After three matches using the same middle five, Will Hardy changed it for the match against the Kings. On the one hand, he had no choice since, with Taylor Hendricks' horrible injury, he had to be replaced. It was the rookie Cody Williams who was promoted.
On the other hand, the coach decided to remove Collin Sexton from the starters, to put Jordan Clarkson in his place. Why this decision?
“We try to make both groups work a little better and we can do it without too much influencing the minutes and opportunities of each one,” spear Will Hardy. “I believe in Collin Sexton and he knows it has nothing to do with his game. It's about making the starters and backups work. At the start of the match, the first group showed decent things offensively, and I have to help Collin in the second group, if we continue on this path. »
In testing phase
After this defeat against Sacramento, Utah has still not won a single match after a week of competition and Collin Sexton visibly digested this choice badly since he returned a copy of only 4 points at 0/7 in the shoot… coach is therefore looking for the right formula and this major five change is a test.
“Nothing is set in stone for the moment,” he insists. “I spoke with Sexton before the game about trying something different, to see if we could find some rhythm offensively. Collin has been great, he wants the team to play well. He has always done what was asked of him and it is my responsibility, if he accepts these things, to think of him and put him in a position to succeed. »
And that could change again in the coming days in Utah. Indeed, against the Kings and after 26 minutes, Lauri Markkanen left his teammates prematurely, because of back problems. Utah plays again this Thursday, against the Spurs.
“His back locked up. He received treatment during the break and a minute before resuming, he was still on the massage table, unable to move,” tell the coach. “So it was my decision, as well as that of the medical staff, to hold him back from playing. Afterwards, the back is day by day. We'll see how he feels this Wednesday and we won't make a decision until match day. »
