Janne Palomäki
Utah Jazz’s game depends too much on Lauri Markkanen, writes Janne Palomäki.
(updated )
Lauri Markkanen had 29 points against the Charlotte Hornets. EPA / AOP
Lauri Markkanen has started the NBA season stronger than ever before in his career.
Before Sunday, a gig in North Carolina the native of Jyväskylä had scored at least 30 points in four previous games in a row.
Alku promised the same at the Hornets’ own Spectrum Center.
The Finnish giant had already scored nine points when the home team’s head coach Charles Lee called the first overtime.
The Jazz led the match 13–12.
At Koris, attention is drawn only to easily made baskets. Markkanen inoculated the Hornets defense in the attack after the overtime with a three-pointer thrown from the center of the city.
But Jazz coach emphasized Markkanen’s change in the defensive game.
– I think Lauri has improved every year here. “He’s working really hard to develop his game and now he’s able to receive a lot more physical play,” Will Hardy said last week.
– His body language when opponents try to stop him has improved a lot. Even earlier, Lauri seemed to be carrying his fatigue. He could tell when he was tired. This year, his essence is much better.
The home team’s Collin Sexton once came to the Jazz in the same trade with Markkanen from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sexton and Markkanen were close and sure the surprise sale of the tailback to Charlotte last summer upset the Finn.
Especially when Jusuf Nurkić, who came in the other direction at his “price”, hasn’t exactly lit the floor on fire in a Jazz shirt.
Head coach Hardy was also an important person in Sexton’s career. The player rose to the middleweight division of the NBA just in Salt Lake City.
– I still have an excellent relationship with Coach Hardy, Sexton swore before the match.
– He could call me at nine in the morning and offer a ride to training. Sometimes I called him as early as seven and said you’re not here yet, Sexton described the duo’s banter.
In any case, on Sunday, Sexton seemed to be smarter than his former coach.
Markkanen’s throwing hand also started to get cold. He stoned two of the next three into basket irons.
Chorismat often progresses in wave-like episodes. The problem with jazz has been that its troughs have been too deep and too long.
The whole second episode was sad to watch. After that, Markkanen’s personal balance was 23 points, but the rest of the team barely scored the same amount.
The Hornets had already run away to a 23-point 71–48 lead.
The fight to win the match was over.
At this point, many would have been willing to bet that The Hornets match would be the fifth in a row where Markkanen would score at least 30 points.
But would that even matter because The Jazz would suffer their third straight loss?
And it’s no wonder when the team practically can’t score a point without their Finnish superstar.
There’s no way he alone can support the Jazz house of cards both offensively and defensively.
Markkanen’s (right) defensive game is now much better than before. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Before the start of the season, the Jazz were generally considered the weakest team in the entire league. Markkanen’s phenomenal first season has effectively covered it up.
Little by little, the difference in level will inevitably come to the fore.
There are four more away games on the schedule this week. The Celtics will meet in Boston already on Monday night.
The Jazz have not won the first away game of the season yet.
The NBA playoffs will not be played in Utah this season either.
Of course, that was the goal of the club management, but it’s a shame for the league that it isn’t one of the hottest players in the series is no longer around when the real games start.
In the end, Markkanen’s handsome streak of 30 points ended. His balance was 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
However, those most important numbers told about the Hornets’ clear 126–103 home victory.