"The talk of tanking or playing for Victor is all camouflage" - Jason Kidd praises Utah Jazz before their hard-fought game
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised the Utah Jazz before their hard-fought game on Wednesday. The Mavericks faced a Jazz squad that was without Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. Kidd reckons Utah might not be tanking at all.
In a pregame news conference, Kidd was asked about facing the new-look Jazz for the first time this season. The Mavericks eliminated the Jazz in their first-round matchup last postseason. The Mavs coach commended Utah for their hot start to the season, saying:
"The talk of tanking or playing for Victor (Wembanyama) is all camouflage," Kidd said. "They've got a group over there who can play."
The Jazz built a double-digit lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter. The Mavericks fought back in the second, and the game was a back-and-forth battle for the rest of the night.
With the Mavericks up by two with less than a minute left, Reggie Bullock hit the dagger 3-point shot. After trimming the lead to just three points, the Jazz had the chance to force overtime. However, Jordan Clarkson missed the game-tying shot at the buzzer as the Mavericks won 103-100.
In the postgame news conference, Kidd complimented the Jazz for their ability to score and making it tough for the Mavericks
"You look at Utah; they can score the ball, and they put a lot of pressure on your individual defense," Kidd said.
Luka Doncic had another great night for the Mavericks, finishing the game with 33 points, five rebounds and ten assists. He also made history by becoming the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 30 or more points in the first seven games of a season.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Christian Wood added 21 off the bench. Reggie Bullock had only three points but made the most important bucket of the game.
Jason Kidd on the Jazz: “The talk of tanking or playing for Victor is all camouflage. They’ve got a group over there who can play.”
Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson had 22 points, four rebounds and eight assists for the Jazz. Collin Sexton scored 19 points off the bench, while Lauri Markkanen had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Utah Jazz off to surprising start
The Utah Jazz had a very busy offseason, trading their two best players, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. They also traded several role players like Royce O'Neal and Bojan Bogdanovic, while Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley were linked with several teams.
The expectation around the NBA was that the Utah Jazz would tank for the chance to select Victor Wembanyama next year. However, they are off to a fabulous start to the season. The Jazz are third in the Western Conference, going 6-3.
They have beaten the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and the Memphis Grizzlies (twice). Lauri Markkanen looks like an All-Star, while Jordan Clarkson is thriving as a starter.