Utah Jazz Show Growing Pains in Loss to Atlanta Hawks
By Dan Schultz
@DSchultz89
Getty Images
The Utah Jazz showed why they might not ready to take the next step to becoming a playoff team just yet in their 100-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Jazz had the lead for most of the game before giving it away gradually as the fourth quarter went on. While the Jazz played extremely well together and showed off surprising depth as six of their players recorded double figures in scoring, they lacked the necessary ability to close the game out in the final stretches.
Gordon Hayward struggled with only 11 points, while on the other side former Jazz players Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver combined for 47 points. Millsap finished with 30 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals, demonstrating once again why he is one of the most underrated power forwards in the NBA. Korver continues to shoot lights out with four threes during the game, which has been a crucial part to the Hawks’ spacing schemes and offensive sets.
This loss for the Jazz is very similar to how the Sacramento Kings lost to the Dallas Mavericks last night, as they were able to build a lead but ultimately were not able to hang on. This will be a good lesson for the Utah on how to be able to maintain a lead and find a way to score, as well as defend when the game is on the line.
Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
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