Quin Snyder Must Get Creative with Lineups
Not only does Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder need to be willing to deploy small-ball lineups, but he might also need to be a little more creative and spontaneous with his rotations. The Utah Jazz is entering their third postseason with the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert-Mike Conley triumvirate and has next to nothing to show for it.
While the role players have changed a little bit around the margins, the core of the team has remained largely the same, including key rotation members like Jordan Clarkson, Royce O’Neal, and Bojan Bogdanovic.
Most of the Western Conference has already developed a deep knowledge surrounding the essence of the Utah Jazz team. They’re well-versed in guarding and attacking the key members of the Jazz’s core. If Utah’s offense starts to sputter in the playoffs, like it’s often done in the past, Snyder might need to throw a few wrenches into the mix to see what comes out of the other side.
The Jazz employs a few curveballs at the end of their bench that could put together some meaningful playoff contributions if given the opportunity. Eric Paschall, Danuel House Jr., and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will likely be squeezed out of Utah’s playoff rotation as Snyder turns to his more established veterans for the postseason.
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With an eight-man rotation of Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neal, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, and Hassan Whiteside, Snyder can trust that his system will be executed flawlessly as these players have a cemented chemistry and similar archetypes coming on and off of the bench. He can also count on the fact that teams might easily figure them out again.
Paschall, House, and Alexander-Walker might not be as consistent or proven as the Jazz’s veterans, but they can provide a change of pace, style, and skillsets that defenses might not be prepared for. If Snyder sees his team running into a wall again, he shouldn’t hesitate to switch things up before it becomes too late.
