Utah Jazz middle Walker Kessler (24) is guarded by Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter, left, and ahead Domantas Sabonis through the first quarter of an NBA basketball sport in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, March 25, 2023. Randall Benton, Related Press
The Utah Jazz misplaced to the Sacramento Kings, 121-113, on Saturday night time.
Ethical victories
There have been fairly a number of instances this season when the Jazz have misplaced a sport however it hasn’t felt unhealthy. I’m not likely an advocate of ethical victories within the NBA in the case of reliable contending groups, however for a staff just like the Jazz — a rebuilding staff the place wins aren’t actually crucial factor — it seems like there's a actual want to seek out silver linings and to have a look at issues as glass-half-full, when warranted.
So, when the Jazz are taking part in the Sacramento Kings, who're already on the lookout for revenge after shedding in Utah on Monday, and the Jazz are taking part in with out their three prime scorers and one other rotational participant, and so they drive the Kings to battle all the best way right down to the ultimate moments, that seems like a time the place you will discover some vivid spots throughout the darkness of a loss.
Not solely are these good studying moments for the Jazz’s youthful gamers, which can provide them some movie to observe with a whole lot of constructive takeaways, however it’s additionally obtained to be a very nice change of tempo for Jazz followers.
So typically this yr I discover myself evaluating the temper and vibe and emotions of the staff to that of final yr’s staff. I do know that this can be a fully totally different state of affairs, however it’s not possible not to consider not solely the losses that felt unhealthy final season, however among the wins too. There by no means gave the impression to be a vivid spot on the horizon.
However this season, you look out to the horizon and the sunshine is blinding. There’s a lot to sit up for and that’s the place the ethical victories come into play. You don’t need to win a sport to see the progress and the potential, and that’s sufficient proper now.
Walker Kessler’s profession night time
It’s onerous to seek out issues to say about Kessler that haven’t been mentioned already this season. And but … he nonetheless finds methods to up the ante and impress much more than he already has.
Kessler scored a career-high 31 factors to go together with 11 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal and he did it on 14-of-16 capturing from the sphere.
It was his nineteenth double-double of the season and the twenty eighth time this season he has completed with a area objective share of 80% or higher.
What stood out to me on Saturday was that Kessler wasn’t simply getting factors off lobs and putbacks (though he had his fair proportion of these), however we additionally noticed him open up his offensive sport slightly.
The stronger he will get and the extra time he has taking part in in opposition to NBA defenders goes to make him even higher. The long run is vivid.
Jarrell Brantley’s alternative
On a 10-day contract, Jarrell Brantley lastly obtained an prolonged run with the Jazz on Friday night time in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks. Although he performed the whole thing of the fourth quarter, it was all rubbish time in a sport the place the Jazz had already trailed by as many as 33 factors. However Brantley confirmed some great things in that fourth-quarter stint and it earned him a much bigger position in Saturday’s sport.
In quarter-hour off the bench Brantley shot 62.5% total, together with hitting 3-of-5 from 3-point land, whereas additionally contributing two rebounds, an help and a block.
Brantley is coming off an unimaginable season taking part in in Australia’s NBL the place he shot 40% from deep and averaged 16.4 factors and 5 rebounds per sport. It’s clear that he has gotten higher and it’s good to see him at the least having the possibility to as soon as once more audition for an opportunity within the NBA.