Breaking News: Chad Porto Sends Clear Message To Utah Jazz
“Chad Porto”, “We believe Taylor Hendricks shouldn’t be in the starting lineup, but if he is, it should be in place of John Collins. The Utah Jazz’s decision to give significant playing time to Hendricks, who is considered one of their least polished players, is quite bold. Another way to describe his current readiness level is subpar.
Throughout his rookie season, he hasn’t performed well in the limited action he’s seen so far, which might be why the Jazz coach is considering giving him more minutes. This decision serves not only to aid his development but also to assess if he can contribute anything valuable to the team as he gradually adjusts.
However, we have reservations about benching Walker Kessler to accommodate this change. While we acknowledge the team’s embrace of tanking, we question whether this move is the most appropriate. It’s evident that Hendricks received playing time in Thursday’s game against the struggling Charlotte Hornets because the team isn’t prioritizing winning.
Credit must be given to Hendricks for his performance in the game against the Hornets, arguably his best thus far in his career. Despite the Hornets’ poor record, any victory is welcome. He managed to score 12 points, grab nine rebounds, and posted a respectable Box Plus-Minus of +10. This game could be considered a standout for him. Although he shot 5-9 from the field, his perfect 4-4 shooting from inside the three-point line is particularly commendable, and we hope to see more of that from him.
We don’t oppose the idea of Hendricks starting; it seems inevitable given the team’s tanking strategy, partly centered around his potential. However, we disagree with the decision to bench Kessler once again, especially when it appears to be driven by an overcommitment to John Collins. Collins’ performance has been lackluster, despite his impressive rebounding numbers in the game against the Hornets.
It’s important to note that the Hornets are not just a bad team but a terrible one, and Collins’ defensive struggles have persisted throughout the season without signs of improvement. While he’s decent offensively, he may serve better as a fifth starter on a team with stronger talent. The Jazz require more contribution from him than he’s currently providing. Therefore, benching Collins and starting Hendricks, Kessler, and Keyonte George could be a more effective lineup to explore.
Collins and Jordan Clarkson can still showcase their value (or lack thereof) coming off the bench. It’s unlikely that a few extra minutes per game would significantly alter the perception of their abilities by other teams.”