Game Thread Dec 07, 2025 06:00PM MT: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Utah Jazz

[KqWIN]

Nah, that's too funny.

Dude. You just wrote "Lot of bright spots in this game." when it was all absolute horrid flaming pile of ******* all around.

The only thing you're focused on is dreams and hallucinations.

It’s so funny that the anti-tank people are coming after me as if tanking is the only thing I’ve ever wanted. I’ve written so many anti tank words throughout the years. The receipts are there, look for yourself! Tanking is overrated, but it isn’t always right or wrong. It depends on the alternative situation which none of you care to argue for. You guys pretend like I’m some tanking bot when in reality you’re just a bot for other side of this issue.

Words can’t describe how little I care about your opinion if you’re just going typecast me, dismiss actual thought, and go for personal attacks. If you don’t think I have thoughts beyond tanking, stop replying to me. You shouldn’t care about what I have to say and I certainly do not care about what you have to say. Leave me out of it.

 

[HermanG]

We're fully back to the bad Keyonte of old. No defense, no effort, visibly giving up on play after play. Bad body language, bitching all the time. Unless the dude consistently scores 25 with decent efficiency, he's no use to anyone.

I wouldnt use such a small sample for confirmation bias when the big sample is still positive.

I think what this game did was provide a small bit of evidence as to why you dont want to play trash basketball if you wanna develop your best prospects the correct way. As professional as Key has looked in most games this year, he is still a young emotional human being who turns into a negative force when he is put in a position to fail.

Key needs Lauri more than Lauri needs Key, but truthfully they both benefit from each other.

 

[fishonjazz]

Hendricks had an amazing one on one defensive play last night ending in a sick block right back in the players grill.

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[Saint Cy of JFC]

Jazz got a mini vacation til the next game

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

Hendricks had an amazing one on one defensive play last night ending in a sick block right back in the players grill.

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Encouraging game from Taylor last night. Hope he can continue to show out like that. At one point I was concerned that his injury had impaired him athletically.

 

[KqWIN]

Walt was very good especially in the second quarter. Game was already a blowout, but the Thunder were still playing their best (available) guys at that point. He made his shots, but was also very under control against a high pressure defense.

Key was awful and dragging the team down with 5 to’s in that quarter alone, but the Jazz were still only -1 in the second thanks to Walt and better team defense.

 

[fishonjazz]

Encouraging game from Taylor last night. Hope he can continue to show out like that. At one point I was concerned that his injury had impaired him athletically.

I do think that is true. Also think the weight has hurt and helped in different ways.
He is certainly slower and less bouncy than before which is probably due to both the injury and the extra weight.
On the other hand I have seen him go stronger in the paint and bully guys a bit which I don't think he could do without the added weight.

Last night he had a play where he lowered the shoulder in the paint and knocked the defender back and finished with a dunk (that looked like he could barely elevate high enough to dunk it, but he barely got it over the rim and through)

I'm hoping he can keep some of the weight/strength while getting some of the speed/bounce back throughout the year.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

When you get down 25 points in the first quarter it's just hard to take anything seriously. Walt/Flip/Taylor all looked good, but there was no pressure. Sure it was the Thunder, and the Thunder do a good job of keeping the intensity to a respectable degree even when blowing teams out, but it isnt the same as the game actually being a contest.

I just wish we had a 5 who was a bit better than Nurkic. Dude has completely tanked the team in the last two first quarters by not being able to make simple finishes.

 

[KqWIN]

TH’s is likely going to be more of a second big type defender than an on ball stopper. I had already thought that was going to be his defensive role before the injury….he didn’t do much on ball defense stuff in college.

I think that’s actually a more impactful role than on ball stopper so I don’t necessarily see it as a negative. But it does require more thinking which is not his forte.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Nothing out of the ordinary except he took the shots when they came and he made them tonight. But it is a reminder that he can actually take and make these shots, which has a lot of value in this league. He’s not a great player or anything right now, but I don’t see a need to banish him from the rotation.

He needs a lot of reps on defense.

Exactly. I went and watched a good chunk of his stints. He is still out of place and not as active as you would want. I think that will come or at least improve. Locke mentioned he is still going through it with his body a bit which makes sense. The reps will help him smooth out where to be... he gets his legs all the way back he will be more impactful when he is in the right spots. Give him Kevin Love's minutes and a route a coupld away from Nurk or Lauri to get to 18ish a night and see what happens.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Jazz got a mini vacation til the next game

Based on how mad Will was I bet they wish they didn't have a week of practices coming their way.

 

[KqWIN]

Exactly. I went and watched a good chunk of his stints. He is still out of place and not as active as you would want. I think that will come or at least improve. Locke mentioned he is still going through it with his body a bit which makes sense. The reps will help him smooth out where to be... he gets his legs all the way back he will be more impactful when he is in the right spots. Give him Kevin Love's minutes and a route a coupld away from Nurk or Lauri to get to 18ish a night and see what happens.

With his bigger frame, I think playing some 5 could be in his future. At the very least, he should be able to provide some "big man" value. I actually think he and Flip are great theoretical front court partners. They might not be good enough, but stylistically I think they fit with each other and Hardy's offensive system.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

I do think that is true. Also think the weight has hurt and helped in different ways.
He is certainly slower and less bouncy than before which is probably due to both the injury and the extra weight.
On the other hand I have seen him go stronger in the paint and bully guys a bit which I don't think he could do without the added weight.

Last night he had a play where he lowered the shoulder in the paint and knocked the defender back and finished with a dunk (that looked like he could barely elevate high enough to dunk it, but he barely got it over the rim and through)

I'm hoping he can keep some of the weight/strength while getting some of the speed/bounce back throughout the year.

Excellent analysis imo and some things that I hadn’t really considered. Went to dinner last night and when we got back it was halftime and the game was basically over so I admit that I missed all the Hendricks stuff. Anyway, just wanted to say that I really like the kid and hope that he can somehow regain some of that lost quickness and bounce.

 

[Tanktastic]

Words can’t describe how little I care about your opinion...

Dude, if you don't want to get profiled as a hallucinating tanker fanatic, then don't write about lots of bright spots from a game that was pure dumpster fire from minute 1 to the end. Only the heaviest rose-tint can lead you to see something like that.

I wouldnt use such a small sample for confirmation bias when the big sample is still positive.

As professional as Key has looked in most games this year, he is still a young emotional human being who turns into a negative force when he is put in a position to fail.

Wasn't just this game, it's been coming for a week or two and the signs have been there.

Keyonte isn't the fresh young pup any more. He's supposed to be a leader on this team, and he's 22. Sure, very young, but three years older than Ace. If Keyonte need everything else to be just right for him not to turn into a pumpkin, then imagine what will happen in the first playoff run - should this team ever make it there.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Based on how mad Will was I bet they wish they didn't have a week of practices coming their way.

That Hardy video made my eyes roll when he wont play Harkless over guys like Cody/Brice. You wont have to tell Harkless every day to play hard.