Utah Jazz guard Ochai Agbaji poses for a photograph on media day at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Utah Jazz
DENVER — A lot of this season goes to be about waiting for the continued enchancment and growth of gamers who may presumably be on the subsequent iteration of the Utah Jazz.
So when guys akin to rookie Ochai Agbaji and second-year guard Leandro Bolmaro get prolonged minutes for no matter motive, it’s price taking a deeper have a look at how they did.
On Friday night time in Denver, the Jazz had been just a little shorthanded. Rudy Homosexual and Simone Fontecchio are within the league’s COVID well being and security protocol, Walker Kessler (sickness) additionally stayed behind in Salt Lake Metropolis after which Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk and Talen Horton-Tucker ended up in foul bother.
That led head coach Will Hardy to not solely check out some smaller-than-usual lineups, but in addition give Agbaji and Bolmaro an opportunity to unfold their wings just a little bit.
Although Agbaji was a superb shooter his final two seasons at Kansas, on Friday night time he scored all of his factors both contained in the arc or on the free-throw line. That’s nice information for these of us watching and evaluating who wish to get a greater have a look at what else he has to supply.
The 2 issues that stood out probably the most on Friday had been Agbaji’s capability to complete and his consciousness off the ball.
To begin with, actually spectacular for each Jordan Clarkson and Agbaji to maintain this ball in play, however then Agbaji spins to lose his nook defender and will get sufficient cling time on the rim to double-clutch and land the bucket.
On this subsequent one, you get to see Abaji’s timing and spacial consciousness with out the ball.
A few gentle screens put Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen on the 3-point line, and with Horton-Tucker driving baseline, there’s little defensive consideration on the center of the ground the place Agbaji runs in for a straightforward bucket.
“I assumed Ochai did a great job recognizing his alternatives to chop from the perimeter,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy stated. “I assumed he bought out and ran in transition.
“You recognize, Ochai’s taken the problem defensively that we’ve form of given him, and his physicality can actually affect the sport. For his first NBA minutes within the common season, I assumed he represented himself very properly.”
In terms of Bolmaro, the 2 issues that actually got here throughout on Friday had been his capability to play with pace and nonetheless make fast choices and likewise that he's pesky on protection and doesn’t hand over, even when he’s outmatched.
First, a have a look at Bolmaro’s playmaking. This play had some folks questioning why Bolmaro didn’t simply go up for the bucket, however I’m of the opinion that he made the fitting selection.
Bruce Brown will get Lauri Markkanen in a tricky spot, and Markkanen finds Bolmaro underneath the basket. It’s not nice place although as a result of as soon as he places the ball on the ground he’s bought Brown, Christian Braun and Nikola Jokic able to contest and Bolmaro is way smaller.
In a split-second choice, he will get the ball again to Markkanen, who now has the room to attain.
Within the above clip, Bolmaro is aware of he’s going to kick out to the fitting nook and drives with intent. Regardless of shifting shortly, he’s in a position to leap, which will get Brown within the air, and wait till he has a transparent passing lane to Agbaji, who then swings the ball to Horton-Tucker, who drives in for the rating.
Lastly, on this final one, Bolmaro is selecting up Bones Hyland full court docket — one thing Bolmaro did more often than not he was within the sport.
He slides his ft properly on protection and is admittedly fast and doesn’t get beat usually. Despite the fact that he’s screened on this play and is making an attempt to catch up, he doesn’t die on the play and really will get his fingers on the ball simply because it leaves Hyland’s arms.
“We love Leandro’s toughness and we love his capability to protect the ball,” Hardy stated. “The tempo that he performs with, the fireplace that he performs with on each ends, is certainly consultant of how we wish our crew and our program to be. ...He actually made some robust drives and kicks and bought our offense shifting with some good choices within the paint.
“We’re pleased to have him in our program and I believe he’s bought a vivid future.”