This Utah Jazz offense is historic
At 21-9, the Utah Jazz rank third in the Western Conference. Nobody could deny that this team is enjoying a successful season to date. However, it may come as a surprise to some to learn that offensively, this group is historically elite.
Utah Jazz on pace for historic Offensive Rating
The Jazz currently lead the NBA in Offensive Rating at 118.53. However, that figure doesn’t just lead the 2021-22 pack. If the NBA season ended today, that mark would give the Jazz the best Offensive Rating in NBA history. The Jazz are on pace to narrowly edge last season’s Brooklyn Nets (118.3) for the record.
Cynical observers may point out that in wake of the three-point revolution, and the superteam era, records are constantly being broken. Fair enough, but these Utah Jazz are doing it a little differently.
Utah Jazz not shooting historic volume of 3s
The Jazz do shoot the most 3s in the NBA at 42.6 per game. That’s a high volume, however, it’s worth noting that it’s not among the top 3 in NBA history. The 2018-19 Houston Rockets (45.38), 2019-20 Houston Rockets (45.29) and 2020-21 Utah Jazz (43.03) all averaged more three-point attempts game, with less impressive results.
Quin Snyder realizes that part of the value of shooting a high volume of 3s comes from the easy dunk and layup attempts the strategy generates. The Jazz generally surround a conventional big with 4 knockdown shooters that opposing defenses are forced to respect. They’re encouraged to shoot even contested 3s, because they’re capable of making them. However, the defenses’ urgent need to defend those shots creates a less contested paint for either of Rudy Gobert or Hassan Whiteside out of pick-and-rolls. It also creates easy driving lanes for Donovan Mitchell.
It’s not just the three-point revolution. It’s the three-point and easy two revolution, and Quin Snyder and his Utah Jazz are at the forefront.
Utah Jazz are not a superteam
Going back to the Jazz’s potential to break last year’s Brooklyn Nets’ record for Offensive Rating: wow. That’s a team that largely featured Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. As great as Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley are, it’s hard to put them in the same tier as that offensive triumvirate.
The Jazz may not roster the same star power, but they’re on pace to beat a team that does because of depth and offensive execution. Everyone has an opinion on superteams: when they started, whether they’re good for the league, and whether they even typically work.
We’ll spare you our thoughts and simply say: it’s refreshing to watch the Utah Jazz find themselves on pace to post the best offense in NBA history without being one.
Utah Jazz fans may wish their team was a little higher in the Western Conference standings right now. Their third place ranking is great, but seeing two teams ahead of them may damper their championship hopes some. Just don’t blame the offense.
