The first two preseason games gave fans their first view of this brand-new Utah team. We have well documented how the Jazz have made the most offseason moves in the NBA over the course of this past summer. Now is the chance for the nation to get their first look into how the change-up of the roster would play out. Utah split their first two games on the road, but the last two games of the preseason were played at home. The Jazz fans now had the chance to see their new team, players, and coaches take the court at Vivint Arena. How did the new acquisitions play in their first home action in front of the Utah crowd?
vs. San Antonio
When facing the Spurs, the Jazz did not execute very well. They lost this game 111-104 and trailed throughout most of the game. One statistic that stood out is their numbers from the three-point line. The Jazz shot 11-of-42 – about 26 percent – from beyond the arc, while the Spurs shot 35 percent from deep.
Although the team lost their home opener, there were some standout players from this game. Most of these players are newcomers to the team, which should excite fans about what the future could bring to Utah.
The Jazz had six players score in double figures, which stands out as a big positive for such a young team. Four of the six players are new to the team, including Lauri Markkanen, who led all scorers with 18 points while adding 10 rebounds. Rookie Walker Kessler added 12 points off the bench, while Kelly Olynyk and Talen Horton-Tucker each added 10.
The other two double-digit scorers were Jordan Clarkson with 12 points and second-year player Jared Butler, who had 13 points off the bench. What stands out is that all these players are very young and they have gained experience throughout the preseason and will continue to do so during the regular season.
Ranking the top Utah Jazz players of all-time: Where do Mitchell, Gobert rank?
vs. Dallas
Friday night was a chance for this young team to play against one of the projected front-runners for MVP this season in Luka Doncic. This game would be a tough test for the Jazz as they were facing off against a Mavericks team that had made an appearance in the Western Conference Finals last season.
Utah was able to stay in this game throughout the first three quarters but Dallas’ experience helped them to pull away in the final quarter of play for a 115-101 win.
The Jazz again struggled from the three-point line, shooting only 23 percent while Dallas shot 36 percent from deep. Utah did win in the rebounding margin, which helped them stay in this game throughout much of it. When the other team starts hitting threes, however, it can demoralize a young team like the Jazz.
Only four players were able to score in double figures against Dallas for Utah. The standout player in this one was once again Lauri Markkanen, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double. Walker Kessler had another good game as well, adding 12 points and seven rebounds. The other two double digits scorers against the Mavericks were Jordan Clarkson with 11 and Rudy Gay with 16.
2022-23 Utah Jazz schedule release: Top matchups and how to watch
Preseason thoughts
This preseason was a great opportunity for this young and new-look Utah team to learn how to play with one another and gain experience in playing together against opposing teams.
Many of these young and new players were given opportunities to prove themselves throughout the course of the preseason. The standout player over the course of the preseason was Lauri Markkanen, who scored in double figures in three out of the four games. This will be Markkanen’s sixth season in the NBA and it seems that he will be given plenty of opportunities to excel throughout this year.
Another standout is one of the Jazz’s rookies, Walker Kessler. The 7-foot-1 center appears to be starting the season coming off the bench but if he continues to impress, he could make a push to be inserted into the starting lineup.
2022-23 regular season begins
Utah starts the 82-game regular season at home, hosting the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Now that the preseason has officially wrapped up, it will be time for fans to see how this team fairs against opposing teams when they are putting their best foot forward.
As has been mentioned previously, this team is young and it will most likely take time for them to learn how to play well with each other. They have talent and a few key veterans that can help them to win some games this season, but fans should not expect this team to make a playoff run. The front office for the Jazz has set them up by acquiring a plethora of future first-round draft picks, and that may be where the focus turns to for fans and the team towards the end of the season. Although this team may struggle at times, it will be a whole new experience to watch for fans and could provide some exciting moments during the season.
The Jazz begin the 2022-23 season against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The game will tip off at 7 p.m., and all Jazz games can be seen on AT&T Sportsnet.
State of the Jazz: What does the team look like after an active offseason?
