson: 37.3 3p%

Ingles increase in three-point shooting percentage is a good sign for the Jazz. Even better he’s added nearly a full three-point attempt per game this is average, up from 4.9 attempts to 5.7.

Without Bogdanovic, the Jazz need Ingles to be a more selfish three-point shooter, especially when he’s making them at such a high rate.

Miye Oni’s appearance on the list is also a positive, though may not have much impact unless he’s solidified a spot in the playoff rotation. He looked excellent against the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets, before badly struggling against the Dallas Mavericks.

.@princeoni13 staying 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/qrHgkHraHN

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 8, 2020

Clarkson coming in third is a shock after his slow start in Orlando. The high usage guard started just 4-26 from the three-point line during the seeding games for 15 percent. Over the last three games, Clarkson has connected on 14-25 threes 56 percent of his threes on 8.3 attempts per game.

The Jazz will tip-off against the Spurs on Thursday at 4:30 pm MT. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT, and locally on AT&T SportsNet.