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Brice Sensabaugh Gives Jazz Coach Will Hardy Reason to Defend Controversial Decision
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- Brice Sensabaugh Gives Jazz Coach Will Hardy Reason to Defend Controversial Decision
(Peter Creveling-Imagn Images)
Brice Sensabaugh scored every point the Utah Jazz managed in overtime Wednesday night.
Yet following Utah's 117-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, much of the conversation centered around someone who never stepped onto the floor during those final five minutes:
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Darryn Peterson.
With 2:06 remaining in regulation and Utah trailing 105-100, Will Hardy replaced Peterson with Josh Green. Sensabaugh also entered during that stoppage, taking Josh Okogie's place.
Peterson had already recorded 18 points, five rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes, but wouldn't return.
The Jazz rallied to force overtime anyway ... and Hardy never reconsidered.
It's easy to understand why the decision attracted attention. Peterson is the No. 2 overall pick, arguably Utah's most exciting young player, and someone fans understandably want on the floor when games are hanging in the balance.
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But Hardy wasn't making his decision based on draft position.
The Jazz coach explained afterward that San Antonio's defensive pressure was disrupting Utah's screening actions, forcing the offense into situations where individual shot creation became increasingly important.
And in that moment, Hardy trusted Sensabaugh to provide it.
The 22-year-old finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, connecting on four of his five three-point attempts. He scored all six of Utah's overtime points, knocking down triples with 3:15 and 50 seconds remaining.
Not bad for someone who played just 18 minutes.
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Now, does that mean Hardy handled the closing minutes perfectly? Of course not.
San Antonio ripped off a 12-0 run between Sensabaugh's two overtime baskets, forcing four turnovers while limiting Utah to 2-of-7 shooting during the additional period.
The Jazz couldn't generate consistent offense when they needed it most. Sensabaugh's individual production couldn't compensate for the mistakes happening around him.
And that's a legitimate concern moving forward.
But criticizing Hardy for trusting Sensabaugh seems misplaced.
Peterson shot 4-of-13 from the field Wednesday, although he connected on three triples and converted all seven of his free throws. He had his moments, and perhaps another opportunity down the stretch would've produced something special.
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Perhaps not.
There's no way to know how Peterson would've performed against the same defensive pressure that gave Utah problems throughout overtime. What we do know is that Sensabaugh delivered exactly the kind of individual offense Hardy was looking for.
The situation becomes even more interesting when considering what happened on the opposite sideline.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson admitted afterward that he became distracted arguing about a potential shot-clock violation instead of calling a timeout in the closing seconds of regulation.
Johnson acknowledged his mistake, and his players bailed him out.
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Hardy made a deliberate personnel decision, watched the player he trusted respond, and still walked away facing questions.
That's the reality of coaching in close games. The final result often dictates how decisions are remembered, even when the reasoning behind them makes sense.
And Hardy's reasoning deserves some credit.
Peterson's draft position carries expectations, but those expectations shouldn't ... and clearly won't ... automatically determine who finishes games. Sensabaugh has spent multiple seasons working to earn his coach's confidence, and Wednesday provided another example of what he can contribute.
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The Jazz still lost. Their late-game execution needs work, and Hardy certainly isn't exempt from criticism after an overtime period in which his team managed just six points.
But Wednesday wasn't a case of a coach ignoring the production right in front of him.
Sensabaugh scored every point Utah managed in overtime. He answered when Hardy called his number, even as the offense struggled around him.
If the conversation following another narrow loss is centered around why Sensabaugh was trusted instead of Peterson, perhaps the criticism is being directed at the wrong decision.
