Three thoughts on the Utah Jazz’s 82-70 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the Summer League from Jazz sportswriter Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.
1. The struggles of Taylor Hendricks
I’m seriously worried about Taylor Hendricks.
Yes, Monday’s performance was just one game. But players who end up being significant contributors to their NBA teams rarely have games like that – in the end, playing at the NBA level just means you naturally have an impact.
Hendricks was invisible on Monday. In his 26 minutes on the court, he had three points and five rebounds, making 0-of-6 shots but three free throws. Most discouraging was how little impact he had on defense. In a game where the Jazz really could have used his length and athleticism, he was largely ineffective.
When faced with a familiar situation, I think he can use his length and athleticism to make an impact. But when he has to improvise, he just seems lost. You just can’t ask him to dribble on offense right now.
He’s only 20 and obviously has room to improve. But a player’s second year is usually when you see them go from project to game where they learn how to at least make an impact in some way that will allow them to stay on the NBA floor, and Hendricks doesn’t really have that key skill right now. His basketball IQ and overall level of play will have to improve drastically to get him into the Jazz’s rotation next year.
2. Isaiah Collier’s game: sometimes down, sometimes up
This was an interesting matchup for Isaiah Collier, perhaps his most challenging of the Summer League. For much of the game, he was up against Keon Ellis, who has used his defensive prowess to go from an undrafted player to the Kings’ real NBA rotation. For Collier, it was a rare chance in the Summer League to play against a highly-rated NBA defender.
He really, really struggled! He had a whopping seven turnovers in the first half. Coach Sean Sheldon pointed out that Collier was pushed to the sideline too often, which limited his opportunities. Add to that a roving Kings defense that was looking to get as many turnovers as possible, and the result was an absolutely abysmal Jazz offense. 25 points at halftime is about as bad as it gets.
But adjustments were made in the second half — both by the coach and the players. Collier maintained much more control after the break and did not lose a turnover in the second half. He also used his speed judiciously to get to the basket when there was a gap, not when there wasn’t.
Jazz fans know this turnover problem from their ball handlers; Talen Horton-Tucker and Collin Sexton also struggle with it at their worst. Sheldon said the team needs to make decisions earlier in its drives. Summer league is for learning and it seemed like progress was made tonight.
3. Brice Sensabaugh’s injury
Of all the Jazz players, Brice Sensabaugh has made the most physical progress between the Jazz season and the summer league, so it’s ironic that he’s the one getting injured.
But that’s exactly what happened Saturday, when a finger injury cost Sensabaugh the rest of summer league play and at least six weeks of basketball play. An MRI performed Sunday revealed he had torn the extensor tendon in his left middle finger — the tendon in the middle of the finger. At first, it looked like he had only slightly pinched it, but doctors determined they couldn’t get it straight.
Still, it was a really good summer league, three and a half games. He averaged 13 points in 19 minutes and made 44% of his shots from the field and from beyond the arc. I think that points to an adjustment he needs to make to his game: just make fewer twos and more threes.
The most encouraging aspect of Sensabaugh’s game, however, was his defense. By going smaller, Sensabaugh was able to move around attacking players and stay up front much more easily. He also put in a lot more effort on defense than he has in the past. It’s not that defense is his strong suit yet, but it seemed playable.
He still needs to improve his conditioning, though — and that’s something he can work on despite his finger injury. He had his hands on his knees too often in Salt Lake from exhaustion, and you can see that affecting his aggressiveness on both ends. The good news is that if he’s primarily with the Jazz next season, he’ll likely play a supporting role… but a willingness to play through an entire game will impress the coaches far more than the alternative.
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