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3 players to watch in the Jazz's third preseason game against the Mavericks

3 players to watch in the Jazz's third preseason game against the Mavericks

The Utah Jazz get a chance to defend their undefeated preseason record against the reigning Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks.

The Jazz had the same starting lineup against the New Zealand Breakers in the preseason as they did against the Houston Rockets. Don't be surprised if they use the same lineup again against the Mavericks.

There's no need to rehash what's already been said in this regard, because overall the Jazz are sending a pretty simple message: They're ready to go with this lineup. It remains to be seen whether or not they maintain this starting lineup on opening night.

But that’s not relevant to their game against the Mavericks. At this point, with the preseason just a lot longer, the Jazz should simply consider who on their roster should be given a closer look in their rotation.

It's been two games, but the Jazz already have some standout players who definitely deserve more attention as they wrap up their preseason.

Anyone who watched the preseason probably knew this was coming. Juzang has become a fan favorite since preseason. With his size, Juzang proves that he can give Jazz another dimension to their team by providing shooting with his size.

If this shooting isn't a mirage, Juzang could make a case to be in their rotation. He's typically shown up late in games, but he's shown enough that he deserves time against real NBA players. This way the Jazz can really see if they are good enough to throw to the wolves.

As they rebuild, the Jazz will explore all options to build a foundation of young, promising talent. While the draft is the first choice for this, Juzang has come into play because of the NBA's system of two-way players. If the Jazz make a move on some of their draft picks down the road, Juzang could be a pleasant surprise for them.

When Collier came to the NBA, he was valued for his NBA readiness. Making an All-Star Game may not be possible, but his skillset will make him ready for NBA competition sooner rather than later. In short, he envisions himself as someone the Jazz would want to build around their future cornerstones.

Some of Collier's NBA-ready wisdom is already evident on the court, between his defense and his ability to draw fouls.

However, like any young player, there will be growing pains.

Collier has quite a mountain to climb as Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton will take the lion's share of Utah's guard minutes. In these final preseason games, he should try to prove that he shouldn't be on the Jazz's bench next season.

Filipowski didn't do too well in his preseason debut with the Jazz, missing one of his shots (they were all threes), which made him look like a project. However, he looked much better against the Rockets.

The Jazz will see what player they get from Filipowski against the Mavericks. If he shows he's ready for the moment, he'll give the Jazz another boost that could very well complement players like Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.

With the Jazz most likely looking to get rid of John Collins, Filipowski could prove to be a suitable replacement if they fix this issue in not too long a time.

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