ORLANDO — The Jazz are at their best when they are moving the ball.
That might seem like a bit of an obvious statement, but Thursday’s 102-98 win over the Bulls was a great example of what it looks like when movement rules the Jazz’s offense, and at the center of that movement was Joe Ingles.
With all of the defensive disruption that the Bulls are capable of, had the Jazz let the game slow down or get stagnant, things could have easily gone another way.
“We moved the ball, that’s really all it was,” Donovan Mitchell said after the game. “Being able to make the extra pass, find open guys and take the shot, that’s what really changes the offense.”
“I think I’d rather have assists than points to be honest with you. I couldn’t care less about scoring. I feel like my role on the team is to get other guys involved.” — Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles
While Mitchell has become more comfortable and capable with running the offense and with the ball in his hands, his strength where that is concerned is creating opportunities for himself. That’s not to say that he isn’t a ready and willing passer — he is — just that it’s not where his greatest strength is.
That means that the rest of the team has to be mindful of swinging the ball and making sure the ball doesn’t stick.
Against the Bulls, Ingles finished the night with 10 assists, the second time this season he’s notched double figures in assists, and he did it without turning the ball over a single time. When Ingles has more than six assists in a single game this season, the Jazz are 7-2.
“I think I’d rather have assists than points to be honest with you,” Ingles said. “I couldn’t care less about scoring. I feel like my role on the team is to get other guys involved.”
Ingles noted that with Mike Conley injured he feels a greater responsibility to move the ball because that’s one of the ways that Conley has such a noticeable impact on the game. It’s a good mindset to have considering what the Jazz have coming up next.
While the Jazz lead the league in limiting opponent assists, the Orlando Magic, who they play Saturday night, are eighth in the league in the same category, holding opponents to an average of 23.5 assists per game.
That’s an important number.
In that first win of the road trip against the Bulls, the Jazz closed out with 24 assists. The Jazz are 14-2 this season when the team has 22 or more assists. The Magic have held opponents to less than 22 assists 15 times this season, nearly half the games played.
“My only focus going in is defensively who I’m matched up on and trying to get Donovan, Bojan, Rudy, and all these guys easy shots,” Inges said. “Especially those three, with the load that they have on both ends of the floor and the minutes that they play. The more I can do to get them easy looks or easy shots, that’s what I’m out there to do.”
The good news for the Jazz heading into Saturday’s game is the Magic are having a rough week.
On Wednesday night, Jonathan Isaac hyperextended his left knee early in a win against the Wizards and has been ruled out for at least 8-10 weeks. Issac, one of the Magic’s most dynamic players, was a huge part of the team’s defense.
Aaron Gordon returned for the Magic on Friday after missing two games with a sore Achilles, but the Magic will be facing the Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back after hosting Miami.
The Jazz are riding a four-game win streak into Saturday’s contest and have won nine of the last 10 games. They’ll be looking for consecutive win No. 5 against the Magic to match their longest win streak of the season.