Two Biggest Reasons for Jazz's Three-Game Losing Streak

For the third straight game, the Utah Jazz couldn't get out of their own way.

The Utah Jazz are in the midst of a three-game losing streak after Monday night's 153-124 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Prior to the team's current slide, the Jazz were red-hot and won six straight games in dominant fashion. 

However, there's no need for Jazz Nation to panic. Your team is 22-23 and holds the 10th spot in the Western Conference. If the season were to end today, the Jazz would be postseason eligible while participating in the NBA play-in tournament. 

It's a long season, and there's no need to overreact. The next three games will be against weak opponents: the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Brooklyn Nets. The Jazz are going to have the opportunity to move vertically in the standings moving forward.

It's fair to wonder what's happened to Utah's winning formula of late, so let's dive into the factors in the losing streak.

Trade Deadline on Players' Mind

Keep in mind teams are plotting and scheming as the NBA trade deadline arrives on February 8, and it seems no player on any roster is safe at this point. This may explain (at least in Monday night's contest) why so many Jazz players played nearly equal minutes. 

Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George are the most likely players to stay in Salt Lake City, but after that, all bets are off. It's very likely a deadline deal involving multiple players will happen at some point.

Uncertainty at the Center Position 

John Collins has been the recent starter at the center position for the Jazz but has struggled with consistent performances. He also has below-average ball-handling skills, seems to lose focus during stretches of games, and, depending on the opponent, can be overtaken by Walker Kessler with regard to minutes. 

Collins logged 24 minutes last night, while Kessler logged 25 minutes. Kessler was by far and away the least effective of the two against the Pelicans and registered a game high -26 rating. 

Kessler is also a limited ball-handler, has minimal offensive skills, and cannot be trusted as a free-throw shooter at any point during the competition. That said, he's a force on the defensive end and has brought more to the table than Collins.

Bottom Line

The Jazz were in a great winning role, and the chemistry was exceptional! Suddenly, it's time for GMs around the league to try making their teams better or worse, which has hurt the Jazz.

Utah's slump is predicated on poor center play and the trade deadline. We will have to remain patient and wait to see what direction the organization takes. 

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