3 Biggest takeaways as 76ers bow down to Jazz in Summer League
The 76ers used all their key players against the Jazz on Wednesday night. That was a bit of a surprising move considering they were playing for their third consecutive night. And after a strong first half where they led by ten points at the break, the Jazz overwhelmed the 76ers by 18 points in the second half.
This game ended the 76ers' time in Utah, and they’ll get an opportunity to rest before they return to action in Las Vegas on Saturday. Let’s review the biggest takeaways from Wednesday night’s matchup.
Sizeable talent gap between the Jazz and the 76ers Summer League Rosters
The Jazz have one of the more proven summer league rosters filled with players that currently have or have held rotational roles during the regular season. Walker Kessler is entering his third NBA season and played 23 minutes a night during his first two seasons. Keyonte George is entering his second season after starting in 44 games during his rookie year.
The Jazz started their run to take the lead midway through the third quarter and the fourth quarter became the George show. It didn’t matter who matched up against him or whether the 76ers played zone or man defense. George displayed why he has earned a regular NBA role.
When the Jazz needed a bucket, all they needed to do was give the ball to George and watch him work. That element was lacking for the 76ers in the fourth quarter as possessions increased in significance.
The 76ers attempted to run through Jeff Dowtin Jr. or Ricky Council IV during these situations but the quality of looks differed from what George created. McCain also had his hand at creating but he had a rough night which we’ll discuss later.
Other notable players on this roster include their multitude of first round picks: Taylor Hendricks selected 9th in 2023, Brice Sensabaugh selected 28th in 2023, Cody Williams selected 10th in 2024, and Isaiah Collier selected 29th in 2024. Outside of Williams, each of these players had their moments during the game.
This proved to be a good opportunity for the 76ers to get valuable reps against proven and projected NBA level talent. Overall, they did a good job holding their own until the talent discrepancy showed itself. Who knows, maybe fresher legs would have made a difference.