The Utah Jazz Are Rolling Out a Starting Lineup That Feels Like a Glitch

The Utah Jazz are officially treating their starting lineup like a random number generator.

Underdog NBA dropped the alert that Utah is rolling out Keyonte George, Tristan Peterson, Amari Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. for Friday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

If you had that exact five-man unit on your bingo card, you are either lying or you are Utah's head coach. We all knew George, Markkanen, and Jackson Jr. were the heavy lifters here. But throwing Peterson and Bailey into the mix is the kind of chaotic roster construction that sends prop bettors into a cold sweat.

Let us do some quick math for context. Keyonte George is out here averaging 22 points and five assists, fresh off dropping 22 in a blowout 123-103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He is going to have the ball in his hands so much tonight that the leather might wear off. Meanwhile, Amari Bailey is getting a starting nod after a 2023-24 rookie campaign with the Charlotte Hornets where he played exactly 10 games and averaged 2.3 points.

This is what happens when a team starts the week dropping games to the Phoenix Suns and Memphis and decides to just shake the snow globe. You have two legitimate frontcourt stars in Markkanen and Jackson Jr. trying to anchor a lineup featuring guys who usually only see the floor when the arena is half empty. For anyone looking at the betting boards, the usage rates for Utah's big three are about to look like prime James Harden numbers.

We will find out quickly if this is a stroke of developmental genius or just a white flag against New Orleans. If it goes sideways, do not be shocked to see another completely different five when the Los Angeles Lakers roll into town on Saturday.