Utah finds Mitchell and overwhelms the Nets 125-102, devoid of Durant and Harden, back at the center of market rumors. It is the seventh defeat in a row, but the coach does not lose confidence
Play. The Jazz tear Brooklyn apart and celebrate, finding themselves again, the return of Donovan Mitchell, who after 8 games of absence returns with 27 points, returning his soul to Utah. The one that the Nets lost, overwhelmed 125-102 like a boxer played and officially sent into crisis with the 7th consecutive defeat. A disaster amplified by injuries (James Harden has joined Kevin Durant in the list of unavailable) and by the latest market rumors, with the unhappy and troubled Barba who could end up in Philadelphia by Thursday’s closing at 9pm. Unthinkable a month ago, like the Brooklyn implosion.
the crisis
–
“We are in a very difficult period, with 4-5 players out and an open negative streak – acknowledges Steve Nash -. It’s hard to live in a moment like this, but I repeat to the players that we must remain united: if we do, this moment can make us better ”. It is hard to see the positive side of this very hard moment for Brooklyn (29 won-23 lost so far): against Utah the Nets have been outclassed since the tap-off, exposing all their defensive limits and the problems of a stagnant attack in which the ball stopped too often in Kyrie Irving’s hands. Cam Thomas, rookie who updates his NBA maximum to 30 points, is the only positive note of yet another bad game for a team adrift. “We are not winning and we have to get out of this abyss, one success at a time – says Irving, disastrous with 15 points and 6/20 shooting -. This is not the time to panic, even if we need time to improve and time is not necessarily our ally. But we have to face reality: we are still getting to know each other, we are understanding how we like to play both in attack and in defense. And we still lack communication. I have been in the NBA long enough to know that there are ups and downs: we must have faith in this group ”. Sean Marks, the gm of the Nets, will have to decide how much to have: the market closes on Thursday at 21, as an opportunity to fix a group that needs reinforcements to win the title. Not just the return of Durant and the shadow of the real Harden.
the relaunch
–
Utah (32-21) needed such a win. It is the second in a row, the one that allows you to get behind the black January closed with 5 defeats in a row, coinciding with Mitchell’s stop. Coach Snyder, still in the Covid protocol, must recover all the pieces (Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson were missing against Brooklyn) but Mitchell’s return is the decisive stage of the rebirth. “Donovan was fantastic – says Alex Jensen, Snyder’s replacement on the bench -. He moved well in defense, with passing, with shots. And then it’s Donovan Mitchell: his mere presence takes the pressure off the others and allows them to play better ”. Mitchell’s talent, his ability to create play for himself and for others and to light up on offense as needed, is what Utah has been missing lately. Next to him Bojan Bogdanovic returned to shine, 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Conley. The Jazz won like an orchestra, with the attack enhanced by 33 assists, domination in the area (56-36) and rebounding.
the match
–
The initial 10-0 of the Jazz is the prologue to the rest of the match: Utah dominates, Brooklyn sinks. The hosts overflow first at the beginning of the second quarter, hitting 56-34 at 5’55 “from the break with O’Neale, then finally explode in the third, when Mitchell’s show (14 points) projects the Jazz up to 103- 69 that Paschall nails with 33 “from the end. When the fourth period opens, with Utah shooting 61% from the field and Brooklyn failing to exceed 40%, the match has already been decided for some time.
Utah: Mitchell 27 (2/2 of two, 6/7 of three, 5/5 free throws), Bogdanovic 19, Paschall 16. Rebounds: Azubuike 11, Bogdanovic 11. Assists: Forrest 7.
Brooklyn: Thomas 30 (8/12, 3/7, 5/6 tl), Irving 15, Bembry 13. Rebounds: Sharpe 8. Assists: Irving 6.
February 5, 2022 (change February 5, 2022 | 09:06)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
#Jazz #plays #Brooklyn #crisis #Nash #stronger