Game Thread Feb 07, 2026 05:00PM MT: Utah Jazz @ Orlando Magic

[framer]

JJJ on offense often looked like the second coming of Al Jefferson. Not sure if I like that.

An Al Jefferson that plays defense like JJJ is a very, very good player.

 

[JazzFever]

An Al Jefferson that plays defense like JJJ is a very, very good player.

And step out to take good percentage 3s. He's much more capable than Al in every phase.

 

[MTS]

lol

JJJ and Al Jefferson are extremly different players.

 

[sip]

Yeah, we definitely could not have done this for 82 games like many here wanted. I think the Jazz try to settle into the 5 spot and manage it from there, winning if there is any room to win.

Of course we could have. All you simply have to do from the beginning of the season is not play Svi or Love hardly any minutes and split the center minutes between Nurk and Flip. Do those things and we have at least 3 less wins and are very comfortable right now. Instead we are looking at a very stressful 30 games.

 

[mhindy]

This will fix itself next year. I suspect the NBA's response will be to outlaw anything but top 4 or straight lottery protections on a pick starting in 2028.

Honestly, I'd go further than that - lottery or nothing.

 

[HermanG]

Instead we are looking at a very stressful 30 games.

Its not gonna be that stressful if you trust them to do what needs to be done.

Last season Hardy was 100% in on the tank from the start and he helped the FO in manufacturing us the absolute worst record in the NBA. Now that we know Hardy is 100% in on this again, we know the ceiling is 6th where we are atm.

 

[kcgar]

Lauri, Nurk and Love laughing and joking on the bench when Suggs was shooting those free throws to take the lead. Not a great look.

This was the most shameful, blatant and depressing tank loss I've ever seen, and unfortunately I've seen lost of them.

Wow…Did nobody on the board tell you? We traded you on Thursday to the Kings forum. We had to throw in some considerable cash considerations, but it was totally worth it. Just don’t fail your physical dumbass

 

[Tanktastic]

Can I hear a little bit more about how the Jazz are tanking ethically and morally and have the high ground over other tankers and should be rewarded for their high morals?

Doesn't matter what the rules say or don't say if these become a national storyline at some point? If they do, the NBA will come down hard to protect the league's image.

 

[JazzFever]

Can I hear a little bit more about how the Jazz are tanking ethically and morally and have the high ground over other tankers and should be rewarded for their high morals?

Doesn't matter what the rules say or don't say if these become a national storyline at some point? If they do, the NBA will come down hard to protect the league's image.

For better or worse we’re not breaking any rules, so until the rules change, Silver got nuthin…

 

[Tanktastic]

The NBA didn't have a rule against Sterling, and they banned him for life and took away his team.

If Silver wants to do something, he can do it, and doesn't need a specific rule against it.

The problem is of course that the Jazz aren't the only one. But, again, if it turns into a national storyline, then the Jazz are on their own. It's not the tanking, it's damaging the league.

 

[Shad]

The NBA didn't have a rule against Sterling, and they banned him for life and took away his team.

If Silver wants to do something, he can do it, and doesn't need a specific rule against it.

The problem is of course that the Jazz aren't the only one. But, again, if it turns into a national storyline, then the Jazz are on their own. It's not the tanking, it's damaging the league.

Are you going to reddit and the pacers forums when they sat their 5 starters and 6th man against us... and the immediately all played the next game?

What about the wizards sitting Sarr, AD, Tre, and more?

 

[MTS]

The NBA didn't have a rule against Sterling, and they banned him for life and took away his team.

If Silver wants to do something, he can do it, and doesn't need a specific rule against it.

The problem is of course that the Jazz aren't the only one. But, again, if it turns into a national storyline, then the Jazz are on their own. It's not the tanking, it's damaging the league.

You have a very deep misunderstanding of what Adam Silver's job actually is if you think he's going to resolve this by punishing individual teams instead of making structural changes to disincentivize tanking going forward.

Comparing this to the Sterling episode is launching yourself completely outside of reality.