Lauri Markkanen is learning how to be Utahs top option: Im enjoying the challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. — Lauri Markkanen took a quick glance at the shot clock and realized he needed to get to work. With a sense of urgency and the relative calm of a surgeon, he dribbled around and through the Orlando Magic defense. He then lofted a teardrop at the rim and it nestled softly through the net, a shot that propelled the Utah Jazz to a 131-124 win on Thursday night.

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The shot in and of itself wasn’t the important part of this sequence. Of course, the Jazz were happy with their first win in the fourth game of a grueling six-game trip. Minutes later in the locker room, a weary Markkanen would blurt out to nobody in particular, “Man, we really needed this win.”

But, no, the shot in and of itself wasn’t the most important part of this. Neither was the result. It would be Utah’s 32nd win of the season against 35 losses. In truth, Thursday night’s win did damage to the Jazz’ lottery odds, although a tough schedule on the horizon could fix that a bit.

What was important, though, was Markkanen’s confidence down the stretch. His movement against a defense that played him tough and physically all night. His ability to beat that defense when it mattered the most. And the progression he’s made this season as a No. 1 option.

Everyone knows what Markkanen has accomplished this season on a macro level. He’s eclipsed everything he’s done in his NBA career as an individual by a country mile. He’s an All-Star for the first time. He’s an All-Star starter. He’s an All-NBA candidate. He’s a candidate to be the league’s Most Improved Player.

But the Jazz want to push Markkanen past that. They want him to take ownership of this team, on the floor and in the locker room. They want him to truly be the No. 1 option that he hasn’t been this season, even with his dominance in the first half of the season. It’s like when you run five miles, you’re tired and fatigued, but you know you have two more miles remaining in the tank.

You simply push through.

“I think I’m being more aggressive and more comfortable, obviously getting those reps in at the end of these games,” Markkanen said. “Coach (Utah’s Will Hardy) talked about having to take responsibility for the offensive fouls. I just have to stay on the move. I’m enjoying the challenge. I am trying to get better as a player, but a lot of this is just knowing what to do if they are trying to be physical. I’m getting more and more comfortable with the guys around me on this team.”

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When the Jazz traded Mike Conley, they did so with Markkanen in mind, because Conley is one of the better players in the league at creating easy baskets for his stars, and particularly big men. The way he ran pick and roll. The way he made pocket passes. A lot of Markkanen’s buckets came easy because Conley was there to spoon-feed him.

Still, Markkanen deserves a lot of credit for that as well, because of how well he moves without the basketball, coupled with how well he runs the floor in transition. And that’s tripled with the release point of his jumper, which is both quick and high on his seven-foot frame.

As well as the Conley/Markkanen connection relationship worked, the Jazz knew Conley’s presence on the roster would hinder Markkanen from truly being “The Man” on this team offensively. So, the Jazz chose to take away the pacifier. Think of it as Linus without his security blanket.

Dealing Conley put the ball in Markkanen’s hands with an onus on him having to create his own offense without another guard on the roster adept at creating for him. Right now the Jazz are rocking with Talen Horton-Tucker at the point, who is a talented dude, but not a high-level playmaker for others. Kris Dunn is better at it than Horton-Tucker, but he’s also not a high-level playmaker for others.

So, Markkanen is tasked with creating offense a lot more than he was at the beginning of the season, rather than finishing, and he still has to finish as well.

“I thought Lauri was steady throughout,” Hardy said. “I thought obviously he hit a huge basket there at the end to sort of seal it. But he’s facing a lot of physicality every single game, and I think he’s getting better at finding ways to get through it and finding ways to be more efficient.”

Markkanen has been impressive because he’s adapted. He’s been resolute about getting into the paint off the dribble and finishing at the basket. He’s defending well. He’s rebounding consistently. He’s consistently been the best player on the floor, even when playing against other star players.

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His 31 points against Orlando only told part of the story. The Jazz are much better when Markkanen is on the floor. His numbers are one thing, but the way he’s impacting games when he’s on the floor is another.

What matters is that when the Jazz attempt to find someone in the offseason capable of making a similar impact, Markkanen will be ready to go at a high level. And it also matters that Markkanen is an easy star to pair with someone. He’s proving effective at playing with the ball in and out of his hands. His rate of improvement seems to increase by the game and, from a leadership perspective, he’s indeed taking ownership of the Utah Jazz. These were things that were unfamiliar to him when he was traded to Utah from Cleveland. But his development has evolved as the season has progressed.

(Photo of Lauri Markkanen: Fernando Medina / NBAE via Getty Images)

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