Dallas \u2022 Amid the six-game losing streak, Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy has repeated this phrase: \u201cIt\u2019s never as bad as it feels.\u201d <\/p>\n
For the most part, he\u2019s correct. Many of the Jazz\u2019s issues are magnified by the absence of two starters: Jaren Jackson and Jusuf Nurkic. Both would help the team tremendously on both ends of the floor. <\/p>\n
Still, Utah\u2019s biggest offensive issue is shooting from deep. Through eight games, the Jazz rank No. 27 (31.5%) in 3-point percentage.<\/p>\n
With the obvious caveat that it\u2019s still early in the season, that\u2019s the lowest 3-point shooting percentage in Hardy\u2019s tenure with the Jazz. Despite spending the last four seasons rebuilding, Utah shot below 35% from deep only once (34.5% last season).<\/p>\n
Utah\u2019s worst shooting night of the season came on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans when the team shot 11-for-47 (23.4%) from deep.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long year. Every team faces adversity and every team faces a shooting slump,\u201d Hardy said postgame. \u201cOurs just happens to be here at the beginning, and so it makes it feel a lot worse than maybe it will feel in two months. So we have to endure these moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardy\u2019s main postgame point was that Utah had generated good looks, but shots just weren\u2019t falling. <\/p>\n
The numbers back up the sentiment. The Jazz are shooting 28.4% on wide-open 3-pointers \u2014 classified as 6-plus feet of space from a defender \u2014 good enough for No. 28 in the league. <\/p>\n
Get How ‘Bout This Jazz newsletter. Utah Jazz post-game analysis and hot takes from The Tribune\u2019s Shreyas Laddha.<\/p>\n
For some perspective, Utah shot 37.7% on wide-open 3-pointers last season when the team won 22 games. Gulp.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a closer look at how Utah has shot on the various types of 3-pointers, including the frequency of its shots.<\/p>\n
Through eight games, the data shows Utah is generating open 3-pointers and making them at a rate slightly better than the league average (No. 14).<\/p>\n
The issue is that the Jazz are struggling on wide-open looks, and missing them can be demoralizing for this young squad. <\/p>\n
Missing wide-open shots can have cascading effects on the team\u2019s overall play. It\u2019s why veteran Mo Bamba has tried to make sure his teammates don\u2019t get too caught up in missing shots. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very tough because in the moment you don\u2019t see it,\u201d Bamba told The Tribune. \u201cEspecially as the game is going, you keep shooting. Just tell them to keep shooting. Keep doing the things they normally do in workouts. Towards the end of the game \u2026 Lauri started to see his shots fall a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardy believes that water will find its level, and eventually the shots will fall. <\/p>\n
The league average for 3-pointers last season was 36%. Even that would feel like a windfall to this team. <\/p>\n
Right now, only two Jazz players are shooting better than that: Brice Sensabaugh and Lauri Markkanen. Several players are underperforming compared to last season or their overall career shooting percentage from deep. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a closer look at where the Jazz rotation players who attempt at least about two 3-pointers per game stand through eight games. <\/p>\n
This chart shows that George, Green, Bailey and Mykhailiuk are all underperforming from deep compared to last season or their careers. <\/p>\n
Bailey has only one season of data, so his true 3-point ability remains to be seen. That said, his 24% from deep is an outlier compared to his college 3-point shooting (34.4% in his lone college season). <\/p>\n
Peterson, meanwhile, shot 38.1% from deep at KU and has been highly regarded as a shooter since high school, so it would be surprising if his percentage doesn\u2019t improve. <\/p>\n
On the flip side, Sensabaugh is red-hot from deep to start the season. Based on his career numbers, he will likely finish this season in the 36-38% range.<\/p>\n
So, in all, the Jazz have just one shooter who is making 3-pointers at a rate that matches his career average. If even a few players could join him, the Jazz offense certainly wouldn\u2019t feel so bad. <\/p>\n
In the meantime, Bamba has emphasized to younger players that they should focus on making an energy play or doing something positive, and the rest will slowly fall into place.<\/p>\n
More importantly, don\u2019t be afraid to let it fly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo something positive and the next thing you do kind of just flows into it,\u201d Bamba said. \u201cIt\u2019s tough when you create shots and it just doesn\u2019t fall. Just tell them to keep shooting.\u201d <\/p>\n
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