Three Big Takeaways from the Week in Jazz Basketball
As we roll through the holiday season, the Utah Jazz find themselves in a strange, in-between space - not quite tanking, not quite contending, and not quite sure which direction they’re heading. It’s been a year of contradictions in Salt Lake City, and this past week offered a clear snapshot of where things stand.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from the latest stretch of Jazz basketball.
1. The Jazz Can Hang - Until They Can’t
If you’re trying to figure out this Jazz team, Monday night’s game painted a pretty accurate picture. Against most teams in the league, the Jazz can hold their own.
They move the ball, they score efficiently, and they’ve got enough offensive firepower to keep games interesting. But when it comes to facing the NBA’s elite?
That’s where the wheels come off.
Statistically, no team in the league fares worse against top-10 opponents than Utah. Even the Wizards - yes, the rebuilding, bottom-dwelling Wizards - have a better record against the league's best. That’s not just a red flag, it’s a full-on siren.
Sure, the Jazz have snagged a few surprising wins here and there, but when you zoom out, the pattern is clear: they’re simply overmatched against high-level competition. Most of those games haven’t even been competitive.
Against the rest of the NBA? That’s a different story.
Utah’s been solidly middle-of-the-pack when facing teams outside the top tier. The offense hums, the ball movement flows, and they look like a team that can at least make things interesting.
But when the lights get brighter and the opponents get better, the gaps in talent, cohesion, and defensive execution become glaring.
We’ve seen this before in Utah. Early in Quin Snyder’s tenure, the Jazz were in a similar spot - good enough to compete, not good enough to win big games.
That team eventually turned a corner thanks to the emergence of Rudy Gobert, the growth of Gordon Hayward, and later, the arrival of Donovan Mitchell. This group?
They’re still searching for that next foundational piece.
2. Jusuf Nurkic: Elite on the Glass
While the Jazz have had their share of ups and downs this season, one area where they’ve been elite - and we mean league-leading elite - is defensive rebounding. And the man leading that charge? Jusuf Nurkic.
Nurkic currently leads the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage, pulling down 31.2% of available defensive boards when he’s on the floor. That’s a monster number, and it puts him ahead of some of the league’s most dominant rebounders - including Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andre Drummond.
It’s not just a statistical quirk either. Nurkic’s presence on the glass has had a tangible impact.
When he’s on the floor, the Jazz are significantly better at ending defensive possessions with a rebound. They also send opponents to the free-throw line less often, which helps limit easy points.
But it’s not all sunshine and box-outs. The other side of the Nurkic equation is more complicated.
When he’s on the court, the Jazz’s shooting efficiency dips and their turnovers spike. That’s not entirely surprising - Nurkic ranks third among centers in turnovers - and it’s something the coaching staff has to weigh when deciding how to deploy him.
Still, when you adjust for shooting luck and other variables, the Jazz are roughly even with Nurkic on or off the floor. That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but considering the roster’s instability and youth, having a big man who can control the glass and anchor possessions is no small thing.
3. The League’s Officiating Shift Is Hurting Defenses - And the Jazz Feel It
There’s been a lot of talk around the league this season about the rise in scoring - and for good reason. Offenses are thriving, and defenses are struggling to keep up.
But it’s not just about talent or effort. It’s about how the game is being officiated.
A recent video breakdown from analyst Ben Taylor dives deep into the ways officiating has tilted the game in favor of offensive players in 2025. And it’s not subtle.
One of the biggest changes? How drives to the basket are being called.
In today’s NBA, offensive players have far more leeway to initiate contact. Even when defenders are in perfect position, absorbing hits square in the chest, they’re often the ones whistled for fouls. It’s made legal defense - especially on straight-line drives - nearly impossible.
And while the Jazz have their own defensive issues to sort out, this league-wide shift certainly isn’t helping. Utah already struggles to contain penetration, and when defenders can’t even get the benefit of the doubt on physical plays, it only makes things worse.
Taylor’s video highlights just how much things have changed. Watching old footage - like Kevin Durant getting called for a charge after bowling over a defender - is jarring compared to what’s allowed now. And while the consistency of officiating has improved, the rules themselves have created a game where defense is often an afterthought.
This also explains why playoff basketball - where the whistle tightens and defenders get more freedom - feels so different. It’s more physical, more intense, and, frankly, more balanced. The same goes for international play, where defense is still a core part of the game.
For a team like the Jazz, who already struggle to get stops, this officiating environment only magnifies their weaknesses. Until the league recalibrates how contact is officiated, don’t expect any defensive renaissance - in Utah or anywhere else.
Final Word
The Jazz are a fascinating team right now - not because they’re winning big or making noise in the standings, but because they’re stuck in a state of transition. They’ve got pieces that work, others that don’t, and a front office that’s still figuring out how to thread the needle between development and competitiveness.
They can beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. They get exposed by the ones they’re not. And in between, they’re trying to find an identity in a league that’s evolving fast - both on the court and in the rulebook.
It’s not always pretty, but it’s definitely worth watching.