The Utah Jazz’s new season began with a loud reminder that promise and proof are still two different things.
On Wednesday night in Memphis, the Grizzlies rolled to a 123-103 win at FedExForum, and by the time the fourth quarter got rolling, Will Hardy was visibly fed up with what he was seeing from his defense. As he paced the sideline, he shook his head in disbelief after another open Memphis 3-pointer.
This was opening night, not preseason. And the Jazz looked like a team that still has plenty of sorting out to do.
Ty Jerome torched Utah for 45 points and later drew MVP chants in the fourth quarter. For the Jazz, Keyonte George led the way with 22 points and five assists, while Lauri Markkanen added 18 points and nine rebounds.
The biggest issue for Utah was impossible to miss: defense. The Jazz did show some early signs of life in the first quarter, fighting through screens and getting hands in passing lanes with a little more cohesion than they showed at times last season. But that didn’t hold.
Memphis kept pushing the pace, beating Utah in transition for 23 fast-break points. The Grizzlies also kept finding space on the perimeter, whether that meant clean looks or late contests.
Rebounding was another painful problem, with Memphis finishing with a 55-38 edge on the glass. The Grizzlies shot 47% from the field and 38% from 3.
Ace Bailey was the one clear defensive bright spot. He brought length, activity and energy, finishing with three blocks and repeatedly bothering Memphis shots.
Utah also made a bit of history in its starting lineup. For the first time under Hardy, the Jazz opened a season with a rookie in the first five, starting No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson. He had already started every preseason game, but this time he was asked to do more alongside the starters.
Peterson handled it well early. In the first half, he scored 7 points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out three assists while staying within the flow of the offense.
His defense, though, had the same rough edges the Jazz showed as a whole. He bit on fakes a few times, got beaten off the dribble, and wound up in foul trouble on some possessions.
His second half was much quieter. Peterson attempted just one shot after halftime and finished with 9 points, four rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.
Jaren Jackson also had a night loaded with emotion. He got a standing ovation from the Memphis crowd when the starting lineups were announced, and it was his first game against the franchise that traded him to Utah last season.
The reception was warm, but the performance was uneven. Jackson fouled out after 28 minutes and committed five turnovers. Still, he put up 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
In Other News...
Jazz Take Opening Night Flier On Former First Round Guard
The Jazz have used their newly opened two-way slot on a familiar kind of low-risk swing, bringing in guard Kobe Bufkin as the team continues to sort out the bottom of its roster. In a corresponding move, Utah waived two-way forward Blake Hinson, making room for Bufkin after a winding start to his NBA journey that has already taken him through Atlanta, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
Bufkin arrives in Utah with the profile of a former first-round guard still trying to carve out a steady role, which makes him an interesting fit for a team willing to take a long look at younger talent. For the Jazz, the move keeps the two-way spot in play for development purposes, and it adds another backcourt name to watch as the organization keeps building out its depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Roster Move Creates A Tough New Bubble Decision
The Jazz are making another small but meaningful shuffle to their back end, with Kobe Bufkin agreeing to a two-way contract after being waived by the Pelicans. For Utah, it is the kind of roster move that can look minor on paper but matters plenty in the long view, especially when the team is sorting out which young players deserve developmental runway and which spots have to be used to keep flexibility intact.
To make room, Utah is expected to waive forward Blake Hinson, leaving his future tied to whether he clears waivers and lands on the open market. Bufkin arrives with one season on his deal, his final year of two-way eligibility, which gives the Jazz a chance to take a look at another young guard while also forcing a familiar roster-choice squeeze at the bottom of the bench. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Suddenly Look Smart For Avoiding A Risky Kristaps Porzingis Move
Kristaps Porzingis has long been the kind of talent teams talk themselves into because the upside is obvious and the price can feel reasonable in the moment. Utah was among the clubs with interest in him before he landed with Boston, where he helped win a title, and the kind of frontcourt gamble he represented has never been more complicated in hindsight.
Now, with questions surrounding his long-term health and what his future even looks like on a basketball court, that missed opportunity looks a lot less like a swing and more like a case of restraint. If he keeps playing, the next version of Porzingis may be something closer to a selective, part-time fit than a full-time centerpiece, which would put teams like Utah back in the conversation for a very different kind of pursuit. [Read more 🡒]