Question on Lauri Markkanen, and why the struggles.

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

One thing I’ve noticed is most of his offensive is coming off well covered catch and shoot threes. It feels like it’s a bigger part of his game than in the previous two years. It feels like he’s settling. I’d like to see him throw in some pump fakes in there and drive in. Memo did this all the time and he’s no where near the athlete, or as skilled as Lauri.

The three point shot just seems like a crutch to him. For example in the last game in the first half the three was dropping. He wasn’t as effective in the second half because the shot wasn’t dropping much. He ended up going 5-15. Imo he needs to have more variety in his offensive game

Am I wrong?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

His game is that of a 2nd option. He's a 7 ft tall Klay. Him shooting a ton of 3s is good

 

[Chargers Jazz Angels]

I feel the jazz are working on him to be able to create more for himself. He really struggles when he is trying to create.

 

[oldtimer]

lauri is amazing. love him. haters

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I feel the jazz are working on him to be able to create more for himself. He really struggles when he is trying to create.

Feel like it's been less the last 10 or so games

 

[homeytennis]

My $0.25 opinion is that the Jazz miss guys like Conley and Beasley. Both competent at what they do. The spacing right now is just weird. I think Lauri had a couple of great games with Svi in the lineup. He can be a Beasley like spacer.

 

[jazznik]

My $0.25 opinion is that the Jazz miss guys like Conley and Beasley. Both competent at what they do. The spacing right now is just weird. I think Lauri had a couple of great games with Svi in the lineup. He can be a Beasley like spacer.

Well, the Jazz as a team improved their 3-pt shooting from 35.4% in 2023-24 to 36.7% this season. They are also shooting a bit more threes now. Markkanen is usually playing alongside Sexton, Collins and Keyonte who have been shooting threes pretty well in the last two months.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

My $0.25 opinion is that the Jazz miss guys like Conley and Beasley. Both competent at what they do. The spacing right now is just weird. I think Lauri had a couple of great games with Svi in the lineup. He can be a Beasley like spacer.

But Lauri was a points machine that first year after Conley and Beasley were traded

 

[mikka23]

It seems like a mix to me:
- Guard play is abysmal, for me personally I struggle to watch a game with Keyonte. He is too slow to make reads and doesn't notice open players or mismatches until its too late. Multiple times last night Lauri had good positioning on a smaller player, but either didn't get the ball or got it too late when there is no longer any spacing. Even with Svi in there it looks much better. In general just a lack of player and ball movement right now.
- By design, I'm not seeing much in the way of getting screens and curls to the basket. Right now he is being used more like in Chicago and Cleveland, just a spacer and always out deep - which I really think isn't his full game and leads to him just going invisible. At the same time he isn't a creator, so you need to get him the ball going to the rim or already with good positioning and space.
- Likely just checked out a bit because the team is tanking. Easier to just hang out on the 3 ball line.
- Defences paying more attention to him now.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I don't think the Jazz have bad guard play (not that it's great). I just think they are putting too many negative players on the court at once. Keyonte isn't bad. Clarkson isn't bad. Sexton isn't bad. But when you put these players with Cody/Collier on the court at the same time it's impossible to have a consistent half court offense (hell even if it's just one of them).

Lauri is doing fine imo. Not a good year, but he's doing what he should. He's not going to carry a team. We shouldn't be trying to force him into a primary role