Can the Jazz Actually Turn Things Around? 3 Problems Utah Must Fix

The Utah Jazz got 39 points from Keyonte George, led New Orleans by six in overtime ... and still lost by seven.

Wednesday's 120-113 defeat dropped Utah to 1-7, an ugly start for a franchise hoping to finally put four years of rebuilding behind it.

Injuries have hurt. But they don't explain the turnovers, defensive breakdowns or another blown lead.

If the Jazz want to salvage their season, three things need to change.

Utah made just two of its 20 three-point attempts in the first half against New Orleans. The Jazz responded with 43 third-quarter points, 37 coming from inside the arc or at the free-throw line.

They found something that worked.

Yet the Jazz attempted just one shot inside the arc during overtime.

Why go away from what got you back into the game?

Three-point shooting is important, especially with Lauri Markkanen on the floor. But when those shots aren't falling, Utah needs to attack the basket instead of continuing to rely on the perimeter.

The Jazz showed they could adjust Wednesday. They just couldn't do it when it mattered most.

Jaren Jackson Jr. remains sidelined with a torn MCL, while Jusuf Nurkic has been dealing with a foot injury.

Their absences have hurt Utah's interior defense, but the results have been unacceptable.

San Antonio scored 52 points in the paint Monday. New Orleans followed with 62 on Wednesday.

The Pelicans also made 39 of their 43 free throws. Utah made 20.

That's a 19-point difference at the line in a seven-point loss.

Nobody expects Hardy's available frontcourt to replace everything Jackson and Nurkic provide. But opponents shouldn't be getting to the basket and drawing fouls this easily, either.

Better positioning, quicker help and fewer unnecessary fouls would go a long way.

Hardy has to find a way to make his defense work with the players he has. He can't afford to keep waiting for reinforcements.

George finished Wednesday with 39 points and nine assists. He even opened overtime with consecutive threes to put Utah ahead by six.

New Orleans scored the next 14 points.

And Wednesday wasn't an isolated collapse.

Four of Utah's first six games were within five points during the final five minutes. The Jazz scored just 34 points on 41 clutch possessions in those games.

That's a problem Hardy needs to solve.

George has proven he can carry Utah's offense, but asking him to rescue every late possession isn't sustainable.

Markkanen needs more opportunities down the stretch, and Hardy needs to establish other options when defenses key in on George.

Thirty-nine points should've been enough to beat a struggling Pelicans team. Instead, Utah wasted one of George's best performances.

Eight games won't define the Jazz's season. But 1-7 isn't something Utah can keep explaining away with injuries.

There's enough talent to win more games. The Jazz have already shown they can build leads against opponents. Now they need to prove they can protect them.

After all, a six-point overtime lead shouldn't require a healthy Jaren Jackson Jr. to survive.