Jazz HC roasts his own team's defense after loss to Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers' Dalton Knecht tied the NBA rookie record with nine three-pointers in a 124-118 win over the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. Afterwards, Jazz coach Will Hardy had harsh words for his players who let the three-point barrage happen. Will Hardy: "In the second half, it seemed like everybody in the gym knew that Dalton Knecht was going to shoot the next shot, with the exception of a few people.

The problem was that those few people were on our team." The Lakers rookie did most of his damage in the third quarter, where he scored 21 points and made all six of his three-point attempts. With 3:29 to play in the quarter, Knecht hit threes on four consecutive possessions.



On the fifth possession, Cody Williams fouled Knecht on a three-point attempt, and Knecht made all three free throws. After a D'Angelo Russell turnover, Knecht made another triple, meaning he put up 18 points in just over three minutes and Utah never adjusted. DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT: 37 PTS (career high) 9 3PM (ties rookie record) Scored 22 straight for LA @Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season pic.

twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p Hardy correctly observed that everyone in the Crypto.com Arena knew Knecht was getting the ball once he started heating up — "with the exception of a few people," Hardy said.

"The problem was that those few people were on our team." It's hard to argue with his sentiment. Knecht made his first four in a row from virtually the same spot on the floor.

It was as if he had an NBA Jam-style hotspot where he'd automatically make it. At no point during his barrage did a Jazz defender press Knecht or run him off the three-point line. The result was that an 11-point Lakers lead was up to 22 points by the end of the quarter, and the game was effectively over.

Hardy is one of the league's most promising young coaches, and a highly-competitive guy. But the Jazz have spent his three seasons as head coach trading away veterans for draft picks and tanking for draft position. Arguably, Hardy is ruining team president Danny Ainge's plans by winning too many games.

He may be held back by his front office, but Hardy doesn't hold back when talking to the media. Last December, the Jazz lost to the Dallas Mavericks by 50 points, and Hardy called the game "an absolutely horrendous performance from start to finish" and a "masterpiece of dogs---." With the Jazz sitting in last place in the Western Conference with a 3-11 record, Tuesday probably won't be the last time Hardy delivers a frustrated and hilarious sound byte.

He's signed through the 2026-27 season, so while the Jazz aren't going anywhere this season, neither is their head coach..