Can you guess which Jazz player coach Snyder called Utah's 'glue guy'?
The Utah Jazz are terrorizing teams across the NBA landscape with their phenomenal defense. And although the offense has struggled at times, Utah's still among the league's best in scoring margin.
When the Jazz offense is rolling, however -- and there are times where Gordon Hayward & Co. look good on that end of the floor -- it's because the squad is operating in sync. And one of the biggest components of Utah's clockwork efficiency in such spots is Joe Ingles. The 28-year-old is averaging 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game off the bench in six games for Utah. And his contributions have caught the attention of Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who told reporters that Ingles has been Utah's glue guy in 2015-16:
Most importantly, Ingles has served as a perfect release valve for the Jazz offense. He's not hunting shots or trying to do too much; he's simply finding the right spots on the floor and making the most of his opportunities, as evidenced by his 58.3 percent shooting so far this season.
“To have him out there, he greases the skids, so to speak,” Snyder said. “He’s the glue. … Now I want him to stick a little more on defense. Other than that, he’s done a nice job for us." [...]
“Joe’s been good as far as figuring out different ways to impact the game, whether it’s shooting, being able to switch defensively,” Snyder said. “There’s a lot of things that he can do. He’s looked for ways. That’s what versatility is, really — trying to find different things you can do to help the team win.”