Triple Team: Andy Larsen's defense of Jazz defense fails again against Sacramento's fast Kings

Before the game, Kings head coach Dave Joerger asked a simple question: what did you feel good this year? After all, they are now 10-8, far exceeding the expectations of most analysts.

"Keeping running is the most important thing for us. Do not stop. We did it because we think it's best for our staff. I think suddenly, Willie Cauley-Stein plays well – he is more powerful than his opponents. And that opens the way for transitions and trios to Buddy Hield, where he is fantastic. Nemanja Bjelica leaves us room on the ground. And then, all of that adds to the driving force that's De'Aaron Fox. He could be one of the fastest players in the league. "

The result was the fastest team in the league: the Kings have an average of only 12.9 seconds of offensive attack, according to Inpredictable. But even if they grow all the time, they are also super efficient. They are leading the transition point rankings by 100 possessions with 134.4. Admittedly, this fact was at the top of Jazz's screening report.

Against the old Jazz teams, it would have been a matter of unstoppable strength and irremovable object. But this jazz team is strangely bad at transitional defense. The Kings went through Salt Lake City to win. Sometimes it was as simple as DeAaron Fox that exceeded everyone.

Other times, someone does not take his or her task into their own hands. Here, Jae Crowder does not receive Marvin Bagley.

And late, it was a question of communication. The players all sprinted in the back, but they did not know who was being kept and who was not, so the Kings opened the scoring to three.

In total, the Kings scored 122 points for 100 possessions tonight. On transition opportunities, this has risen to 140 points per 100 possessions. If you do that, you will almost certainly lose.

Now, here are some other bad news. The Kings run more than anyone else, but number 2, the Los Angeles Lakers, plays the Jazz on Friday night. So far, they are not as efficient as Sacramento, but the Jazz will have a chance to retake the test they failed on Wednesday. Well, somehow. The defeat of the Kings is still there.

The Jazz made a pretty impressive but unfortunate run at the end of the game, reducing Sacramento's 17-point lead to four in just two minutes on the field. Donovan Mitchell was the key there, and his 35 points show his contributions.

But they could not finish their return because they could not get a defensive rebound. As the Jazz continued their way, they could not get rid of their strong defensive possessions by collecting the ball. Bogdan Bogdanovic's play was obsolete: Rudy Gobert went to the perimeter but did not cash the shooter or resume the game once he forced him to miss.

Yes, Mitchell probably should have crushed the glass too.

If it was just bad bounces, it would be one thing. But I think it's a bigger problem, because it happened earlier in the game. Bjelica gets this rebound, surprising Gobert. Then he misses the lay-up, while Gobert watches the ball bounce, Fox rushes to grab it.

It does not go well. Gobert must pave the way with more urgency to get the ball. And his teammates must help him and crush the glass a bit, especially if the Kings are perimeter.

"I think everything starts with me," said Gobert. "These guys need me. I have to introduce myself and bring intensity and I think I did it tonight, but not all the time. Even in these nights, I have to show the example. These guys are counting on me, so I have to do my job first, then everything will be fine. "

The Clayton brothers, Ken and Dan, are two of the smart contributors to Salt City Hoops. And they came up with a new theory last week that seems to make a lot of sense.

Monday against Indiana, the Jazz had only one: Ricky Rubio, who had scored 28. Wednesday evening against Sacramento, the Jazz had only one: Mitchell, who had scored 35.

By browsing the scores of the Jazz box, this seems to be quite true. You have to be flexible about what is a good game for Dante Exum, because he has less minutes than the others, but if Rubio and Exum are both fighting with their shot, it's very difficult for the Jazz to find the way to win. . Teams can simply hit Mitchell, prevent him from recovering the ball, and then stagnate offensive.

And it may be a little disturbing that this seems to be a necessity, because Rubio and Exum have been particularly inconsistent basketball players. The Jazz could really appeal to a second guard who could intervene more systematically to help Mitchell. Whether this happens through the trading or development of the player by someone on the list remains to be determined.