If it’s true that numbers talk, well, then it’s worth pointing out that Georges Niang hasn’t contributed anything meaningful to a box score since the Utah Jazz advanced past the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, 4-1, in the first round.
Across his 54 minutes in this series versus the Los Angeles Clippers, the 6-foot-7 forward is shooting 2-for-13 from the field, including 1-for-10 from downtown, with a foul total (11) equaling his combined number of rebounds (six) and assists (five).
Yikes.
Altogether, Niang’s relative deficiencies in the strength and speed departments are hindering the Jazzmen during his 10 or so minutes on the floor each outing, especially when considering the chiseled athletes he is going up against from the Clippers.
Simply put, Niang’s play just isn’t living up to his “Minivan” moniker right now. Instead, as of late, his slow-motion movements and unintimidating presence bring to mind a 28-year-old moped — one that looks to be on the verge of running out of gas.
Given those simple observations, in addition to the fact that neither he nor Niang offers much on the defensive end, why shouldn’t Quin Snyder have the 29-year-old Clarkson on the floor for 35-40 minutes per game and hide the keys to the “Minivan”?
the Jazzmen</a> must mix things up to have any chance of going where they’ve never been: on a stage hoisting a Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.</p>
<p>Following Wednesday’s 119-111 home defeat in the Western Conference Semifinals, No. 1 seed Utah faces a 3-2 deficit against the <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://clipperholics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers</a>. Three straight losses have piled up. And a do-or-die road game awaits at 8 p.m. MT Friday.</p>
<p>The Clippers own a 39-point overall advantage in the series. Plus, consider that their latest smooth-sailing victory coincided with two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard being out with a knee injury.</p>
<p>Yes, at this point, Jazz desperation mode feels like an utter necessity.</p>
<p>It’s time to stop clinging to bench players who proved successful before the playoffs. It’s time to stop dwelling on excuses that have put Utah in this predicament; in other words, it’s time to stop sulking about <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/16/utah-jazz-mike-conley-final-game-jazzman/">Mike Conley’s extended absence</a> due to a hamstring injury, Donovan Mitchell’s limitations due to ankle concerns, officiating, or whatever else has some folks whining.</p>
<p>Specifically, it’s time for Utah Jazz head coach <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article252076863.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quin Snyder</a> to throw out the suddenly outdated road map and enact three rotation changes, which we’ll now propose here one at a time…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Rotation change No. 1 </a>
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<h2>Utah Jazz rotation proposal: Give all Georges Niang time to Jordan Clarkson</h2>
<p>If it’s true that numbers talk, well, then it’s worth pointing out that Georges Niang hasn’t contributed anything meaningful to a box score since the Utah Jazz advanced past the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, 4-1, in the first round.</p>
<p>Across his 54 minutes in this series versus the Los Angeles Clippers, the 6-foot-7 forward is shooting 2-for-13 from the field, including 1-for-10 from downtown, with a foul total (11) equaling his combined number of rebounds (six) and assists (five).</p>
<p>Yikes.</p>
<p>Altogether, Niang’s relative deficiencies in the strength and speed departments are hindering the Jazzmen during his 10 or so minutes on the floor each outing, especially when considering the chiseled athletes he is going up against from the Clippers.</p>
<p>Simply put, Niang’s play just isn’t living up to his “Minivan” moniker right now. Instead, as of late, his slow-motion movements and unintimidating presence bring to mind a 28-year-old moped — one that looks to be on the verge of running out of gas.</p>
<p>On that note, Sixth Man of the Year <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Jordan Clarkson</a> never appears even remotely gassed. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-4 go-getter playmaker is averaging under 30 minutes per game against Los Angeles despite arguably being Utah’s second most reliable offensive weapon these days.</p>
<p>Given those simple observations, in addition to the fact that neither he nor Niang offers much on the defensive end, why shouldn’t Quin Snyder have the 29-year-old Clarkson on the floor for 35-40 minutes per game and hide the keys to the “Minivan”?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Rotation change No. 2 </a>
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<h2>Utah Jazz rotation proposal: Just give all Miye Oni minutes to someone else</h2>
<p>Throughout his 40 minutes on the court thus far in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Miye Oni has poured in a combined zero points, zero assists, and all of three rebounds for the Utah Jazz.</p>
<p>Now, let’s address the argument from those who claim that Oni’s defense alone makes him deserving of some playing time. OK, while that might be sweet and pleasant to say, the 6-foot-5 wing’s basic postseason defensive stats undoubtedly say otherwise: one steal, zero blocks, and eight fouls.</p>
<p>Who should replace Oni as a backup? Well, there are perhaps a few options, even when taking into account the rust factor that is a result of these guys’ permanent stay at the end of the bench across the first two rounds.</p>
<p>Whatever happened to the 23-year-old <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/forretr01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Trent Forrest</a>, a 6-foot-4 rookie guard who had some admirable moments filling in for Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley during their extended absences at the tail end of the Jazz’s regular season?</p>
<p>Heck, even <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomama02.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Matt Thomas</a> might be able to give Utah more of a boost than Oni. So isn’t it at least worth a shot to find out if the 26-year-old shooting guard can find the rhythm to his outside shot during a few minutes of action in Game 6? After all, he has knocked down 41.3 percent of his 3-point attempts spanning his four-year NBA career.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Rotation change No. 3 </a>
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<h2>Utah Jazz rotation proposal: Give all Derrick Favors time to Ersan Ilyasova</h2>
<p>As for Derrick Favors, the Utah Jazz’s 6-foot-9, 265-pound backup big man has poured in all of six points across his 64 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s done so while going 3-for-7 from the field and 0-for-2 from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>Granted, his 15 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in this series are respectable. However, when factoring in the 15 fouls that Favors has committed versus the Clippers on his way to compiling those stats, one now has to wonder if better backup options exist down low.</p>
<p>One does.</p>
<p>Besides, even if this proposed change would appear to be a bit of a ding to the Jazz’s interior D, it’s not as if Favors is regularly stifling the Los Angeles attack. And the 29-year-old is definitely not scaring the opposition one iota on the other end of the floor.</p>
<p>With that in mind, whatever happened to <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/06/17/utah-jazz-desperation-moves-quin-snyder/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/ilyaser01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Ersan Ilyasova</a>, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward who went 15-for-28 beyond the arc between his last 10 appearances in the regular season?</p>
<p>Obviously, the defense suffers whenever three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert is on the bench. Yet during those spans, Utah could enjoy a practically unstoppable 3-point attack.</p>
<p>Surely, if the 34-year-old Ilyasova, who has 52 games of playoff experience under his belt, was to come in and begin splashing 3-pointers, then the Clippers would be the ones searching for answers on how to guard a Jazz lineup that features five bonafide outside shooters.</p>
<p>In summary here, note that up until their latest outing, these 2020-21 Jazzmen had never lost three games in a row. Now, with Kawhi Leonard still out of commission for the Los Angeles Clippers, a fourth straight L would go down in the Utah history books as an epic disappointment.</p>
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<p>Indeed, it’s beyond the time to no longer accept zeroes across any individual’s stat line. Fortunately for seventh-year Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, though, it’s still not too late to make the necessary changes.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">