Auditions for next year’s roster continued in earnest Monday night when the shorthanded Utah Jazz took on the equally decimated Golden State Warriors at the Delta Center. News surfaced earlier that day that the Jazz released guard Vince Williams Jr, adding more incentive for players like Elijah Harkless, Blake Hinson, Oscar Tshiebwe and Cody Williams to make a statement that they belong on the team. Who stepped up and made the most of their minutes in a nail biting 119-116 victory over the Warriors?
Let’s take a look.
Keyonte George – B
Keyonte was aggressive early, especially from the mid-range, scoring eight points in the first quarter. His three- pointer was off tonight, only managing 1-5, and there were a couple of instances in the second half when he drove to the basket only to be stifled by the defense. He didn’t really get into a rhythm, his minutes restricted as he shared point guard duties with Elijah Harkless.
Cody Williams – B+
Cody matched his career high 7 assists and was decisive in moving to the basket. He uncorked his patented hammer dunk in the 4th quarter after a delicious feed from John Konchar. His three-point accuracy continues to be problematic, going 0-4 tonight.
John Konchar – B
John does a lot of the dirty work that isn’t always reflected on the stat sheet, such as contesting the three-point attempt that would have tied the score at the end of the game. His three-pointer is still hit and miss (mostly miss), but he made up for his lack of scoring with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Kyle Filipowski – A
Kyle was terrific tonight, recording a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds. He was perfect from the free throw line and also had 5 assists and 2 steals. His impact on the game goes beyond the numbers. He seemed to be in the right spot at the right time, competed fiercely and showed a range of shot making ability.
Brice Sensabaugh – A
Brice showed himself to be more than just a sharpshooter, finding ways to contribute even when his shot wasn’t falling early in the game. He delivered a beautiful bullet pass to Cody Williams in the first quarter and ended up with three assists. He also added 2 blocks. He helped fuel a Jazz run in the 3rd quarter by twice using his physicality to create a three point opportunity the hard way. Brice earned every one of his team high twenty-one points.
Elijah Harkless – A-
Elijah showed off his speed and tenacity, especially in the first half. He went on a run where he either scored or assisted on 21 of 24 points, helping the Jazz take a lead into half-time. I think his ability to drive to the basket in traffic caught the Warriors’ defense off guard. He ended up with a career high in points for the Jazz (16). The defense adjusted in the second half, which made it more difficult for him to have the same impact.
Kevin Love – A
In limited minutes, the old man of the team gave a valuable boost to the Jazz, making all 3 of his three pointers, including an amazing four point play in the 3rd Quarter. Add 8 rebounds, an assist and a block and you have another example of Kevin’s great contribution to the team this season.
Oscar Tshiebwe – B
Oscar showed some of his scoring ability tonight, especially in the 4th Quarter when he had a quick 6 points. He was active around the basket, grabbing 8 rebounds and a steal. As an undersized big, his challenge is protecting the rim and affecting shots on the defensive end.
Blake Hinson – C+
Blake is continuing to find his way in the NBA and was at times a little over aggressive on defense, leading to foul trouble. His three-point shot was off early in the game, but he did make two threes late in the 4th Quarter to help the Jazz maintain their lead.
