Jazz vs. Grizzlies Preview: Jaren Jackson Jr. Out, Morant vs. Markkanen – Who Will Secure the Opening Win?

On the morning of October 24, the NBA regular season continues with the Jazz hosting the Grizzlies.

The Jazz finished last season with a record of 31 wins and 51 losses, placing them 12th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs. During the off-season, the Jazz largely retained their core roster from last season, with minimal changes. They added Yurtseven, Mihailescu, and Mills, but let go of Chris Dunn, Horton Tucker, and Yurtseven. In terms of rookies, the Jazz selected Cody Williams with the 10th overall pick and Krier with the 29th pick in the draft. The team’s focus this summer was on re-signing their core player, Lauri Markkanen, who successfully signed a five-year, $238 million max contract. It is clear that the Jazz will be aiming to secure a playoff spot this season.

In the past six preseason games, the Jazz went 4-2, maintaining a solid overall performance. However, in their most recent preseason game, the Jazz suffered a 86-124 loss to the Trail Blazers. The starting lineup performed poorly, especially Markkanen, who played nearly 17 minutes and scored only 5 points on 1-of-9 shooting, along with 4 rebounds and 1 assist. Sexton also contributed just 6 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist, with no starter scoring in double digits. Among the bench players, only Sensabaugh managed to score 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. With only one player scoring in double digits, it is understandable that the Jazz were heavily defeated by the high-scoring Trail Blazers. The 10th pick, Cody Williams, also struggled, scoring only 5 points on 1-of-7 shooting. Compared to their previous performances, the Jazz’s final preseason game before the new season was indeed disappointing.

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, finished last season with a 27-55 record, placing them third-to-last in the Western Conference due to issues with Ja Morant and injuries. During the off-season, the Grizzlies re-signed Kennard for one year at $11 million, traded Zaire Williams and a second-round pick to acquire Diakite. Notably, the Grizzlies used the 9th overall pick in the draft to select Zach Iddies, which is a significant addition to their frontcourt. They also selected Jaylen Wells in the second round. It is evident that if the Grizzlies can stay healthy, they are poised to make a strong comeback this season.

The Grizzlies went 3-2 in their five preseason games, showing a solid overall performance. In their last game, they narrowly lost 109-114 to the Heat, being overturned in the fourth quarter, which exposed some issues. In this game, Aldama led the team with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Morant contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Bane added 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. Among the rookies, Zach Iddies was absent, but Wells came off the bench to contribute 11 points and 3 rebounds. Additionally, Japanese player Yuhi Kawamura did not score in this game, but he secured a two-way contract based on his excellent performance in the preseason.

In their head-to-head matchups last season, the Jazz had an advantage, winning 4 out of the last 5 meetings. For tomorrow’s game, the Jazz will be without Collie and Zuzan. On the Grizzlies’ side, GG Jackson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams, Kennard, and Spencer will also be absent. However, the determined Grizzlies will not easily surrender this time. Who will secure the opening win of the new season? Let’s wait and see.

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