Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Depth and continuity are advantages for the Jazz

By Jerry Christodoulatos

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz gets introduced before the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 2, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arenaa in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz gets introduced before the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 2, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arenaa in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 02: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 02: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. /

Starter: Ricky Rubio

Depth: Dante Exum, Donovan Mitchell, Raul Neto

When George Hill couldn’t reach a contract agreement with the Jazz after a stellar (albeit injury impacted) 2017 season Utah opted to replace him by trading for Ricky Rubio. With spacing and shooting issues long plaguing the Utah offense, adding a notoriously shaky shooter like Rubio into the mix seemed risky at best. After a rocky start, Rubio quickly turned around his fortunes and became a vital piece within the Utah machine.

With Donovan Mitchell taking on the brunt of ball handling duties, essentially vacillating between the one and two spots, Rubio’s ability to shoot and play off-ball are critically important to the functionality of this Jazz offense; given Utah’s heavy reliance on lineups featuring Gobert and Favors, every inch of space on the floor is precious. Rubio shot decently well from deep last season. He converted just over 35 percent of his looks, slightly below league average. But after a brutal shooting stretch in November and December, he stabilized for the remainder of the season and Utah’s offense unsurprisingly improved as a result.

Rubio also bears a substantial creation burden for this team. The Jazz ran more pick-and-roll than any other team in the league last season, that’s simply their modus operandi. Having multiple guys that can competently orchestrate such actions is crucial for Utah. With Mitchell and Rubio on the roster, the Jazz have two guys that can consistently initiate. Rubio, a preternatural passer, began to develop a nice chemistry with Utah’s bigs as the 2018 season wore on. Familiarity with his teammates should only make him more effective this year. At the other end of the floor, Rubio is as sturdy a backcourt defender as any in the NBA. Though he’ll never share the floor with Dante Exum because of spacing concerns, that pair will give opposing ball handlers hell throughout the season.

Exum, who inked a three-year deal worth $33 million over the summer, will get a chance to shine off the bench playing the one. Utah took a big chance on Exum, given his checkered injury history and his generally slow development. While Exum’s inability and unwillingness to shoot from deep can often hinder Utah’s offensive spacing, Dante brings so many important skills to the table.

His speed and athleticism have always impressed scouts and he has channeled those assets to his advantage on both ends of the floor since entering the league. The Australian international is lightning quick and thrives when pushing the ball in transition. His improved finishing at the rim has made him even more dangerous in that area. And perhaps most significantly, Exum is a terror on defense. He can really get into opposing ball handlers, enveloping them with his length and elite athleticism. He’ll start the season healthy for the first time in ages, which is encouraging.