One Utah Jazz stat that might shock you

There’s been a lot of talk about Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson on this page lately. Arguably too much; especially when so much of it is negative. It’s just difficult to avoid when Clarkson is shooting the ball with such incredible inaccuracy.

All told, Clarkson is shooting 37.5% from the field and 28.2% from three-point range in 2021-22 so far. It feels nearly inevitable that Clarkson will watch shot after shot clang off the rim on a nightly basis. It’s been so consistent that it’s been impossible for the J-Notes to get off the subject.

We’re going back to the Clarkson well for this piece, but there’s a catch. This time, we’re singing the praises of the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson making positive impact amidst slump

According to CleaningtheGlass, Clarkson has the best Efficiency Differential on the Jazz at +4.9. For the uninitiated, Efficiency Differential is the player’s team points scored per 100 possessions when that player is on the floor subtracted by the opposing team’s points scored by the same measures.

Overall, that mark puts Clarkson in the 71st percentile in the league (as an aside, it’s a little troubling that that’s the highest mark on the team). It’s a remarkable statistical benchmark for a player who, by most accounts, is having a down year.

Utah Jazz fans may be asking themselves one question: how is this possible?

Well, part of the explanation may be that Clarkson spends as many minutes as possible per game against opposing teams’ second units. Of course, that’s largely part of the job description of a sixth man. Still, that doesn’t quite satisfy the curious mind. Clarkson plays 24.9 minutes per contest: he sees first and second units on a nightly basis.

Another possibility is that the defensive attention Clarkson commands as a ball dominant guard opens up opportunities for teammates. That passes the eye test, but it’s still a surprise to see Clarkson ahead of Donovan Mitchell (+3.6) in this measure. Spida commands more attention, and would appear to produce more positive results with that attention if basic counting stats are to be trusted.

It’s also possible that there’s some noise in this statistic, and that it figures to normalize some as the season wears on. Still, give Clarkson his due: he’s finding a way to make a positive impact for the Utah Jazz whether his shot is dropping or not.

Clarkson’s Efficiency Differential may come as a surprise to Utah Jazz fans who have been frustrated with his poor shooting all season. It may even inspire us to go easier on Clarkson: until he goes 5-for-20 again, that is.