Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: Come fall in love with the Sacramento Kings

By Ian Levy

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 29: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against the Miami Heat on October 29, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 29: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against the Miami Heat on October 29, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 31: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter of the game on October 31, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 31: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter of the game on October 31, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

. 4-6. Previous: 6th. Utah Jazz. 15. team. 118

This was a catastrophically bad week for Utah, dropping all four games by a combined 41 points. Donovan Mitchell being out for two of their games didn’t help but, on the season, their offense has suffered from inefficiency at the point of attack. In the two games he did play this week, Mitchell shot just 37.0 percent from the field and made just 3-of-12 3-pointers. Their other creators struggled as well — 34.9 percent from the field for Ricky Rubio, 37.2 percent for Joe Ingles, 40.9 percent for Dante Exum.

Utah’s offense is deep with skilled and talented complementary players but what made it all work last season was Mitchell’s relentless pressure at the point of attack, along with Ingles’ sterling efficiency and a career-best shooting year for Rubio. If those players can’t threaten the defense off the dribble, create movement and open space, the pieces around them are rendered impotent. Utah needs Mitchell to get healthy, and effective, in a hurry.

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